Global misuse and misunderstanding on the proper use of antibiotics have contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a rising public health concern. AMR has been well-documented in medical settings but less so in the agricultural sector. The agricultural sector is one of the biggest consumers of antibiotics, and manure, urine and other effluents from the farm setting are believed to be an underappreciated contributor to the environmental spread of AMR. Exactly how antibiotic residues contribute and how large of a contributor these residues are remain to be understood. Thus, the goal of the project is twofold: to analyze and determine antibiotic residues present in farm soils; and to determine the distribution of bacterial communities and the abundance of AMR genes in farm soils. The results from these two major objectives will determine the prevalence of AMR in farm soils and can guide future policies and interventions to diminish the spread of AMR in the Philippine agricultural sector.

To provide scientific data and knowledge on antibiotic residues and resistant bacteria in soil that may contribute to AMR proliferation in the local environment and to develop policy recommendations on prevention of AMR proliferation in soil.