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If a member of the general public asked me to explain what I was doing to help alleviate the threat of antimicrobial resistance (bearing in mind that farmers are apparently responsible for most of the world’s ills at the moment), I now have my defence at the ready.
I would explain that I recently attended a government-run series of courses, designed to re-educate us agricultural pariahs on the error of our ways.
It was organised and delivered by a combination of DAERA, CAFRE, the Rural Development Programme, AI Services, Farm Family Key Skills, and was part-funded from The European Agricultural Fund (a list that is bound to impress the average Joe Bloggs).
But, on the other hand, if another farmer asked me who was running those courses, I’d say, “The Ministry”. And that same farmer would know exactly what I meant – it’s easier to keep things simple.
The course itself is really another box-ticking exercise. That is not to trivialise the intentions or the delivery of a serious subject, but surely everyone involved in farming is by now fully aware of the direction we’re travelling regarding antibiotic resistance?
Or perhaps not, and for those people who have been living on another planet for the past few years, I would recommend attendance at one of these events.
Ours was professionally presented, delivered in a format that was both entertaining and educational in equal measure, and re-emphasised the dangers of not reducing our dependence on anthelmintic products and especially antibiotics.
Most of the ground covered was a well-trodden path, and things like improved hygiene, better housing and recording of all animal medicines used on farm are things that many farmers have been doing since the inception of the Quality Assurance Schemes.
Therefore, for anyone who has been adopting these practices for the best part of 20 years, it wasn’t really edge of the seat stuff.
However, there were occasional snippets of information and data that made me sit up and pay attention. Here’s a good one: If the current trend towards antimicrobial resistance is maintained, it could be the biggest cause of global deaths by 2050. Presently, it causes one death every 50 seconds. At the projected rate, it would be one death every three seconds by 2050. How about that for a showstopper?
Poultry
As usual, the poultry industry has been well ahead of the game, and I tend to watch what’s happening there, and assume the red meat sector will drag itself in the same direction, only 20 years later.
If that is the case, then the future will surely be a hugely increased dependence on vaccinations, and the near removal of antibiotic use across all classes of livestock.
Using my pullets as a working example, they will receive vaccines to cover almost every disease and infection known to inhabit poultry, and it would be almost unheard of to need an antibiotic.
The message here is undoubtedly that it can be done if there is the collective willingness for everyone to move in the same direction. And that is only possible if there is a financial viability for all involved parties – maybe that is the biggest stumbling block of all, especially for the beef sector.
Reassure
One small cloud kept flitting across my mind during the evening. Across the UK and Ireland, farmers will generally behave in an exemplary manner and comply with industry requirements.
This should help to reassure the general public that we are doing our very best to provide them with a wholesome, healthy, safe product and that we have been fully aware of our responsibilities as food producers.
But if we end up with a worst-case situation after Brexit and cheap imports can flood our market, will countries like Brazil, Argentina, or America meet those same standards?
Because then we’ll have a real task on our hands, trying to persuade the general public that ours is a grossly superior product.
I remain convinced that despite many shoppers stating their preference for local produce, that loyalty is tested beyond breaking point when something cheap is dangled in front of their trolley. And that remains the biggest challenge of all.
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