Generating science-based evidence in food and agriculture sectors to tackle AMR

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is committed to supporting countries in their efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) system, FAO is building a global platform that helps countries generate, analyze, and share reliable data on AMR in animals and food, and on antimicrobial use (AMU) in plant production and protection.

This science-based evidence is essential for informing national, regional, and global policies on antimicrobial stewardship and guiding responsible use of antimicrobials across the food and agriculture sectors.

What is the InFARM System?

InFARM is a global information system developed by FAO to support national, regional and global surveillance and monitoring of AMR and AMU. It consists of an IT platform and related capacity-building activities that help countries:

• Collect, collate, and analyze AMR and AMU data
• Visualize and interpret data to inform decisions
• Share information at national and international levels

The system primarily focuses on AMR data from livestock, aquaculture, and associated food products, and is currently expanding to include AMU data in plant production and protection.

InFARM is rooted in the extensive experience of FAO and its partners in the Quadripartite (FAO, WHO, WOAH, and UNEP). It builds on tools like the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems (ATLASS) and draws from years of work supporting countries in developing effective surveillance systems, guidelines, and training.

A bridge to global surveillance

InFARM supports countries that choose to share their AMR and AMU data for global surveillance. It will facilitate data integration with the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and the WOAH’s ANImal antiMicrobial USE Global Database (ANIMUSE). Together, these global information systems contribute to the Quadripartite Global Integrated System for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Usage (GISSA).

Data privacy and sharing options

InFARM ensures data privacy through secure, role-based access. Countries can choose to:

• Keep their data private and accessible only to designated national officials
• Share selected data publicly with the international community

This flexible approach allows countries to maintain control over their data while contributing to global knowledge and action against AMR.