FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems

Every day, billions of lives rely on healthy agrifood systems that provide the food we eat, the water we drink, and the ecosystems that sustain life. The health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems is fundamentally inseparable, forming the foundation for food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and resilient communities known as One Health. Today, these vital systems face unprecedented challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, emerging and reemerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety risks, and environmental degradation. These issues do not exist in isolation, which means their solutions cannot be found separately either; they require a holistic view to address the complex web of connections across the entire system. One Health serves as an integrated and unifying approach that brings together agriculture, environment, health, and many other sectors to foster collaboration. This framework connects science with local knowledge, innovation with tradition, and policy with practice, enabling us to understand the intricate relationships within the whole system. By adopting this perspective, we can address risks before they escalate into crises, ultimately building healthier people, animals, plants, and ecosystems. It is a method that ensures no single aspect of our environment or society is overlooked in the pursuit of sustainability and well-being. This week, global leaders, scientists, policymakers, practitioners, partners, indigenous peoples, youth, and communities have gathered with one shared purpose to accelerate action on these critical issues. The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders and turn existing knowledge into practical solutions for the challenges we face. By working together, these groups hope to shape healthier and more resilient agrifood systems that can support generations to come. The event emphasizes that turning knowledge into action is essential for creating a future where food security and environmental health are protected against the threats of a changing world. The ultimate goal of this gathering is to transform understanding into tangible outcomes that benefit society as a whole. Through unified efforts, the participants seek to build a robust foundation for food security and nutrition that can withstand current and future shocks. The message is clear that the challenges we face today require collective intelligence and coordinated action from all sectors of society. By embracing the One Health approach, we can ensure that our agrifood systems remain sustainable, equitable, and capable of supporting life on Earth for years to come.