Pre-Harvest Modelling and Mitigation of Aflatoxins in Maize in a Changing Climatic Environment—A Review

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs) are harmful secondary metabolites produced by various moulds, among which Aspergillus flavus is the major AF-producer fungus. These mycotoxins have carcinogenic or acute toxigenic effects on both humans and food producing animals and, therefore, the health risks and also the potential economic damages mounted by them have led to legal restrictions, and several countries have set maximum allowable limits for AF contaminations in food and feed. While colonization of food and feed and AF production by A. flavus are highly supported by the climatic conditions in tropical and subtropical geographic regions, countries in the temperate climate zones are also increasingly exposed to AF-derived health risks due to climate change. In the present study, we have reviewed the available mathematical models as risk assessment tools to predict the possibility of A. flavus infection and levels of AF contaminations in maize in a changing climatic environment. After highlighting the benefits and possible future improvements of these models, we summarize the current agricultural practices used to prevent or, at least, mitigate the deleterious consequences of AF contaminations

A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Interventions to Control Aflatoxins in the Dairy Production Chain—Feed Production and Animal Feeding Interventions

“…Under favourable conditions, they are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions with high temperatures and high humidity. However, the occurrence of aflatoxins has become usual in more temperate regions like Central Europe, too [11][12][13][14][15]. Research indicates that aflatoxin production can be observed at the marginal growth conditions [10,16].…”

Role of Climate Change in Changing Hepatic Health Maps

“…AFs are secondary metabolites produced by various Aspergillus species and infect crops including, e.g., peanut, cotton-seed, maize, nuts, cereals, spices, and dried fruits. AFs are highly liver carcinogenic and can also cause acute toxicity or even be fatal for both livestock and humans if ingested in sufficient amounts; the availability of mathematical models as risk assessment tools for prediction of the possibility of A. flavus infection and levels of AFs contaminations in maize within CC highlights the agricultural practices used to prevent or mitigate the deleterious consequences of AF contaminations [ 52 ].…”

Review of good agricultural practices for smallholder maize farmers to minimise aflatoxin contamination

“…Fields with higher risk for aflatoxin formation should be treated differently from those fields with a lower risk. Earlier harvesting is recommended in high-risk regions, as fungal pathogens will have less time to develop and potentially produce aflatoxins (Bruns, 2003;Dovenyi-Nagy et al, 2020;Monda et al, 2020;Udoh et al, 2000).…”