Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites stop responding to medicines designed to treat them - is a growing global threat. Most discussions about AMR focus on its impact on human and animal health where the effects, and mitigation options, are better...

OpEd by Patrice Talla (PhD), FAO Subregional Coordinator in Southern Africa. Cape Town dialogue shows why biodiversity and pesticide safety must advance together From 19 to 23 May 2025, two landmark events in Cape Town, South Africa, brought fresh momentum to a shared vision: aligning biodiversity...

The 2025 Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 April to 9 May 2025. This year’s theme, "Make Visible the Invisible: sound management of chemicals and waste" emphasized the interlinkages between chemicals,...

New guidelines for managing some of the world’s major pests and diseases offer a myriad of environmentally sound solutions, leading to improved crop production, as well as better health and livelihoods for producers, large and small.  The publication, Guidance on integrated pest management for...

The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) held its 63rd   meeting from 1-3 April 2025 at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)headquarters in Rome, Italy. It was a hybrid meeting involving 13 participants  representing nine organizations Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions...