CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-03 / Livestock microbiome and One Health

Professor Ioannis S. Boziaris, University of Thessaly, Greece, is interested in establishing collaborations under HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-03: Microbiome for terrestrial livestock sustainability and health within a One Health approach.

The proposed collaboration, LIVESTOCK-MICROSAFE, focuses on applying advanced food microbiology, microbial ecology and molecular techniques to better understand microbial hazards and antimicrobial resistance within livestock-associated food production and environmental systems.

Our scientific contribution could focus on investigating microbial communities and relevant microorganisms in samples collected from livestock-associated production environments, including water, soil, working surfaces and other potential microbial reservoirs.

Conventional microbiology, microbial isolation, molecular identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and appropriate microbiome characterization approaches could be integrated to identify contamination hotspots, assess microbial behaviour and investigate possible contamination pathways.

Particular emphasis could be placed on interpreting microbiome and antimicrobial resistance findings in relation to food safety, hygienic conditions, microbial persistence and relevant One Health monitoring objectives.

In collaboration with veterinary and livestock research partners, these activities could support the development of microbiological monitoring protocols, harmonized analytical approaches and risk-relevant microbial indicators.

The University of Thessaly could also contribute to the validation of microbiological methods, interpretation of microbial community data and development of practical guidance for monitoring and control.

The broader consortium would address livestock health and welfare, host–microbiome interactions, environmental effects, microbiome-related interventions and strategies for reducing antimicrobial use.

Expertise offered: Food and seafood microbiology; microbial quality and safety; spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms; microbiology of food processing, microbial ecology; molecular microbiology; antimicrobial susceptibility assessment; microbial monitoring; microbiological method validation.

Partners sought: Veterinary schools, livestock research institutes, animal production companies, livestock farms, microbiome specialists, environmental microbiologists, epidemiologists, animal health organizations, bioinformatics experts and One Health research groups.

Expected contribution: Integrated microbiological characterization and monitoring approaches supporting safer, more sustainable livestock-associated food systems and One Health research.