With a food safety focus, a scientific literature review was conducted to characterize the current understanding about the effects of pesticide residues on the human gut microbiome and potential implications on human health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The main aspects analysed are (1) effects of individual or combined pesticides on the composition, diversity and function of gut microbiome using in vivo or in vitro models; (2) health implications resulting from the pesticide-microbiome interactions and underlying mechanisms; (3) establishment of causality; and (4) influence of the gut microbiome on the metabolism and bioavailability of pesticides. The research was also scoped to identify current gaps, limitations and needs for the eventual consideration of microbiome-related data in chemical risk assessment. With this work, ESF contributes to the FAO global programme on the impact of food systems on NCDs and obesity, by understanding the potential health implications of gut microbiome-pesticide interactions. The outcomes will provide information which can be used to improve nutritional strategies and food safety policies.

With a food safety focus, a scientific literature review was conducted to characterize the current understanding about the effects of veterinary drug residues on the human gut microbiome and potential implications on human health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The main aspects analysed are (1) effects of individual or combined drugs on the composition, diversity and function of gut microbiome using in vivo or in vitro models; (2) health implications resulting from the veterinary drug-microbiome interactions and underlying mechanisms; (3) establishment of causality; and (4) influence of the gut microbiome on the metabolism and bioavailability of veterinary drugs. The research was also scoped to identify current gaps, limitations and needs for the eventual consideration of microbiome-related data in chemical risk assessment. With this work, ESF contributes to the FAO global programme on the impact of food systems on NCDs and obesity, by understanding the potential health implications of gut microbiome-veterinary drug interactions. The outcomes will provide information which can be used to improve nutritional strategies and food safety policies.

Plant microbe interaction is a complex relationship that can have various beneficial impacts on both the communities. An urgent need of today’s world is to get high crop yields in an ecofriendly manner. Utilization of beneficial and multifaceted plant growth promoting (PGP) microorganisms can solve the problem of getting enhanced yields without disturbing the ecosystem thus leading to sustainability. For this to achieve understanding of the intricate details of how the beneficial microbes form associations with the host plant and sustain that for millions of years must be known. A holistic approach is required wherein the diversity of microbes associated with plant and the network of mechanisms by which they benefit the host must be studied and utilized. ‘Plant Microbe Symbiosis – Fundamentals and Advances’ provides a comprehensive understanding of positive interactions that occur between plant and microorganisms and their utilization in the fields. The book reviews the enormous diversity of plant associated microbes, the dialog between plant-microbes-microbes and mechanisms of action of PGP microbes. Utilization of PGPRs as nutrient providers, in combating phytopathogens and ameliorating the stressed and polluted soils is also explained. Importantly, the book also throws light on the unanswered questions and future direction of research in the field. It illustrates how the basic knowledge can be amalgamated with advanced technology to design the future bioformulations.

This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2023 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.

The FAO Technical Meeting on the Gut Microbiome in Food Safety Chemical Risk Assessment was held in Rome on 12–14 December 2023. A multidisciplinary group of 17 participants attended the Meeting: 11 experts and 1 resource person – risk assessors and microbiome ecologist experts – and 5 FAO team members. The objective was to explore challenges and needs for applying microbiome data in future chemical risk assessment. The meeting resulted in the identification of a series of steps required to facilitate further considerations and integration of microbiome data into the risk assessment of regulated substances. The initial discussions led to the identification of current challenges limiting the current usability of available microbiome data for risk assessment purposes. These included the need for definitions, improved and fit-for-purpose study designs based on realistic exposure scenarios, suitable and predictable biomarkers and endpoints, a better understanding of microbiome-chemical and microbiome-host interactions, support for interpreting microbiome study results, and linking those to adverse effects. Discussions evolved to address technical questions related to microbiome science, specifically in sampling, models, and omics technologies, and to consider new developments with more significant and relevant potential to improve the field. The experts identified the advantages, shortcomings, and potential improvements of various methodological approaches, models, and omics methods. They also highlighted the methods most suitable for addressing specific research questions related to chemical exposure, such as interactions between chemicals and the microbiome and related adverse health effects. However, there is a critical need for guidelines covering several research aspects, including the reporting of findings. Additionally, the meeting highlighted the need for international standardization and harmonization of different aspects of microbiome methodologies. The experts also identified several critical aspects where the inadequacy of available data currently hampers the systematic inclusion of microbiome data in the risk assessment of regulated substances. These inadequacies can be roughly grouped into three categories, i.e. definitions, research needs, standardization and standard harmonization. This initial brainstorming meeting paved the way for follow-up meetings to address these categories which will likely require the involvement of a broader group of experts and disciplines.

"In a recent survey of 820 Boro (winter rice), potato, bean, eggplant, cabbage, sugarcane, and mango farmers in Bangladesh, over 47 percent of farmers were found to be overusing pesticides. With only 4 percent of farmers formally trained in pesticide use or handling, and over 87 percent openly admitting to using little or no protective measures while applying pesticides, overuse is potentially a threatening problem to farmer health as well as the environment. To model pesticide overuse, the authors used a 3-equation, trivariate probit framework, with health effects and misperception of pesticide risk as endogenous dummy variables. Health effects (the first equation) were found to be strictly a function of the amount of pesticides used in production, while misperception of pesticide risk (the second equation) was determined by health impairments from pesticides and the toxicity of chemicals used. Pesticide overuse (the third equation) was significantly determined by variation in income, farm ownership, the toxicity of chemicals used, crop composition, and geographical location. The results highlight the necessity for policymakers to design effective and targeted outreach programs that deal specifically with pesticide risk, safe handling, and averting behavior. Ideally, the approach would be participatory in nature to address key informational gaps, as well as increasing a farmers' awareness retention. The results also point to specific crops and locations experiencing a higher prevalence of overuse-bean and eggplant in general-and overall production in the districts of Chapainawabganj, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Narshingdi, Rajshahi, and Rangpur. Focusing efforts in these crop and geographical areas may have the most measurable effects on pesticide overuse. "--World Bank web site.

The report of the first Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption was published in 2010. Since then, new literature, data and information on the subject have become available. As such, FAO and WHO decided to generate a background report consisting of a comprehensive literature review, followed by an expert consultation, to update the report with new scientific evidence. This background document aims to provide scientific evidence about the risks and benefits of fish consumption in order to update the 2010 Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption. To provide new scientific evidence, five extensive literature reviews were conducted, focusing on the following five topics: 1. evidence of health benefits from fish consumption; 2. toxic effects of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) (from studies published since 2010); 3. toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) (from studies published since 2010); 4. the role of selenium (Se) with regard to the health effects of MeHg; 5. occurrence data for MeHg, dioxins and dl-PCBs in fishery and aquaculture products (from studies published since 2010). The reviews followed a systematic approach, performing a systematic literature search and implementing elements from systematic literature reviews. A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets prespecified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.

Evolving science and debate concerning the benefits and risks of consuming fish have resulted in confusion over the years, and national and international food safety agencies have recognized the need to provide useful, clear and relevant information in this regard to consumers. In October 2023, FAO and WHO held the second Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption to analyse new scientific evidence on the matter and draw relevant conclusions and recommendations. The overall conclusions of the exercise show that consuming fish provides energy, protein and a range of other nutrients important for health, and that there are benefits related to fish consumption during all life stages (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). General population studies show that the benefits and individual effects of fish consumption vary depending on overall diet, the characteristics of consumers, and the fish that is consumed.

Agrifood systems require sustained growth to maintain food security for the global population, while facing unprecedented pressure from challenges of climate change and resource depletion. In this context, evaluating, holistically planning and transitioning to circularity will be critical to improve sustainability and face those challenges. While circular economy initiatives offer considerable promise in improving sustainability and increasing performance, these benefits are juxtaposed by the increasing evidence that contaminants, physical, microbiological or chemical, can get introduced, persist and potentially lead to unsafe food. Therefore, protecting food safety is key for the success of transitioning our current linear agrifood system to a more sustainable and circular one. This report provides a synthesis of current and emerging evidence of food safety risks in circular agrifood initiatives, with an aim to understand challenges and opportunities to manage and enhance food safety. Food safety has to be an equal performance indicator for any transition, requiring addressing data gaps, focusing research efforts and exploring opportunities for improving food safety outcomes. All parties in the agrifood system need to proactively do their part to ensure agrifood systems develop, by harnessing the innovation in this area, and at the same time produce safe food.