© FAO/ Pisey Khun

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, plants, animals and ecosystems.

FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of agrifood system transformation for the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. This involves a spectrum of actors and work on sustainable agriculture, animal, plant, forest, and aquaculture health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security, nutrition and livelihoods.

Ensuring a One Health approach is essential for progress to anticipate, prevent, detect and control diseases that spread between animals and humans, tackle AMR, ensure food safety, prevent environment-related human and animal health threats, as well as combatting many other challenges.

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent.

The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development. OHHLEP One Health definition

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Highlights
date-sap
Highlights
Date palm sap collection and Nipah virus risk: Honouring Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge
08/06/2026

Date palm sap collection is a seasonal tradition for Indigenous Peoples across eastern and central India and in Bangladesh.

pygmy rice rat
Highlights
Mitigating zoonotic transmission of hantavirus along food chains
05/06/2026

Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that are widely distributed. Rodents are their primary hosts, but humans can occasionally become infected. 

Upcoming events
21/09/2026 - 23/09/2026

The Global Conference will bring together global leaders, technical experts, partners and stakeholders to accelerate the practical application of One Health across agrifood systems.

24/06/2026

Join the ENTRVST scientific webinar on how early warning systems and digital innovation can strengthen One Health surveillance in Asia and the Pacific.

Story
The interconnected world of agrifood systems
03/06/2026

Find out what agrifood systems are and try out our interactive game to see how one change can impact the whole system.

Projects
Statement from the Voting Members of the Governing Board on the Pandemic Fund’s accelerated support for the ebola emergency
01/06/2026

Up to USD 220.6 million in Pandemic Fund grant financing will provide rapid and flexible support to fill critical gaps in response to the ongoing...

Highlights
Nipah virus disease: Risk management and emergency preparedness in agrifood systems
28/05/2026

Nipah virus disease is a severe zoonotic infection caused by the Nipah virus (NiV) which can cause acute respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans.