The use of antimicrobials in livestock production and food systems has contributed significantly to improving animal welfare and creating safer production systems. These medicines are the only means of treating bacterial diseases and remain a fundamental component of global agrifood systems.
However, the excessive and improper use of these critical tools can lead to the development of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which not only threatens human health but also undermines the long-term viability of agricultural production. This global health crisis, if left unaddressed, could reverse decades of progress in healthcare and agriculture.
Ensuring that these medicines remain effective in the decades ahead requires reducing the need for antimicrobial use through improved disease prevention. This is the only way to reduce their use in a manner that respects animal welfare, and it is for this reason that FAO launched the Pathways to Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) programme.
A new report, How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics, outlines the tools and practices that can reduce the need for antimicrobials, such as vaccination, biosecurity, genetics, digital technologies, and more. The FAO RENOFARM team and the AMR Working Group supported the development of the report.
The case studies within the report explain how prevention tools were able to:
- Reduce antimicrobial use by 99.8% in Scottish salmon through new vaccines.
- Increase farm income while simultaneously reducing antibiotic use in poultry through vaccination against E. coli.
- Improve natural immunity against bacterial diseases through phytogenic feed additives.
- Reduce antibiotic use by 44% while producing 35% more milk in dairy cows through improved genetics, among other measures.
Furthermore, the report presents several projects that have helped implement better prevention practices in both developed and emerging markets. These include the vaccination of 37 million day-old chicks in hatcheries across West, East, and Southern Africa, and the development of “Responsible Use Coalitions” in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
The diversity of tools and projects demonstrates how disease prevention can take many forms depending on market conditions and needs. This means that, regardless of region or country, all producers can find pathways to reduce the need for antimicrobials and protect against the development of resistance. How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics will be a key component of the RENOFARM project in the years ahead.
For further information: FAO: “Prudent and efficient use of antimicrobials in pigs and poultry“