One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, 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. A One Health approach is also critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Key fact 1

60 percent of all human infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin and some 75 percent jump species

Key fact 1 bis

High impact diseases affect the availability and quality of animal source foods

Key fact 2

A One Health approach can reduce potential threats at the human-animal-environment interface, while protecting biodiversity.

Key fact 3

United Nations Members support a One Health approach – many have established multisectoral working groups on antimicrobial resistance.

Key fact 4

Supporting good agricultural practices is essential to prevent, mitigate and manage plant diseases, ensuring that harvests can feed all people.

Key fact 5

Good practices from farm to plate represent a One Health approach to food safety.

Key fact 6

USD 8 trillion to USD 16 trillion is the estimated cost of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key fact 7

In a high-impact scenario, AMR will shave 3.8 percent off global annual GDP by 2050.

Events
Virtual Event, 08/10/2024

To commemorate World Rabies Day 2024, this FAO webinar will share information about FAO’s activities and countries’ experience on using t...

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Highlights
Highlights
Strengthening capacity towards rabies elimination in Asia: A collective effort
19/09/2024

In Asia, dogs are the primary carriers of rabies, making canine-mediated rabies a significant threat to both humans and livestock, with devastating...

Highlights
Reducing human rabies cases in Bali through effective dog vaccination campaigns
18/09/2024

Human cases of rabies dropped to a fraction of their peak levels, demonstrating the effectiveness of the One Health approach.

Highlights
One Health webinar examines problems of zoonoses and offers solutions to the region
05/09/2024

Consultation reflecting on the experience of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan and the WHO subregional central office in Asian countries as part...

Highlights
Online consultation on guidelines for sustainable tick control and acaricide resistance management in livestock
03/09/2024

Your opinion counts! By taking part in this consultation, you can provide suggestions and make improvements to these updated guidelines.

E-learning
E-learning course - Understanding antimicrobial resistance in food and agriculture
02/09/2024

This course offers an overview of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a global threat to human, animal and environmental health.

News
Strengthening One Health initiatives: UK invests in the One Health Knowledge Nexus
29/08/2024

The United Kingdom, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has committed to a significant investment in the One Health...