This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2023 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.

In 2019, the Tripartite Joint Secretariat (FAO, OIE, and WHO) launched the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to scale up action in low- and lower-middle-income countries to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as well as set up joint, global-level activities. In 2020, the Tripartite put in place the necessary frameworks, tools, and standards to select countries and develop global programmes that will be supported by the MPTF. The following report will provide an overview of the country and global projects, their current implementation status, the fund’s financial resources as well as the next steps.

This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2021 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to fight antimicrobial compounds, reducing the efficacy of treating diseases in humans, animals, and plants. AMR risk is outpacing human population growth, owing to misuse of antimicrobials in large quantities in food systems, and is a serious threat to food security and sustainable development. FAO, with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is supporting countries in developing and implementing their One Health National Action Plans on AMR. The eventual aim is to ensure sustainable use of antimicrobials to minimize AMR risks, in alignment with the Global Action Plan on AMR. The scope of the evaluation covers FAO’s entire work on AMR up to early 2020 and its role in the global AMR architecture. It examines FAO’s organizational and institutional set-up for AMR work. FAO has a strong mandate to work on AMR, implementing activities in 45 countries and providing far-reaching support on AMR National Action Plans (NAPs). FAO’s technical expertise is a key comparative advantage in its work on AMR. It is underpinned by the strong scientific grounding of FAO’s work, engendered in its AMR working groups and supported by its collaboration with research centers, universities, and the Tripartite organizations. Nevertheless, the work is relatively recent and, given the long impact pathways, it has had limited results. A comprehensive strategic and programmatic approach would increase the likelihood of achieving results in combating AMR. FAO should prioritize its work in a long-term strategy on AMR that recognizes the seriousness of the threat and is fully integrated into the Organization’s Strategic Framework. The strategy should set out FAO’s long-term role in combating AMR and that of its divisions and offices, as well as its approach at the country and regional level. FAO should consolidate its work on AMR through a strong programmatic approach with a central coordination and management structure that links with the Regional Offices and is supported by dedicated core funding.

"Many people correctly understand that superbugs can threaten health. Superbugs are microbial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, that resist one or more antibiotic or other antimicrobial treatments. What may be less widely understood is that the threat is global, growing, and encompasses human systems surrounding healthcare, agriculture, and the environment. In 2019, 1.3 million people around the world are estimated to have died from resistant microbes (Murray et al., 2022). This is similar to how many succumb annually to HIV/AIDS and Malaria combined (Laxminarayan, 2022). The recent coronavirus pandemic may have further exacerbated the global health challenge posed by superbugs (Rizvi & Ahammad, 2022; Adebisi et al., 2021; Rodríguez-Baño et al., 2021). By 2050, worst-case projections include annual superbug fatalities of ten million people (O'Neil, 2016). Some experts have started to refer to the increase and spread of superbugs as the overlooked or silent pandemic (Laxminarayan, 2022; UN, 2020; Mahoney et al., 2021). Other experts warn that we might be heading towards a 'post-antibiotic' era where minor infections become increasingly severe or even impossible to treat (Reardon, 2014; Kwon & Powderly, 2021). Annual economic losses related to superbugs are already estimated in the tens of billion U.S. dollars (Hall, McDonell & O'Neil, 2018). As a response to these global challenges, this book analyses and discusses ways to reduce barriers to and create opportunities for global governance of antimicrobial resistance. Or more briefly, steering against superbugs"--