On March 17-18, The AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform (MSPP) facilitated a dedicated session on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the agrifood sector as part of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Annual Meeting with International Livestock Organizations. The meeting focused on moving beyond commitments to implement concrete solutions to deliver on the Political declaration of the high-level meeting on AMR, adopted in September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly. Several of the MSPP members, including Health for Animals, International Poultry Council, International Feed Industry Federation, International Meet Secretariat, World Farmer’s Organization met with FAO as representatives from the livestock industry.
AMR poses a significant global threat, with projections indicating it could lead to 39 million deaths by 2050 and result in €870 billion in GDP losses within the livestock sector alone. These alarming consequences highlight the urgency of decisive action. The Political declaration marked a milestone, introducing over 45 commitments. Several of these commitments require immediate action from the agrifood sector, including the need to:
- Significantly reducing the global use of antimicrobials in agrifood systems by 2030 from current levels
- Ensuring that antimicrobial use in animals and agriculture is prudent and responsible
- Developing further global guidance to prevent and reduce antimicrobial use in plant agriculture
- Establishing defined animal vaccination strategies with implementation plans by 2030, including international cooperation
- Investing in animal health systems to support equitable access to essential veterinary services, improve animal health, and promote appropriate management practices
“Without addressing AMR within agrifood systems, efforts across human, animal, and environmental health will fail. The time for decisive, coordinated action is now,” emphasized Ms. Sunita Narain, Director-General of the Centre for Science and Environment in India and a member of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.
Platform members underscored that the MSPP serves as an important mechanism for private sector engagement. It enables industries not only to collaborate among themselves and with peers from other sectors—such as human and environmental health—but also to foster meaningful dialogue and public-private partnerships with key stakeholders, including governments, research institutions, academia, and civil society. The private sector cluster currently comprises 11 members, including networks and federations of industries working on AMR across the One Health spectrum within the Platform.
While private sector representatives noted progress in areas such as animal health, preventive strategies, and stewardship programs, real accountability remains a challenge. Key discussion areas included:
- Enhancing data sharing on antimicrobial sales and use
- Strengthening collaboration with research and innovation entities to accelerate alternative solutions
- Developing tailored health and welfare solutions adapted to diverse production systems and environments
- Supporting countries transitioning away from antimicrobial use for growth promotion
- Establishing stronger market and supply chain incentives to promote responsible antimicrobial use
- Expanding financial and economic incentives for food producers
One of the greatest roadblocks remains sustainable financing. Without concrete financial commitments from both private sector actors and governments, AMR strategies will remain aspirational rather than actionable.
Following this engagement, the Quadripartite organizations (FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)) will continue to facilitate dialogue with industries and other stakeholders on AMR leveraging the convening power of the AMR Partnership Platform. This includes strengthening connections with FAO’s Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative and other existing programs and organizations to foster real collaborations, public-private partnerships, and impactful actions on AMR across the One Health spectrum.