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Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryIndustry / policy report

Microbiomes and Sustainable Food Systems: Policy Brief

FAO & WHO

2020

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Summary

This FAO/WHO policy brief draws on current scientific evidence to articulate the importance of microbiomes — spanning soil, food, animal and human gut environments — to the sustainability and safety of food systems. It likely sets out the state of knowledge, highlights interconnections between microbiome health and broader food system outcomes, and proposes actionable recommendations for policymakers and regulators. As a joint FAO/WHO publication, it carries international normative weight and is intended to inform intergovernmental and national-level policy dialogue.

UK applicability

Although produced as an international normative document, the brief's recommendations are broadly applicable to UK food and farming policy, particularly in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, soil health regulation, and food safety frameworks that reference Codex Alimentarius or WHO/FAO standards.

Key measures

Qualitative policy recommendations; narrative synthesis of microbiome evidence across food system domains; identification of research and governance gaps

Outcomes reported

The brief synthesises evidence on the roles of microbiomes across soil, plant, animal, human and food environments, and identifies policy-relevant recommendations to integrate microbiome science into sustainable food systems governance.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Food systems governance & microbiome science
Study type
Policy
Study design
Policy report
Source type
Industry/policy report
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Food supply chain
Catalogue ID
XL0522

Topic tags

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