Between green and safety: navigating sustainability and public health risks in growing media

Abstract

Production and use of growing media involve a trade-off between sustainability and public health. We claim that a paradigm shift is needed, focusing on properties supporting environmental sustainability and human health, with a holistic approach involving One Health expertise. We use Legionella in growing media, soil, and gardening as an example to highlight key knowledge gaps.

Keywords

Compost; Legionella longbeachae; Legionella pneumophila; public health; risk assessment; societal side stream raw material

Published in

International Journal of Vegetable Science
2025, volume: 31, number: 2, pages: 151-157
Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Alsanius, Beatrix

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Vågsholm, Ivar

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2025.2451331

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/140312