Climate Change and AMR: A One Health Approach for Sustainable AgroVet Practices in India

Climate Change and AMR: A One Health Approach for Sustainable AgroVet Practices in India

Climate change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are two of the most pressing global health threats of the 21st century. While both issues are often studied separately, emerging research highlights a strong interconnection between them. In India, where agriculture and livestock form the backbone of the economy, climate change and AMR have a direct impact on food security, animal health, human well-being, and sustainable agriculture.

This article explores the link between climate change and AMR, its impact on AgroVet produce production, and mitigation strategies with emphasis on Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in the Indian context.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has emerged as a global public health crisis, posing a significant challenge to human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment. In India, AMR is particularly alarming due to the widespread misuse of antibiotics, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and challenges in implementing effective regulations. This article explores the causes, impact, and mitigation strategies for AMR in the Indian context.

Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial Resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and become resistant to drugs that were previously effective in treating infections. This resistance leads to treatment failures, prolonged illness, and increased mortality rates.

Causes of AMR in India

1. Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics
   • Unregulated sale of antibiotics without prescriptions in pharmacies.
   • Overuse of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming to promote growth and prevent diseases.
   • Self-medication by patients and incomplete antibiotic courses.
2. Poor Sanitation and Hygiene
   • Contaminated water sources and poor waste disposal contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria.
   • Overcrowded hospitals and inadequate infection control practices exacerbate AMR in healthcare settings.
3. Intensive Livestock Farming Practices
   • High antibiotic use in dairy, poultry, and aquaculture industries leads to antibiotic residues in food products.
   • Poor biosecurity measures in farms increase disease outbreaks, resulting in excessive antibiotic use.
4. Environmental Contamination
   • Antibiotic residues from pharmaceutical industries and hospitals pollute rivers and groundwater.
   • Heavy use of pesticides and antimicrobial agents in agriculture contributes to the spread of resistant genes in soil microbes.
5. Lack of Surveillance and Regulatory Frameworks
   • Inadequate monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance patterns.
   • Weak implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs in healthcare and veterinary sectors.

Impact of AMR in India

1. Threat to Public Health
   • Increased burden of untreatable infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
   • Longer hospital stays and higher medical costs for patients.
2. Economic Losses
   • Loss of productivity due to prolonged illness and deaths.
   • High healthcare expenses due to the need for more expensive second-line and third-line drugs.
3. Impact on Livestock and Agriculture
   • Reduced efficacy of antibiotics in treating animal diseases.
   • Declining export potential due to stringent global food safety regulations on antibiotic residues in animal products.
4. Environmental Damage
   • Resistant bacteria spread through wastewater, soil, and air, making AMR an ecological problem.

Strategies to Combat AMR in India

1. Strengthening Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

• Enforcing strict regulations on antibiotic sales in human and veterinary medicine.
• Promoting rational antibiotic use among healthcare professionals and farmers.
• Establishing surveillance networks to track AMR trends.

2. Sustainable Livestock and Poultry Farming Practices

• Reducing the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry, dairy, and aquaculture.
• Encouraging natural alternatives such as probiotics, herbal extracts, and improved farm hygiene.
• Implementing biosecurity measures to prevent disease outbreaks in animals.

3. Enhancing Public Awareness and Education

• Educating farmers and veterinarians on the dangers of antibiotic misuse in agriculture.
• Public health campaigns to encourage responsible antibiotic use in humans.

4. Strengthening Waste Management and Sanitation

• Proper disposal of pharmaceutical and hospital waste to prevent environmental contamination.
• Encouraging wastewater treatment and pollution control measures.

5. Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) and Ethno-Veterinary Practices

• Promoting herbal and traditional remedies to reduce dependence on antibiotics.
• Use of turmeric, neem, aloe vera, and tulsi as natural antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine.

6. International Collaboration and Policy Implementation

• Aligning with WHO’s Global Action Plan on AMR.
• Strengthening cooperation between public health, agriculture, and environmental sectors under the One Health Approach.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major health, economic, and environmental challenge in India. Addressing AMR requires multi-sectoral collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, and the general public. With proper antibiotic stewardship, sustainable farming, and increased awareness, India can mitigate the impact of AMR and ensure a healthier future for humans, animals, and the environment.

