Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most pressing threats to global food safety and public health in the present day. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes AMR as one of the ten top health challenges facing humanity in the 21^st century, with some reports predicting that 300 million people would die prematurely due to drug resistance by 2050, globally.

Addressing AMR, in a landmark collaboration recently highlighted by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) UK Reference Center for AMR partnered with the Philippines to strengthen national laboratory capacity and harmonize antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods. This joint effort supports both countries’ National Action Plans on AMR and reflects a shared commitment to advancing surveillance and data quality across the food and agriculture sectors.

In July 2025, the Philippines hosted its first national AST training workshop in Quezon City, led by the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s National Meat Inspection Service (DA-NMIS) and co-organized with the UK FAO Reference Center. The event brought together 32 participants from 28 institutions, spanning government, academia, and the private sector. With stakeholders representing terrestrial and aquatic animal health, environmental science, and public health, the workshop embodied a “One Health” approach to AMR mitigation.

Over three days, participants engaged in lectures and hands-on training focused on AST methodology, international standards (i.e., CLSI and EUCAST), and the interpretation of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The program emphasized the importance of quality control, accurate data recording, and inter-laboratory collaboration to strengthen national surveillance systems.

The workshop marked a pivotal step in harmonizing AST practices across the Philippines, enabling more reliable data to guide treatment decisions and inform responsible antibiotic use. By integrating AST into national surveillance frameworks, the Philippines is better positioned to protect food systems and public health from the growing threat of AMR.

The initiative also complements broader regional efforts. The UK FAO Reference Center recently co-delivered AST training for aquatic animal pathogens to AMR National Reference Laboratories from 11 Asia-Pacific countries.