From Food Systems to Gut Microbiota: Dietary Substrates, Microbial Exposure and One Health

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Ecology
• Public Health

Background:

• Food systems are typically analyzed for nutrition, safety, and sustainability, overlooking their microbial dimension.
• The farm-to-fork pathway shapes gut microbial exposures, influencing host health and ecological resilience.
• Microbial communities in soil, plants, food, and the gut play crucial roles in various biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how food systems modulate gut microbiota and microbiome resilience.
• To examine the soil-food-gut continuum and its microbial implications within a One Health framework.
• To identify factors that weaken or redirect microbial continuity in food systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of soil, crop, and food microbiome studies.
• Analysis of microbial signatures across the food system, from soil to human gut.
• Consideration of agricultural practices, processing, diet, and environmental factors.

Main Results:

• Farming practices leave detectable microbial signatures on plants and food.
• The soil-food-gut transfer is a complex, filtered process, not a simple route.
• Agricultural intensification, pollutants, processing, and modern diets can negatively alter microbial communities.

Conclusions:

• Food systems profoundly influence gut microbiota; a One Health approach is needed.
• Microbial stewardship, balancing risk control with preserving beneficial microbial diversity, is essential.
• Understanding which microbial functions matter is crucial for supporting gut microbiota resilience.