Antibiotic Resistance could claim lives of 10 million annually by 2050 – WAP warns

World Animal Protection (WAP) has raised alarm, projecting that by 2050, Antibiotic-Resistant infections could claim up to 10 million lives globally each year due to the impacts of industrial animal farming.

WAP’s Research and Planning Manager, Dr. Patrick Mvinde, shared this stark warning during a workshop for journalists in Abuja on Thursday, organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) under the theme “Implications of Industrial Animal Farming in Nigeria.”

Mvinde highlighted that 1.27 million people currently die annually from infections resistant to antibiotics, a crisis he largely attributes to industrial farming practices.

“This system, where animals like chickens, pigs, and cattle are raised in cramped, controlled environments, uses 75 percent of the world’s antibiotics,” he stated.

According to Mvinde, of the 80 billion animals raised globally, three-quarters endure intense confinement, leading to stress, deformities, and health issues.

“Chickens, for instance, reach market weight in just 40 days due to genetic selection, causing severe strain on their hearts, lungs, and joints,” he added.

He explained that antibiotic residues from these farms contaminate consumers and the environment, fueling antibiotic resistance in humans.

Mvinde also linked industrial farming to zoonotic diseases like Avian Influenza and Swine Flu, noting, “Even COVID-19 reflects the rising trend of diseases jumping from animals to humans.”

Instead of promoting industrial farming, Mvinde advocated for supporting smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty while protecting human and environmental health.

“Small-scale farming is sustainable and respects both animals and ecosystems,” he emphasized.

Programme Manager at HEDA Resource Centre, Mr. Mayowa Shobo, echoed these concerns, warning against the expansion of global industrial farming into Africa.

Citing a study across five Nigerian states, he said, “Industrial farming harms human health, disrupts ecosystems, and erodes socio-cultural values in host communities.” Shobo pointed out that clearing vast lands for these farms undermines climate change efforts and that job opportunities created are often low-paying and selective.

“Land decisions are made without proper community consultation, sidelining women and marginalized groups,” he noted, adding that unresolved complaints leave communities feeling powerless.

Shobo urged governments to invest in local food production, health centers, and flood control systems while protecting smallholder farmers through access to seeds and resources.

“We need policies that prioritize sustainability and community empowerment over industrial exploitation,” he concluded.

NAN