Seoul, Republic of Korea – Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General (ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening of the 4th Global Conference on Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), held in Seoul on 24 and 25 September 2024. This conference, a key platform for raising awareness on the global challenge of foodborne AMR and how to contain it, has become an essential event to share among countries and stakeholders, knowledge and experiences in combating AMR. In his address, Thanawat Tiensin praised the government of the Republic of Korea for its continued support in the global struggle against AMR and in organizing this important event, which brings together global stakeholders to address this pressing issue. He emphasized the critical need for international collaboration in tackling AMR, a serious threat to global health, agriculture, and food systems. "FAO has played a key role in the fight against AMR," Thanawat Tiensin stated, confirming the organization's commitment in collaborating with Korea’s efforts in this area.

This year conference was held under the theme, "Global Cooperation and Solidarity to Combat Foodborne AMR," highlighting the need for a joint global response to this growing threat. The theme reflects the collaborative spirit of the event, encouraging cooperation among countries.

Yu Kyung Oh, Minister of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health, in addressing AMR. Minister Oh reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to support global efforts to combat AMR and emphasized the significance of upcoming discussions at the 2nd United Nations General Assembly on how to enhance collaboration in this crucial area.

“The conference is a unique event that brings together diverse experiences from across sectors—human and animal health, as well as the food value chain” said Yeonkyu Lee, a participant in the conference.

FAO officers  presented the ongoing organization’s efforts to combat AMR, including the Renofarm initiative and the ACT project: Daniela Battaglia highlighted FAO initiatives, particularly on animal nutrition and feed practices to reduce the use of antimicrobials in animal production; Jorge Pinto Ferreira addressed the organization’s work across  the agrifood systems; Alejandro Dorado Garcia presented an FAO practical tool for AMR monitoring and finally, Myoengsin Choi informed on the organization efforts to support countries in the application of the relevant Codex texts.

The conference was being streamed live on YouTube, allowing a wider audience to participate in the discussions and promised to strengthen global cooperation against AMR, sharing knowledge and innovative solutions to protect public and animal health, as well as food security worldwide.