The urgent case for antibiotic-free animals | Leon Marchal

Translator: Ivana Korom Reviewer: Krystian Aparta

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: 易帆 余

There was a time when simple infections were deadly,

曾經有段時間， 單純的感染也會致命，

but now, thanks to the wide availability of antibiotics,

如今，因為抗生素的廣泛應用

this is merely a relic of the past.

這已經成為歷史。

But actually, I should say "was,"

但其實，我應該把「已經」 換成「曾經」，

because nowadays, we're using antibiotics so much

因為，現今，抗生素用得太多了，

that the bacteria that cause these infections

造成這些感染的細菌

are becoming resistant.

變成有抗藥性。

And that should really scare the hell out of all of us.

這應該令我們所有人感到恐懼才對。

If we do not change our behavior and wean ourselves off antibiotics,

如果我們不改變我們的 行為並戒掉抗生素，

the UN predicts that by 2050,

聯合國預測，到 2050 年，

antimicrobial resistance will become our single biggest killer.

微生物抗藥性將會 變成最大的殺手。

So we must start to act.

我們必須要開始採取行動。

But "where to begin" is an interesting question,

但「從何著手」是個有趣的問題，

because we humans are not the only ones using antibiotics.

因為並非只有人類在用抗生素。

Worldwide, 50 to 80 percent of all antibiotics are used by animals.

全世界，所有的抗生素中 有 50%~80% 是用在動物身上。

Not all of these are critical for human health,

這些並非都對人類 健康有重大影響，

but if we do not get it under control right now,

但如果我們現在不做好控制，

we're looking at a very scary future for humans and animals alike.

將會造成一個對人類 及動物而言都非常可怕的未來。

To begin, let's talk about how we ended up here.

一開始，咱們先來談談 我們是怎麼走到這一步的。

The first large-scale use of antibiotics was in the early '50s of the last century.

人類初期大規模使用抗生素 是在上世紀的五○年代初。

In the Western world, prosperity was increasing

西方世界開始逐漸繁榮，

and people wanted to eat more animal protein.

大家想要吃更多動物蛋白質。

When animals were sick, you could now treat them with antibiotics

當動物生病時，可以用 抗生素來治療牠們，

so they did not die and kept growing.

牠們就不會死亡且會持續生長。

But soon, it was discovered

但，很快就發現，

that adding small and regular amounts of antibiotics to the feed

在飼料中固定加入少量的抗生素

kept the animals healthy,

能讓動物保持健康，成長更快速，

made them grow faster

and caused them to need less feed.

且讓牠們的飼料需求量變少。

So these antibiotics worked well --

這些抗生素很有用——

really well, actually.

真的太有用了。

And with increasing animal production,

隨著動物的產量增加，

also antibiotic use skyrocketed worldwide.

全世界的抗生素用量也暴增。

Unfortunately, so did antibiotic resistance.

不幸的是，抗藥性也大大提升。

The reason your doctor tells you to finish the entire bottle of antibiotics

你的醫生會要你把整瓶 抗生素都吃完的原因，

is if you shorten your dose, you will not kill all of the bugs.

就是因為如果劑量不足， 無法殺死所有的細菌。

And the ones that stick around build up the antibiotic resistance.

沒被殺死的那些就會發展出抗藥性。

It's the same problem with giving animals small and regular doses of antibiotics:

這就像長期給動物使用少劑量抗生素 也會造成同樣的問題：

some bad bugs die but not all of them.

有些不好的細菌會被 殺死，但並非全部。

Spread that across an entire industry,

當這樣的現象遍及整個產業，

and you can understand that we accidentally build up

就可以理解我們在無意間創造出

a large reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

大量具抗生素抗藥性的細菌。

But I hate to break it to you --

但我實在不想告訴各位——

the problem doesn't stop there.

問題並不只是這樣。

You know who else takes antibiotics?

你們知道抗生素還會用在哪裡嗎？

Fluffy, your cat, and Rover, your dog.

你的貓小毛，你的狗小黃。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Pets rank even amongst the heaviest users of all,

寵物甚至是名列前茅的重度使用者，

and they use antibiotics

且牠們所使用的抗生素 比人類健康所需的更厲害。

that are much more critical for human health.

Combine this with how close we live with our companion animals

這個狀況再加上我們的生活 和毛小孩有多親密，

and you understand the risk

就可以理解

of you picking up antibiotic-resistant bacteria from your own pet.

