Antimicrobials: Handle with care

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today. Drug-resistant microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can spread between and within animal, human and plant populations and migrate through the environment.

Therefore, addressing AMR requires multi-sectoral interventions known as the One Health approach. This holistic approach recognizes that animal, human, plant and environmental health are inextricably intertwined and interdependent.

World AMR Awareness Week 2024 is a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. Tackling AMR through One Health will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, transform agrifood systems, save millions of lives, preserve antimicrobials for generations and protect the future from drug-resistant diseases.

In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), known collectively as the Quadripartite, FAO is working to raise awareness of the need for more responsible use of antimicrobials.

Learn more by reviewing some of FAO’s key materials on AMR:

The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 – Supporting innovation and resilience in food and agriculture sectors
This document outlines the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 which serves as a roadmap to address AMR in the food and agriculture sectors.

Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials for Sustainable Agrifood System Transformation (RENOFARM)
This document introduces RENOFARM, FAO’s ten-year initiative to help countries reduce antimicrobial use in agrifood systems and promote sustainable practices in line with the FAO AMR Action Plan.

The International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) system – Manual for implementation 2024
This guide introduces InFARM, FAO’s platform for managing AMR data in livestock and aquaculture, supporting evidence-based decisions.

How prevention can reduce the need for antibiotics
This report illustrates how governments, health professionals, veterinarians and food producers can collaborate to enhance disease prevention, reduce farm antimicrobial use and promote more sustainable agrifood systems.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance in food and agriculture
This report outlines FAO's global, regional, and national activities addressing AMR, focusing on governance, challenges, and the One Health approach guiding the FAO AMR Action Plan 2021–2025. 

Further reading

• Antimicrobial resistance within agrifood systems
• Antimicrobial resistance: toolkit for media engagement      
• Call for actionable steps in response to the rising threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Highlights from the One Health Priority Research Agenda for Antimicrobial Resistance
• Guidelines on monitoring antimicrobial use at the farm level
• FAO tools to promote sustainable livestock transformation by reducing the need for antimicrobials on farms
• Antimicrobial resistance monitoring and surveillance guidelines for food-producing animals and their products in Eastern Africa
• Monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens from aquaculture
• Surveillance data of the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR)
• Progressive Management Pathway for Antimicrobial Resistance (FAO-PMP-AMR)
• How to use antimicrobials effectively and responsibly in plant production, for the sake of human and plant health
• Why should policymakers act on antimicrobial resistance in agrifood systems?
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform
• ACT now. Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT)
• Eight ways to effectively and responsibly use antimicrobials in plant production
• Foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR): an economic concern
• Africa Regional Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance Communications and Advocacy
• Strategic framework for collaboration on antimicrobial resistance – Together for One Health
• Understanding antimicrobial resistance in food and agriculture
• Responsible use of antimicrobials in beekeeping

Additional resources

Websites 

• FAO AMR website

Videos

• AMR videos – FAO YouTube playlist

E-learning

• Understand Antimicrobial Resistance in Food and Agriculture
• Raising awareness on the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock