Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is known as “the silent pandemic.” It is already a leading cause of death worldwide. If AMR is not tackled head on, it will continue to threaten many lives in the coming years. Consequently, AMR is a major focus of attention for FAO as food production contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistant organisms.

Given the threat of foodborne AMR, FAO has undertaken the Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project with funding from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea. The ACT project encourages the six participating countries in Asia and Latin America to adopt the recommendations contained in the Codex Alimentarius, which outlines approaches for mitigating the spread of foodborne AMR. To achieve this goal, the project activities engage AMR stakeholders to raise awareness, expand surveillance, and adopt policies and practices that improve food safety.

The agrifood industry is one of the key AMR stakeholders concerned with reducing foodborne AMR. As a result, the ACT project encourages the agrifood industry to share its experiences and voice its concerns regarding AMR control. To this end, the ACT Project Coordinator in Cambodia, Pisey Oum, recently joined his colleagues from the FAO Cambodia One Health and Livestock Production team to visit the production facilities of CP Cambodia, an agrifood business that has activities along the entire food chain from livestock production to the consumer’s dinner table.

According to Oum, “The commercial food industry is expanding in Cambodia as consumer demand for more and safer food increases. It is important for FAO to see how the agrifood industry is meeting this growing demand. We visited every step in the value chain, including feed mills, farms, a slaughterhouse and laboratory, to understand the company’s approach to improving production while reducing the antimicrobial use.”

During the visit, the FAO team witnessed good husbandry systems and high-tech approaches to hygiene, disease prevention, and animal welfare. Oum noted that “such management systems align with the recommendations of the Codex guidelines and the tenets of a new FAO initiative, Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM). As agribusinesses expand internationally, the value of these proven practices also crosses borders. International programmes, such as the ACT project, will continue to support similar activities aimed at reducing antimicrobial use in its project countries, including Cambodia.”

Dr Kriangsak Laosakul, the Director of the Animal Health and Diagnostic Laboratory at CP Cambodia, provided some background on the company’s approach to reducing AMR by adopting an improved management programme. “CP Cambodia first adopted its company-wide policy on antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in 2017 as part of our ongoing commitment to provide food that is safe and nutritious. The company’s sister companies use similar practices throughout their operations in the region,” he said, continuing: “The company and its affiliate farms have followed this policy closely. We are pleased to collaborate with FAO and the local authorities to control the spread of AMR while producing high quality food.”

The FAO Cambodia team observed examples of these practices on two livestock farms that provide animals to CP Cambodia. The company requires and supports the adoption of an array of good practices that are consistent with the Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXC 61-2005), demonstrating the advantages of close collaboration with the agrifood sector.

Although AMR is just one piece of the overall food safety picture, food producers should be especially aware of this growing threat to human health. FAO continues to work with AMR stakeholders to raise awareness through a variety of programmes, including projects that encourage public-private partnerships and training for farmers. Dr Makara Hak, the Technical Advisor for One Health and Livestock Production at FAO Cambodia, highlighted the importance of the continued support for AMR projects. Dr Hak noted that “FAO partners, such as the Republic of Korea, are vital for supporting programmes that promote good practices aimed at producing food that is safe and nutritious for a growing population. The long-term success of these programmes depends on developing working partnerships between the private sector and government officials responsible for food safety.”

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The ACT project
ACT in Cambodia
RENOFARM

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