At the upcoming FEED 2025 conference in Novi Sad in atumn this year, Imptox scientist Prof. Andreja Rajkovic will share new findings on how micro- and nanoplastics may influence feed safety through their interaction with other contaminants.

Is livestock feed seasoned with plastic? It’s a provocative question - and one that researchers, regulators, and industry players will be grappling with this October at the 9th International Feed Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia. Set to take place on October 15–16, 2025, at the University of Novi Sad’s Student Cultural Center (SKC), FEED2025’s theme will be “Innovating Feed – Shaping the Future.”

As the push for a circular economy grows louder and sustainability standards tighten, the feed sector is under pressure to evolve. But alongside welcome innovations - like improved efficiency and reduced waste - emerges a new layer of concern: the silent infiltration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) into the food chain.

Imptox scientist, Prof. Andreja Rajkovic from Ghent University, will present new findings on this issue during the conference. His talk, titled “When micro- and nanoplastics collide with co-contaminants: A perfect storm for toxicity, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogen persistence in the food chain,” will examine what happens when MNPs interact with other substances in feed, such as heavy metals, toxins, or antibiotic residues.

The research, generated through the Imptox project, explores the potential for plastics to act as carriers for these co-contaminants, which may bind to their surface. This could lead to combined exposures that behave differently from any of the components alone. While much remains to be understood about the health implications, this work opens a new window into the complexity of the feed and food safety landscape.

Set against the growing concern over plastic’s pervasiveness in the environment - and its potential to harm both human and animal health - FEED2025 provides a platform for addressing difficult questions. What do we really know about the long-term effects of feeding trace contaminants to animals? And what might that mean for the humans who eat them? As Prof. Rajkovic rightly pointed out, “Food safety is not optional – it’s fundamental.”

FEED2025 is a platform for these emerging questions - and a chance for dialogue between science and practice. Abstract submissions are open until July 1st, with full papers due by August 1st and early registration closing on August 15th. For more information, visit the conference website and join the discussion this October in Novi Sad.