Rome, September 2The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is set to convene the Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems from September 21 to 23, 2026, bringing together global leaders, technical experts, partners and stakeholders to accelerate practical action across agrifood systems.

The three-day conference will be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, and will examine how the One Health approach can be translated from policy and scientific commitments into coordinated action.

Connecting Human, Animal and Environmental Health

One Health is based on the understanding that the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems is closely interconnected. FAO describes agrifood systems as complex systems in which people, animals, plants, microorganisms and the environments they share interact with one another.

This interconnected approach has become increasingly important as countries address challenges including emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food-safety risks, biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation.

The conference will explore how closer cooperation across different sectors can help countries prevent risks, strengthen resilience and improve the sustainability of agrifood systems.

Four Major Areas of Discussion

According to FAO, the conference will focus on several major areas of action.

These include integrating One Health principles into agrifood policies and investments, strengthening cooperation among agriculture, environment, health, finance and urban sectors, and using innovation, science and local knowledge to improve prevention and surveillance.

Another important area will be mobilizing investment and partnerships so that international commitments can be converted into measurable action on the ground.

Food Safety, Agriculture and Resilient Ecosystems

The conference agenda covers a broad range of issues connected to One Health. Sessions will address healthy production systems, safe and nutritious food, soil health, ecosystem resilience, nutrition, food safety, animal health and plant health.

Discussions will also examine antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, aquatic food systems, pollution prevention and emergency preparedness.

FAO’s approach places particular emphasis on preventing health and environmental risks before they develop into larger crises.

Investment and Innovation

Investment will be another important component of the event. A dedicated session on opportunities for investment to scale One Health in agrifood systems is scheduled for September 23.

The session is intended to examine ways of mobilizing financing and supporting innovative solutions that can be expanded across agrifood systems.

The conference will also feature a session focused on innovations in One Health, providing an opportunity to highlight approaches that are already being applied in different settings.

Youth Participation

Youth engagement is also part of the programme. A Global Youth Forum on One Health in Agrifood Systems is scheduled for September 21, providing a dedicated platform for young professionals to exchange views with policymakers, experts and senior leaders.

FAO has described youth participation as an important element of efforts to move One Health from a broad concept toward practical implementation.

Expected Outcomes

FAO says the conference is expected to contribute to a shared global vision and priority actions for implementing its One Health in agrifood systems framework.

The programme also includes identifying investment opportunities for country-level implementation and launching a One Health knowledge and intelligence hub.

The conference will conclude with a session on multistakeholder partnerships, emphasizing collaboration among different organizations and sectors to sustain One Health action beyond the event itself.

The FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems is therefore set to provide an international platform for discussing how human, animal, plant and environmental health can be addressed together while building more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.