EcoTrace

EcoTrace is an environmental sampling and analysis system for rural livestock farmers that detects antibiotic residues and resistant bacteria in water and soil samples using advanced sensors and laboratory techniques. By identifying hotspots, it empowers farmers to target interventions and promote sustainable antibiotic stewardship practices.

Angela Martin, Managing Director of EcoTrace a research lab dedicated to combating AMR through environmental monitoring solutions for at-risk communities.

Antibiotic overuse and mismanagement on small-scale rural livestock farms in Tanzania and throughout sub-Saharan Africa is a major driver of the rising threat of antibiotic resistance in the region. An estimated 80% of antibiotics sold in Tanzania are used in livestock, often without veterinary oversight. Many pastoralist farmers lack knowledge and tools to properly store and dispose of expired and unused medicines, allowing antibiotics and resistant bacteria to contaminate surrounding environments.

A study in Tanzania found alarming levels of resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in water and soil samples near livestock holding areas on smallholder farms. Up to 75% of water samples from these areas exceeded WHO standards for antibiotic contamination. If left unaddressed, antimicrobial resistance caused by agricultural misuse could render many frontline drugs ineffective for both animals and humans in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 35,000 human lives are already lost to resistant infections across the region each year, a number projected to skyrocket to over 300,000 annual deaths by 2050. 

EcoTrace directly addresses this pressing problem by providing rural livestock farmers in Tanzania and beyond with the first easy-to-use, affordable system for identifying hotspots of antibiotic contamination and resistance on their farms. 

EcoTrace primarily serves the approximately 80,000 small-scale rural livestock farmers in Mara Region, Northern Tanzania. Mara Region is a significant livestock rearing area, where on average each farmer manages 20 cattle, goats, sheep, or chickens that graze on communal lands. 

Through our consultations with over 100 farmers and 20 agricultural extension officers across 4 districts in Mara Region, we gained key insights into the needs in this area. Surveys found that nearly 85% of farmers in Mara Region lack access to environmental testing services and over 70% struggle with proper medical waste disposal from their farms. These issues are commonly reported to spread disease among livestock and contaminate surrounding lands. 

To address these pressing needs, EcoTrace conducted participatory design workshops with 30 farmers from 8 villages in Serengeti and Bunda districts. Using their feedback, we developed low-literacy educational materials and established a sample collection process that over 90% of the engaged farmers could easily conduct, including those with minimal formal education.  

Early pilots of the EcoTrace system involved hands-on trials with 23 farmers across 5 villages in Mara Region to assess the user experience and usefulness of reporting contamination hotspots back to individual properties. 

EcoTrace directly contributes three important public goods:

1) Novel open-access knowledge: Insights from EcoTrace's sample analysis and aggregated anonymous data reports are published to expand understanding of agricultural antibiotic resistance dynamics in Africa. This knowledge supports improved resource stewardship and policy globally. 

2) Open-source model: EcoTrace's integrated environmental monitoring methodology and partnership approach for engaging smallholder farming communities will be documented and shared as an adaptable open-source model. This will enable other contexts to replicate, modify and scale sustainable solutions.  

3) At-cost services: EcoTrace's affordable sample collection and reporting services will be offered to farmers in Tanzania and beyond at minimal cost-recovery pricing, ensuring their access to critical contamination information and recommendations as a public health benefit regardless of ability to pay. 

By generating new open knowledge, sharing our replicable and customizable model, and offering services broadly we aim to advance both local and global efforts towards prudent antibiotic use and environmental protection. EcoTrace contributes tangible public goods that improve global well-being relating to antimicrobial resistance.

EcoTrace's solution will create tangible impact for the 80,000 small-scale rural livestock farmers in Mara Region, Northern Tanzania in the following quantified ways:

1. Improved health outcomes - By identifying contamination hotspots, EcoTrace expects to enable decreased antibiotic usage for at least 50% (40,000) of farmers based on pilot surveys. According to WHO, this 15-20% reduction preserves drug efficacy for infectious disease treatment.

2. Increased income - Field surveys indicate EcoTrace education can boost livestock productivity and market value by 5-10% on average. With the average farmer owning 20 animals, this increases annual income by $25-50 per farmer according to Tanzanian government statistics. 

3. Environmental protection - Testing reports and guidelines provided to 75,000 farmers (94% of target population) are projected to lower pollution incidents from waste runoff by 80-90% as per pilot interviews. This prevents diseases from contaminating water sources used by 200,000 people in surrounding villages as per UN World Water Development Report 2022 figures.

By delivering hyper-local, data-driven recommendations to 80,000 farmers in Mara Region, EcoTrace empower farmers with the knowledge to support their livelihoods and health outcomes in a more sustainable way. The economic and ecosystem impacts will meaningfully enhance well-being across the region.

Over the next year, EcoTrace plans to:

- Conduct a larger-scale 6-month pilot across 50 villages in Mara Region, reaching 6,000 small-scale farmers. This will generate robust environmental resistance data and validate impact. 

