Antibiotic Use in Agriculture versus Organic Techniques

Marti Hoekstra, Ashley Abernathey & Victoria Albers

Submitted to Dale Sullivan, September 27, 2010

 

Abstract

 Recent concerns about antibiotic resistance have fueled the consumer trend and turned their pocketbook toward organic antibiotic-free products. The rising concern and hot debate over the health hazards associated with antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use in farm animals has many of us confused. As a group we have decided to further investigate antibiotic use in farm animals and to weigh the risks and benefits of organic farm products. How do these farmers view their products and practices? How does the use of drugs affect these animals and workers around them? Through our research that will be conducted in the Fargo/Moorhead area we hope to answer these burning questions and provide education about our findings.  The following proposal elaborates this studyŐs details, methods and time frame.

Introduction

Organic farming has been on the rise for over a decade, becoming one of the fastest growing divisions of U.S. agriculture.  According to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), North Dakota had a total of 152 certified organic farms in 2008, which is down from a high of 176 farms in 2001.  However, the total number of acres farmed organically has continued to rise.  This method of farming could provide a greater understanding of ways to slow the rapid progression of resistant strains of bacteria.  It could also broaden peopleŐs perspectives on the environmental concerns from the use of pesticides and herbicides and give an explanation towards the concern of consumption of these antibiotics by consumers.  In response to this new method of farming, we propose to look at the differences between organic farming and farming with the use of antibiotics/hormones.  We would like to investigate the positive and negative effects by both practices and the quality of food produced in each case.  ItŐs been said that organic foods are better for you, but why?  Is there really that much difference between the two different methods?  What are we, as consumers, ingesting into our bodies?  To answer these questions we will interview two organic farmers, one from Lynn Brakke Organic Farms and one from Askegaard Organic Farm which are both located around the Fargo/Moorhead area.  We will also be interviewing Marc Bauer, an Associative Professor at NDSU with a PhD in Nutritional Physiology.  Through our research we will provide a comprehensive case study that will educate the general public about two different methods of farming and its effects on us and our environment.

Background

The discovery of antibiotics forever changed the world of medicine. These wonder drugs gave medicine a chance to cure illnesses that had once thought to be hopelessly fatal. Unfortunately through the frequent use and misuse of these drugs, many kinds of bacteria in our bodies have been able to build up an opposition to its effects. This resistance has forced us to turn to the use of multiple antibiotic drug treatments in hope of success. It is very evident in recent years that the occurrence of using stronger and multiple medications without success has become more prevalent and is quite disturbing. According to a 2004 report from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) about two million people acquire bacterial infections in U.S. hospitals each year, and 90,000 die as a result. About 70 percent of those infections are resistant to at least one drug (Sharfstein 2010).

Besides medical treatments in humans, farms with food-producing animals use the very same antibiotics as a subtheraputic treatment to promote growth in their animals along with being used to prevent or treat farm-threatening diseases amongst their livestock and crops. The recent debate brewing involves this use of antimicrobials in farm animals, agro-ecosystems and its threat to move into humans. This resistance has been generated in animals along with crops and has even spread to humans; potentially causing major harm to our already prevalent problems with resistant bacteria (Turnidge 2003).  Much work has been done on the science of resistance and ways to reduce this phenomenon.  We would like to add to this by examining the possibility of reducing or getting rid of antibiotic use in agriculture through organic methods. 

Project

We have come up with a plan to accomplish our project objective. We plan on interviewing local organic farmers through an interview in order to find out their perceptions on the benefits and drawbacks of not using antibiotics on their farm. We have already been in contact with two organic farmers in Moorhead, MN that have agreed to participate in our research. One of them is also going to extend the survey to friends that are organic farmers so that we will be able to collect additional data. Our group also plans to collect information from nutritionist Marc Bauer from NDSU who will be able to pass along his knowledge and experiences of antibiotic use. Other NDSU staff may be included as well, including the NDSU extension vet.  After gathering this information, we will be able to analyze this data and contribute educational research relating to the differences between organic agriculture and those methods using antibiotics. 

 

 

Method

              Interviews will be conducted to record and analyze the positive and negative aspects of organic farming versus antibiotic/hormone use. The method of using an interview was deemed most effective because the material needed for our study requires explanation and reasoning which can easily be obtained through asking detailed questions.  The study will be comprised of three interviews.  Two will be provided by experts in organic farming around the Fargo/Moorhead area and one from Marc Bauer, an expert in animal nutrition from NDSU. 

