One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, plants, animals and ecosystems.

FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of agrifood system transformation for the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. This involves a spectrum of actors and work on sustainable agriculture, animal, plant, forest, and aquaculture health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security, nutrition and livelihoods.

Ensuring a One Health approach is essential for progress to anticipate, prevent, detect and control diseases that spread between animals and humans, tackle AMR, ensure food safety, prevent environment-related human and animal health threats, as well as combatting many other challenges.

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent.

The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development. OHHLEP One Health definition

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FAO at COP31

The 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, hosted by Türkiye in Antalya, will take place from 9 to 20 November. 

Highlights
© FAO/Ivan Barros
Beyond collaboration: Learning to measure the value of One Health
11/11/2026

Evaluating One Health initiatives can help address this challenge by providing evidence of their effectiveness, efficiency and wider benefits.

One Health at COP31: Building resilience across climate, food and health systems
11/11/2026

As world leaders prepare to gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31, the connections between climate change, food security and health are increasingly...

Upcoming events
17/12/2026 - 18/12/2026

This consultation will build on the One Health Session on MERS-CoV camel vaccination that was convened by the tripartite organizations in November 2025 as part of a MERS-CoV vaccine use case workshop held by CEPI. 

24/11/2026

The event will bring together experts from across sectors to explore emerging evidence, ongoing initiatives and priorities for future monitoring, research and cooperation. 

Shamonda virus outbreaks continue spreading in animals in Europe with the reporting of the first human infection
10/11/2026

This emerging disease underscores the importance of a One Health approach that integrates animal, human and ecosystem health surveillance. 

Early detection and rapid response: Cambodia strengthens animal disease surveillance
05/11/2026

Early detection is essential to preventing animal diseases from spreading and potentially threatening human health.

Togo strengthens animal disease surveillance and response
03/11/2026

With support from the Pandemic Fund, Togo is strengthening veterinary services, laboratory capacity and early warning systems to detect and respond...