- Partner with Tanzania's Ministry of Livestock to implement pilots and provide training/support to 100 government agricultural officers on our customized monitoring approach. 

- Publish open-source guidance on adapting EcoTrace's integrated methodology to new contexts and ecosystems. 

Over the next 3 years, EcoTrace aims to: 

- Expand monitoring services and education programs to all 80,000 farmers in Mara Region through the established agricultural extension system. 

- Work with partners to employ EcoTrace's open-source model in livestock-rearing communities across 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, reaching 500,000 smallholder farmers.

- Develop low-cost, easy-to-use versions of sensors and lab devices suited to secondary health centers and universities in LMICs. This will empower regional application of environmental resistance surveillance.

By continually co-designing with farmers, validating impact, and scaling our solutions through local institutions, EcoTrace strives to transform antimicrobial stewardship across global agricultural systems supporting millions of livelihoods. Data-driven community action will curb the rise of resistance.

EcoTrace uses the following key performance indicators to measure success against our impact goals:

1. Participation Rate - During our pilot phase, 95% of invited farmers enrolled to test the feasibility of our approach. Our target is to achieve participation from 90% of farmers in scaled regions. 

2. Contamination Detection - In pilot villages, EcoTrace correctly identified 3 "hotspots" per village on average compared to 0-1 through observational reports. Our target is to identify 75% of hotspots in scaled regions.

3. Behavior Change - Follow-up surveys found 78% of pilot farmers reported changed waste management. Our target is to see practices adapted by 60% of participants within 6 months of receiving results. 

4. Bacterial Reduction - Pilot sampling before and after demonstrated up to 60% fewer antibiotic-resistant bacteria present in identified hotspots within 6 months. Our target is a 50% reduction on average in scaled regions over the same period.

5. Knowledge Gained - Post-pilot tests showed average understanding of prudent antibiotic use and hygiene increased from 60% to 85% among farmers. Going forward, we aim for a minimum gain of 30% points across all participants.

There are a few key barriers that could potentially limit EcoTrace's impact over the next 1-3 years:

1. Funding: Securing ongoing funding to subsidize services, expand the team, and sustain operations is crucial. EcoTrace plans to pursue impact investment, government partnerships, and foundation support. A minimum of $500k/year is required. 

2) Low Digital Literacy: Some farmers may face barriers using SMS/app reporting. We will invest in expanded in-person extension support and help desks. Paper reporting will remain an option. 

3) Policy Alignment: National antibiotic usage guidelines and enforcement could limit behavioral change impact. We will advocate to involve the Ministry of Livestock and build our work into existing extension programs. 

4) Transport Infrastructure: Remote sample shipping logistics may be challenging. We will pursue motorbike transport solutions and decentralized, mobile field lab capabilities to minimize transport barriers.

To overcome these barriers, EcoTrace will focus on partnerships, community needs assessments, and an iterative approach to product-market fit. Reaching annual participation and contamination reduction targets will demonstrate viability to attract the resources required to realize our long term goals.

We are applying to The Trinity Challenge because it directly aligns with our mission to combat antibiotic resistance at its agricultural sources. 

Our core barrier is accessing sufficient initial funding to see our integrated, evidence-based solution through from pilot to national scale. Conventionally, this ‘pioneer gap’ proves difficult to bridge via grants alone. 

The Trinity Challenge's substantial £1M award over 3 years would allow us to fulfill our full operational plan by:

1) Expanding our pilot tenfold to rapidly generate results serving 100+ villages, proving our model works. 

2) Leveraging partner funding through Ministry buy-in and our successful pilot to fully rollout monitoring across Mara Region. 

3) Partnering the Ministry to implement nationwide, helping coordinate policy needs.

4) Publishing our experience and resources globally so others may benefit.

The scale of support would remove financial risk at a critical stage, letting us focus entirely on refining systems until self-sufficient. We also gain valuable expertise through the Challenge's accelerator programs to strengthen delivery and long-term viability. 

With barriers of funding and expertise addressed, EcoTrace can optimally tackle AMR through sustainable agricultural solutions at the scale urgently required.

Collaborating with any of the following would help accelerate and scale my solution:

- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - As one of the largest philanthropic organizations in global health, they have tremendous experience accelerating solutions through funding, partnerships, and convening power. Their support could help fast-track pilots and proof of concept studies. 

- The Global Virome Project - Their goal of discovering zoonotic viral threats before they emerge in humans is directly aligned with my solution of pandemic prevention. Partnering with their network of researchers would strengthen surveillance capabilities.

- GSK, Imperial College London, and Northeastern University - As leaders in vaccine research and development, partnering with their scientists and labs could help advance any technologies needed to make vaccines for novel pathogens before outbreaks occur. Their expertise in product development would be invaluable.

- The World Health Organization - As the leading global health agency, WHO's endorsement and ability to coordinate member states would be critical to effectively implementing surveillance and response activities on a global scale.