FAO and KNAU hold student forum on antimicrobial resistance

Bishkek – On 21 November the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU), held a student forum as part of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, under the slogan “Building a Future Without AMR.”

The event brought together veterinary students, young scientists, and university faculty to discuss the problem of AMR, which is already causing harm to our health, food systems, environment, and economy.

WAAW 2025 aims to draw attention to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a present, not a future, threat. The number of drug-resistant infections is growing faster than new drugs and diagnostic tools are being developed. This directly impacts human and animal health, agricultural sustainability, food system security, ecosystem resilience, and economic development.

The forum was a key part of the activities carried out by FAO in Kyrgyzstan under the project “Pandemic Fund (Kyrgyzstan): Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health approach in Central Asia,” aimed at preventing and reducing risks associated with the growth of drug resistance.

The event served as a platform for sharing knowledge and experience among students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, young scientists, teachers, and representatives of the scientific community. The central theme was the impact of AMR on human and animal health, food systems, and the agricultural sector.

“Antimicrobial resistance today represents a complex challenge not only for healthcare but also for agriculture, the environment, and food safety,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic. “Today, we must talk not only about the rational use of antibiotics but also about the need for systemic investments in surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, biosecurity, and workforce training. These are key elements of the One Health approach, without which it is impossible to stop the rise of AMR.”

A dedicated session of the forum featured a lecture by FAO experts on the role of veterinarians in controlling and preventing AMR. They presented practical examples from FAO's regional and international experience.

“Veterinary professionals are the first line of defense against the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens in livestock,” emphasized Irysbek Begaliev, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology at KNAU. “When antimicrobials are used uncontrollably, without diagnostic confirmation and without observing dosages, resistant pathogens emerge faster than we can detect them. Therefore, training new specialists is a strategic task for food security and animal health systems.”

FAO continues to strengthen intersectoral collaboration in the country by conducting awareness campaigns, training programs, and scientific events aimed at preserving the efficacy of vital antimicrobials.