The Future of Food: Controlled Release of Microencapsulated Drugs

IGNACIO RINTOUL

Otro; Waters Newsletters; 2020

The current Global demand for animal proteins is about 400 million tons per year and it is forecast to grow 70% by the year 2050. Large-scaleproduction of animal protein relies on intensive farming systems. All forms of intensive farming require very small confinement spaces for a high number of animals. The overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry is the main cause of the increasing antibiotic resistance in humans and farm animals.New technologies are urgently needed to reduce the amount of drugs required to keep optimal sanitary conditions in intensive farming systems. Controlled release of encapsulated drugs is a promising approach with the capability to enhance the efficiency of drugs in animal husbandry and eventually, with the future potential to render their use toinnocuous levels.