從寵物身上感染到 具抗藥性的細菌風險有多大。

But how do these antibiotic-resistant bacteria

但，來自農場動物的抗生素 抗藥性細菌會如何影響你？

in farm animals affect you?

Let me give you an example we have, actually, data on.

讓我舉個有資料佐證的例子。

The levels of antibiotic-resistant salmonella in pigs in Europe

這張圖是在歐洲 豬隻身上的沙門氏菌

對不同類類抗生素的 耐藥性關係圖，

against different types of antibiotics

range from less than a percent to as high [as] 60 percent.

範圍從不到 1% 到 60% 那麼高都有。

Which means that in most cases,

這就表示，在大部分的情況下，

this antibiotic will not work anymore to kill this salmonella.

這種抗生素將不再對沙門氏菌有效。

And there was a high correlation

且在豬隻身上的抗藥性沙門氏菌量

between antibiotic-resistant salmonella in the pig

和在最終產品上的量有高度相關。

and in the final product.

Whether that is pork chop,

不論是豬排、肋排， 或碎豬肉都一樣。

spare ribs or minced meat.

Now, luckily, typically less than one percent

還好基本上所有的生肉、魚，

of all raw meat, fish or eggs

或蛋當中，通常只有不到 1%

will contain salmonella.

含有沙門氏菌。

And this only poses a risk when not treated well.

若沒有好好處理，就會帶來風險。

Still, there are over 100,000 human salmonella cases in the EU

在歐洲仍然有超過十萬件 人類染上沙門氏菌的案例，

and more than a million cases in the US.

在美國有超過一百萬件。

In the US, leading to 23,000 hospitalizations

在美國，造成每年兩萬三千人住院，

and 450 people dead each year.

四百五十人死亡。

With antibiotic-resistant salmonella on the rise,

隨著具抗生素抗藥性的沙門氏菌 興起，死亡人數很可能會增加。

this death toll is likely to increase.

But it's not only about consuming yourself.

但這不僅和你自己怎麼吃有關。

This year, more than 100 people got infected

今年，有超過一百人感染到

with a multidrug-resistant salmonella

具多種抗藥性的沙門氏菌，

after feeding pig ears, as a treat, to their dog.

原因是把豬耳朵當作給狗吃的零食。

So we really must cut back on antibiotic use in animal production.

所以我們真的得要降低 在動物生產上的抗生素用量。

And luckily, this is starting to happen.

好消息是這種節制已經開始了，

The EU was the first region to ban

歐盟是首個禁止在飼料中

putting antibiotics in low doses in the feed.

添加小劑量抗生素的地區。

From '99 on, in several steps,

從 1999 年起，階段實施，

the amount of different types of antibiotics allowed was reduced,

各類核准的抗生素用量逐步減少，

and in 2006, a complete ban went into place.

在 2006 年，達到全面禁止。

Antibiotics were only allowed

唯一允許使用抗生素的情況，

when a veterinarian determined the animal was sick.

是獸醫判定動物生病的情況。

Sounds great, right?

聽起來很棒，對吧？問題解決。

Problem solved.

No, wait, not so fast.

不，等等，沒這麼快。

As soon as the reduction program started,

減量計畫才剛開始，

it was very quickly discovered

很快就發現，

that antibiotics had been the perfect blanket

抗生素過去完美掩蓋了

to cover up a lot of bad farm practices.

農場很多不良的運作方式。

More and more animals became sick

越來越多動物生病，

and needed to be cured with ... antibiotics.

需要治療，且需要用……抗生素。

So instead of the total amount going down,

所以，總量並沒有下降，

it actually increased.

反而增加了。

Surely, that was not the way to go.

當然，這樣不行。

But luckily, that was not the end of the story.

但，很幸運，故事還沒結束。

The whole European agricultural sector started on a journey,

整個歐洲農業部門 展開了一項旅程，

and I think it's a journey anybody can learn from.

我認為，人人都可以 向這段旅程學習。

This is also the time I personally entered the scene.

也正是在這個時候， 我進入了這個領域。

I joined a large European feed compounder.

我加入了一間大型的 歐洲飼料混合商。

A feed compounder makes a total diet for a farmer to feed to his animals

這家飼料混合商為農夫提供 餵養動物的完整飼料，

and often also provides the advice

通常也會提供建議，

on how to raise the animals in the best way.