By adopting scientific advancements and traditional knowledge, India can set a global example in fighting AMR while ensuring food safety, economic growth, and public health security.

1. The Interconnection Between Climate Change and AMR

Climate change affects antimicrobial resistance in several ways:

a) Environmental Spread of Resistant Pathogens

• Rising temperatures accelerate the proliferation of resistant bacteria and fungi in water, soil, and air.
• Extreme weather events such as floods and droughts facilitate the spread of resistant pathogens from farms to natural ecosystems.

b) Increased Use of Antibiotics in Livestock

• Climate change-induced heat stress, disease outbreaks, and reduced immunity in livestock lead to excessive use of antibiotics, further driving AMR.
• Water scarcity and higher temperatures lead to poor hygiene, increasing the risk of infections and overreliance on antimicrobial drugs.

c) AMR in Soil and Water Contamination

• Higher temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns affect soil microbiomes, leading to an increase in antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs).
• Untreated wastewater from livestock farms and poultry units contaminates rivers and groundwater, spreading AMR.

2. Impact on AgroVet Produce Production in India

a) Livestock Sector

• Higher susceptibility to infections due to climate stress increases antibiotic dependency, exacerbating AMR.
• Heat stress reduces milk yield in dairy cattle and lowers meat quality in poultry and livestock.
• Increased mortality rates in poultry and aquaculture due to AMR-related infections.

b) Crop Sector

• Reduced soil fertility due to excessive antibiotic and pesticide use affects plant health.
• Increased plant diseases lead to more use of agrochemicals, further increasing AMR risks.

c) Aquaculture Sector

• Rising temperatures increase fish disease outbreaks, prompting excessive antibiotic use.
• Pollution of water bodies with antibiotic residues leads to the development of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in aquatic systems.

3. Mitigation Strategies to Combat Climate Change-Induced AMR

A) Policy-Level Interventions

• Strengthening One Health Approach in India to integrate human, animal, and environmental health.
• Regulating antibiotic use in livestock and aquaculture to prevent misuse and overuse.
• Encouraging organic farming and natural disease control methods to reduce reliance on agrochemicals.

B) Farm-Level Management Strategies

1. Judicious Antibiotic Use:

1. • Implementing strict biosecurity measures to prevent infections instead of relying on antibiotics.
   • Encouraging vaccination programs to reduce disease burden.

2. Sustainable Livestock Management:

1. • Climate-resilient livestock breeds that are disease-resistant and require fewer antibiotics.
   • Nutritional interventions such as herbal supplements to improve immunity.

3. Water and Waste Management:

1. • Efficient manure and wastewater treatment to prevent AMR contamination in soil and water.
   • Promoting integrated farming systems where waste is utilized effectively.

C) Emphasizing Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) and Ethno-Veterinary Practices

1. Natural Antimicrobial Alternatives:

1. • Turmeric, neem, aloe vera, garlic, and tulsi have antimicrobial properties and can be used as herbal alternatives to antibiotics.
   • Fermented herbs and probiotics improve gut health and disease resistance in animals.

2. Traditional Soil and Water Conservation Techniques:

1. • Use of cow dung-based biofertilizers to maintain microbial balance and reduce antibiotic residues.
   • Revival of traditional water harvesting systems to prevent contamination and antibiotic run-off.

3. Ayurvedic & Homeopathic Approaches in Livestock Healthcare:

1. • Ashwagandha, giloy, and shatavari for enhancing immunity in dairy cattle.
   • Herbal deworming agents to reduce reliance on synthetic drugs.

Climate change and AMR pose severe threats to sustainable agriculture, food security, and public health in India. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock, aquaculture, and crops is worsening due to climate-induced disease stress. However, through better regulatory frameworks, farm-level sustainable practices, and a revival of ITK-based solutions, India can mitigate the risks associated with climate change-driven AMR.

A multi-disciplinary approach involving farmers, veterinarians, policymakers, and researchers is essential to curb AMR while ensuring sustainable and climate-resilient AgroVet production.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh