The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent pandemic that is making antibiotics less effective among humans and diseases harder to treat. One of the main causes is the overuse or misuse of antibiotics in animal healthcare, where more than 70% of global antimicrobial usage occurs, contributing to resistance that can transfer to humans through food.
AMR contributes to over 4.9 million deaths globally each year, with India alone accounting for over 1.3 million deaths, making it one of the hardest-hit countries.
AniMeta is tackling the deadly rise of AMR by making antibiotic-free veterinary care more accessible to farmers in India.
The enterprise has developed an automated disease diagnosis chatbot – an AI-powered, rule-based system with over 1,000 decision trees – which can diagnose more than 200 dairy animal diseases. The chatbot is free to use and connects farmers with Registered Veterinary Practitioners (RVP) when further advice is needed. The practitioners can then prescribe ethnoveterinary products that offer effective, natural alternatives to antimicrobials and conventional veterinary drugs.
AniMeta provides both home-based ethnoveterinary preparations and ready-to-use ethnoveterinary products, which can collectively treat over 80% of dairy animal diseases. The products are scientifically validated alternatives to antibiotics, providing safer yet effective options for livestock care. Combined with the free disease diagnosis chatbot, the enterprise can help 51,000 farmers save approximately ₹70 million (around £3,000) each in 18 months, improving their profitability and livelihoods through reduced reliance on antibiotic-based treatments.
Together with TRANSFORM, AniMeta is scaling its business to reach even more Indian farmers. It aims to expand its current presence in Tamil Nadu and launch operations in Western Uttar Pradesh to collectively reach 2,000 villages by 2027. The expansion will promote antibiotic-free solutions through vet camps, demonstrations, and social media awareness programmes.
AniMeta will also strengthen its partnerships with dairy cooperatives, supporting the industry in embedding safe milk production practices throughout the value chain. By training dairy cooperative and agro-service workers, the enterprise will raise awareness and equip them with the relevant skills and knowledge to adopt antibiotic-free practices.
By 2027, AniMeta is projected to positively impact over 140,000 dairy farmers, transforming how milk is produced and promoting better public health.