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A review of determinants of antimicrobial (over)use in animal production
This project will explore the drivers of antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine. The project bridges between quantitative veterinary epidemiology and economic analysis
The global scale-up in demand for animal protein is one of the most notable trend of our time. The transition to high-protein diets has been facilitated by the expansion of intensive animal production systems in which antimicrobials are used routinely to maintain health and productivity. Globally, 73% of all antimicro-
bials sold on earth are used in animals raised for food. The reliance of modern farms on antimicrobials is growing concern for human health, the long-term viability of the livestock sector, and thus also the livelihood of farmers. However, farmers and veterinarians contribute themselves to mechanisms encouraging antimicrobial use on farms. Specificities of the goal functions of both, farmers and veterinarians (e.g. minimizing risks, maximizing profits, smaller preference for outcomes in future periods) as well as the interrelationship between farmers and veterinarians determine these outcomes. Some of the drivers of antimicrobial use are known (Coyne et al), other remain poorly document, and may contribute to regional heterogeneities in antimicrobial consumption. This thesis project contributes to a bigger interdisciplinary research project.
References
Coyne, L.A., Latham, S.M., Dawson, S., Donald, I.J., Pearson, R.B., Smith, R.F., Williams, N.J., Pinchbeck, G.L., 2019. Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers. Front. Vet. Sci. 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00257
Hennessy, D. A., & Wolf, C. A. (2018). Asymmetric information, externalities and incentives in animal disease prevention and control. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 69(1), 226-242.
McNamara, P. E., & Miller, G. Y. (2002). Pigs, people, and pathogens: a social welfare framework for the analysis of animal antibiotic use policy. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 84(5), 1293-1300.
Miller, G. Y., McNamara, P. E., & Singer, R. S. (2006). Stakeholder position paper: Economist's perspectives on antibiotic use in animals. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 73(2-3), 163-168.
Sneeringer, S., MacDonald, J. M., Key, N., McBride, W. D., & Mathews, K. (2015). Economics of antibiotic use in US livestock production. USDA, Economic Research Report, (200).
Roope, L. S., Smith, R. D., Pouwels, K. B., Buchanan, J., Abel, L., Eibich, P., ... & Wordsworth, S. (2019). The challenge of antimicrobial resistance: what economics can contribute. Science, 364(6435).
The global scale-up in demand for animal protein is one of the most notable trend of our time. The transition to high-protein diets has been facilitated by the expansion of intensive animal production systems in which antimicrobials are used routinely to maintain health and productivity. Globally, 73% of all antimicro- bials sold on earth are used in animals raised for food. The reliance of modern farms on antimicrobials is growing concern for human health, the long-term viability of the livestock sector, and thus also the livelihood of farmers. However, farmers and veterinarians contribute themselves to mechanisms encouraging antimicrobial use on farms. Specificities of the goal functions of both, farmers and veterinarians (e.g. minimizing risks, maximizing profits, smaller preference for outcomes in future periods) as well as the interrelationship between farmers and veterinarians determine these outcomes. Some of the drivers of antimicrobial use are known (Coyne et al), other remain poorly document, and may contribute to regional heterogeneities in antimicrobial consumption. This thesis project contributes to a bigger interdisciplinary research project.
References Coyne, L.A., Latham, S.M., Dawson, S., Donald, I.J., Pearson, R.B., Smith, R.F., Williams, N.J., Pinchbeck, G.L., 2019. Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers. Front. Vet. Sci. 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00257 Hennessy, D. A., & Wolf, C. A. (2018). Asymmetric information, externalities and incentives in animal disease prevention and control. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 69(1), 226-242. McNamara, P. E., & Miller, G. Y. (2002). Pigs, people, and pathogens: a social welfare framework for the analysis of animal antibiotic use policy. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 84(5), 1293-1300. Miller, G. Y., McNamara, P. E., & Singer, R. S. (2006). Stakeholder position paper: Economist's perspectives on antibiotic use in animals. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 73(2-3), 163-168. Sneeringer, S., MacDonald, J. M., Key, N., McBride, W. D., & Mathews, K. (2015). Economics of antibiotic use in US livestock production. USDA, Economic Research Report, (200). Roope, L. S., Smith, R. D., Pouwels, K. B., Buchanan, J., Abel, L., Eibich, P., ... & Wordsworth, S. (2019). The challenge of antimicrobial resistance: what economics can contribute. Science, 364(6435).
The goal of this thesis is to document behavioral and institutional factors driving antimicrobial use in animals. To this end, a theoretical framework on specificities of the goal functions of both, farmers and veterinarians as well as the interrelationship between farmers and veterinarians is developed. Based on this framework, a systematic literature review will be conducted to identify factors susceptible to lead to antimicrobial prescriptions. A particular focus will be on farming systems such as in Switzerland with comparably small herd sizes, high value products, dense veterinarian networks and high level of education and policy intervention.
Ultimately the goal of this thesis is to path grounds to formulate recommendation about potential policy interventions.
The work will be co-supervised by the Health Geography and Policy that provides backgrounds on the issue of antimicrobial resistance as well as possibly data.
The goal of this thesis is to document behavioral and institutional factors driving antimicrobial use in animals. To this end, a theoretical framework on specificities of the goal functions of both, farmers and veterinarians as well as the interrelationship between farmers and veterinarians is developed. Based on this framework, a systematic literature review will be conducted to identify factors susceptible to lead to antimicrobial prescriptions. A particular focus will be on farming systems such as in Switzerland with comparably small herd sizes, high value products, dense veterinarian networks and high level of education and policy intervention.
Ultimately the goal of this thesis is to path grounds to formulate recommendation about potential policy interventions.
The work will be co-supervised by the Health Geography and Policy that provides backgrounds on the issue of antimicrobial resistance as well as possibly data.
Robert Finger: rofinger@ethz.ch; Thomas Van Boeckel: thomas.vanboeckel@env.ethz.ch
Robert Finger: rofinger@ethz.ch; Thomas Van Boeckel: thomas.vanboeckel@env.ethz.ch