FAO launches two-year initiative to prevent antimicrobial resistance in the Moldovan agrifood sector

The Republic of Moldova is stepping up its efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within its agrifood sector through a comprehensive new project launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with national authorities.

The initiative was inaugurated through a series of workshops held in Chișinău from 12 to 16 May 2025. More than 30 national partners from the agrifood and health sectors gathered to strengthen intersectoral cooperation and assess progress in the Republic of Moldova on combating AMR. The project is aligned with the country’s national AMR programme for 2023–2027 and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in strengthening capacities for health risk reduction within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Alexandr Manciu, Deputy Director General of the National Food Safety Agency, reiterated the institution’s commitment to combating AMR.

“Through this project, we aim to strengthen national capacities to effectively tackle AMR in the agrifood sector,” Manciu said. “In this regard, close intersectoral collaboration is essential to protect public health and food safety; therefore, the activities will be implemented with a One Health approach.”

The One Health approach aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, plants, animals and ecosystems by focusing on AMR, food security, zoonotic diseases and other issues within the agrifood sector.

The new FAO project will focus on strengthening capacities to obtain and analyse AMR laboratory data in a systematic and sustainable manner, promoting the prudent use of antimicrobials and increasing awareness of AMR risks in and from the livestock sector. The project also will also reinforce the country’s AMR programme and enhance One Health coordination mechanisms in the Republic of Moldova.

“Antimicrobial resistance is a complex challenge that requires a unified One Health approach, integrating human, animal and plant health and the overall environment,” said Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in the Republic of Moldova. “This project is a testament to the country’s dedication to building resilient food systems and safeguarding public health against this global threat. By fostering multisectoral collaboration and strengthening national capacities, we are collectively working towards a future in which effective antimicrobials remain available for all.”

The series of workshops, facilitated by FAO experts Francesca Latronico and Dora Kovacs, included a Progressive Management Pathway for AMR self-assessment from 12–15 May 2025 and a multistakeholder meeting on 16 May 2025, both held in Chișinău. During these sessions, national experts analysed the implementation of activities related to AMR governance, stakeholder awareness and engagement, surveillance and research, good practices, and the responsible use of antimicrobials in the Republic of Moldova. They identified priority actions to improve the implementation of the national antimicrobial resistance programme and discussed what is needed to strengthen the national multisectoral coordination mechanism for AMR.

FAO’s current activities are guided by the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021–2025, in line with the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance and the ten-year initiative to reduce the needs for antimicrobials in farms for sustainable agrifood systems transformation. The Supporting the Republic of Moldova in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance project relies on investment of over USD 150 000 in support of workshops, laboratory trainings, the development of awareness material and the improvement of the AMR surveillance system.

With this, the Republic of Moldova joins more than 100 countries globally in implementing coordinated actions to combat antimicrobial resistance.