This review examines the role of antibiotic use in food animals in the development of antibiotic resistance and its potential impact on human health. The authors highlight the widespread but poorly characterized use of antibiotics in food animals, which includes therapeutic, prophylactic, and subtherapeutic applications. They note that while antibiotic use in food animals is a significant contributor to antibiotic resistance, the degree and relative impact on human health have not been well characterized. The review also discusses the lack of consistent national and international policies and the need for more research to address this issue. The authors propose strategies to improve knowledge, including developing a scientific agenda, increasing funding for agricultural research, and addressing barriers to data collection and analysis. They emphasize the importance of recognizing agricultural antibiotic use as a major contributor to the public health crisis of antibiotic resistance and call for urgent action to control its impact.This review examines the role of antibiotic use in food animals in the development of antibiotic resistance and its potential impact on human health. The authors highlight the widespread but poorly characterized use of antibiotics in food animals, which includes therapeutic, prophylactic, and subtherapeutic applications. They note that while antibiotic use in food animals is a significant contributor to antibiotic resistance, the degree and relative impact on human health have not been well characterized. The review also discusses the lack of consistent national and international policies and the need for more research to address this issue. The authors propose strategies to improve knowledge, including developing a scientific agenda, increasing funding for agricultural research, and addressing barriers to data collection and analysis. They emphasize the importance of recognizing agricultural antibiotic use as a major contributor to the public health crisis of antibiotic resistance and call for urgent action to control its impact.