Eighteen firms from Kenya and Africa have been recognised for championing the use of sustainable standards in food quality.
The International Poultry Council (IPC) recognised Kenchic limited alongside eighteen other private-sector organizations which had recognized the importance of responsible antimicrobial use and endorsed the council’s antimicrobial use stewardship principles.
These principles were promoted through the Transformational Strategies for Farm Output Risk Mitigation (TRANSFORM), an initiative funded by USAID and led by Cargill.
The aim of TRANSFORM is to minimize the necessity for antimicrobial use, and when deemed necessary, to ensure their utilization in accordance with stewardship principles.
According to Kenchic managing director Jim Tozer, the goal is to contribute to a safer, healthier food supply chain for consumers.
“This recognition is a testament to our long-standing commitment to sustainable practices and responsible poultry production. Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern, and we're proud to join hands with seven other global organizations to combat this pandemic,” said Tozer.
He added that Kenchic’s commitment to responsible practices complements the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development through the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Interagency Committee (NASIC) in combating AMR, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for shared health objectives.
Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock said that AMR is one of the most critical challenges facing food supply chains currently.
He pointed out that it is a complex issue that jeopardizes the ability to treat common infections and puts at risk the progress made in modern medicine and hence requires coordinated multisector efforts at a national and global level.
“In celebrating Kenchic's achievement, we also acknowledge the broader significance of their efforts. By leading the way in antimicrobial stewardship, Kenchic sets an example for the entire livestock industry. I encourage other stakeholders to follow suit,” said Mueke.
The international leaders from Kenya, Brazil, Italy, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Colombia, representing over 30 percent of the global broiler production, include six associations and two companies, and together they represent a collective effort to reduce reliance on antimicrobials globally.
