The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025

Book excerpt: Due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), drug-resistant infections are placing an ever-increasing burden on human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Drug-resistant infections have the potential to become leading causes of death. AMR may force tens of millions more people into extreme poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, and the associated economic losses are projected at several percent of gross domestic product. However, we can prevent this from happening – if we act quickly. This document outlines the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 which serves as a roadmap for focusing global efforts to address AMR in the food and agriculture sectors. The aim of this plan is to help accelerate progress in developing and implementing multi-sectoral National Action Plans to tackle AMR by calling attention to strategic priorities and areas of expertise for FAO support. The action plan was developed by a multidisciplinary FAO team to ensure that all relevant dimensions – including terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, crop production, food and feed safety, genetic resources, natural resource management, risk communication, and behavior change - are considered, with attention to regulatory frameworks, standards, norm-setting and bottom-up processes of collective action. By working together, food systems, livelihoods, and economies will be better protected from the destabilizing forces of untreatable illness.