Consultation with Member States and Observers on Priorities for the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on AMR

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I would like to express FAO's gratitude to the governments of the Republic of Malta and Barbados, for their leadership of this process towards the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance in September.
2. The recognition of AMR as "the greatest and most urgent global risk" in 2016 was a landmark step that catalyzed significant progress. 
3. FAO remains committed to working with all stakeholders to address AMR, and our work aims to provide support where it is needed most:
4. We support Member States to implement their National Action Plans for AMR and implement numerous regional and country led activities, such as our Farmer Field School Programme.
5. FAO supports countries to improve their national AMR surveillance systems through InFARM, the International FAO AMR Monitoring System, which provides data to inform national evidence-based interventions to combat AMR. FAO provides technical assistance to Member States through the FAO AMR Reference Center networkwhich offers training support in different locations around the world.
6. This week we are launching a ten-year initiative to reduce the reliance on the use of antimicrobials which aims to support 100 countries, to achieve Good Health Services, Good Production Practices, Good Alternatives, Good Connection and Good Incentives at farm-level. We also work closely with WHO, WOAH and UNEP, our Quadripartite partners, in support of the Global Leaders Group and the Multi-Partnership Trust Fund. The establishment of the Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform last year is a joint achievement that we are very proud of.
7. Ladies and gentlemen,
8. Whilst we have all made substantial progress, AMR remains a formidable challenge.
9. As a primary driver of AMR, the increasing use and misuse of antimicrobials is a grave concern, and as a contributor to the development of AMR, agrifood systems must be an essential part of the solution.
10. The outcomes of the political declaration in September will shape our actions for the coming years and will echo in our respective nations and across our borders, so allow me to share six recommendations:
11. First, we need to pursue a One Health approach to AMR, with equitable contributions from all sectors to devise effective solutions.
12. Second, we would welcome the establishment of a Global Independent Panel of Experts and highlight the importance of strengthening national, regional and global governance mechanisms with whole-of-government and whole-of-society participation.
13. Third, it is important to ensure sustained and increased funding to support the implementation of National Action Plans, research and innovation, and transformation of agrifood systems.
14. Fourth, we urge Member States to commit to agrifood systems transformation, applying environmental, biodiverse and climate-friendly interventions to reduce the need for and reliance on antimicrobials.
15. Fifth, we recommend strengthening sector-specific surveillance and integration of Quadripartite AMR and Antimicrobial use data systems to inform national policies and interventions.
16. And finally, we suggest the creation of global and national outcome-oriented, sector-specific targets, to assist Members to focus and accelerate efforts to address AMR.
17. FAO looks forward to supporting Member States to come together to agree on an equitable and inclusive Political Declaration that addresses priorities of both the Global North and the Global South, striking the balance between ambitious but feasible commitments that address the prevailing challenges.
18. Together we can and must ensure that life-saving medicines remain effective for decades to come, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.