Interconnected microbiomes: from farm to fork for One Health

Microbiomes form dynamic, interconnected networks that span environments from agricultural soils to human guts. This session explores the complex flux of microorganisms and their communities across the farm-to-fork continuum, examining how microbial coalescence shapes ecosystem functioning, resilience and health outcomes. We will address key processes including microbiome invasions, cross-ecosystem microbial dispersal, and the assembly dynamics of meta-communities that bridge terrestrial, plant, animal, and human-associated environments.

The session emphasizes a One Health perspective, highlighting how microbial connectivity influences agricultural sustainability, food safety, and human health. Topics will include the role of environmental reservoirs (soil, air, water) in plant and animal microbiomes, the transformation of microbial communities during food processing and fermentation, and the downstream effects on human microbiomes and health. We welcome contributions examining microbial dispersal mechanisms, community assembly processes, invasion dynamics, and the ecological and health implications of microbiome interconnectedness across the farm-to-fork pathway.

This interdisciplinary session aims to foster collaboration between environmental microbiologists, agricultural researchers, food scientists, and human health experts to advance our understanding of microbiome networks and their applications in sustainable agriculture, food production, and personalized nutrition.

Convenors
Gabriele Berg, Graz University of Technology, Austria
Marie Simonin, INRAE – IRHS, France

Invited Speakers
Gabriele Berg, Graz University of Technology, Austria
Richard Gearry, University of Otago, New Zealand
Marie Simonin, INRAE – IRHS, France
Christina Warinner, Harvard University, United States