World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) was celebrated 18–24 November 2025, bringing renewed attention to the urgent global challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This year’s theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”, underscored how AMR is already affecting human, animal and environmental health, and how coordinated, immediate action is essential to preserve the effectiveness of life-saving antimicrobial treatments.

AMR is no longer an emerging threat, but a reality. A recent WHO analysis shows that between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance increased in more 40 percent of the pathogen–antibiotic combinations monitored, with annual rises averaging 5–15 percent. These upward trends threaten progress in food safety, public health and sustainable agriculture, underscoring the need for stronger prevention efforts across all sectors.

The theme for WAAW 2025 aligned closely with the aims of the Republic of Korea-funded and FAO-implemented Action to Support Implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project, not only in name but also in scope. Through awareness, capacity building and improved use of Codex guidance, the ACT project continues to support countries in reducing foodborne AMR risks and promoting responsible antimicrobial use across agrifood systems. This year, ACT countries marked WAAW with a wide range of activities emphasizing learning, dialogue and practical action.

Cambodia’s WAAW campaign highlighted the power of youth action. FAO Cambodia, the ACT and Fleming Funds projects, and national partners carried out two days of activities at Net Yang High School and the National University of Battambang. More than 410 students, teachers and lecturers participated in discussions on AMR, its impacts and practical measures to reduce the need for antimicrobials. To close the week, participants planted 1000 trees, symbolizing their commitment to healthier and more resilient communities.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, a regional digital campaign of forty-four posts promoted awareness of Codex AMR work and foodborne AMR risks, while a regional “Ask the Experts” webinar offered an open forum for the public. Additional activities included a success story on responsible antimicrobial use in livestock and technical contributions to regional AMR surveillance discussions.

Mongolia marked the week with activities led by FAO and its food-safety-related initiatives. The ACT project collaborated with local partners to host a dedicated student discussion event on “Antimicrobial Resistance, Prudent Use of Antimicrobial Drugs, and Food Safety.” A total of 110 veterinary medicine students from the Mongolian University of Life Sciences participated. The sessions gave students concrete insights into national AMR challenges and highlighted their role in supporting responsible antimicrobial use in future professional environments. Educational materials on Codex texts that provide guidance on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) were distributed to broaden outreach.

Nepal’s commemoration centred on a half-day AMR Awareness Workshop involving human, animal, food and environmental health sectors. Presenters outlined major accomplishments and future priorities, followed by a high-level panel discussion on resource mobilization and long-term AMR sustainability. FAO Nepal also supported a major visibility campaign, including radio messages, posters, banners and translations of the 2025 theme. Youth groups, including the World Food Forum Nepal chapter and the National Youth Movement Against Tuberculosis (NyMAT) Nepal, led regional awareness initiatives for farmers and technical students, combining both online and in-person outreach.

Pakistan delivered an extensive national campaign. At the national level, WAAW featured an AMR kids poster competition, a large AMR awareness hike, the Fourth National Symposium on AMR, and a youth-focused awareness competition conducted with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pakistan and WHO. Across provinces, universities held seminars on AMR and antimicrobial stewardship, including Karachi, Tandojam, Sukkar, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. More than a thousand students, faculty members and health professionals took part, strengthening the country’s multi-sector response.

The WAAW 2025 also coincided with the second FAO–Nanjing Agricultural University “Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation ” (RENO­FARM ) Training Workshop. While not part of the ACT project, RENOFARM directly supports ACT’s objectives by helping countries to use antimicrobials prudently and reduce the need for them through improved animal health, sustainable farming practices and strengthened technical skills. Nepal and Cambodia – two of the ACT countries - benefitted from the workshop’s focus on practical interventions, such as biosecurity, good husbandry, and disease prevention, that complement Codex-aligned approaches promoted under ACT. Together, these efforts reinforced the idea that preventing disease through better farming practices is one of the most effective strategies to reduce antimicrobial use and contain AMR.

WAAW 2025 demonstrated that meaningful progress against AMR is possible when all sectors act together. From youth engagement to technical training and from national campaigns to regional collaboration, the ACT project embraced the call to “Act Now”, protecting present health and securing a safer future for generations to come.

Read more

The ACT project
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
WAAW / Codex AMR texts are the global reference for tackling foodborne antimicrobial resistance

Photo © FAO/ Enkhtur Byakharjav