Global antimicrobial usage peaked dramatically at 118,600 tonnes in 2013 before dropping to 84,000 tonnes by 2020.

A groundbreaking UCL study reveals a paradox at the heart of global agriculture: whilst antimicrobial use in livestock has plummeted by nearly a third since 2013, wealthy nations are quietly shifting the burden overseas through strategic imports.

The research, published in Nature Sustainability, tracked antimicrobial consumption patterns across a decade, painting the most comprehensive picture yet of how these critical medicines flow through our interconnected food systems. The findings tell two contrasting stories about progress and persistent problems.

Global antimicrobial usage peaked dramatically at 118,600 tonnes in 2013 before dropping to 84,000 tonnes by 2020. This remarkable decline accelerated following the landmark 2016 UN meeting on antimicrobial resistance, which catalysed stricter regulations across numerous countries. Per capita consumption fell from 15.6 grams to 10.6 grams during this period.

China and the United States, commanding roughly 60% of worldwide usage, drove this positive shift with reductions of 29% and 28% respectively. These numbers represent genuine progress in combating a threat that currently claims 700,000 lives annually through drug resistant bacteria.

However, beneath these encouraging statistics lies a troubling pattern. Developed nations have effectively exported their antimicrobial footprint by importing products from emerging economies where livestock farming practices remain antimicrobial intensive. Between 2010 and 2020, internationally traded goods' share of antimicrobial use climbed from 16% to 20%.

Perhaps most surprising: half this footprint stems from non food products like clothing, chemicals, and electronics containing animal derived materials. Meanwhile, nations like India and Indonesia face rising antimicrobial consumption, partly fuelled by export demands. India's footprint expanded by 16% across the decade.

"The overuse of antimicrobials in livestock is a serious health concern, posing a potential global health threat. The decline in use in recent years is promising, and shows that government regulation and intervention can be effective. Our research can help inform future guidance for their usage," said Heran Zheng (UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction).

This study underscores a critical reality: reducing antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated global action, not just shifting production to countries with looser regulations. True progress means addressing consumption patterns and supporting sustainable farming practices worldwide.

Rwanda is laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and competitive livestock sector.

Rwanda is taking a significant step in modernising its livestock sector with the arrival of the first batch of 10 high-genetic-potential Holstein-Friesian dairy bulls imported from Germany.

This initiative is designed to strengthen breeding programmes and accelerate improvements in both dairy and beef herds. A second shipment of 20 bulls is expected by April 2026, featuring additional dairy breeds including Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss, alongside top beef breeds such as Angus and Charolais.

These elite bulls will be central to Rwanda’s national bovine artificial insemination (AI) programme, producing high-quality semen distributed nationwide to enhance cattle genetics. By providing farmers with superior semen rather than requiring the purchase of costly breeding animals, the initiative aims to increase productivity, improve herd health, and raise milk yields significantly above those of many local breeds.

The project forms part of Phase II of the Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP-2), a US $100 million programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and running from 2024 to 2029. RDDP-2 aims to modernise Rwanda’s dairy value chain, raise milk quality standards, and boost overall sector productivity.

Rwanda’s efforts to improve livestock genetics trace back to the “One Cow per Poor Family” (Girinka) programme launched in 2006, which introduced improved dairy breeds to rural households. Since then, structured crossbreeding, artificial insemination, and veterinary support initiatives have led to notable gains in national milk and meat production, though authorities emphasise that expansion remains crucial to meet targets outlined in the country’s Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation.

By integrating high-genetic bulls and modern AI techniques, Rwanda is laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and competitive livestock sector, supporting farmers while contributing to the country’s broader agricultural development goals.

Fishmeal plant strengthens west coast fisheries.

The South African government has welcomed a major R170 million investment by the African Pioneer Group into a new fishmeal plant at Sandy Point Harbour in St Helena Bay, Western Cape.

The facility is set to boost local and export supply chains by producing a range of fish products and strengthening the small pelagic sector’s value chain.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp,said, “This facility is so much more than an expansion of processing capacity. It is a strategic intervention in the small pelagic value chain that strengthens domestic beneficiation, enhances operational efficiency, and positions South Africa to extract greater economic value from each tonne of fish harvested,” he said. He added that the project “strengthens local opportunities without increasing pressure on the resource base” and represents investment in communities and the future of South Africa’s fishing industry.

Aucamp emphasised and added, “The more than R170 million investment represented by this facility contributes directly to sustainable industrial growth in a priority coastal node,” he said, highlighting the partnership between government, science and the fishing industry as central to sustainable marine resource management.

The small pelagic sector plays a crucial role in coastal employment, food security, animal feed supply chains, and export earnings, especially along the West Coast. However, it is also highly vulnerable to environmental variability and climate-driven shifts. The Minister pointed to recent scientific assessments showing major fluctuations in biomass and recruitment, particularly the record-low anchovy recruitment in 2025 and persistently low sardine populations.

In response, the sector has been urged to diversify fishing efforts towards more abundant species such as round herring, which has shown strong biomass performance. “This species now plays a critical buffering role in maintaining throughput in the pelagic sector during periods when sardine and anchovy are constrained,” the Minister said. He explained that investments like the Sandy Point fishmeal plant support resilience by enabling efficient processing of a wider species mix, reducing waste, improving turnaround times, and stabilising supply to downstream industries.

Overall, the plant is seen as a strategic move towards sustainable industrialisation and strengthened marine beneficiation, aligning with the Oceans Economy Master Plan and the government’s industrial policy framework.

, South Africa’s FMD outbreak underscores the urgent need for stronger government action, rapid vaccination, and strategic support for the agricultural sector to safeguard food security.

Farmers across South Africa are warning that foot and mouth disease (FMD) is spiralling out of control, with the outbreak now affecting seven provinces and leaving the agricultural sector in crisis.

The disease has spread to KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, causing severe disruptions to livestock farming, export markets, and food prices.

The outbreak, which began in early 2025 after infected cattle from KwaZulu-Natal were sold at auction, has forced the government into the spotlight. Farmers report that delays in response and vaccine shortages have allowed FMD to spread rapidly, while regulations prevent them from vaccinating their herds independently. Even when livestock show signs of illness or die, farmers must wait for official intervention.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen initially downplayed the scale of the crisis but later admitted the situation was serious, stating, “This is a battle we are not winning.” He has promised a national vaccination programme starting February 2026. However, experts and farmers say this initiative comes too late. So far, just over 931,000 cattle have been vaccinated, a fraction of the national herd, with estimated costs to vaccinate all cattle exceeding R5.4 billion.

Testing facilities are also under pressure, leading to long delays for lab results and enabling further spread of the disease. Freedom Front Plus MP Dr Wynand Boshoff criticised weak leadership, noting that “testing delays mean animals recover while others become infected.”

The Southern Africa Agri Initiative has called for the outbreak to be declared a national disaster. Chief executive Francois Rossouw highlighted that such a declaration would enable faster funding, more staff, stricter movement controls, and improved communication. “It would allow vaccines, roadblocks, disinfectants and lab support to be rolled out quickly,” he said, emphasising that family farmers are bearing the brunt of the crisis and are largely left to cope on their own.

With rising meat and dairy prices, export bans, and the livelihoods of countless farmers at risk, South Africa’s FMD outbreak underscores the urgent need for stronger government action, rapid vaccination, and strategic support for the agricultural sector to safeguard food security.