The Biomin survey report maps the incidences of several different mycotoxins in feed crops. Photo: Biomin

Crop toxins 'an increasing threat to aquafeed'

Climate change means mycotoxins will pose a greater threat to feed safety in aquaculture and agriculture, according to an ongoing survey by Austrian feed additives producer Biomin.

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Wulf-Dieter Moll: Gastrointestinal tract is a target organ of mycotoxins

The company says the expanding danger that secondary fungal metabolites (mycotoxins) pose to global feed safety, profitability and sustainability is becoming more apparent to the scientific community and agriculture sector.

It adds that their widespread occurrence and related threat has been documented consistently in the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey.

“Due to their negative effects on farm animal productivity and health, mycotoxins prevent the animal protein industry from achieving an efficient and sustainable use of natural resources,” said Dr Wulf-Dieter Moll of the Biomin Research Center.

Mycotoxins do not have to contaminate feed in high concentrations to make their negative effects felt in farm animals. “At present, clinical mycotoxicosis caused by high doses is rare,” said Antonissen.

Immunologic disturbances

“However, also the ingestion of low to moderate levels of these toxins cause an array of metabolic, physiologic and immunologic disturbances, with the gastrointestinal tract as one of the major target organs.”

Higher atmospheric temperatures, elevated carbon dioxide levels and water stress associated with climate change may all contribute to higher mycotoxin contamination of crops in the future.

“Studies suggest that in staple commodities such as maize, aflatoxin contamination may be stimulated, which has an impact on food / feed chains,” said Professor Naresh Magan of Cranfield University. “Other temperate cereals such as wheat, barley, and oats may also be less resilient under climate change conditions, increasing the risk of mycotoxin contamination pre- and post-harvest.”

The future threat of mycotoxins to aquaculture and land farming will be discussed at the Mycotoxin Session of the 2018 World Nutrition Forum in Cape Town, South Africa from 3 to 5 October, 2018.