Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety

This perspective paper draws on insights from a 2024 symposium entitled ‘ Exploring methods for researching shifts in knowledge production for agroecology transition ’. The symposium critically examined emerging conceptual and methodological challenges arising from combining agroecology with living labs and research infrastructures as key instruments promoted within EU policy to strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS). Through presentations, group discussions, and iterative reflections, we identified four key tensions: structural constraints limiting farmers’ agency within living lab approaches, the problematic nature of AKIS as supposedly neutral frameworks, the oversimplification of transition frameworks as linear rather than overlapping categories, and risks of definitional dilution or cooptation. We then demonstrate that these tensions are not unique to agroecology, bridging the concepts and methods within agroecology research with those used in other fields of sustainable food system transition research, such as transdisciplinary research and sustainable transitions. This conceptual mapping of shared tensions reveals opportunities for mutual learning. Bridging these fields would help create clarity at the conceptual and methodological levels, ultimately strengthening the theoretical foundations and enabling more nuanced approaches to food system transition research.

This scoping review aims to identify existing methodological approaches and input parameters to estimate heat-related excess mortality based on real-case human populations from studies conducted worldwide. Human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heatwaves, leading to a rise in heat-related deaths globally. Since direct measurement of heat-related mortality is challenging, many countries have implemented a statistical model to estimate excess deaths, with ongoing efforts to refine it. An overview of methodological approaches and input parameters used to date should help to improve existing models. The included studies feature excess mortality due to high temperature as an outcome and specifically name and define parameters used in their model(s). The eligibility criteria targeted observational studies in English, German, Spanish, or French. Studies on non-humans, cold or indoor temperatures, using prognostic-only models, and all types of reviews were excluded. The main information sources searched were PubMed, GreenFILE, and Web of Science Core Collection, with the final search conducted in August 2023 and limited to studies in English, German, Spanish, or French. Study selection involved dual independent screening, with data extracted via a standardized form and partly supported by artificial intelligence (AI). Data were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively, with results presented in narrative format and visualized through graphs. This review analyzed 197 studies on heat-related excess mortality, highlighting that most used daily death (97%) and daily temperature data (77%), with relative risk being the most common outcome measure. Various temperature indicators and environmental parameters were included. Most studies used more than 1 temperature indicator: mean temperature was used in 123 studies, daily maximum in 104, daily minimum 79, diurnal temperature change in 8, and other temperature indicators in 20. Environmental parameters were used in 58% of the studies, among them relative humidity, ozone, fine dust, and wind. Statistical models such as distributed lag nonlinear models were used in 68 studies, generalized linear models in 52, and generalized additive models in 28, were some studies used more than 1, with distributed lag models gaining popularity since 2010. The review also identified a wide range of alternative modeling approaches, emphasizing the diversity in methods and inputs used across studies. Heat-related excess mortality is a growing public health concern worldwide due to climate change. A wide range of studies highlights the diversity in data sources, temperature indicators, environmental parameters, and modeling approaches, underscoring the need for standardized, adaptable methods to inform effective heat-health interventions. OSF https://osf.io/v356m/overview. A German-language version of the abstract of this review is available: http://links.lww.com/SRX/A175.

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) in croplands is fundamental to climate‑smart agriculture (CSA), yet the mechanisms by which labile and recalcitrant carbon (C) inputs build and stabilize SOC remain unclear. Crop residues supply labile C that improve microbial activity and particulate organic matter (POM) formation, whereas biochar is considered a recalcitrant, negative‑emission amendment. This study used ¹³C‑labelled maize crop residues and its derived biochar, applied at 1.5% w/w (1.46 atom% ¹³C) to trace amendment-derived C into different soil C pools such as particulate organic C (POC), mineral-associated organic C (MAOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and microbial respiration. Soil was sampled (Grabenegg, Austria) from two long-term management practices: one fertilized with mineral NPK since 1954 (SM1) and one receiving the same NPK regime plus wood‑derived biochar since 2022 (SM2). In a 44‑day laboratory incubation we quantified how the laboratory amendment of 13C-crop residue and 13C-biochar, alone and interacting with the long-term soil management practices, affect microbial utilization and C stabilization.The results showed that field biochar treated soil (SM2) had higher SOC (by 51%) than non-biochar amended field soil (SM1), indicating that longer-term biochar application enhanced soil C stocks. In the short-term, at day 44 of the incubation, SOC under laboratory applied biochar was highest in both soils (SM1: 21.1g C kg-1; SM2: 26.8 g C kg-1), followed by crop residue (SM1: 15.2 g C kg-1; SM2: 21.1 g C kg-1), compared to soil with no laboratory C amendment (SM1: 11.8 g C kg-1; SM2: 17.8 g C kg-1). This highlights that in the short-term SOC gains were higher for biochar (SOC gains of 9.0-9.3 g C kg-1) than for crop residue (SOC gains of 3.0-3.3 g C kg-1). In addition, both soils showed a strong positive relationship between SOC and POC (R² = 0.783) but not with MAOC, indicating that SOC increases were largely driven by changes in the POM. The 13C tracing will allow to partition and follow the amendment-derived allocation of C into microbial biomass, respiratory use, and the transfer from the POC into the MAOC pool by microbial turnover (data evaluation ongoing). Overall, biochar proved to be the most effective CSA amendment for enhancing SOC in both long-term and in the short-term.

