Global economy to lose $100trn over anti-microbial medicines use, FAO warns

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that continuous use of antimicrobials as growth promoters, especially in livestock and acquaculture could lead to as many as 10 million deaths a year and over $100 trillion in losses to the global economy by 2050. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, who gave the warning at a high-level UN coordination meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) urged that such practices “should be phased out immediately”. Admitting that antimicrobials are important to safeguard the health of humans and animals, the FAO helmsman said there was need to use the medicines responsibly, especially in the agricultural sectors. “FAO advocates that antibiotics and other antimicrobials should be only used to cure diseases and alleviate unnecessary suff ering. Only under strict circumstances they should be used to prevent an imminent threat of infection,” he said. He noted that antimicrobials are still being used as growth promoters, especially in livestock and acquaculture. He also pointed to the use of antimicrobials as biocides on crops, a situation which is leading to some crop funguses becoming more resistant to treatment and which, he said, also needs to stop. The increased use-and abuse-of antimicrobial medicines in both human and animal healthcare has contributed to an increase in the number of diseasecausing microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial medicines used to treat them, like antibiotics. This makes AMR a growing threat that could lead to as many as 10 million deaths a year and over $100 trillion in losses to the global economy by 2050, according to some studies. And in addition to public health risks, AMR has implications for food safety as well as the economic wellbeing of millions of farming households across the globe. Graziano da Silva noted that to date only 89 countries have a system in place to collect data on the use of antimicrobials in farm animals and that “AMR will not be solved in a few years. It will need continuous attention and guidance” Only by working together, the international community will be able to address the challenges that antimicrobial resistance poses to sustainable development,” he said, underscoring the important role not just of governments but also of civil societies and the private sector. Strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems A FAO AMR Action Plan seeks to improve awareness on AMR and related threats; develop capacity for surveillance and monitoring; strengthen governance; and, promote good practices and the prudent use of antimicrobials. As part of efforts to implement the action plan, the UN Agency is supporting countries and rural communities. “This is particularly important where legislation, regulatory surveillance and monitoring systems are weak or inadequate,” he said. Working closely with WHO and OIE FAO, WHO and OIE have decided to intensify their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding including increase collaboration on AMR. Da Silva cited several examples where the three organizations have worked together successfully. This included supporting the Government of Ghana, which last month launched an antimicrobial resistance policy and a national action plan.