Antimicrobial Resistance

About AMR

What is it?
What is it?
FAO's role
FAO's role
Who we are
Who we are
Key sectors
Key sectors

Antimicrobial drugs are key in the treatment of diseases, and their use is essential to protect both human and animal health. However, antimicrobials misuse in the livestock sector, aquaculture and crop production is a major concern as a risk for emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms.

Key facts

In 2019, 5 million human deaths were associated by bacterial antimicrobial resistance worldwide, including 1.3 million human deaths attributable to bacterial AMR (The Lancet)

27 different antimicrobial classes used in animals

Total global animal health market in 2011 was equivalent to USD 22 billion (OECD)

118 countries reported quantitative data on antimicrobial use in animals between 2015 and 2017, an increase from 89 reporting in 2015

Publications

Antimicrobial resistance toolkit for youth engagement

The aim of this practical toolkit is to equip youth-led networks and youth-serving organizations with resources to engage young people in AMR communication, education and campaigns for awareness-raising, advocacy and behaviour change.

Regulatory frameworks to address antimicrobial resistance in the food and agriculture sectors

This Legislative Study elaborates on methods for addressing AMR risks and challenges through legislation. It aims to respond to the UN General Assembly’s call for “strengthening of regulatory capacity”, as well as ...

Antimicrobial use practices in the livestock sector in Serbia

This issue of the series summarizes the results of interviews performed in Serbia between June and October 2022

News

Strengthening mechanisms to fight against Antimicrobial Resistance in the food and agricultural sector in Sierra Leone

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has made significant strides in combating [...]

Silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance continues to raise alarm

AMR is rapidly becoming a critical challenge in Asia and the Pacific region, with projections estimating up to 4.3 million AMR-related deaths annually...

FAO and Vet. Authorities in Africa Collaborate to Strengthen Animal Health and Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), has intensified efforts to bolster animal health systems and address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Eastern Africa. [...]

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