Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in Food and Agricultural Systems

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global threat, often referred to as the ‘silent pandemic’. AMR jeopardizes global health, food security and economic stability by rendering common treatments ineffective against previously treatable infections. The World Health Organization estimates that, in 2019 alone, AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide. Projections indicate that this figure could rise to 40 million by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for action. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial treatments. The IAEA has taken a multi-disciplinary approach to address AMR, focusing on its impacts on food and agricultural systems.

Tracking AMR in food and agriculture

Food production is a key area where AMR can develop and spread. Misuse of antimicrobials, particularly the overuse of antibiotics in livestock, contributes to the development of resistant bacteria. The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre helps address this issue by testing drugs and residues in food, monitoring antimicrobial use and enforcing stricter control measures. Nuclear and related techniques involving carbon-14, tritium-labelled tracers and stable isotopes are used to identify drug residues in food and the environment, while also assessing drug quality to ensure effective levels of active ingredients. Resistance develops when pathogens are exposed to inadequate doses of drugs, allowing them to ‘adapt’ to these treatments.

The persistence and spread of antimicrobial residues in agricultural environments can be traced using advanced isotopic techniques. A carbon-13 labelled antimicrobial, developed by the Technical University of Munich in Germany in research partnership with the IAEA, helps researchers trace antimicrobial compounds through soil and water. Effective soil and water management is crucial, as agricultural run-off can carry resistant bacteria and antimicrobials into surrounding ecosystems, potentially affecting both animals and humans.

Strengthening preparedness for AMR and zoonotic threats

The IAEA’s Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative, which was launched in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is helping countries to enhance pandemic preparedness by providing countries with tools to identify zoonotic pathogens — organisms that can jump from animals to humans — before they spread. ZODIAC provides access to data on the impact of zoonotic diseases on human health and develops novel technologies for the detection of zoonotic diseases. The initiative also assists countries in detecting potential AMR in farm animal environments.

"Over the years, research has shown that a lot of people are becoming anti-microbial resistant, where even if they are taking antibiotics, they are not being cured, and that is not only in humans but in animals also," says Shariffa Joubert from the Animal Health Laboratory in the Seychelles. She took part in a regional AMR workshop in October 2024, organized under the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme in collaboration with the Seychelles Government.

"Because we need to be mindful of what we eat, it is then important to diagnose animals that are resistant, to ensure that our livestock remain healthy and safe for consumption," says Joubert.

The ZODIAC initiative focuses on building global capacity, offering training for veterinary professionals and providing necessary equipment to laboratories worldwide. Regional ZODIAC training courses have been conducted at national laboratories in Argentina, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Republic of Korea and Senegal.

Nuclear and nuclear-derived techniques such as isotopic and molecular methods can help assess how resistance genes are transferred between bacterial populations in animals, humans and the environment. This knowledge is invaluable for understanding how AMR spreads and for developing targeted interventions to contain it.

Joining forces through One Health

Given the complexity of AMR, a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach is essential. The One Health initiative brings together stakeholders from human health, animal health, food production and environmental sectors to collaborate on strategies to combat AMR. This integrated approach acknowledges that the health of people, animals and the environment are all interconnected. By working together, these sectors can design policies, implement monitoring programs and drive research to mitigate the risks of AMR while improving health outcomes and economic sustainability.

“The lessons we have learned from our global response to the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the critical importance of early detection, robust surveillance, and international cooperation in managing the threats to global health”, says Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. “These same principles are also vital for confronting the challenge of AMR.”

The IAEA, together with the FAO, has worked to better understand and tackle transboundary animal diseases, including zoonotic diseases, for over 60 years. It is now drawing on this experience to combat the growing threat of AMR.

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