Climate Change Impact on Food Safety

Dear Colleagues,

Safe and secure food is needed for humans to thrive. Ongoing climate change may cause disruptions in cropping systems, animal husbandry, and safe food storage and processing. Abiotic stress factors associated with climate change, including rising atmospheric CO2, temperature, and extreme precipitation events, can all influence crop susceptibility and disease severity. Furthermore, these conditions can promote the emergence of more virulent pests and pathogens. Pathogens cause billions of dollars in crop losses each year and can produce resilient toxins which contaminate food and feed, making them unsafe. These pathogens can continue to accumulate toxins in storage and during food processing. For animal production, contaminated feed can cause immunosuppression, limited weight gain, and reduced animal fitness, leading to greater susceptibility to opportunistic diseases. Finally, increased temperatures, particularly for non-refrigerated foods, will cause faster spoilage and likely lead to more frequent foodborne disease outbreaks. This Special Issue of Climate will highlight emerging agricultural threats, knowledge gaps, and potential control strategies to ensure a safe and secure food supply.

Dr. William Hay
Guest Editor

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