The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Animal Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization have carried out a new study focusing on the use of antibiotics in different areas. In the study, it was revealed that the use of antibiotics in agriculture is much more than expected. In the study conducted by WHO, it was revealed that the use of antibiotics in agriculture is less followed than the use of antibiotics for human and animal health. 26 percent of the 158 countries participating in the survey in the work of the three organizations follow the use of antibiotics in the field of human health and 23 percent in the field of animal health. This rate drops unexpectedly in following up the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Only 3 percent of 158 countries participating in the study follow the use of antibiotics in agriculture, the types and amount of antibiotics used. The researchers explained that the use of crop-based antibiotics in agriculture was not followed, and that the amount of antibiotics used in these areas was negligible. The study, published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, shows that 63 tons of streptomycin and 7 tons of tetracycline are used annually only in rice producing areas in Southeast Asia. The study shows that in some years and in some regions, 10 percent of the rice crop contains at least one type of antibiotic.
Antibiotic use in agriculture has reached alarming levels
Scientists consider the use of antibiotics, which are generally used against bacterial diseases, against the diseases of agricultural products that they cannot be effective in. Dr. of the scientists who participated in the study. Philip Taylor said that the number of agricultural consultants recommending antibiotics against some pests in agricultural products is quite high. Taylor said these consultants guessed he did not know that antibiotics would not be effective against such pests. Scientists who carried out studies on the use of antibiotics in the field of agriculture; They detected 11 types of antibiotics, mostly blended, on products grown in the USA, East Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Pacific coast countries. In Africa, which is known to use a significant amount of antibiotics in agriculture, there is no record of this issue.
The use of antibiotics in agricultural products increases the resistance of bacteria
Scientists have determined that antibiotics used to protect agricultural products increase the resistance of bacteria to a higher rate than their use in other areas. Researchers found that bacteria can develop resistance 100,000 times faster when antibiotics are mixed with agrochemicals. When this happens in agricultural crops that are consumed raw, this creates a potential for important problems in terms of people’s health. The scientists who conducted the study explained that more work should be done in the field of using antibiotics to protect agricultural crops. Keeping more records in this area may expand the scope of their work.
