Global trends in antimicrobial use in food-producing animals: 2020 to 2030

Summary

Use of antimicrobials in farming has enabled the growth of intensive animal production and helped in meeting the global increase in demand for animal protein. However, the widespread use of veterinary antimicrobials drives antimicrobial resistance, with important consequences for animal health, and potentially human health. Global monitoring of antimicrobial use is essential: first, to track progress in reducing the reliance of farming on antimicrobials. Second, to identify countries where antimicrobial-stewardship efforts should be targeted to curb antimicrobial resistance. Data on usage of antimicrobials in food animals were collected from 42 countries. Multivariate regression models were used in combination with projections of animal counts for cattle, sheep, chicken, and pigs from the

Regional applicability

This global modelling does not isolate United Kingdom-specific trends, though the UK is among the 42 countries included in the dataset. The findings emphasise the importance of national-level transparency on antimicrobial use, which is relevant to UK policy implementation of antimicrobial stewardship frameworks. The identification of Asia as a use hotspot suggests markedly different contexts from typical high-income European practice, limiting direct applicability of regional projections to UK farming.

Key measures

Total antimicrobial usage (tonnes); antimicrobial use intensity (milligrams per kilogram of animal); geographic distribution of use; projections by animal species (cattle, sheep, chicken, pigs)

Outcomes reported

The study estimated global antimicrobial usage in food animals at 99,502 tonnes (95% CI 68,535–198,052) in 2020 and projected an 8.0% increase to 107,472 tonnes (95% CI 75,927–202,661) by 2030. Geographic hotspots of antimicrobial use were identified, with 67% concentrated in Asia and less than 1% in Africa.

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