As we emerge from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to recognize the connection between the environment, human health, and food security. Due to antibiotic overuse, many of the world’s deadliest diseases are growing immune to antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments, known as antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. AMR is internationally recognized as a global public health threat, contributing to 1.27 million deaths each year.
Beyond the very real human cost, AMR has the potential to deliver a $100 trillion reduction in global economic output, according to a 2016 review of the issue by The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, and a 3.8% reduction in annual GDP by 2050 according to the World Bank. This is particularly important for low- and middle-income countries whose health and food sectors could be seriously impacted, as more than 25% of GDP in LMICs is derived from agriculture.
A key but often overlooked battleground in the fight against AMR is animal agriculture, which is responsible for 70% of all antibiotic use globally. In tightly packed factory farms, antibiotics are used to prevent the spread of disease and, in countries where regulation permits, for growth promotion.
About the author
Maria Lettini
Maria Lettini is executive director of the FAIRR Initiative, a collaborative investor network that raises awareness of the environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities brought about by intensive livestock production, including analysis of issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, working conditions, and antimicrobial resistance. Maria has over a decade of experience in sustainability and finance, partnering with global institutional investors to engage with some of the world’s most critical ESG challenges.
