© FAO/ Pisey Khun

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

Subscribe to the FAO One Health newsletter and keep up to date with the latest news, events and publications!
Highlights
PROVET
Highlights
Connecting veterinary professionals worldwide: ProgRESSVet alumni join FAO's ICT Community of Practice
14/04/2026

The integration of ProgRESSVet alumni into the FAO One Health Knowledge Nexus ICT Community of Practice emerged as a natural extension of existing...

Highlights
Small islands, big risks: Why Pacific SIDS need a One Health approach to strengthen pandemic prevention
13/04/2026

In Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where land, sea, and communities are tightly interwoven, a health threat in one sector quickly becomes...

Upcoming events
21/09/2026 - 23/09/2026

The Global Conference will bring together global leaders, technical experts, partners and stakeholders to accelerate the practical application of One Health across agrifood systems.

28/05/2026

This session explores how ticks develop resistance to acaricides, including the biological and genetic factors involved, how treatment methods affect effectiveness, the dangers of sublethal exposure, and the impact of residue buildup from heavy use.

Highlights
New field vehicles to boost frontline disease surveillance in the Greater Virunga Landscape
10/04/2026

With improved mobility, field teams will now be better equipped to reach remote and high-risk areas, strengthen cross-border coordination, and accelerate...

E-learning
One Health approach to zoonoses: Addressing an invisible threat through FAO’s online course
09/04/2026

Through eight interactive modules, participants explore the impact of zoonotic diseases, as well as the benefits and challenges of implementing a One...

Highlights
Strengthening One Health through coordinated action on implementation, science, policy and financing
08/04/2026

Preventing future health crises requires urgent, coordinated action that recognizes the deep interconnections between the health of people, animals,...