Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Paul Roberts explores the unintended consequences of innovations in food production, starting with the post-World War II discovery that led to widespread use of antibiotics in livestock, which initially boosted production but later contributed to antibiotic resistance and environmental issues. He critiques the industrial food system for its efficiency-driven approach that overlooks the interconnectedness of food, leading to economic vulnerabilities and health risks, emphasizing the need for a systemic understanding of food as a coherent, living system.
Paul Roberts, journalist and author of the book, The End of Food, shares the story of the early years of industrial farming and how the accidental use of antibiotics lead to a revolution in livestock production. Unfortunately, as he says, their adverse impacts would not be recognized until decades later.
Although this talk was recorded in 2009, antibiotic use in agriculture climbed significantly from that year through 2015. In 2016, according to the FDA, for the first time, usage fell about 14% in agriculture. Largely, the problem remains a huge concern because of the increasing problems of antibiotic resistance in humans and the continuation of the livestock industry on their use.
"Antibiotics used in animal agriculture contribute to the threat of drug resistance. Although detailed information about antibiotic use in animals is lacking, available data show that around 70 percent of the total volume of all medically important antibiotics in the United States is sold for use on the farm." —PEW
pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2016/12/antibiotics-and-animal-agriculture-a-primer.
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Paul Roberts explores the unintended consequences of innovations in food production, starting with the post-World War II discovery that led to widespread use of antibiotics in livestock, which initially boosted production but later contributed to antibiotic resistance and environmental issues. He critiques the industrial food system for its efficiency-driven approach that overlooks the interconnectedness of food, leading to economic vulnerabilities and health risks, emphasizing the need for a systemic understanding of food as a coherent, living system.
Paul Roberts, journalist and author of the book, The End of Food, shares the story of the early years of industrial farming and how the accidental use of antibiotics lead to a revolution in livestock production. Unfortunately, as he says, their adverse impacts would not be recognized until decades later.
Although this talk was recorded in 2009, antibiotic use in agriculture climbed significantly from that year through 2015. In 2016, according to the FDA, for the first time, usage fell about 14% in agriculture. Largely, the problem remains a huge concern because of the increasing problems of antibiotic resistance in humans and the continuation of the livestock industry on their use.
"Antibiotics used in animal agriculture contribute to the threat of drug resistance. Although detailed information about antibiotic use in animals is lacking, available data show that around 70 percent of the total volume of all medically important antibiotics in the United States is sold for use on the farm." —PEW
pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2016/12/antibiotics-and-animal-agriculture-a-primer.
Follow us:
Cooking Up a Story website:
https:///cookingupastory.com
facebook.com/cookingupastory
https://www.pinterest.com/foodfarmere...
Cooking Up a Story channel on YouTube
youtube.com/cookingupastory
