World Animal Protection's new report reveals the long-term threat of factory farming to the health of humans, animals and the planet.

Antibiotics are used routinely to prop up low animal welfare practices on factory farms, preventing animals that are confined and stressed from otherwise getting sick thanks to the dismal conditions.

What are superbugs?

Antibiotic resistant bacteria — called “superbugs” — are emerging on farms from antibiotic overuse. Those superbugs are entering our food chain and our environment, and when passed to people, make us less able to fight infections.

Around the world, antibiotic residues and superbugs are contaminating waterways and local environments around factory farms. This is a global issue, with contaminants entering our food crops, soil and waterways mostly unmonitored.

Link to pandemics

Keeping large numbers of genetically uniform animals in overcrowded, confined conditions can lead to the emergence and spread of viruses with the potential to infect humans.

In 2020 the UN reported that agricultural intensification has been responsible for over 50% of infectious diseases from animals since 1940.