b'FOOD SECTOR REGULATION WORKSHOP Through the Biofilm Alliance initiative, and in partnership with the Food Safety Research Network, NBIC hosted a workshop on Biofilm Methodologies and Food Sector Regulations in Nottingham in March 2025.The workshop brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, regulatory bodies, and testing organisations to discuss the challenges that microbial biofilms pose across the food supply chain. The participants were asked to discuss: What biofilm methodologies is the food industryUK MICROBIOME BIOBANK WORKSHOP currently using to meet regulatory requirements? In April 2025, NBIC and CABI co-hosted What are the challenges and needs inthe UK Microbiome Biobank: Roadmap to addressing biofilms in the food sector? Implementation workshop in London.What challenges arise when navigatingThe event brought together academic, policy, the UKs food regulatory landscape? and industry stakeholders to shape the future of What solutions could be proposed tomicrobiome biobanking in the UK and to discuss the strategic development of the UK Microbiome Biobank. address the above difficulties? Building on proposals first outlined in the Microbiome What additional methodologies or guidelinesStrategic Roadmap (2021) and our report with CABI, would the industry like to see developed toSecuring the Future of Microbiome Research and further support regulatory compliance? InnovationThe Need for Biobanking Infrastructure in the UK - the workshop reinforced the urgent need for Discussions revealed that biofilms remain a widespread,a national biobanking infrastructure to preserve and but often under-recognised, risk in food productionutilise microbial resources at an unprecedented scale.environments. Many organisations lack awareness,It was agreed that this initiative would enable cutting-education, technical expertise, and the resourcesedge scientific discovery, support the development needed for effective biofilm detection, prevention, andof novel therapeutics and sustainable technologies, intervention. Current detection tools, such as swabbingand strengthen the UKs position as a global leader and reactive sprays, are inconsistent, non-quantitative,in life sciences. Discussions also emphasised the and often fail to identify early-stage biofilms. importance of conserving microbial biodiversity Participants agreed that prevention is more effectivefor future generations, while ensuring accessible, and cost-efficient than remediation. Practical strategiessecure, and equitable use of microbial data and include tailored, multistage cleaning protocols;materials. The discussions from the workshop will be condition monitoring; hygienic equipment design; andused to draft an implementation roadmap detailing the use of advanced technologies such as enzymes, UVoperational models, funding needs, and alignment light, and biocontrol agents. However, adoption remainswith One Health principles and global standards.uneven due to gaps in regulatory guidance, limited small and medium enterprises capacity, and insufficientBIOFILM ALLIANCE FORUM validation of emerging tools. The absence of a biofilm- In July 2025, NBIC co-hosted a two-day forum in specific regulatory framework was identified as a majorManchester as part of the Biofilm Alliance initiative.barrier. Existing standards (e.g. HACCP) do not reflect the complexity of biofilm risks. Retailers often imposeThe Forum brought together stakeholders from their own requirements, leading to inconsistency acrossacademia and industry to identify challenges the sector. There is a clear need for standardisedrelated to biofilm methodologies, regulatory methodologies, industry-specific definitions, andguidelines, and sector-specific needs across the collaborative frameworks to guide action. built environment, food, industrial processes, and Proposed next steps for the scientific and industrywater sectors. The event featured talks from industry communities include developing validated detectionprofessionals and a dedicated discussion session tools, enhancing workforce training, creating sharedto define actions for addressing these challenges knowledge platforms, and aligning regulatory andand encouraging cross-sector collaboration.industry practices. A coordinated, proactive approach would be essential to strengthen food safety, support innovation, and build long-term resilience against biofilm-related contamination risks.39'