The continued effective use of antimicrobials plays a critical role in food security, our well-being, and
animal and plant welfare. However, the misuse of antimicrobials increases the risk of antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) where the emergence of organisms resistant to antimicrobials becomes a growing threat to
human, animal and plant life.

To combat AMR, the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the United Nations
Environment Programme and FAO are working together to accelerate coordinated strategy on human, animal,
plant and ecosystem health to achieve the One Health goals. The designation of the FAO Reference Centres in
2022 is a step toward a better understanding and improved collaboration in preventing the increase of AMR.

Since 2022, the designated FAO Reference Centres on AMR and AB are:

• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
• Mississippi State University (MSU)
• Nitte University (Nitte) 
• Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute (PRFRI)
• Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI)