Aquatic food production systems
Aquatic food production systems—particularly aquaculture—play an increasingly central role in global food security.
We asked AMR experts and EDAR8 Scientific Committee Members to weigh in on the issue.
As controlled farming systems expand to meet growing demand, attention is turning to the sustainability challenges that accompany this growth, including disease management, antibiotic use, and AMR.
"Aquaculture has the potential to play an increasingly important role in the future food system, but only if we can identify and solve key sustainability challenges, of which antibiotic use is one."
Aquaculture is a diverse activity with high heterogeneity in systems and species. Much of the recent growth in the sector has been driven by intensification, bringing with it increased disease pressure and, in turn, increased use of antibiotics and the need for alternative solutions such as vaccine development. Emerging estimates suggest aquaculture may account for almost 6% of global antibiotic use, with per biomass usage in some species exceeding that of terrestrial food animals and humans. Understanding how antibiotic use in aquatic food systems contributes to the development and spread of resistant bacteria is now a critical research priority, particularly given the interconnected nature of water environments across landscapes and seascapes.
"There is a need for higher resolution data on antibiotic use, understanding how this increases risks for development of resistant bacteria, as well as a better understanding of how the water resources at a landscape level connects aquaculture with other One Health compartments."
Increased awareness of the risks associated with antibiotic use in aquaculture has contributed to strengthened regulations and more thorough inclusion of responsible use in certification schemes. This deeper insight and understanding into the relationship between aquaculture and AMR is instrumental for effectively incorporating aquaculture into national action plans (NAP) on AMR. At the same time, new methodologies enabling rapid, in situ detection of pathogens and resistance genes, are transforming both on farm management and risk assessment within a broader One Health perspective at a land/seascape level. This is important progress as more active consideration of AMR by wastewater and water managers may go a long way to mitigating AMR risks to aquaculture as an industry.
However, progress in this space depends on strong collaboration across sectors. Partnerships with the seafood industry are necessary to understand the barriers and challenges faced by producers to support effective co-design of policy/program development and communication around antibiotic stewardship. Equally important is collaboration with other One Health actors, including environmental, animal, and human health sectors, alongside decision makers responsible for translating science into policy and regulation.
“Collaboration with the seafood industry is important as this will enable efficient and targeted communication for improved antibiotic stewardship to a wide range of key stakeholders,” says Associate Professor Max Troell.
At EDAR8 several sessions are relevant to this theme:
THEMATIC SESSION Environmental drivers, transmission & impacts of AMR in food production systems
THEMATIC SESSION Understanding AMR in the water cycle
THEMATIC SESSION Environmental AMR and wildlife / animal health
WORKSHOP AMR at the food-environment interface: Evaluating exposure pathways
Join us at EDAR8
Join us at EDAR8 to explore how One Health approaches, advanced modelling, and cross-sector collaboration can transform AMR surveillance into actionable solutions.