Editorial: Exploring the need to include microbiomes into EFSA's scientific assessments.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Environmental Science: Focuses on microbial communities and their genomic content within various ecosystems.

Background:

• Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya, viruses) found in diverse environments, including soil, water, and living organisms.
• Microbiome composition and dynamics influence food systems, affecting human and animal health, food quality, safety, and sustainability.

Discussion:

• Emerging research links microbiome alterations to various human diseases and modulation of environmental chemical exposure.
• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recognizes the need to integrate microbiome knowledge into risk assessment processes.

Key Insights:

• Microbiome research provides critical insights into host-microbe interactions and their implications for health.
• Understanding microbiome functions is essential for evaluating the safety of food and feed production.

Outlook:

• Prospective mapping of microbiome roles in regulatory science is necessary for comprehensive health impact assessments.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between microbiomes, health, and environmental factors.