Microbiome-based solutions to address new and existing threats to food security, nutrition, health and agrifood systems' sustainability

Abstract

In addition to challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems worldwide are currently challenged by new threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. Furthermore, the resilience and sustainability of our agrifood systems need to be enhanced in ways that simultaneously increase agricultural production, decrease post-harvest food losses and food waste, protect the climate, environment and health, and preserve biodiversity. The precarious situation of agrifood systems is also illustrated by the fact that overall, around 3 billion people worldwide still do not have regular access to a healthy diet. This results in various forms of malnutrition, as well as increasing number of people suffering from overweight and obesity, and diet-related, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) around the world. Findings from microbiome research have shown that the human gut microbiome plays a key role in nutrition and diet-related diseases and thus human health. Furthermore, the microbiome of soils, plants, and animals play an equally important role in environmental health and agricultural production. Upcoming, microbiome-based solutions hold great potential for more resilient, sustainable, and productive agrifood systems and open avenues toward preventive health management. Microbiome-based solutions will also be key to make better use of natural resources and increase the resilience of agrifood systems to future emerging and already-known crises. To realize the promises of microbiome science and innovation, there is a need to invest in enhancing the role of microbiomes in agrifood systems in a holistic One Health approach and to accelerate knowledge translation and implementation.

Microbiome One Health model for a healthy ecosystem

“…The forward-thinking goal is to harness the power of complex interactions within microbial communities to foster a comprehensive understanding and management of health. Moreover, the growing awareness of the microbiome's critical role in human, animal, and environmental health has positioned microbiome science as a vital driver of investment, increasingly attracting sizeable private sector in formulating new products and services, creating new job opportunities, and alternative practices that can help overcome the multiple challenges that One Health faces [ 42 ]. Therefore, focusing on microbiome science can speed up the advances in scientific understanding and bridge knowledge gaps through investment in trans and interdisciplinary research innovation and international cooperation.…”

Food systems microbiome‐related educational needs

“…However, the vast majority of the planet's microorganisms are not pathogenic (Balloux & van Dorp, 2017 ), and in many cases, we rely on their ability to break down a wide range of substrates to maintain the cycling of elements, disposal of sewage, remediation of toxic materials, composting, producing fermented food and more (Hou et al, 2020 ; Insam & de Bertoldi, 2007 ; Nascimento et al, 2018 ; Olmo et al, 2022 ; Parvez et al, 2006 ). Timmis et al ( 2019 ) consider that there is an urgent need for microbiology literacy in our society, because microbial activities affect everyone in diverse ways and are key for sustainable and economic development (Callens et al, 2022 ; D'Hondt et al, 2021 ). To take appropriate, evidence‐based decisions in many spheres at all levels, an understanding of relevant aspects of microbiology, including microbiomes, are essential.…”