We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Hygiene (ISSN: 2673-947X).
Name: Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez
Affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, ceiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
Interests: microbial risk assessment; predictive modeling; biodigitalization; food safety; sustainable food packaging; biopreservation
Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez undertook a degree in biological science and in food science and technology from the University of Cordoba in 1999 and 2002, respectively. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Córdoba (2007), which dealt with quantitative microbiological risk assessment and cross contamination in foods. He has published over 100 articles in the most prestigious international food microbiology journals, as well as publishing several books and book chapters concerning predictive microbiology and food safety. He has been involved in several research projects at a national and international level, relating to predictive modeling and quantitative microbial risk assessment. Due to his expertise, he has been involved as a scientific advisor in several expert panels, at both the national and international level, in the Spanish Food Safety Agency; he has also served as a Risk Assessment Expert for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), providing scientific advice and reports. Currently, Fernando is a member of the EFSA Biohazard Panel (2024-2029) and is in charge of providing the European Commission with scientific opinions in the field of microbiological food safety. Since 2018, he has been a member of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) Roster of Experts, which has just been renewed for the period from 2023 to 2027. He has also taught courses in predictive microbiology and he is a Full Professor of food microbiology and food hygiene at the University of Cordoba (Spain).
The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and open access publishing:
1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?
Hygiene is a journal that aligns closely with my research interests, particularly in food safety and microbial risk assessment. The opportunity to contribute to a journal that emphasizes public health, hygiene, and food safety was very appealing. I see it as a platform to foster high-quality scientific discussions, promote interdisciplinary research, and enhance knowledge dissemination in areas that have a direct impact on public health.
2. What is your vision for the journal?
My vision for Hygiene is to establish it as a leading platform for cutting-edge research in hygiene-related fields, with a strong focus on emerging public health challenges in modern societies and low-income countries. I aim to enhance its visibility, attract high-impact research contributions, and strengthen its position as a reference journal for scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals in a changing scientific landscape. Additionally, I hope to encourage collaboration between researchers from different disciplines to bridge knowledge gaps and tackle emerging challenges in hygiene and public health using state-of-the-art approaches.
3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
The field of hygiene, in its different dimensions, is evolving rapidly, driven by changes in lifestyle, technological and scientific advances, big data, and sustainability efforts. The integration of digital and mathematical tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to anticipate and control microbial risks is reshaping how we approach hygiene issues. In the coming years, we will also see a stronger emphasis on One Health approaches, recognizing the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health.
4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access plays a crucial role in democratizing scientific knowledge and ensuring that science is accessible to a wider audience, including industry professionals, policymakers, and the general public. One of the key benefits of open access is that it removes financial and institutional barriers, which is particularly important for scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries, where access to high-quality scientific literature can be a challenge. Open access, and other forms of open science, empower these regions to engage in cutting-edge research, contribute to global scientific advancements, and implement evidence-based policies to address local and global health challenges. In spite of the associated challenges, such as publication costs and quality control, I believe that open access will continue to shape the future of scientific publishing by promoting transparency, inclusivity, and global knowledge sharing.
We wish Prof. Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez every success in his new position as Editor-in-Chief, and we look forward to him leading Hygiene and helping the journal reach many milestones.
