New research will investigate if large amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria are present in agricultural soil which may spread into the food chain. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major issues facing society: by 2050, if not tackled, it will kill more people than cancer, and cost, globally, more than the size of the current global economy, say experts. The aim of the research is to understand how AMR is introduced into natural soil bacteria, for example from manures applied by farmers or exposure to domesticated or wild animal and bird fecal droppings, and how this transfer takes place in different soil types.

Source: Antimicrobial resistance in soil: Potential impact on the food chain