The General Council of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) quickly began discussions on Topic II: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The Council identified education gaps, especially in rural areas, as a primary concern to combating AMR. According to Representative Kari of Uganda, the leading research on AMR occurs at institutions of higher learning and in corporate research departments, and that research is not easily disseminated down to the farmers who would take action on that research. This key element was the primary focus of two resolutions passed by the General Council. The first resolution FAO/II/1 sought to increase the number of trained professionals, including veterinarians, in rural areas to educate and pass along best practices. The second passed resolution, FAO/II/2, focuses on strengthening the research dissemination paths and enhancing collaboration and transparency of current AMR research through the establishment of the Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Development Council (ARRDC). Representative Kari went on record to state, “Knowledge needs to be transparent and accessible in its distribution to properly inform all people involved regardless of their background.”

Satisfied that the Council passed complementary resolutions on a key element to fighting Antimicrobial Resistance, the Council has started debate on Sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, focusing first on genetic homogeneity and its threats to catastrophic crop failure.