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​Integrated Management of Mycotoxins in a Changing Climate: Technological Innovations and Future Directions 

​​​Broadcast Date​: ​​​August 28, 2024 | 10–​11:30 a.m. Central Time

Webinar Cost: Free f​or APS members, $49 for nonmembers

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Webinar Summary

Food and feed crops including grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables can be contaminated with a variety of mycotoxins that negatively impact human and animal health. Regulatory limits on the amount and types of mycotoxins in the food/feed supply result in significant economic losses when crops and downstream products are contaminated. A variety of pre- and post-harvest strategies are used to minimize mycotoxins including host-based resistance, crop rotation, fertility and water management, chemical control, biological control, and proper post-harvest handling and storage technologies. Furthermore, a variety of risk-based epidemiological models have been developed for different crops to determine if and when intervention strategies are needed to control mycotoxin-producing fungi. The most effective control of mycotoxins is typically achieved through an integrated approach that takes into consideration aspects of the disease triangle: specifically, the crop, fungal populations, and the pre- and post-harvest environment. However, the extent to which different mycotoxin management strategies are effective varies by crop and type of mycotoxin that is being targeted for control. For example, biocontrol has been an effective approach to mitigate aflatoxin contamination of grain crops worldwide, but thus far limited success with this strategy has been achieved for mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. The current status of integrated management of aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and patulin in crops will be described along with the limitations of these approaches. Research aimed at optimizing current tactics to mycotoxin management, adapting successful mitigation technologies to various crop-mycotoxin systems, and identifying novel approaches to mycotoxin control will be discussed. Furthermore, this session will highlight the challenges of effective and economical control in the context of a changing climate that will influence the risk of crop mycotoxin contamination worldwide.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, attendees will have increased knowledge of various approaches to manage pre- and post-harvest mycotoxin contamination of various crops. They will understand the advantages and limitations of different tactics and how the most effective approaches vary by the specific crop and mycotoxin that are the targets of control. In addition, the presentation of future directions for mitigating mycotoxin contamination worldwide will facilitate discussions on research and extension priorities for improving food and feed safety and increasing the economic viability of crop production.

Relevance

Mycotoxins and their causal agents significantly impact crop production, food and feed processing, trade of agricultural commodities, and human and animal health worldwide. This session will highlight successful approaches to the management of mycotoxins as well as the need to develop and deploy novel and economical approaches to mycotoxin mitigation both pre- and post-harvest.

This session is sponsored by the Mycotoxicology Committee will be of interest to members of the Biological Control, Chemical Control, Epidemiology, Host Resistance, Integrated Plant Disease Management, Postharvest Pathology, and Extension committees. Sessions sponsored by the Mycotoxicology committee over the past several years have focused on fundamental aspects of mycotoxin-producing fungi, but this session will focus on the application of management tactics that have been generated by decades of basic and applied research. This session is relevant to scientists and regulators in government, university research and extension, and industry as well as a variety of stakeholders involved in the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural commodities. Mycotoxins are expected to have increasingly severe economic and health impacts on a global scale as a result of climate change and increased regulation, so there is a need to critically examine the advantages and limitations of current management tactics and identify future research priorities.

Target Audience

The target audience for this session includes a diverse range of professionals and stakeholders with an interest in integrated mycotoxin management, sustainable agriculture, and climate change adaptation.

This encompasses:

1. Academics and Researchers: Experts in mycotoxicology, plant pathology, and environmental science, seeking to explore the latest scientific advancements in mycotoxin management and climate resilience.
2. Agricultural Professionals: Agronomists, crop protection specialists, and other professionals involved in agriculture who are interested in effective mycotoxin management strategies in the face of climate change.
3. Government and Policy Makers: Regulators and policy developers focused on agricultural policies, food safety, and public health, looking for comprehensive strategies to manage mycotoxins in a changing climate.
4. Industry Representatives: Professionals from the food and feed industries, including quality control managers and product developers, who need to address mycotoxin challenges in their operations.
5. Global Health and Development Practitioners: Individuals from NGOs and international agencies concerned with food security and sustainable agricultural practices in the context of global climate change.
6. Environmental Scientists and Climate Change Experts: Specialists studying the impact of environmental changes and climate dynamics on crop health and mycotoxin prevalence.

Speakers

1. Hillary Mehl, (Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS) – “Integrated Management of Aflatoxins in Diverse Cropping Systems”
2. Joseph Opoku, (Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS) – “Integrated Management of Biotic and Abiotic Factors Impacting Fumonisin Contamination in Corn”
   
3. Tom Isakeit, (Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Texas A&M) – “Helping Farmers Manage Mycotoxins in Texas: An Extension Plant Pathologist’s Viewpoint”.
   
4. Pummi Singh​
   

Organizers

• Joseph Opoku
• Rebecca Sweany
• Hillary Mehl