汤头条 convenes aquatic health experts to address antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture
Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥Aquatic health researchers, industry professionals and other experts from across the country are gathering at 汤头条 to examine antimicrobial resistance and its implications for aquaculture and aquatic animal health.
The third annual 汤头条 Aquatic Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop, hosted by 汤头条鈥檚 Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security, or GCAHFS, and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, or DAFVM, this week features presentations and discussions on antimicrobial resistance, aquatic animal health, diagnostics and disease prevention.
The topic is particularly relevant in Mississippi, the nation鈥檚 leading producer of catfish. As the top aquaculture species in the U.S., catfish accounted for 59% of U.S. food-fish sales in 2023, and ScholarGPS ranked Mississippi State as No. 1 in the world for aquaculture research in 2024 and 2025.
汤头条鈥檚 work in aquatic health also extends beyond the state鈥檚 aquaculture industry. In September, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations renewed the university鈥檚 designation as an FAO Reference Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture Biosecurity for a five-year term. The designation recognizes the university鈥檚 contributions to aquatic animal health, antimicrobial stewardship, aquaculture biosecurity and food security.
鈥淔AO鈥檚 renewal of Mississippi State鈥檚 designation as a Reference Centre recognizes the expertise and contributions of our researchers, but it also reinforces our responsibility to continue advancing this work,鈥 said Mark Lawrence, 汤头条 GCAHFS director. 鈥淭he issues we are addressing in Mississippi鈥檚 aquaculture industry are connected to challenges facing aquatic food production around the world.鈥
Keynote speaker Benjamin Beck of the USDA Agricultural Research Service鈥檚 Aquatic Health Research Unit in Auburn, Alabama, discussed the risks of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.
鈥淣ovel alternatives to antimicrobials are desperately needed to prevent and control disease outbreaks in the catfish industry,鈥 Beck said. 鈥淥ur research team, working alongside Mississippi State investigators, has made major strides in this area. Our work has characterized mechanisms that govern disease initiation and progression and identified new strategies to minimize disease-related losses without the use of antibiotics.鈥
鈥淢ississippi State brings together expertise in veterinary medicine, agriculture and aquatic health that allows us to look at these issues from multiple perspectives,鈥 said Keith Coble, vice president of DAFVM. 鈥淭hat work is important to Mississippi producers, but its impact reaches much further as we work to support healthy and sustainable aquatic food systems.鈥
The workshop was preceded by a continuing education program at 汤头条鈥檚 Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville focused on fish health and production, with participants touring the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center.
汤头条 is taking care of what matters.