Using antimicrobials in agriculture leads to the emergence of resistant human and animal infections. 

Larger quantities of antimicrobials, like antibiotics, are used in animal production than in human health.

Their use is growing rapidly in emerging economies. 

What to invest in?

• Provide farmers with alternatives to antimicrobials, and incentives to use them

• Research how, and to what extent antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogens move from agriculture to human populations

• Ensure food safety is not endangered. The current push to ban use of antimicrobials arises from a ‘precautionary principle’ approach, but additional research is needed to understand how to best balance risks

• Enhance the regulation of use, surveillance, prevention of infections, diagnostics, education, awareness of antimicrobial resistance
• Reduce misuse of antimicrobials in livestock farming by enhancing prudent, rational use
• Reduce or control transmission of antimicrobial/antibiotic resistance from livestock production systems directly to people (via direct contact, food) or the environment (via contamination, waste)