Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Fresh Produce Production: Lessons Learned When Plant Science Meets Food Safety.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Plant Science
• Food Safety

Background:

• Human pathogenic microorganisms pose risks in plant production systems.
• An EU COST Action (HUPLANTcontrol CA16110) united experts from diverse microbial fields.
• The initiative aimed to improve control strategies for pathogens in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize key outcomes and lessons learned from the HUPLANTcontrol initiative.
• To identify challenges and propose solutions for multidisciplinary communication in plant-associated microbial risk assessment.
• To enhance understanding of human pathogen behavior in plant production and food storage.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of findings from multiple expert workshops.
• Analysis of communication barriers between different scientific disciplines.
• Review of methodologies for microbial hazard identification and characterization.

Main Results:

• Identified need for standardized terminology to improve interdisciplinary communication.
• Highlighted the necessity of high-resolution microbial characterization (subspecies/strain level) using multi-method approaches.
• Emphasized considering strain pathogenicity, host susceptibility, and microbiome interactions for hazard assessment.
• Acknowledged the diverse roles (beneficial, pathogenic, spoilage) of microorganisms within the plant microbiome.

Conclusions:

• Effective communication and a multiperspective approach are crucial for integrating plant science and food safety.
• Standardized terminology and advanced characterization methods are vital for managing microbial risks.
• A holistic view of the plant microbiome and its inhabitants is essential for ensuring food safety.