Project

MycoKey - Mycotoxin management in food and feed chains

This HORIZON 2020 project is a collaborative EU-China initiative to reduce mycotoxin contamination in food and feed crops, with a focus on maize wheat and barley. Integration of information from different levels (variety resistance, developmental stage of crop, field observations, weather) into ICT tools will allow stakeholders in the entire chain to customize destination of their commodities.

MycoKey addresses the major affected crops maize, wheat and barley, their associated toxigenic fungi and related mycotoxins (aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisins).
The project integrates key information and practical solutions for mycotoxin management into a smart ICT tool (MycoKey App) based on the Akkerweb platform, providing answers to stakeholders, who require rapid, customized forecasting, descriptive information on contamination risk/levels, decision support and suggestions for intervention.

The MycoKey project is coordinated by the Italian Institute of Sciences of Food Production (http://www.ispacnr.it/en/). Researchers of Wageningen Plant Research are responsible for the monitoring of toxigenic fungi and for ICT solutions for chain management.

Aim

To generate innovative and integrated solutions supporting stakeholders in decision making for effective and sustainable mycotoxin management along food and feed chains.

Process

The research is executed in several work packages.
The focus of Mycokey will be on:

  • Development of on-site detection of known fungi and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to monitor emerging toxigenic populations.
  • Development of a cell phone app for decision support for farmers and other stakeholders in the chain.

Deliverables

  • A smart ICT tool: the MycoKey App that will provide answers for stakeholders, who require rapid, customized forecasting and descriptive information on contamination risk/levels, decision support and practical economically-sound suggestions for intervention.
  • Tools and methodologies strategically targeted for a cost-effective application in the field and during storage, processing and transportation.
  • Alternative and safe ways to use contaminated batches.