Fifth annual meeting strengthens regional laboratory cooperation on antimicrobial resistance

The Regional Laboratory Network on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Food and Agriculture in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia concluded its fifth annual consultation meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, marking another milestone in a regional initiative that has grown into an established platform for technical cooperation on AMR surveillance and laboratory capacity.

Hosted on 15–16 September by Mongolia’s General Authority for Veterinary Services and State Central Veterinary Laboratory, with technical support from FAO, the meeting brought together representatives of national laboratories and authorities, FAO experts and technical partners to review progress, share experiences and identify priorities for future collaboration.

Established after its first consultation meeting in 2022, the Network has expanded to include 19 institutions from seven countries. It provides scientific and technical support to national laboratories, promotes international laboratory standards and greater harmonization of methods, and strengthens countries’ capacities to generate reliable AMR data for surveillance and action in the food and agriculture sectors. The Central Research Institute of Epidemiology (CRIE) of Rospotrebnadzor, an FAO Reference Centre for AMR, has supported the Network since its establishment.

“The fact that we are holding the fifth annual meeting is significant. What started as an initiative to connect laboratories and address common technical needs has developed into an established platform where countries regularly exchange data, experience and expertise and identify areas for joint action,” said Daniel Beltran-Alcrudo, FAO Technical Advisor on Animal Health. “The expansion of the Network to Mongolia also creates new opportunities to connect expertise and experiences across regions and further strengthen collaboration on AMR surveillance in food and agriculture.”

Expanding cooperation across regions

Convening the fifth meeting in Mongolia reflected the Network’s continued expansion and helped strengthen links among countries and institutions across Europe, Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. FAO specialists from the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated alongside colleagues from FAO headquarters and the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation.

A dedicated plenary session showcased Mongolia’s experience and achievements in AMR surveillance, with presentations on the current AMR situation in the country, multisectoral collaboration and coordination, and AMR detected in microorganisms isolated from food products.

The meeting also helped connect regional work with broader international developments. FAO experts presented new tools and initiatives under the Quadripartite collaboration on AMR, including guidance on One Health integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use (AMR/AMU), and outlined FAO activities and support in Europe and Central Asia and in the Asia-Pacific region.

From laboratory evidence to coordinated action

A central part of the meeting focused on country experiences and recent developments in laboratory surveillance. Network members from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the Russian Federation presented national approaches and results, covering topics ranging from AMR in food chains and zoonotic pathogens to One Health implementation and measures to contain the spread of resistant microorganisms.

Experts from FAO Reference Centres also shared perspectives on current trends in epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of AMR, including genomic analysis of isolates collected through One Health surveillance.

These exchanges reflected one of the Network’s core objectives: enabling laboratories and institutions across the food and agriculture sectors to learn from one another, enhance technical capacities and improve the comparability and usefulness of AMR surveillance data.

Setting priorities for 2027–2028

Looking ahead, participants reviewed the Network’s activities and achievements since the previous consultation and discussed priorities for its 2027–2028 Roadmap.

The discussions laid the groundwork for continued cooperation on laboratory capacity development, surveillance and monitoring, harmonization of laboratory approaches, knowledge exchange and the use of laboratory evidence to inform action against AMR.

As AMR continues to threaten animal and human health, food production, livelihoods and economies, sustained cooperation across countries, sectors and regions remains essential. Through the Regional Laboratory Network, FAO will continue to support countries in strengthening the laboratory and surveillance capacities needed to address AMR through a One Health approach.