The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is offering an online course through its FAO eLearning Academy on the threat that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses to global health, the role of the food and agriculture sector, and the impact of AMR on agrifood systems. The course also describes how FAO is contributing to increased awareness and engagement of all stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector to tackle AMR.

The course was developed by FAO in collaboration with the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), with the support of the UK Center for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), and the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The course takes 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete, is available in English, and covers the following topics:

• General principles of the emergence and spread of AMR in agrifood systems
• Relevance and impacts of AMR in the food and agriculture sector
• The potential role of governments, farmers, animal health professionals, industry, and other key stakeholders in AMR mitigation
• The role and current initiatives of FAO in tackling AMR and the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021–2025.

The course was designed for those with an interest in learning about animal health emergency preparedness and planning, such as producers and wholesale and retail distributors of antimicrobials; extension and veterinary services, epidemiologists, laboratory personnel, and academia and students; and government officials, policy-makers, food safety officers and the private sector.

Access to the course is available through the FAO eLearning Academy, which is also home to another 180 free courses.