engleski

The effects of climate changes on mycotoxin contamination – Future threats and challenges

Mycotoxins represent secondary fungal metabolites capable of causing toxic effects in humans and animals. These substances can be found in a variety of important agricultural and food products, mainly in cereals and cereal-based products. Mycotoxin biosynthesis is affected by a simultaneous impact of several factors, which can increase the presence of toxicogenic moulds and mycotoxin production. The most important factor influencing mycotoxin contamination is climate, as proven during the last decades in many regions that are experiencing extreme weather conditions. Temperature and rainfall are most likely to be affected by future global changes, with a consequent wide impact on plants and their pathogens, mycotoxin occurrence included. Given that industrial processing yields no significant mycotoxin reduction, preventative measures taken to reduce such contamination to the minimum have been enacted and should be exercised by all means. In addition to the appropriate agricultural practices, cereals and cereal-based products should be properly stored and constantly controlled for mould growth. Given the high incidence of mycotoxins and possible adverse and synergistic effects in host organisms, it is necessary to identify mycotoxin-producing fungi and implement systematic monitoring of significant factors of influence, such as weather conditions, on an annual basis. Given the challenging nature of mycotoxin contamination prevention, further research is needed to better understand all the threats in the food production chain arising from climate changes.

mycotoxins, climate changes, weather conditions, moulds, cereals

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