Briefing Paper

The Growing Antimicrobial Resistance from Agricultural Practices

Wide scale antimicrobial usage in animal farming accelerates antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria which is spread on to the human population that consume the products and the environment into which livestock farming wastes are released. Repeated use of antibiotic pesticides in plant farming enriches the generation of AMR bacteria which is passed on to animals and humans that eat the produce. Use of antibiotics in aquaculture pollutes the waters and generates AMR which affects all living things in the aquatic habitat and even beyond. Soil is a natural reservoir for AMR bacteria and may pass them on to crops that grow in it and water that stems from it. The environment continues to get polluted with antimicrobial elements due to human activities especially agriculture and there is need to reduce the growing trend.