Global experts unite to tackle mycotoxin threat at World Forum in Austria
As of 2024, the highest contamination levels occurred in Africa (36.59 %), Asia (33.06 %), Europe (29.06 %), and the Americas (19.20 %).
AUSTRIA – The 15th conference of The World Mycotoxin Forum took place in Salzburg, Austria, from 7 to 9 April 2025, under the theme ‘Building a Resilient Food System in the Digital Decade—Challenges for Mycotoxin Research and Management’.
The World Mycotoxin Forum is an international meeting series on mycotoxins dedicated to assembling the world’s best minds across the spectrum of integrated strategies ensuring the safety and security of the food and feed supply chain.
It brings together a holistic conference programme covering the latest issues in mycotoxin management and is targeted at everyone working in the mycotoxin space – researchers, the food and feed industry, laboratories, policy makers, and enforcement agencies from around the world.
It brought together over 400 participants worldwide who shared ideas and formulated recommendations and conclusions on closing knowledge gaps around mycotoxin challenges.
They did this through presentations and discussions in plenary meetings and parallel sessions, poster sessions, young scientist sessions, company pitches, case studies, industry updates covering various topics, workshops, demonstrations, and manufacturer exhibitions.
The mycotoxin burden
According to a scientific review, mycotoxins pose a significant global threat to human health and economic stability. As of 2024, the highest contamination levels occurred in Africa (36.59 %), Asia (33.06 %), Europe (29.06 %), and the Americas (19.20 %).
They are toxic compounds naturally produced by certain types of moulds (fungi), with Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Alternaria spp being the prominent contributors to mould production.
Cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and spices are commonly affected. Mycotoxins can grow before or after harvest, during storage, or on/in the food, often under warm, damp, and humid conditions. Most of these mycotoxins are chemically stable and survive food processing.
They can be ingested directly or indirectly by eating affected animals (usually from contaminated feed), leading to a condition known as mycotoxicosis.
Their effects on human and animal health range from acute, immediate, severe illness from foodborne mycotoxins to long-term impacts such as nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, immunosuppression, mutation, and carcinogenesis.
Several reports suggest that the mycotoxin problem is likely to be amplified by the current projections of drastic climate change. The effects—elevated carbon dioxide levels, rising environmental temperature, and extreme droughts with extreme rainfalls—will significantly impact mould growth and mycotoxin occurrence, posing a significant health and economic risk and a global food safety threat.
Consequently, the growing risk of fungal infections could trigger increased fungicide use, requiring enhanced monitoring of fungicide residues and re-evaluation of the risks they pose to human health.
Such risks may include antifungal resistance and, therefore, a global increase in human fungal diseases with significant loss of food crops and livestock to fungal pathogens.
These projections necessitate a collaborative approach from different partners and stakeholders to anticipate the risks, address the mycotoxin challenges, and protect human and animal health and the environment.
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