Do tomatoes from the open field have a higher diversity of microbiomes than tomatoes grown on substrate? And does the diversity of these bacteria in tomatoes contribute to the diversity in the gut and therefore to a more resilient human health? In short: is there a difference in the soil on which crops are grown and does that affect human health? A new pilot study aims to provide answers to these questions.
Social and economic potential
Healthier agricultural soils, restoration of agricultural biodiversity and increased resilience to human health may be linked. Knowledge about this linkage has great social and economic potential. The Louis Bolk Institute, Bac2nature Foundation and Maastricht University have received a grant from the Swedish Ekhaga Foundation to conduct pilot research on this topic.
This research will be the first to look at the possible relationship between a vital soil, the food crop and human health. This relationship will be examined by measuring which bacteria from the soil end up in people via the consumed tomatoes. For this purpose, use is made of an artificial gastrointestinal model at the University of Maastricht, in which the bacteria (microbiomes) of tomatoes grown in full soil are compared with those of hydrocultures. The research questions are:
Do tomatoes grown in the open field have a higher diversity of microorganisms than tomatoes grown on substrate?
Does the diversity of bacteria in tomatoes contribute to the diversity in the gut and thus to a more resilient health in humans?
The main objective of this research is to get this theme on the research and investment agendas of governments and companies by providing this first conceptual evidence.
Connection to previous research
The research links up with recent scientific publications on microbiome research in apples (Wassermann et al.) and strawberries (Cybulska et al.) of conventional and organic origin. It was found that the diversity of bacteria and fungi in organic apples and strawberries is higher than in conventionally grown ones.
Marco van Es, founder of Bac2nature: "Since the industrial revolution, we have had less and less contact with the high diversity of bacteria found in nature. This is causing an impoverishment of our microbiome and therefore an increased risk of (chronic) inflammatory diseases. This development is also referred to as the biodiversity hypothesis for health. Bac2nature is committed to stimulating research into solutions to restore contact with various bacteria from nature in a modern way."
Peter Keijzer, Louis Bolk Institute: "This is the first study to investigate the direct relationship between differences in microbiome in soil, the food grown on it and the effect this may have on human health. This study builds on a literature study conducted by the Louis Bolk Institute for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, which concluded that there is little or no clear evidence for such a relationship. Insight into a relationship like this can be of great importance to, for example, the government's soil policy, the market proposition of agricultural entrepreneurs, food producers and retailers, but can also have an impact on the health policy of governments and health care providers."
Koen Venema, Maastricht University: "By using a validated model that accurately mimics the gastrointestinal tract, it can be studied whether the microorganisms present in tomatoes grown in open soil or tomatoes grown using hydroponics passage through the intestines survive and can interact with the microflora in the colon, which is crucial for health. A high diversity of different micro-organisms is thought to offer better protection than low diversity. It is expected that crops grown in full soil will contain more different types of bacteria (and perhaps fungi) than crops grown on a more sterile substrate. If we can influence the health of society in this way, of course, that would be fantastic."