PathOrganic

Overview

PathOrganic addresses the quality and safety of organically produced vegetables throughout the production chain. The main concern is the contamination with enteric bacterial pathogens. The project focuses on how various factors (e.g. environment, plant genotype, fertilizer application technique, soil buffering) affect pathogen spread and persistence and will enable to better control plant produce-associated human pathogens. A model for pathogen transfer to selected plants will be described. As a major part of the project, field surveys of organic farming systems are performed and plant products are sampled in six European countries. “Risk crops” and “risk factors” will be identified and factors suggesting a problem concerning food safety will be investigated. Recommendations for improving procedures that secure consumer-oriented food safety and the quality of certified organic vegetable food chains will be provided.