Lately, there has been much discussion concerning the environmental impact of industrial farming. The impacts are wide-reaching, as nearly everyone uses the produce that is made through modern farming practices.
This is most noticeable in the use of antibiotics for farming. Experts warn that this practice could hurt us the most, perhaps even more than the effects of global warming.
The State of Things
Antibiotics were once considered a miracle drug, but have since become a common part of our lives. No one can argue against the benefits of such drugs–however, they are often misused in the world of agriculture, both in terms of how they are distributed and in what quantities.
At this point, 70% of all antibiotics produced are used in traditional farms as well as fishing farms and large, industrial chicken complexes.
The UK Approach
The scientific community has been familiar with antibiotic use for some time now, and has thoroughly cautioned against it. It was first a matter of public policy within the UK, where over a period of five years a goal was set to lower the amount of antibiotics used by UK farmers. The results were successful, by a significant degree.
In the livestock sector, antibiotic use was lowered by 40% during the five-year span, while it was lowered by 91% amid chicken farms, where antibiotic use was most prevalent. Similar goals were established by UK foreign policy as well.
Foreign Policy
The EU set this issue as a key part of its foreign policy agenda, specifically in regards to trade. The UK followed along as a member state, with the objective to stop importing food from countries that use antibiotics in their food production. Thus, it became a powerful market incentive for reducing antibiotic use.
This mostly affected trade with the US, as antibiotics remain a common practice in their farms. The UK and EU have put the safety of their citizens in front of food costs, but how the issue will be handled post-Brexit remains to be seen.
Organic Farming
Another way to handle these issues is to focus on sustainable and organic farming. This could also be the answer for many other concerns in regards to the safety of our food. Organic farms choose to eliminate all use of antibiotics in pigs as well as chickens, meaning it takes longer to produce yields on pork and poultry farms. It takes between 32 to 40 days to produce a full-grown chicken on an industry farm, as opposed to around 56 days on an organic one.
Stocking Density
Another problem facing UK farmers who rely on antibiotics is the issue of stocking density: referring to the number of animals in a given area per square foot. The goal of industrial farming is to place as many animals on a farm as possible–however, this makes the particularly vulnerable to numerous diseases, making antibiotics a necessity.
The solution proposed by sustainable farmers is simply to have fewer animals per square foot. This means that fewer antibiotics will be necessary, but the farm will also turn less of a profit.
The Role of Supermarkets
Supermarkets play a key role in the prevention of antibiotic use. Many markets add their own antibiotics during the supply chain process, making meat appear presentable for a longer period of time while it stands on the shelves. This must be prevented as well, and is not in the control of sustainable farmers. These changes must be achieved through a matter of law and public policy.
Conclusion
Antibiotics are used in modern farming, to an amount that is often dangerous. The goal of this use is to prevent illness in animals who are living in awful conditions, to cut down on the losses of farm owners. Antibiotic use can lead to many health issues, affecting the immune systems of consumers.