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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364026
Research Project: Novel Methods for Controlling Trichothecene Contamination of Grain and Improving the Climate Resilience of Food Safety and Security Programs

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Economic impact of mycotoxins on U.S. corn and public research efforts to reduce mycotoxin occurrence

Author
item Vaughan, Martha

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2019
Publication Date: 5/16/2019
Citation: Vaughan, M.M. 2019. Economic impact of mycotoxins on U.S. corn and public research efforts to reduce mycotoxin occurrence [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn production plays a major role in the US economy and is an essential part of the world’s grain supply supporting the exponentially growing human population either directly through consumption or indirectly through livestock feed. Mycotoxins are poisonous metabolites produced by fungal pathogens that infect corn and contaminate grain making it unsafe for consumption. Corn plants are susceptible to diverse mycotoxigenic fungi, and the amount and type of mycotoxin contamination is largely dependent on which fungal pathogen is favored by local weather conditions. The regional and annual economic losses associated with mycotoxins are summarized, and food safety concerns in the context of predicted climate changes are considered. Finally, the public research efforts to reduce mycotoxin occurrence are reviewed and critical research needs are discussed.