FarmVet Connect

FarmVet Connect is a mobile platform that empowers farmers and veterinarians in low- and middle-income countries to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal agriculture. It provides education on responsible antibiotic use, tracks antibiotic usage, and facilitates early detection of resistance patterns, supporting effective policy and action against AMR.

Catherine Mwanjisi, CEO, will lead our FarmVet Connect solution, driving its development and implementation to combat antimicrobial resistance in animal agriculture in low- and middle-income countries.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like those in sub-Saharan Africa. Current estimates suggest that 4.95 million deaths annually are associated with AMR, with 1.27 million directly attributable to resistance to antibiotics. Without intervention, this toll could rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, where access to healthcare resources is often limited, AMR exacerbates health disparities and increases the risk of mortality from treatable infections.

The causes of AMR are multifaceted, including overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human and animal health, as well as environmental contamination. In LMICs, inadequate veterinary practices, poor sanitation, and limited access to quality healthcare contribute to the problem. Furthermore, data on AMR in LMICs is scarce, hindering effective policy and action.

FarmVet Connect addresses these challenges by empowering farmers and veterinarians with education and resources on responsible antibiotic use. By tracking antibiotic usage and resistance patterns, the platform aims to fill critical data gaps and facilitate early detection of AMR outbreaks, ultimately mitigating its impact on public health in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

FarmVet Connect targets a significant population of farmers and veterinarians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region alone, there are approximately 33 million smallholder farmers, many of whom lack access to adequate veterinary resources and information on responsible antibiotic use. Additionally, there are an estimated 160,000 veterinarians across LMICs, serving these farming communities.

Through direct engagement methods such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups, FarmVet Connect aims to understand the specific needs of this large and diverse population. By tailoring its platform to address these needs, FarmVet Connect seeks to support millions of farmers and thousands of veterinarians in improving animal health, reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and ultimately safeguarding public health.

FarmVet Connect provides several public goods:

1. Access to Education: The platform offers educational resources on antibiotic use and resistance in animal agriculture, benefiting farmers and veterinarians by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of AMR.

2. Data for Research: By collecting data on antibiotic use and resistance patterns, FarmVet Connect contributes valuable information for research purposes, helping to improve understanding and management of AMR globally.

3. Community-Level Surveillance: The platform enables community-level surveillance of AMR, providing early warning of potential outbreaks and supporting more targeted interventions to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections.

4. Policy Support: The data collected by FarmVet Connect can inform more effective policies and actions to address AMR, benefiting public health and agricultural sectors.

5. Global Accessibility: FarmVet Connect is designed to be accessible globally, ensuring that its benefits can reach farmers and veterinarians in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of AMR is often highest.

FarmVet Connect is expected to create tangible impact by:

Antibiotic Reduction: Aim to reduce antibiotic use by at least 20% within the first year of implementation, potentially preventing the unnecessary use of thousands of antibiotic doses annually. A gradual reduction strategy will be implemented over the course of 3 years, with milestone evaluations every six months.

Animal Health Improvement: Expect to improve the health and welfare of over 50,000 animals in the initial pilot phase within the first year. By year 2, anticipate extending this impact to reach 100,000 animals, with continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure sustained improvement.

Public Health Protection: By monitoring antibiotic resistance patterns, anticipate providing early warning for potential outbreaks, potentially averting hundreds of cases of antibiotic-resistant infections annually. Early warning systems will be fully operational within the first 6 months, with ongoing refinement and optimization over the following years.

Community Empowerment: Empower over 5,000 farmers and 200 veterinarians with knowledge and resources by the end of 2024, fostering informed decision-making and strengthening agricultural communities. Continuous engagement and capacity building initiatives will be conducted throughout the project duration, with biannual assessments to track progress and effectiveness.

To scale our impact over the next year and the next three years, we will adopt a phased approach that focuses on expanding our reach, enhancing our technology, and fostering partnerships:

Year 1: Expansion and Refinement
- Expand our pilot project to additional regions within Dodoma, Tanzania, reaching a total of 10,000 farmers and 400 veterinarians.
- Enhance the platform based on user feedback and technological advancements, improving usability and effectiveness.

Year 2: Regional Expansion

- Scale the platform to other regions in Tanzania, aiming to reach 50,000 farmers and 1,000 veterinarians.
- Establish partnerships with local governments and agricultural organizations to increase awareness and adoption.

Year 3: Global Outreach
- Expand the platform to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, targeting regions with high antibiotic use in animal agriculture.
- Collaborate with international organizations and stakeholders to integrate our solution into existing AMR initiatives and policies.
- Reach 200,000 farmers and 5,000 veterinarians across multiple countries.
- Partner with at least three international organizations to support the integration and adoption of our platform into global AMR strategies.

To measure success, we will track several key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with our impact goals:

1. User Engagement: Monitor the number of active users on the platform, including farmers and veterinarians, with a target of 80% monthly user retention rate.
2. Knowledge Gain: Conduct pre- and post-engagement surveys to assess the increase in knowledge about antibiotic use and AMR among users, aiming for a 30% increase in understanding.
3. Behavior Change: Track the adoption of recommended antibiotic use practices by farmers and veterinarians, aiming for a 20% reduction in inappropriate antibiotic use.
4. Disease Outbreaks: Monitor early warning signals of potential outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant infections in humans through animal disease surveillance, aiming to detect outbreaks at least two weeks earlier than traditional methods.
5. Scale and Reach: Measure the expansion of the platform to new regions and countries, aiming to reach 200,000 farmers and 5,000 veterinarians by Year 3.

These KPIs will be assessed regularly through platform analytics, user surveys, and collaboration with local health authorities to ensure that our solution is effectively addressing the challenge of AMR in animal agriculture.

Several barriers may hinder our progress in the next year and the next three years:

1. Financial Constraints: Limited funding may restrict our ability to scale operations and expand into new regions. We plan to overcome this barrier by actively seeking grants, partnerships, and investment opportunities to secure additional funding.

2. Technical Challenges: Developing and maintaining a robust mobile platform requires ongoing technical expertise and resources. We will address this barrier by investing in talent acquisition, training, and technological infrastructure to ensure the platform's reliability and scalability.

3. Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: Adhering to diverse regulatory frameworks across different regions may pose challenges to our expansion efforts. We will collaborate with local authorities and policymakers to navigate these complexities and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

4. Cultural and Educational Barriers: Overcoming ingrained practices and beliefs regarding antibiotic use in animal agriculture may require extensive education and community engagement efforts. We will implement targeted educational campaigns and workshops to raise awareness and promote behavior change among farmers and veterinarians.

By proactively addressing these barriers and leveraging our existing resources, networks, and expertise, we are confident in our ability to overcome challenges and achieve our goals in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

We are applying to The Trinity Challenge because it presents a unique opportunity to leverage our solution, FarmVet Connect, to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal agriculture. One of the key barriers we face is the lack of resources to scale up our solution effectively. The Trinity Challenge can provide invaluable support in terms of funding, access to expertise, and networking opportunities, which are essential for overcoming this barrier.

The Trinity Challenge offers a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse stakeholders, including academia, industry, and government. By participating in The Trinity Challenge, we can tap into this ecosystem to gain insights, guidance, and support in refining and implementing our solution.

The Trinity Challenge's focus on addressing global health challenges aligns closely with our mission to combat AMR in animal agriculture, making it an ideal platform for us to showcase our work and collaborate with like-minded organizations and experts. Overall, participating in The Trinity Challenge can significantly accelerate our efforts to mitigate the impact of AMR and improve animal health and welfare worldwide.

We would like to collaborate with organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and local veterinary associations in Tanzania. These collaborations would help us access valuable expertise, resources, and networks in the field of animal health and agriculture.

Working with the FAO and OIE would provide us with access to global best practices and guidelines for antibiotic use in animal agriculture, ensuring that FarmVet Connect aligns with international standards. Collaborating with local veterinary associations in Tanzania would help us engage directly with veterinarians and farmers, ensuring that FarmVet Connect meets the specific needs and realities of the local context.

These collaborations would enhance the credibility and effectiveness of FarmVet Connect, facilitate its adoption and scale-up, and ultimately contribute to the sustainable management of antimicrobials in animal agriculture.