© 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
Brief
People, animals, plants, ecosystems - making the case for investing in One Health
25/08/2026

Global health threats and potential economic consequences mean that countries need to invest in new ways to increase preparedness and prevention. 

E-learning
E-learning courses on One Health
21/08/2026

The FAO Virtual Learning Centers provide a variety of courses designed to enhance competencies in support of animal health, One Health and related fields. 

Upcoming events
24/09/2026

This workshop will examine how investments through the Pandemic Fund are strengthening animal health systems and contributing to more effective pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

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.

Highlights
Evaluating the Value of One Health: Lessons from the first global online course
21/08/2026

Integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health are worth investing in - the harder questions are by how much and...

Highlights
Quadripartite collaboration extends the One Health Joint Plan of Action to 2029
14/08/2026

The extension to 2029 will provide countries with sustained predictability for planning, implementing and scaling national One Health priorities.

Highlights
Ebola virus disease
13/08/2026

FAO supports countries in preventing, detecting and responding to Ebola and other zoonotic disease threats through a One Health approach.