The various policies and initiatives to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock production in Europe over the last ten years have been successful. In many countries, reduction targets have been met (a reduction in antimicrobial sales of between 30-50%). But when it comes to larger-scale or longer-term objectives, namely those of shifting to more sustainable or resilient agriculture, the picture is far less clear. The success of the fight against antimicrobial resistance must not mask the fact that to date, little progress has been made on transition issues. Intensive and industrial forms of livestock production are maintained and sometimes strengthened by the strategies developed to reduce antimicrobial use. It is now essential to link the fight against antimicrobial resistance to far-reaching changes and breakthrough innovations towards forms of agriculture that are more mindful of their impact on health, the environment and society.