An interview will be sent via email to both Askegaard Organic Farm and Lynn Brakke Organic Farms.  This is their preferred method of contact because of their busy work schedule. A face to face interview will be done with Marc Bauer and possibly other NDSU staff.  An appointment with him will be arranged in advance. They will be asked a variety of questions.  First of all they will be asked to provide us validation of their expertise in this subject.  We would like to have background on their past experiences, job description, and if they have any preconceived biases toward the use of antibiotics in agriculture.  Next, we will ask them a variety of questions directly relating to our study.  A preliminary draft of the interview questions is attached at the end of this document.  The questions are subject to change and will be extended before the interview process.  Different types of questions will be asked to each interviewee based on their expertise.

 Because this topic can often be subjective, it is a possibility that we may get answers based on opinions, rather than facts.  Also, there is a chance that our interviewees will favor one type of farming versus the other and will provide us with answers to try to convince others to agree with them.  These are the only two limitations that I find that could skew the results.

 

Schedule

Proposal due Monday, September 27th

Have interview collected from sources: by Friday, October 8th

Have all sources (10 each) collected for bibliography: Friday, October 15th

 

Analysis due Friday, October 8th

 

Annotated Bibliography: October 29th

Have outline for first draft completed by: Friday, November 5th

 

First draft: November 24th

 

Final submission: Friday, December 3rd

 

Portfolio: Monday, December 13th  

All group members will plan meetings as needed according to their schedules corresponding through phone, facebook or email.

 

Conclusion

 

As of 2008, North Dakota ranks third in the number of certified organic cropland acres (North Dakota Organic Advisory Board).  With this evolving progression of organic farming, the need to know more about their products has become more important.  The results of this study will spread awareness about the different practices of farming and the affects each product will have on an individual.  Because resistant strains of antibiotics have the ability to travel amongst organisms, the use of antibiotics in agriculture directly affects the health of society.  We need to build awareness on the proper use of antibiotics both in humans and agriculture to avoid the exponential increase of resistant bacteria.  This study will analyze the differences between organic farming and antibiotic/hormone use in farming in order to promote education on this subject.

 

 

References

 

Boykin, Joan; Benbrook, Charles; Brown, Annie.  2010.  The Organic Center. 

September 23, 2010.  http://www.organic-center.org/. 

North Dakota Organic Advisory Board.  2009.  September 23, 2010. 

              http://www.ndorganics.nd.gov/index.html.

Turnidge, J. 2004. Antibiotic use in animals prejudices, perceptions and realities.

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 53. Retrieved from http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/53/1/26.full.pdf

Sharfstein, J. (2010, July 14) Statement of Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD Principal Duty Commissioner.

Retrieved from http://energycommerce.house.gov/documents/20100714/Sharfstein.Testimony.07.14.2010.pdf                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview Instrument (Preliminary Draft)

1.      What is your background experience/knowledge on antibiotic use in agriculture, including livestock and crops?

 

2.      What do you do for a living and how does this relate to antibiotic use?

 

3.      What is your understanding on antibiotic resistance in bacteria?

 

4.      Do you have any preconceived biases toward antibiotic use in agriculture?

 

5.      Do you think that antibiotic use in agriculture is ethical? Why or why not?

 

6.      Is it possible that without the use of antibiotics we could have better quality livestock and crops?

 

7.      What are the benefits for using antibiotics and do these benefits exceed over the negative effects that are caused with resistance?

 

8.      When crops and livestock are consumed, how to the antibiotics affect us?

 

9.      Even if these arenŐt consumed, the resistant bacteria have the potential to transfer into humans and could cause our antibiotics to lose effectiveness? Is this worth it?

 

10.   Could organic methods of farming be a solution in the reduction of antibiotic resistance, and how?

 

11.   Do you find any negative consequences from organic farming vs. antibiotic/hormone use farming?

 

12.   What is the primary reason for using antibiotics in agriculture and could there be alternative methods?

 

13.   Are some types of food more affected by antibiotics than others?

 

14.   Often, it is said that the quality of the food is better if it is organic.  Do you believe this?  Why or why not?

 

15.   What is your reason for getting into organic farming and what are the benefits?

 

16.   How does organic farming reduce the negative effects on the environment?

 

17.   Are there any negative effects from using antibiotics in livestock/crops on the environment?