ÖDP Urges Reduced Antibiotic Use in Livestock Farming to Combat Growing Resistance Threat
The ÖDP, Germany's Nature Protection Party, has renewed its call for a significant reduction in antibiotic use in animal farming. This comes as a warning against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which could lead to millions of deaths and substantial economic losses worldwide.
The ÖDP advocates for sustainable and animal-friendly farming practices, stressing that reducing medicine use in animal husbandry can tackle the root causes of antibiotic resistance. This stance aligns with the German federal government's 10-point plan to counteract antibiotic resistance by 2030.
The party highlights the importance of prioritizing human health and suffering over economic losses in political decisions. They have been warning about excessive antibiotic use, particularly in intensive animal farming, for over a decade. This concern is echoed in the global estimate that the world economy could lose up to 100 trillion US dollars due to antimicrobial resistance by 2050.
In Germany alone, over 45,000 deaths were attributed to antibiotic-resistant infections in 2019. Globally, antimicrobial resistance could result in 10 million deaths per year and a decrease in global GDP of 2 to 3.5 percent by 2050.
The ÖDP's call for reduced antibiotic use in animal farming is a proactive measure against the looming threat of antimicrobial resistance. By prioritizing sustainable and animal-friendly practices, the party aims to protect both human health and the economy from the devastating impacts of antibiotic resistance.
