Mycotox-I

Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi that pose a significant health hazard. There is growing concern about the health implications of emerging, modified and mycotoxin combinations in cereals, and the EU are considering imposing new limits for mycotoxins commonly found in oats. Working with leading EU experts, Mycotox-I research project will assess the risk of mycotoxin contamination of cereals produced on the Island of Ireland. This project will predominantly focus on oats due to its importance to Irish agriculture and the difficulties with predicting a problem in this crop (unlike wheat and barley, mycotoxin contamination often occurs in the absence of any visual symptoms of fungal contamination).          A mapping study will confirm the hazard points in the production chain and select the most critical control points for monitoring and controlling mycotoxin contamination of grain and milled products. Standardised state of the art analytical tools will be developed and used in all-Island surveys, in glasshouse and in field experiments to detect and quantify toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in cereal produce. Field-based surveys will determine the prevalence of mycotoxic fungi and mycotoxin levels in Irish cereal grains. Post-harvest surveys will determine the prevalence of mycotoxins in milled grain products. Glasshouse and field-based studies will determine the potential of integrated disease management systems to reduce mycotoxin levels under current and future climatic scenarios, aligned with the aims of the farm to fork farm-to-fork strategy that aims to reduce the use of fungicides by 50% by 2030. Based on the survey results, consumer studies will assess the risk of exposure. Using state of the art machine learning technology, and building on available tools and incorporating weather, varietal and input data, a new decision support system will be tailored for Irish agricultural systems in order to support growers and processors reduce the mycotoxin loads in food produce.