More than 50 participants from 15 countries across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Bangkok for the second regional training on the use of the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) System and IT platform, marking a key milestone as countries prepare for the second global InFARM open call for data. 

The training was convened by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP) from 22 to 24 July 2025, as part of a coordinated effort to strengthen national technical capacities for monitoring and reporting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food and agriculture sectors. This initiative builds on the success of the first open call for data in 2024, which saw 49 countries worldwide participating, including 10 from this region. 

Thanks to the recent development of a dedicated InFARM Virtual Learning Centre (VLC) course, participants arrived at the training with a solid foundational understanding of InFARM processes. This innovation significantly reduced the duration of the in-person training, allowing more time for practical exercises, hands-on data management clinics, and open consultations. Participants provided feedback to help FAO refine system operations and improve user experience on the InFARM platform. 

“The online VLC course was very helpful and ensured that all of us were on the same page from day one,” said Dr Khairina Akmar Binti Khalid, InFARM focal point from Malaysia. “It meant we could dedicate most of the workshop to practical work and get immediate support from FAO experts on preparing and submitting our data.” 

During the training, FAO presented key findings and lessons learned from the 2024 open call, including preliminary results from surveillance questionnaires and AMR data, and the challenges countries faced in preparing and submitting surveillance information and data. Participants were guided through the updated technical requirements for participation and were trained in managing data files, addressing data quality issues, and navigating the platform’s visualization tools. 

In addition, countries had the opportunity to engage in bilateral data preparation clinics with the FAO InFARMglobal and regional teams and a WHONET expert, ensuring that all focal points concluded the training with actionable advice tailored to their national context. 

For Dr. Bikesh Kumar Raut, InFARM focal point from Nepal, these sessions were crucial: “The clinics allowed us to clarify specific questions about our datasets. We now feel more confident about submitting complete, validated data for this year’s call.” 

FAO emphasized that these trainings are essential not only to ensure consistent and high-quality data submissions in countries that are initiating implementation of surveillance systems but also to foster a community of practice among national focal points. 

“This training illustrates the commitment of countries in Asia and the Pacific to improve AMR surveillance and contribute to global monitoring efforts,” said Dr. JutanatSrisamran,  AMR Project Specialist from FAO RAP. “The strong participation and engagement this year reflect a growing recognition of the value of reliable AMR data for decision-making in food and agriculture.” 

The training was made possible with the support of multiple partners and donors, including the EU-funded Regional Tripartite AMR project "Working Together to Fight AMR in Asia and the Pacific", the Republic of Korea’s ACT project, the United Kingdom’s Fleming Fund, and the Pandemic Fund. 

As countries prepare for the upcoming 2025 open call for data, FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national authorities in building robust AMR surveillance systems. Reporting AMR data in AMR surveillance in the food and agriculture sectors is also one of the 3 targets of FAO's 10-year Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) global initiative.The insights gathered from this year’s training will feed into continued improvements to the InFARM system, ensuring that countries are well-equipped to monitor, report and act on AMR risks. 

For more information on FAO’s work on antimicrobial resistance and the InFARMsystem and its IT platform, visit the InFARM page: https://www.fao.org/antimicrobial-resistance/resources/infarm-system/en/