Global Markets, Industrial Agriculture, and Environmental Contamination: A One Health Economic Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance

This article was exclusively written for European Sting by Ms. Luna Mayumi Pereira Kato is a Brazilian medical student born on October 30, 2006, in Bastos, São Paulo. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Antibiotics — first identified in 1928 by the Scottish microbiologist Alexander Fleming through the discovery of penicillin — began to be produced on an industrial scale during World War II, representing a transformative milestone in the clinical management of bacterial infections. However, contemporary global society, shaped by the growing influence of the pharmaceutical industry and the reinforcing logic of capitalist production, is increasingly defined by the indiscriminate and often inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents in human health, veterinary practices, and environmental contexts. This widespread misuse has gradually converted what was once a revolutionary medical advancement into a complex and urgent public health crisis.

From a One Health perspective — which emphasizes the inherent interdependence between human, animal, and environmental health — the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) must be analyzed holistically. Within the human dimension, the excessive, irrational, and frequently unsupervised consumption of antibiotics remains a central driver of rising resistance. Limited public understanding of the mechanisms of action of these drugs, combined with the normalization of self-medication and insufficient adherence to therapeutic guidelines, contributes significantly to the proliferation of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. These trends jeopardize the effectiveness of critical medical interventions, including major surgeries, organ transplants, and chemotherapy, thereby increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare system burden worldwide.

In the animal health domain, the intensive use of antimicrobial agents in large-scale livestock production constitutes another major determinant of AMR dissemination. Antibiotics are often administered not only for therapeutic purposes but also as growth promoters or preventive measures in otherwise healthy animals, practices largely motivated by economic incentives. Such misuse facilitates the emergence of resistant pathogens capable of being transmitted to humans through direct contact, environmental exposure, or the ingestion of contaminated animal products. This dynamic highlights the need to reassess agricultural practices that prioritize productivity over biosecurity and the long-term preservation of both public and animal health.

The environmental sphere further exacerbates the AMR crisis. The improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste, combined with the continuous release of antimicrobial residues into soil and aquatic ecosystems, creates persistent reservoirs of resistant microorganisms. Wastewater originating from households, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities frequently contains sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, which exert selective pressure on environmental bacterial communities. These conditions facilitate horizontal gene transfer between environmental and pathogenic bacteria, promoting the circulation of resistance determinants and threatening essential resources such as drinking water.

In conclusion, the escalation of antimicrobial resistance reflects structural failures within global health governance, including inadequate regulation of pharmaceutical markets, persistent misinformation regarding antibiotic use, and the prioritization of economic interests over public welfare. The pharmaceutical and agricultural industries often exploit gaps in public knowledge and regulatory oversight, deepening patterns of misuse. Addressing this multifaceted crisis demands a coordinated, interdisciplinary, and globally integrated approach, emphasizing surveillance, strict regulation of antibiotic use in both humans and animals, environmental monitoring, and comprehensive public education strategies.

About the author

Luna Mayumi Pereira Kato is a Brazilian medical student born on October 30, 2006, in Bastos, São Paulo. She began her medical studies at age 18 at the Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos, where she is currently in her second semester. Since childhood, Luna has nurtured a deep connection to reading and actively participated in volunteer work, shaping her empathy and social awareness. In 2025, she began her involvement with IFMSA as the Local Coordinator of SCOPE, expanding her engagement in global health. At 19, she remains dedicated to her academic growth and vocation for medicine.