Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Food & Agriculture

            Antimicrobials, especially Antibiotics, play an important role in the treatment of diseases that are directly or indirect linked with food security. Antimicrobials help in disease prevention and treatmen and also act as a growth promotor in animals. This misuse or overuse can lead to the development of resistant microorganisms, which can spread through the food chain to humans. The antimicrobials usage varies worldwide; the rates are higher in middle-income countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Very few countries have a record of antimicrobial usage in agriculture. As the demand for animal-sourced food and food products has been increasing in previous decade, the antimicrobials demand is also expected to rise, unless practices are modified to minimize their need. AMR contributes to the failure of treatments for foodborne infections, leading to prolonged illness, higher mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Losses in productivity and trade restrictions on agricultural exports due to AMR can harm economies. Antimicrobial residues can disrupt soil microbiota, affecting crop health and sustainability

Facts About AMR in Food & Agriculture

  • In Global Agriculture, Antibiotic consumption estimation varies due to lack of surveillance and data collection especially in middle income countries. The ranges from 63,000 to over 240,000 tons per year. In African countries, the Antibiotics used Agriculture were with an average of 418 tons per year.
  • Almost 70-80% antibiotics in fishes while 75-90% un-metabolized antibiotics excreted from animals are spread in water bodies that cause Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
  • Antibiotics used for crops are relatively lower in comparison to livestock with a range of 0.2-0.4% of total antibiotic consumption in agriculture.
  • Rejection rates of Imports is 28% and 20% for EU and USA respectively. The rejection rates in Middle income countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Indonesia are higher.
  • An estimation for 2030, the global usage of antimicrobials will rise to105,596 tons, an increase to 67%. As compare to the total consumption of 63,151 tons in 2010. There will be a double increase in antimicrobial consumption in developed countries like Russia, Brazil, India and China.
  • In cattle industry the usage is more while it poultry and fisheries it is less than 10% each of total consumption. In aquaculture, Chile is the 2nd largest farmed salmon producer that use 300 tons of antibiotics while Norway uses less than 1 ton annually.
  • In a study conducted on poultry in 2022 it was revealed that the most commonly used therapeutic options in Pakistan are colistin, doxycycline and tylosin with consumption of 65 mg/kg, 51.81 mg/kg and 44.7 mg/kg respectively.
  • A study conducted in Pakistan in 2008 on marketed dairy milk revealed the presence of 36.50% β lactam antibiotic residues in milk samples above permitted level.
  • In Pakistan poultry industry recent studies, Escherichia coli isolates reported with plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (mcr-1) genes.
  • Research conducted in 2017 Pakistan, 90% meat samples Campylobacter spp. isolates discovered with enro-floxacin, tylosin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, colistin, neomycin, nalidixic acid and gentamicin with resistance rates of 79.2%, 77.6%, 71.2%, 69.6%, 32.8%, 31.2%, and 25.6% respectively.
  • Not all sick animals need antibiotics – only use them under veterinary supervision.
  • Pakistan’s GDP is based on Agriculture and it’s a duty of Agrarians and Veterinarians to minimize the use of antibiotic in farm animals- to help the world in keeping effectiveness of antimicrobials.
  • Always apply infection prevention and control (IPC) practices by separating ill sick animals and good animal to control infections on farm.
  • Use farm biosecurity planning resources to identify major infectious risks and manage these risks to reduce the need to use antibiotics. Available resources include:
  • Apply best biosecurity and hygiene practice to reduce the need for antibiotics and pesticides.

Roles of an Agrarian in AMR Eradication and Prevention of Zonotic & Infectious Diseases

  • Spread awareness campaigns to let the world know about consequences of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)— we all have to play rout role
  • Stop overuse of antimicrobials. Keep dosages, treatments and withholding period as directed by your veterinarian
  • Always finish the treatment courses of antimicrobials and antibiotics
  • Always dispose of remaining antibiotics
  • Use high-spec broad spectrum antibiotic when a narrow spectrum more basic antibiotic will suffice
  • Treatment of diseases caused by viruses or other germs not susceptible should not be done through antibiotic