On March 17-18, representatives from the livestock industry met with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to formulate urgent and measurable actions to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The meeting focused on moving beyond commitments to agree on concrete solutions aligned with the 2024 Political Declaration on AMR, adopted in September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly.

AMR poses a global threat, with projections showing it could lead to 39 million lives lost by 2050 and result in €870 billion in GDP losses within the livestock sector alone. These dire consequences highlight the urgency of decisive action now. The 2024 Political Declaration on AMR marked a milestone, introducing over 45 commitments. Several of them require immediate action from the agrifood sector, including:

• Mandating and financing infection prevention and control measures
• Establishing measurable, independently verified targets to reduce antimicrobial use in agrifood systems by 2030
• Implementing strict regulations to ensure prudent and responsible antimicrobial use in animal and agricultural sectors
• Accelerating the development and implementation of vaccination strategies to reduce disease burden
• Substantial investment in veterinary health systems to ensure equitable access to essential services

The environment plays a key role in the emergence, transmission, and spread of AMR. Reports confirm that targeted interventions, such as improving sanitation and hygiene, providing access to safe water, advancing health care, and developing new antimicrobials, could save 100 million lives and generate nearly €1 trillion in economic gains.

“Without addressing AMR within agrifood systems, efforts across human, animal, and environmental health will fail. The time for decisive, coordinated action is now,” emphasized Ms. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Environmental Studies in India and a member of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.

FAO’s Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative and the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform are important mechanisms for private sector engagement, but their success depends on real engagement and willingness to collaborate, participants stressed. The meeting highlighted that the private sector must take an active role in governance, policy influence, financing, research and development, and surveillance.

While private sector representatives noted progress in areas such as animal health improvement, preventive strategies, and stewardship programs, real accountability remains a challenge.

Key discussion areas included:

• Data sharing on antimicrobial sales and use
• Closer collaboration with research and innovation entities to accelerate alternative solutions
• Tailored health and welfare solutions adapted to different production systems and environments
• Support for countries transitioning away from antimicrobial use for growth promotion, backed by financial investment
• Stronger market and supply chain incentives to enforce responsible antimicrobial use

Prevention must be prioritized across pharmaceutical manufacturing, agri-food production, and municipal systems to prevent AMR from entering the environment. Enhancing connections between AMR National Action Plans (NAPs) and Immunisation Strategies will optimize resources, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 

One of the greatest roadblocks remains sustainable financing. Without concrete financial commitments from both private sector actors and governments, AMR strategies will remain aspirational. Questions about investment allocation to antimicrobial alternatives and the agrifood sector demand urgent answers.

Following this engagement, a joint roadmap with clear, enforceable actions will be developed to ensure that global commitments in the agrifood sector translate into measurable impact on the ground. The private sector must step up, while FAO will work to create an enabling environment for effective public-private partnerships.

The path forward requires sustained cooperation, robust financial investments, and a unified, multisectoral response to prevent AMR from becoming an irreversible crisis.