The Transition Issue: What Do We Change (or Not) When We Change Antimicrobial Use?

Summary The various policies and initiatives to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock production in Europe over the last ten years have been successful. In many countries, reduction targets have been met (a reduction in antimicrobial sales of between 30–50 per cent). But when it comes to larger‐scale or longer‐term objectives, namely those of shifting to more sustainable or resilient agriculture, the picture is far less clear. The success of the fight against antimicrobial resistance must not mask the fact that to date, little progress has been made on transition issues. Intensive and industrial forms of livestock production are maintained and sometimes strengthened by the strategies developed to reduce antimicrobial use. Reducing and replacing antimicrobials has been an important step but the reflection has not been connected to the issue of rethinking the production system, as European policies suggested in the first place. It is now essential to link the current efforts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance to far‐reaching changes and breakthrough innovations. AMR is one problem among many others. They must be tackled globally thanks to transitions towards forms of agriculture that are less intensive, less industrial, and more mindful of their impact on health, the environment and society.