Perceptions, understandings, and behaviours along the pork food chain relating to antimicrobial resistance in the UK

AMR is now recognised as a global public health issue, threatening the treatment and control of various diseases, and hampering the use of new modern medicines. The use of antimicrobials in livestock production is of increasing concern as usage has been linked to the emergence of resistant bacteria in humans.

The UK pig industry is of particular concern due to its intensive nature, using more antimicrobials than other livestock production sectors. Yet, existing research has focused on sole and dual stakeholder perspectives, not taking into account the views of all key pork food chain actors as a unified entity. To understand fully the practices and drivers of antimicrobial use and resistance in the pork industry, it is necessary to assess the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours along the pork chain from a multi-stakeholder perspective (farmers, veterinary surgeons, processors, retailers, consumers).<br><br>Thus, using a mixed methods approach this thesis investigates the perceptions and attitudes towards agricultural antimicrobial use and AMR from farmer to consumer, encompassing various intermediary stakeholders throughout the pork supply chain.