告訴他們如何飼養動物最好。

I was really motivated to work together with my colleagues,

我非常有幹勁，和我一起 努力的人包括我的同事、

veterinarians and, of course, the farmers

獸醫，當然，還有農夫，

to figure out how to keep the animals healthy and antibiotic-free.

我們一起想辦法不要用抗生素 但仍然能維持動物健康。

Now there are three major things that need to happen

若要生產無抗生素的產品， 可以採取三項重要措施。

for antibiotic-free production.

Let me walk you through the playbook.

讓我帶大家一項一項看。

To start -- and it sounds very obvious --

開端——這聽起來 非常顯而易見——

that our hygiene is the place to start.

我們要從衛生開始著手。

Better cleaning of the stable and the drinking-water lines

把馬棚和飲用水清理得更乾淨，

making it harder for the disease to come in and spread across the stable.

讓疾病難以入侵馬棚、 在馬棚中散佈。

That's all very important,

這點非常重要，

but the part I was personally most interested in

但我個人最感興趣的部分

was better feeding for the animals,

是給動物更好的飼料，

better nutrition.

更好的營養。

Feeding a well-balanced diet is important.

餵食營養均衡的餐食是很重要的。

Think about it this way:

可以這樣想：當你自己 沒有吃足夠的纖維，

when you yourself do not eat enough fiber, you do not feel well.

就會不舒服。

Part of the food you consume is not digested by yourself

你吃進去的食物，有一部分 並不會由你自己消化，

but fermented in your large intestine by bacteria.

而是在你的大腸中的 細菌幫助發酵。

So you're feeding those microbes with part of your diet.

所以你是在用你的飲食 餵養那些微生物。

Initially, most young animals were fed low-fiber,

一開始，大部分的年幼動物 吃的食物都是低纖維、

high-starch and protein,

高澱粉和蛋白質，

very finely ground and highly digestible diets.

磨得很細，非常容易消化。

Like being yourself on a diet of hamburger buns,

就好像你自己在吃漢堡的麵包、

rice, waffles and protein bars.

稻米、鬆餅，和蛋白質條。

We changed this to a lower-protein,

我們把這種食物換成低蛋白質、

higher-fiber, coarser type of diet.

高纖維、更粗糙的飲食。

Like being on a diet of whole grains, salad with meat or beans.

就好像我們吃全穀、沙拉， 搭配肉類或豆類。

This shifted the bacterial flora in the animals' guts

這麼做便改變了動物 腸道中的菌種，

to the more beneficial ones

變成更有益的菌種，

and reduced the chance that pathogens would flourish.

減少病原體大量產生的機會。

You might be surprised

你可能會驚奇地發現， 除了飲食的成分，

but not only diet composition, also diet structure plays a role.

飲食結構也能發揮積極的影響。

Simply the fact that the same diet is coarser

僅僅是較粗糙的飲食，

will lead to a better-developed digestive tract,

都會讓消化道更發達，

and thus, a healthier animal.

因而讓動物更健康。

But the best part was that farmers started to buy this actually, too.

但，最棒的部分是， 農夫也開始購買這樣的飼料。

Unlike some other parts of the world,

不像世界上的其它地區，

Western European farmers mainly still make their independent buying decisions:

西歐的農夫在採購上 仍然自己獨立判斷：

who to buy the feed from and sell their animals to.

要向誰購買飼料 以及要把動物賣給誰。

So what you're actually selling in the end

所以，最終的出售，

reflects the actual local need of these farmers.

會反映出當地農夫的實際需求。

For example,

比如，小豬飼料中的蛋白質含量，

the protein content in piglet diets

in countries that are much more vigilant in reducing antibiotics,

在對抗生素使用 保持高度警戒的國家，

like, for example, Germany and the Netherlands,

如德國和荷蘭的用量，

were already 10 to 15 percent lower

比慢跟上的國家（如英國）

than in a country like the UK, which was slower to pick this up.

要低 10%~15%。

But, like with better hygiene, better nutrition helps

但，就像改善衛生一樣， 改善營養也有幫助，

but will not totally prevent you from becoming sick.

可是無法讓你完全預防生病。

So more is needed.

所以，還需要更多。

And that's why we turned to the microbiome.

這是我們求助微生物群的原因。

Making the water with the feed more acidic

讓搭配飼料的水有更高的酸性，

helps to create an environment

創造出的環境

that benefits the more beneficial bacteria

會更有助於益生菌，

and inhibits the pathogens.

