Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain: Bridging Knowledge Gaps for Effective Detection and Control

This review examines how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spreads through the entire food production system—from farm to fork—within a One Health context. It highlights that resistant bacteria and resistance genes can move between animals, food products, the environment, and humans, driven in part by antimicrobial use in agriculture and aquaculture. The authors emphasize that current surveillance systems often fail to fully capture this complexity due to gaps in detection methods, limited data integration across sectors, and inconsistent monitoring practices. To address these challenges, the paper calls for improved surveillance technologies (such as genomic and metagenomic tools), stronger cross-sector data sharing, reduced antimicrobial use in food production, and better hygiene and biosecurity measures across the food chain. Together, these measures are essential to limit the emergence and transmission of AMR and protect food safety and public health.