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The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025

Supporting innovation and resilience in food and agriculture sectors

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 46 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-134673-0

Synopsis (short abstract) Due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), drug-resistant infections are placing an ever-increasing burden on human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Drug-resistant infections have the potential to become leading causes of death. AMR may force tens of millions more people into extreme poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, and the associated economic losses are projected at several percent of gross domestic product. However, we can prevent this from happening – if we act quickly. This document outlines the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 which serves as a roadmap for focusing global efforts to address AMR in the food and agriculture sectors. The aim of this plan is to help accelerate progress in developing and implementing multi-sectoral National Action Plans to tackle AMR by calling attention to strategic priorities and areas of expertise for FAO support. The action plan was developed by a multidisciplinary FAO team to ensure that all relevant dimensions – including terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, crop production, food and feed safety, genetic resources, natural resource management, risk communication, and behavior change - are considered, with attention to regulatory frameworks, standards, norm-setting and bottom-up processes of collective action. By working together, food systems, livelihoods, and economies will be better protected from the destabilizing forces of untreatable illness.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2021. The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5545en

Language English

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    The availability and use of antimicrobial drugs in terrestrial and aquatic animals and in plant production is essential for both health and productivity and contributes to food security, food safety and animal welfare, and in turn, the protection of livelihoods and sustainability of food production systems. However, there are growing global concerns about resistance to antimicrobial drugs, including antibiotics, and that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will reverse these benefits. Developing countries are expected to bear the greatest burden of this problem. In this context, it is critical that countries’ food and agriculture sectors are equipped to address AMR and ensure that antimicrobials are regulated and used in a responsible manner. To this end, the project aimed to support the engagement of the food and agriculture sectors in selected countries in the development and implementation of National Action Plans (NAP) on AMR, focusing on several key factors such as regulatory platforms, legislation, and capacity to collect data on antimicrobial use (AMU), among others.
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    The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial resistance 2016-2020 2016
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    This document outlines the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, which describes how the Organization will implement Resolution 4/2105 (Annex 1). The Plan was developed by a multidisciplinary FAO team to ensure that all relevant dimensions, including terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, crop production, food safety, standard setting and legal aspects, are considered and that it is embedded within the Strategic Programme of FAO. Framing FAO’s work on AMR, it informs FAO Me mbers and partners of the Organization’s approach and goals over the next five years.
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    Antimicrobial agents are essential drugs for human and animal health and welfare. Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern that is impacted by both human and non-human antimicrobial usage. Antimicrobial agents are used in food animals, including from aquaculture, companion animals and horticulture to treat or prevent disease. Antimicrobial agents are sometimes used in food animals to promote growth. The types of antimicrobials used are frequently the same as, or closely rela ted to, antimicrobials used in humans.

    The expert workshop concluded that there is clear evidence of adverse human health consequences due to resistant organisms resulting from non-human usage of antimicrobials. These consequences include infections that would not have otherwise occurred, increased frequency of treatment failures (in some cases death) and increased severity of infections, as documented for instance by fluoroquinolone resistant human Salmonella infections. Evidence shows th at the amount and pattern of non-human usage of antimicrobials impact on the occurrence of resistant bacteria in animals and on food commodities and thereby human exposure to these resistant bacteria. The foodborne route is the major transmission pathway for resistant bacteria and resistance genes from food animals to humans, but other routes of transmission exist. There is much less data available on the public health impact of antimicrobial usage in aquaculture, horticulture and companion an imals.
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