In 2021, UVMB signed a letter of intent for five-year cooperation with Huazhong Agricultural University (Wuhan, China) to create exchange programmes to develop research and education processes and strengthen the relations between the researchers and the students of the two countries.

To kick off the cooperation, on-line workshops were held on 16 and 17 February 2022 on veterinary public health and antimicrobial resistance, as proposed by the Chinese partner, to present the main research areas of both universities and to explore the possibilities for joint cooperation.

The event was opened by Dr. Miklós Süth from UVMB. On 16 February, two members of our Institute, Dr. Ákos Jóźwiak and Dr. Tekla Engelhardt gave presentations on several topics. Among other things, they presented the food systems safety research activities of DFI, our work on the identification of emerging risks, and how the use of data analytical tools can improve animal husbandry practices.

On 17 February, antimicrobial resistance was the main topic of the workshop. Dr. Ákos Jerzsele gave a presentation on the prudent use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry in the European Union. Dr. Zoltán Somogyi discussed the role of pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics analysis in the authorisation and usage of antimicrobial drugs. Dr. Ádám Kerek talked about the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in veterinary products and food of animal origin.

There was a great interest in the workshops from both sides. In total, more than 100 people participated in the online event, of which about 30 colleagues from the UVMB attended the presentations.

UVMB and Hazhong Agricultural University will continue to explore the possibilities of cooperations in the future.