The rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms now challenges both public health and sustainable food production. A recent report from UK Government estimates that if AMR is left to develop at present rates, it will kill up to 10 million people by 2050. It is likely that some countries in the future will invoke World Trade Organization rules to block food import from countries that do not exhibit sufficient AMR control. If the world wants to deal efficiently with the AMR issue, the basis has to be an understanding of the present situation, especially with respect to the occurrence of AMR in microorganisms. NAFTEC works to provide science-based data as well as potential surveillance systems documenting AMR in animals, food and humans as well as linking these three domains. This AMR work is done using traditional (phenotypic) methods, such as disk diffusion and broth dilution, as well as novel (genotypic) methods based on next generation sequencing (NGS). NAFTEC is also involved in developing an interesting opportunity to investigate the level of AMR in bacteria from around the globe using NGS.