A Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Assessment, Monitoring, and Risk-Reduction Practices along the Reused Water-Soil-Crop-Human Continuum

Laura Álvarez-Fraga; Mohan Amarasiri; Charlotte Arnal; Xavier Bellanger; Pierre Benoit; Thomas Berendonk; Thibault Bourdin; Carolee Anne Carson; Eddie Cytryn; Oriane Della-Negra; Andrea Di Cesare; Steven P Djordjevic; Barbara Drigo; Erica Donner; Pietro Drei; Dominic Frigon; Pablo Gago-Ferrero; William H Gaze; Karina Yew-Hoong Gin; Danny Greenwald; Bing Guo; Didier Hocquet; Ryo Honda; Jeffrey LeJeune; Caroline Le Maréchal; Roberta Maffettone; Célia M Manaia; Daniel Martak; Fabrice Martin-Laurent; Christophe Merlin; Alexandre Mrozinski; Dominique Patureau; Alfieri Pollice; Amy Pruden; Ben van den Akker; Sotirios Vasileiadis; Nathalie Wéry; Edward Topp

doi:10.1021/acs.est.6c03391

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A Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Assessment, Monitoring, and Risk-Reduction Practices along the Reused Water-Soil-Crop-Human Continuum

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A Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Assessment, Monitoring, and Risk-Reduction Practices along the Reused Water-Soil-Crop-Human Continuum

Laura Álvarez-Fraga, Mohan Amarasiri, Charlotte Arnal, Xavier Bellanger, Pierre Benoit, Thomas Berendonk, Thibault Bourdin, Carolee Anne Carson, Eddie Cytryn, Oriane Della-Negra, …

Environmental science & technology

08/07/2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c03391

PMID: 42421426

Abstract

water reuse

risk assessment

risk management

antimicrobial resistance

crop irrigation

Food security in many parts of the world is threatened by reduced water availability, resulting from population growth and climate change. Under these circumstances, irrigating crops with reclaimed water is becoming an increasingly important agricultural practice. A framework is proposed to address these concerns, evaluate how effectively current regulations ensure safe and sustainable water reuse in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and identify opportunities for more targeted guidance. The paper proposes indicators for water quality assessment that take into account risks specific to AMR and define primary contamination entry points, potential amplification points, and barriers (e.g., contaminant dissipation in soil, delay between irrigation and harvest, postharvest management), along the wastewater-irrigation, water-crop, and production-consumer continuum. In terms of risk management, an overview of the range of water and wastewater treatment options is provided, from secondary sewage treatments to advanced treatments, including weighing the costs and benefits of interventions in the context of local needs and constraints and the availability and quality of alternative irrigation water sources. The recommendations herein were developed through a consensus at an international multidisciplinary expert workshop and literature review.

