The soil microbiome as a potential toolbox for risk assessment in the food chain

• Ninane, V. , Gelhay, V. & Debode, F. (2022). The soil microbiome as a potential toolbox for risk assessment in the food chain. Poster in: 3rd International Conference in Microbial Ecotoxicology, Montpellier, France, 15-18 November 2022.

Type	Poster
Year	2022
Title	The soil microbiome as a potential toolbox for risk assessment in the food chain
Event name	3rd International Conference in Microbial Ecotoxicology
Event location	Montpellier, France
Event date	15-18 November 2022
Endnote keywords	Pesticides, Biological hazards, Plant health
Abstract	The soil microbiome plays an important role in the safety of primary food production for human health and in plant protection. The soil microflora naturally carries human and plant pathogens, as well as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) potentially dangerous for human health. Well managed however, the soil microflora provides a suitable environment for healthy plant growth; farming practices indeed determine the level of foodborne pathogens, the risk of ARGs spreading in soil and from soil to food, and the level of plant resistance to pathogen attacks. Human activities often induce a structural modification of soil microbial communities, allowing for the proliferation of the best-adapted microorganisms. Another response may be an increase of ARGs and of mobile genetic elements in soil bacterial communities. As they adapt quickly, microorganisms are interesting indicators of soil health; numerous microbial indicators have therefore been developed to assess it. The aim of the project presented here is to evaluate the feasibility of using them for risk assessment in the food chain. We pointed out three potential uses to assess. First, we suggest using microbiome indicators to monitor risk factors that contribute to the prevalence of zoonotic micro-organisms in animal populations. A second use would be as an indicator of soil health disorder in pesticide risk assessment, microorganisms being considered as non-targeted organisms. The third suggested use of the soil microbiome is as a tool to evaluate the probability of plant pests spreading in an area. In this option, the microbiome is considered as an indicator of soil suppressiveness against plant pathogens. All experts welcome.
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Authors	Ninane, V., Gelhay, V., Debode, F.