When people talk about bacteriophages, they usually mean their use in treating bacterial infections in humans. However, the potential of these viruses is much broader. In the face of environmental challenges, rising antibiotic resistance, food safety, and environmental concerns, phages are becoming a versatile tool not only in medicine but also in many other fields.

Today, bacteriophages are used not only in human medicine, but also in veterinary medicine, the agricultural and food industries, biotechnology, and even ecology.

Use of bacteriophages in veterinary medicine

One of the most dynamically developing fields is veterinary phage therapy. In recent years, more and more farms have been switching to the use of bacteriophage-based products for animals to reduce or completely eliminate the use of antibiotics in feed.

This is especially relevant in pig, poultry, and cattle breeding. For example, bacteriophages are effectively used to prevent and treat salmonellosis, colibacillosis, and staphylococcal infections in newborn animals.

These phage preparations are added to water, feed, or used as aerosols. Their action is targeted and safe: they do not accumulate in tissues, do not harm intestinal microflora, and leave no residual traces in meat or milk. This is important not only for the health of animals but also for the end consumer.

Phages can help farmers reduce antibiotic use, improve livestock reproductive performance, and reduce treatment costs.

The use of bacteriophages for plant protection

Another promising area is the agricultural use of bacteriophages. Modern agriculture suffers not only from fungal and viral diseases, but also from bacterial plant diseases, which are difficult to control with chemicals.

These diseases include bacterial canker of tomatoes, soft rot of potatoes, cucumber wilt, and other dangerous crop-reducing diseases. This is where phage-based plant treatments come in handy.

Bacteriophages can be applied as seed treatments, foliar sprays, or soil irrigation. Their action is targeted: phages destroy only pathogenic bacteria without affecting beneficial plant or soil microflora.

Furthermore, these viruses are non-toxic, degrade quickly in the natural environment, and do not harm bees or other pollinators. This makes the use of bacteriophages in agriculture one of the most promising areas of organic farming.

In some countries, such as the United States and Israel, commercial phage products already exist for the protection of vegetable crops, grapes and grains.

Bacteriophages in the food industry

Another area where bacteriophages have proven their effectiveness is the food industry. The problem of food contamination with pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli remains a pressing issue for producers worldwide.

Phage preparations are increasingly being used to disinfect surfaces, equipment, and packaging instead of harsh chemicals. For example, phages can be used to treat meat, fish, vegetables, or prepared foods without altering their taste or texture.

Several phage biocontrollers have already been registered in the US and approved by the FDA for use in the food industry. These products require no rinsing and can be safely used even in ready-to-eat products .

In addition, phages are being actively researched as a means of extending the shelf life of products and preventing spoilage during transportation.

Thus, bacteriophages have long since expanded beyond human medicine. Today, they are actively used in veterinary medicine, agriculture, the food industry, and environmental technologies. They demonstrate high efficiency, safety, and environmental friendliness, making them one of the most versatile and promising tools in modern biotechnology.