Important questions remain regarding differences in geographical and age-specific mortality patterns as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in consecutive waves, and how COVID-19 mortality compares to seasonal influenza. In a pandemic situation, excess all-cause mortality provides a more complete and robust measure than cause-specific mortality. Data submitted by 26 countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring (EuroMOMO) network between 2020 and 2023 was analysed to quantify excess all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess mortality from this period was compared to previous influenza seasons from 2014 to 2019. Pooled estimates of excess mortality showed four main waves during the COVID-19 pandemic period, most markedly in people aged 65 years and above, with timing and magnitude that varied between countries. Here we show that prior to implementation of control measures and COVID-19 vaccination, excess mortality greatly exceeded typical seasonal influenza mortality, but later during the pandemic was at levels comparable to influenza.

The absence of a viscoelastic gluten network remains a major factor limiting the quality of gluten-free (GF) bakery products. This study examined whether arabinoxylans (AX) from maize (alkaline-extracted, M-CEAX; xylanase-extracted, M-XEAX) and wheat (wheat-extracted AX, WEAX), in combination with maize gluten meal (MGM), can form a cohesive joint polymeric network resembling gluten. Cross-linking was enzymatically induced using laccase or glucose oxidase (GOX) with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Model batters were assessed through rheological tests (amplitude, frequency, time sweep) and physicochemical methods (particle and molecular size, polymer solubility and bound phenolic/ferulic acid) to evaluate AX-protein interactions. Rheological analyses revealed that laccase increased elasticity in M-CEAX systems but failed to promote strong AX-protein interactions. In contrast, GOX-HRP significantly enhanced the storage modulus (G') in M-CEAX-MGM added model batters, suggesting stronger cross-linking. Particle size results supported this, showing larger d-values and higher span, especially in enzymatically treated M-CEAX formulations. AX solubility increased with M-CEAX alone but remained unchanged with protein addition. Bound phenolic content was higher in laccase-treated than in GOX-HRP-treated systems, indicating weaker cross-linking. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed increased molecular weight in M-CEAX and MGM model batters treated with GOX-HRP, whereas M-CEAX-MGM combinations showed no clear size shift, which can be attributed to large insoluble aggregates not detected by the method. Overall, these findings highlighted the importance of polymer structure and enzyme specificity in modulating network formation. The results suggested that AX-protein interactions can enhance GF batter viscoelasticity and stability, offering a promising strategy to improve the structure of GF bakery products. • Arabinoxylan-protein interactions improve viscoelasticity of gluten-free batters • Glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase strengthen polymer crosslinking in batters • Laccase increases batter elasticity but produces weaker AX-protein interactions • Particle size and molecular weight analyses confirm enzyme-dependent network formation

This pilot study investigated the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Enterobacterales in conventionally kept domestic pigs and their environment across four districts in Rwanda. A total of 114 swabs (nasal, rectal, manure, dust) from 29 farms were collected and processed to isolate resistant bacteria. Thirty-two 3GC-R Enterobacterales were detected. Escherichia coli predominantly harboring blaCTX-M group 1 β-lactamase genes, alongside Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, all displaying extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes. Four MRSA isolates, all belonging to clonal complex 398 and SCCmec type IV, the typical livestock MRSA, were recovered from nasal and environmental samples. Multidrug resistance was frequently observed. The co-occurrence of β-lactamase genes, non-β-lactam resistance genes, and virulence factors such as fimH and loci associated with extraintestinal pathogenic and enteropathogenic E. coli. The detection of both MRSA and 3GC-R Enterobacterales in the present study indicates pigs and their farm environments as reservoirs of WHO priority pathogens in Rwanda, highlighting a potential public health risk in the context of extensive human-animal-environment interaction. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated One Health surveillance and comprehensive AMR control strategies addressing both animal and environmental reservoirs to support Rwanda's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Toscana virus (TOSV) is an emerging sandfly-borne virus, causing meningitis and encephalitis in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Only sporadic cases have been diagnosed in Austria over the past 20 years. We aim to identify and describe TOSV-associated aseptic meningitis (TOSV-AM) cases in Austria between 2006 and 2023. We report a series of four imported cases of TOSV-AM diagnosed in Salzburg between July and September 2023, after travel to Italy. In addition, we analyzed all TOSV cases identified by the Austrian National Reference Center (2006-2018). Diagnosis was confirmed by immunoglobulin (Ig)M/G serology. Partial N-gene Sanger sequencing was performed for three cases in total. Before the 2023 case series, we retrospectively identified a total of six TOSV-AM cases (three male and three female; median age was 43 years [22-53]). All four 2023 patients (three male and one female; median age was 45.5 years [37-50]) presented with clinical signs of meningitis, including headache, with three reporting insect bites. Lumbar puncture confirmed the diagnosis in three cases and IgM/IgG serology confirmed infection in all cases. TOSV detection by polymerase chain reaction in serum was possible in one patient, with nucleic acid sequencing identifying a lineage B strain. Previously diagnosed case patients were identified as lineage A. We report a total of 10 serologically confirmed cases of TOSV-AM in Austria since 2006. Despite evidence of growing incidence of TOSV circulation in neighboring countries, this is the first well-characterized case series in Austria. Considering the recent rise in TOSV cases in endemic regions, likely driven by climate change and urbanization, imported TOSV-AM cases in Austria may increase in the future.