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Title: A Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Assessment, Monitoring, and Risk-Reduction Practices along the Reused Water-Soil-Crop-Human Continuum
Creators: Laura Álvarez-Fraga - Université de Montpellier
Mohan Amarasiri - Tohoku University
Charlotte Arnal - Veolia. Scientific and Technological Expertise Department, 30 Rue Madeleine Vionnet, 93300 Aubervilliers, France
Xavier Bellanger - Université de Lorraine
Pierre Benoit - Université Paris-Saclay
Thomas Berendonk - Technische Universität Dresden
Thibault Bourdin - Université Marie et Louis Pasteur
Carolee Anne Carson - Centre for Foodborne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph N1H 7M7, ON, Canada
Eddie Cytryn - Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7528809, Israel
Oriane Della-Negra - Université de Montpellier
Andrea Di Cesare - Molecular Ecology Group, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Water Research Institute (IRSA), Verbania 28922, Italy
Steven P Djordjevic - University of Technology Sydney
Barbara Drigo - Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food, and Environments (CRC SAAFE), Mawson Lakes 5095, South Australia, Australia
Erica Donner - Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes 5095, South Australia, Australia
Pietro Drei - University of Bologna
Dominic Frigon - McGill University
Pablo Gago-Ferrero - Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research
William H Gaze - University of Exeter
Karina Yew-Hoong Gin - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive, Singapore 117576, Singapore
Danny Greenwald - The Israeli Governmental Water and Sewerage Authority, Jerusalem 9195021, Israel
Bing Guo - School of Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, U.K
Didier Hocquet - Université Marie et Louis Pasteur
Ryo Honda - Kanazawa University
Jeffrey LeJeune - Division of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 00153, Italy
Caroline Le Maréchal - ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, HQPAP Unit, Ploufragan 22440, France
Roberta Maffettone - European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra 21027, Italy
Célia M Manaia - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Daniel Martak - Université Bourgogne Europe
Fabrice Martin-Laurent - Université Bourgogne Europe
Christophe Merlin - Université de Lorraine
Alexandre Mrozinski - Université Bourgogne Europe
Dominique Patureau - Université de Montpellier
Alfieri Pollice - IRSA CNR, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Bari 70132, Italy
Amy Pruden - Virginia Tech
Ben van den Akker - Adelaide University
Sotirios Vasileiadis - University of Thessaly
Nathalie Wéry - Université de Montpellier
Edward Topp - Department of Biology, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, ON, Canada
Publication Details: Environmental science & technology
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC; WASHINGTON
Number of pages: 24
Publication Date: 08/07/2026
Grant note: Fundao para a Cincia e a Tecnologia: LA/P/0076/2020 Department of Industry, Science and Resources: CRCXXIIIA000004 Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomeration: NA Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): RGPIN-2022-04203 Agence Nationale de la Recherche: ANR-16-IDEX-0006 Department of Ctes d'Armor: NA National Science Foundation (NSF): 2125798 NextGenerationEU: PID2022-139446OB-C22 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC): BB/X012786/1 OECD Co-operative Research Programme on Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems: NA United States - Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund: IS-5628-23 HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions: 101108532 Agence Nationale de Scurit Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail: EST-23-008 Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement: NA Horizon 2020 Framework Programme: NA Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency: JPMEERF25S21211 Medical Research Council (MRC): MR/Y015223/1 Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance: 2023-DISTOMOS-076 German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space: 01KI240 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science: 23H00536
This collaborative manuscript is an output from a workshop held in Dijon, France on October 22-24, 2024. The workshop was sponsored by the OECD Co-operative Research Programme on Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems, whose financial support made it possible for some of the invited speakers to attend. In addition, the authors acknowledge the following funding; LAF Marie Sk & lstrok;odowska-Curie Actions (grant agreement no. 101108532). European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme; M.A. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (23H00536); X.B. French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (EST-23-108); German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (JPIAMR 01KI240 and 01KI2404A); EC United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) # IS-5628-23); O.D.N. French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES; EST-24-186); S.P.D. (JPIAMR 2023-DISTOMOS-076); E.D., B.D. and B.v.d.A. Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources (CRCXXIIIA000004); D.F. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2022-04203); W.H.G. UK Medical Research Council (MR/Y015223/1); P.G.F. European Union "NextGeneration EU"/PRTR (PID2022-139446OB-C22); B.G. UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/X012786/1); D.H. and E.T. France National Research Agency under the France 2030 program (ANR-22-PAMR-0009); R.H. Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA; JPMEERF25S21211); C.M. Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (UID/50016/2025 and LA/P/0076/2020); F.M.L. France National Research Agency (ANR-24-CE34-7608); C.M. French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES; EST-23-008); A.M. received financial support for his Ph.D. studies from INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment), Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomeration, and the Department of Cotes d'Armor; A.P. US National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (2125798); NW France National Research Agency (ANR-16-IDEX-0006). The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Beatriz Guerra participated at the workshop and provided much valued advice.
Identifiers: 991142222502346; WOS:001815962900001
Academic Unit: Mechanical Engineering Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

A Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Assessment, Monitoring, and Risk-Reduction Practices along the Reused Water-Soil-Crop-Human Continuum

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