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Food safety and quality
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7-8 December 2015
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Workshop proceedings
Technical paper: Applications of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in food safety management
Background
Recent advances in Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) technology and techniques have the potential to play a significant role in the area of food safety. It allows the identification and characterization of microorganisms with a level of precision not previously possible. With the rapidly declining cost, some food safety applications of WGS, with significant cross-sector potential across animal, food and human, could contribute to the global goal in consumer protection, trade facilitation and food security. The ability to improve national food safety systems may also be an advantage for access to trade in new markets and WGS may contribute to this by enabling in-depth local knowledge and potential for mitigations and control of commons pathogens and contaminants in food products.
However, the level of understanding on the concepts and potential use of WGS for food safety management varies among countries. Particularly for developing countries, there are capacity, regulatory and resource implications to be considered. While several industrialized countries have been moving forward with the technology, information on potential benefits, possible drawbacks, relevant challenges and considerations need to be analysed, with careful attention to developing and transitional countries with possibly limited capacity and resources. It is a role FAO's as well as WHO's to keep all Members informed on the latest scientific developments in the food and agriculture sectors, and provide technical assistance to those who need it.
As the first step to address the needs, an expert workshop on the practical applications of WGS for food safety management was held on 7-8 December 2015. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the current situations and uses of WGS for food safety management. The overall objective of the workshop was to develop a technical paper with concrete case studies on the use of WGS for food safety management in the regulatory frameworks at national level.
Agenda Presentations - Introduction, Masami Takeuchi, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO
- NGS in food safety: Game changer or just another typing tool?, Frank Møller Aarestrup, Technical University of Denmark
- WGS for surveillance of foodborne infections in Denmark, Eva Møller Nielsen, Statens Serum Institut, Denmark
- Applications of genome sequencing technology on food safety management: the United States of America, Marc Allard, Food and Drug Adminstration, John Besser, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Stephanie Defibaugh-Chávez, United States Department of Agriculture, USA
- Applications of Whole Genome Sequencing to Food Safety – Perspective from a reference laboratory, Tim Dallman, Public Health England
- WGS for food safety management in France : Example for Listeria monocytogenes, Sophie Roussel, Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), France
- Whole genome sequencing for food safety management: Perspectives from Canada, Sabah Bidawid, Health Canada and Celine A. Nadon, Public Health Agency of Canada
- WGS for food safety management: Perspectives from Kenya, John N. Kiiru, Kenya Medical Research Institute
- Whole Genome Sequencing: a vision from Uruguay, Ana Maria Maquieira, Technological Laboratory of Uruguay
- Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) in the context of the International Treaty, Francisco López, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO
- Genome Sequencing: Relevant activities in Animal Health, Gwenaelle Dauphin Animal Production and Health Division, FAO
- PulseNet_International, Celine A. Nadon, Public Health Agency of Canada
- Summary of Day-1, Masami Takeuchi, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO
Additional Readings Back to the FAO page on WGS and food safety |
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