且能抑制病原體。

Like fermented food,

就像發酵的食物，不論是優格、

whether it's yogurt, sauerkraut or salami,

泡菜，或薩拉米香腸，

they'll all spoil less quickly, too.

它們腐壞的速度會比較慢。

Now, with modern techniques,

有現代的技術，

like the ones based on DNA testing,

比如以 DNA 檢測為基礎的技術，

we can see that there are many more different microorganisms present.

我們可以發現，有更多 不同的微生物出現。

And this ecosystem, which we call the microbiome,

這個生態系統叫做微生物群系，

is much more complex.

它更複雜許多。

Turns out there are about eight times more microorganisms in your gut

事實證明，人體腸道中的微生物數量

是體內組織細胞數量的八倍。

as tissue cells in your body.

And for animals, the impact is no less.

對動物而言，其影響也旗鼓相當。

So if we want to work without antibiotics in animal production,

所以，如果我們希望 在動物生產中不要用到抗生素，

we have to make the animals much more robust.

我們就得要讓動物更強健。

So that when a disease strikes,

所以當疾病來襲時，

the animals are much more resilient.

動物就具有更強的抵抗力。

And this three-pronged nutribiosis approach

這種三管齊下，

involving the host, nutrition and the microbiome

涉及飼養環境、營養 以及微生物群的營養療法

is the way to do it.

才是正確的做法。

Now the practice of raising animals on an antibiotic-containing

現在用含抗生素飼料 飼養動物的做法，

或激發使用抗生素的飼養方式， 對農夫而言是比較便宜的。

or antibiotic-use-provoking diet is a bit cheaper at farm level.

But in the end, we are talking about a few percent at the consumer level.

但最終，對消費者而言， 差別只是幾個百分點。

That's actually quite affordable

對世界上中高收入的人口來說 還是負擔得起的。

for the middle- and high-income part of the world population.

And a very small price to pay

當賭注是我們自己的健康

when our own health or our loved ones' health is at stake.

或我們所愛的人的健康時， 這個代價算非常低。

So what do you think, what direction do we take?

所以，你認為如何？ 我們要朝哪個方向走？

Do we allow antimicrobial resistance to become our biggest killer,

我們是要讓抗生素抗藥性 變成最大的殺手，

at huge financial and a special personal cost?

以巨大的財務 和個人健康為代價？

Or do we, besides reducing human antibiotic consumption,

還是除了減少把抗生素 用在人類身上之外，

truly start embracing antibiotic-free animal production?

也要真正去擁抱 無抗生素的動物產品？

For me, the choice is very obvious.

我很清楚要選哪一個。

But to make this happen,

但，若要實現，

we have to set reduction targets

我們必須設定減量目標，

and make sure that they're followed all around the world.

並確保全世界都要朝這個目標進行。

Because farmers compete with each other.

因為農夫彼此間會競爭。

And at a country level,

就國家的層級、貿易特區， 或全球市場來說，

trading block or the global market,

costs are very important.

成本非常重要。

And also, we have to be realistic.

此外，我們也得要實際點。

Farmers need to have the possibilities

農夫必須要有可能

to invest more in better management and better feed

投資更多在改善管理和飼料上，

in order to achieve this reduction.

才有可能達成這種減量目標。

And besides legal limits, the market can play a role,

除了用法律來限制之外， 市場也可以盡一份心力，

by offering antibiotic-reduced or antibiotic-free products.

市場可以提供抗生素減量 或無抗生素的產品。

And with growing consumer awareness,

隨著消費者意識提升，

these market forces will increase in power.

這些市場力量也會越來越強。

Now everything I've been talking about seems to be great for us.

我談的這一切 對我們似乎都很棒。

But what about the animals?

但對動物呢？

Now, guess what, their lives get better, too.

猜猜如何？牠們的生活也會改善。

Better health, less stress, happier life.

更健康、壓力更少、生活更快樂。

So now you know.

現在你們知道了。

We have the knowledge how to produce meat, eggs and milk

我們有知識，

我們知道如何製造出不含抗生素

或抗生素非常少的 肉類、蛋，和牛奶，

without or with very low amounts of antibiotics,

and I'll argue it's a small price to pay

且我認為這個代價算小，

to avoid a future in which bacterial infections

因為我們可以避免在未來

細菌感染再次成為 我們最大的殺手。

again become our biggest killer.

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）