The research project, named "Development stages of cross-reduction measures for antibiotic-resistant pathogens in broilers" (Esram), is aiming to develop products and cross-stage measures to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant germs throughout the poultry chain.

The measures to be developed include various different points within the broiler supply chain, ranging from the development of new and improved methods for disinfecting hatching eggs to optimisation of husbandry systems, sanitary conditions and feeding regimes.

Federal Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt explained: "We can only prevent the development of antibiotic resistance if human and veterinary medicine sectors work closely together, and so, with my colleague Health Minister Hermann Gröhe, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), I have established and strengthened the 'one health' approach since 2008.

"With the 16th amendment of the Medicines Act, we have already established in Germany a system for minimising antibiotics in livestock production.

"Another building block to avoid antibiotic resistance is research. That's why my Ministry is investing in the development of concrete actions and products that can reduce the development and transfer of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in poultry meat production."