European Food Safety Authority

The occurrence and magnitude of debris flows largely depend on the amount of sediment stored within a catchment and the effectiveness of its connection to the channel network. Quantifying both sediment availability and its connectivity is therefore a critical requirement for constraining numerical simulations used to delineate debris-flow inundation areas. To support more reliable hazard assessments in alpine regions, an integrated geomorphological framework was developed and implemented in the Camonica Valley (Italian Alps) to characterise potential debris flow behaviour. The approach places particular emphasis on sediment connectivity as a key link between sediment sources and downstream propagation, reinforcing the role of geomorphological and geomorphometric analyses as a foundation for numerical modelling. Field observations, historical records of past events, and morphometric indicators are jointly used to discriminate between dominant flow processes and to estimate the volumes of sediment that may be mobilised during extreme events. The workflow combines GIS-based regional screening of debris-flow susceptibility along the drainage network with the identification of sediment source areas derived from orthophotos and terrain analysis, followed by an explicit evaluation of sediment connectivity and field-based verification of sediment thickness. Overall, the methodology provides a coherent and transferable basis for debris-flow hazard zonation and land-use planning in mountain environments, with sediment connectivity explicitly embedded in the assessment process.

Pollinators are a diverse group of organisms – insects, mammals, birds and, to a lesser extent, amphibians, reptiles and even snails – that support plant communities and are the foundation of global food systems. Scientific research over the past 10-20 years has clearly shown that in some parts of the world they are declining, leading to significant changes in ecosystem functioning. Despite the great interest of a large number of scientific teams around the world in studying various aspects of pollinators and pollination processes, there are still not enough specialised academic journals whose main focus is this. The journal “Advances in Pollinator Research” (APR) was founded to transform the way pollinator science is published and shared, and consequently translated into real action. APR offers the scientific community an opportunity to publish in a state-of-the-art way biological, ecological, socio-economic and management aspects of pollinator health. The journal bridges basic and applied science, linking molecular biology, ecology, evolution, conservation, agroecology, ecosystem services, behavioural, economic, and social sciences with policy development, agricultural management, commercial pollinator management practices, and community-based conservation.

Abstract This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Ips amitinus, I. cembrae, I. duplicatus and I. sexdentatus is published and available online in the EFSA Pest Survey Card gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/ips-amitinus-cembrae-duplicatus-sexdentatus

Abstract This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for the non‐EU isolates of Phytophthora ramorum is published and available online in the EFSA Pest Survey Card gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/phytophthora-ramorum

Notifications of Salmonella Strathcona infections increased in Europe in 2023 prompting a multi-country outbreak investigation. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of S. Strathcona infections in 17 European countries 2011–2024, investigate the genetic relatedness of S. Strathcona isolates and identify the vehicle. Cases were persons residing in the study area and with a laboratory-confirmed S. Strathcona infection 2011–2024. Confirmed cases had a S. Strathcona isolate clustering with the outbreak reference strain in core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) within 7 allelic differences (AD) and possible cases within 8–13 AD. Probable cases had an epidemiological link to a confirmed case and non-outbreak cases had an isolate > 13 AD from the outbreak reference strain. Since 2011, 662 S. Strathcona infections have been identified: 469 confirmed, 161 probable, 13 possible and 19 non-outbreak cases. Median age of the cases was 34 years (IQR: 19–58 years) and 306 (47.5%) were notified in 2023–2024. Most sequenced isolates (469/496; 94.5%) were highly genetically related (≤ 7 AD) over time and across countries, compatible with a common source. Epidemiological and traceback investigations identified small tomatoes from Sicily as the suspect food vehicle. Stringent control measures at the source are needed to stop the contamination and prevent future cases.

Abstract This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Phyllosticta solitaria is published and available online in the EFSA Pest Survey Card gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/phyllosticta-solitaria

The grouping of chemicals based on common properties or molecular mechanisms of action is pivotal for advancing regulatory toxicology, reducing data gaps, and enabling cumulative risk assessments. This study introduces a novel framework using chemical-gene-phenotype-disease (CGPD) tetramers derived from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Our approach integrates publicly available toxicogenomics data to identify and cluster chemicals with similar molecular and phenotypic effects. The considered chemicals belong to diverse use groups including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. We validated our method by comparing CGPD tetramer-based clusters with cumulative assessment groups (CAGs) that have been established by EFSA for pesticides and demonstrate strong overlap with established groupings while identifying additional compounds relevant for risk assessment. Key examples include clusters associated with endocrine disruption and metabolic disorders. By bridging omics-derived molecular data with phenotypic and disease endpoints, this framework provides a comprehensive tool for chemical grouping and the support of evidence-based regulatory decision-making to facilitate the transition to next-generation risk assessment methodologies.