Information Webinar on AMR and launch of the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021 -2025 Opening Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
15/11/2021
Information Webinar on AMR and launch of the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021 -2025
Opening Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
19 November 2021
Dear Colleagues,
1. Preventing global health threats is a key discussion in many international fora, especially after COVID19 pandemic.
2. Safeguarding human, plant, animal and environmental health requires an interlinked and joint approach.
3. One Health approach means working together, across sectors and with multiple stakeholders in a holistic and coherent manner.
4. FAO, WHO and the OIE collaborate to bring these sectors together to address complex challenges.
5. This week is Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
6. AMR is a silent global threat, with treatments having become less effective or ineffective,
7. And drug-resistant infections placing an ever-increasing burden on the health of all.
8. The agri-food sector is one of the key areas highly affected by the antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms,
9. With impacts leading to economic losses, decline in livestock production, poverty, hunger and malnutrition - particularly in low and middle-income countries.
10. Drug resistance is not only a threat to human health.
11. In many parts of the world, the common parasites of animals such as ticks and intestinal worms, which affect almost all animals, are resistant to treatment and put at risk the livestock keeping sector.
12. In crop production, the challenge is how to promote proper use of pesticides in the sustainable intensification of agriculture, minimizing the negative effects of pesticides on land, water, farmers, consumers and the environment.
13. The availability of life saving, effective drugs is essential in animal and crop production.
14. It contributes to food security, food safety, animal welfare and sustainable animal production, and plant health and protection.
15. AMR Action can also help synergize and accelerate action against wider drug resistance problems, such as resistance in macro-parasites.
16. Effective AMR control is the shared responsibility of producers, consumers, investors and policy-makers across agri-food systems by good examples and best practices.
Dear Colleagues,
17. The success of these initiatives will depend on good governance, science-based evidence from surveillance and research, effective advocacy and behaviour change programs.
18. FAO Members have been providing guidance in this regard by the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2016-2020, and now through the updated Action Plan 2021-2025.
19. The updated Action Plan was developed through a multi-disciplinary process, following inclusive and transparent consultations with Members.
20. It will guide FAO’s support to Members to build capacity to minimize and contain AMR in agri-food sectors.
21. It will also support Members’ progress in developing and implementing multi-sectoral National Action Plans.
22. FAO continuous to work closely with the Tripartite to respond to AMR challenges,
23. As well as with partners to establish an AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform,
24. The Platform will bring together different voices to ensure that AMR threats and impacts are addressed from all aspects, and at all levels.
Dear Friends,
25. FAO is applying modern science and technology, and developing innovative approaches to help Members face new challenges and make agri-food systems MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
26. FAO, as Chair of the Tripartite Plus this year, has been working to build and strengthen dialogue with multiple actors across the agriculture, health, environment and finance sectors, to support the transformative change we need.
27. For Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all – leaving no one behind!
28. Thank you.