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Book (stand-alone)Final Meeting Report: Technical Meeting on the impact of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) on food safety management: within a One Health approach
The 9th meeting of the Global Microbial Identifier (GMI9)
2016Also available in:
No results found.The 9th meeting of Global Microbial Identifier (GMI), which was preceded by a Technical Meeting on the impact of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for food safety management: within a One Health framework, was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy on 23- 25 May 2016. The Meeting was attended by 175 participants from 50 countries including 26 developing countries, highlighting the significant level of interest in the topic by many e xperts and government officials. WGS is a technology relevant to different sectors such as health, agriculture, food safety and medicine. Mulitsectoral collaboration, particularly in relation to sharing of data generated by this technology the technology is critical to optimizing its use. Key messages from the Technical Meeting are reported including the benefits and potential drawbacks of WGS, considerations for developing countries, issues around global data-sharing and key needs for global ac tions and potential roles of international organizations like FAO. -
Book (stand-alone)Applications of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in food safety management 2016
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No results found.Recent advances in Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) technology have the potential to play a significant role in the area of food safety. WGS provides rapid identification and characterization of microorganisms, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with a level of precision not previously possible. With the rapidly declining cost of this technology, WGS applications in food safety management, including the opportunities it provides for enhanced integration of information from other sectors, suc h as human and animal health, could contribute to enhanced consumer protection, trade facilitation, nutrition and food security. However, the level of understanding of the concepts and potential use of WGS in food safety management vary among countries. This document aims to take the first steps in addressing these gaps, and providing answers to some of the questions which food safety officials (particularly those in developing countries) need to ask and consider if they are to make informed dec isions about WGS and its potential value in food safety management in their context. Four real-life case studies are presented to highlight key benefits and potential drawbacks of WGS in food safety management. Benefits and drawbacks are explained in detail, including the issues related to global data sharing. The document discusses challenges in employing WGS within the regulatory framework in both developed and developing countries, and highlights considerations for countries with limited capa city and resources. A simple exercise to enable developing countries to assess the feasibility of incorporating WGS into national food control systems through a step-by-step approach is described. While WGS can significantly contribute to improving food safety management, it still relies on the appropriate interpretation of laboratory data in the context of epidemiological evidence; WGS alone will not suffice. Despite the challenges, WGS is poised to become standard methodology in some places fo r the identification and characterization of foodborne pathogens. Finding appropriate mechanisms for data sharing will be an important element of its application. In all of this, there is a strong need at the global level to ensure that situations in developing countries are fully taken into account, and that the technology advances in an appropriate direction, in order for WGS to become an effective tool for all. -
ArticleInvesting in Food Safety for Developing Countries:Opportunities and Challenges in Applying Whole-Genome Sequencing for Food Safety Management 2019
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No results found.Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has become a significant tool in investigating foodborne disease outbreaks and some countries have incorporated WGS into national food control systems. However, WGS poses technical challenges that deter developing countries from incorporating it into their food safety management system. A rapid scoping review was conducted, followed by a focus group session, to understand the current situation regarding the use of WGS for foodborne disease surveillance and food monitoring at the global level and identify key limiting factors for developing countries in adoptingWGSfor their food control systems. The results showed that some developed nations routinely use WGS in their food surveillance systems resulting in a more precise understanding of the causes of outbreaks. In developing nations, knowledge of WGS exists in the academic/research sectors; however, there is limited understanding at the government level regarding the usefulness of WGS for food safety regulatory activities. Thus, the incorporation of WGS is extremely limited in most developing nations. While some countries lack the capacity to collect and analyze the data generated from WGS, the most significant technical gap in most developing countries is in data interpretation using bioinformatics. The gaps in knowledge and capacities between developed and developing nations regarding the use of WGS likely introduce inequality in the international food trade, and thus, relevant international organizations, as well as the countries that are already proficient in the use of WGS, have significant roles in assisting developing nations to be able to fully benefit from the technology and its applications in food safety management.
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