The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been approached mainly from a human or animal health lens until now. This publication looks into the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant genes in the environment, especially as caused by movement from agricultural areas. It argues that global efforts to manage AMR must also consider how antibiotics and resistant bacteria spread through manufacturing run-off and human and animal waste.The presence of antimicrobials in the environment can affect both biodiversity (since resistant organisms may have evolutionary advantages) and the food chain (e.g. through the presence of resistant genes in microorganisms used for food production or cross-contamination during processing). Based on case studies, this paper proposes alternative screening methods useful for environmental samples and surveillance approaches for planning such screening efforts.