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FAO Conference addressing antimicrobial resistance

Food and ag officials the world over are meeting in Rome to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock production.

Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish is attending the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) World Food Security Conference and tells Brownfield AMR effects everyone.

“As livestock producers, we definitely need to use antibiotics when the animals are sick. But we have to be cautious so we don’t build up resistance. So a lot of it is awareness not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. And in those third-world countries, how do we address that?”

He says globally, there are a lot of different views on antimicrobial resistance.  Wertish points to the European Union as a leader in consumer awareness, but says many third world countries struggle to comprehend the issue.

“Do they have the controls, government watching that type of stuff? It’s very hard to monitor at that level, so it’s an awareness issue not only in the U.S. but throughout Europe and some of the under-developed countries too.”

Wertish participated in a panel Thursday titled “AMR: everyone’s concern from farm to fork.” 

The FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.