23 May 2026
The widespread practice of using untreated poultry manure as agricultural fertilizer represents a primary pathway for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to infiltrate soil and water systems, according to a compelling new study presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2026.
The research highlights a stark paradox in modern biosecurity: while aggressive sanitation protocols effectively keep internal poultry housing environments clean, the external disposal of poultry waste remains a critical, unregulated weak point in global antimicrobial stewardship.
Environmental scientists at the conference emphasized that current waste management practices undermine clinical efforts to curb the rise of superbugs.
To mitigate this growing public health and ecological hazard, the authors of the study are calling on agricultural policymakers to mandate advanced pre-treatment standards for animal waste.
Jamwal et al., (2026) EGU26 Vienna, Austria & Online | 3–8 May 2026
