Global livestock antibiotic use falls but trade shifts the problem abroad

It looked at data from 2010 to 2020 to calculate each country’s ‘antimicrobial footprint’, similar to a carbon footprint, showing how much is used to make the products we consume.

Antimicrobials – including antibiotics – are widely used in livestock such as cattle, pigs and poultry to prevent disease and boost growth. But overusing them can create drug-resistant bacteria, which already cause around 700,000 deaths a year worldwide.

Cutting use is vital to protect human health. Their use in livestock accounts for about 73% of global consumption of all antimicrobials.

While many developed countries have reduced antimicrobial use at home, they often import products from countries where use is still high – effectively outsourcing the problem.

Between 2010 and 2020, the share of antimicrobials used for internationally traded goods rose from 16% to 20%. Surprisingly, about half of this was for non-food items like clothing, chemicals and electronics, which rely on animal-derived materials.

Emerging economies such as India and Indonesia have seen antimicrobial use rise, partly to meet export demand. India’s footprint grew by 16% over the decade.

Senior author Dr Heran Zheng of UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction said: “The overuse of antimicrobials in livestock is a serious health concern, posing a potential global health threat. The decline in use in recent years is promising and shows that government regulation and intervention can be effective. Our research can help inform future guidance for their usage.”