Biomin released the results of the firm’s first-ever forecast of mycotoxin occurrence that reveal that many parts of Europe can expect potentially harmful levels of mycotoxin contamination in the upcoming 2020 corn and wheat harvest. One major trend identified is that deoxynivalenol, or vomitoxin, has a high probability to exceed a risk threshold level of 150 parts per billion (ppb) in corn in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, and a similarly high probability to exceed 150 ppb in wheat in Northern Europe. The forecast is based on a proprietary mycotoxin prediction tool that delivers daily assessments of expected mycotoxin levels in corn and wheat harvests.
“Our aim with the Biomin mycotoxin prediction tool is to provide an assessment of likely mycotoxin occurrence as accurate as your daily weather forecast,” explained Timothy Jenkins, development scientist at BIOMIN. The mycotoxin prediction tool uses sophisticated algorithms that draw upon 15 factors and the extensive proprietary data set compiled through the Biomin Mycotoxin Survey. “Weather is the single most important factor in terms of predicting mycotoxin occurrence, and it dominates the reasons for year-to-year fluctuations in mycotoxin patterns we observe in a given region,” stated Jenkins.
The mycotoxin prediction tool can be useful for feed and animal protein industry professionals, including integrators, nutritionists, crop farmers, livestock growers, raw commodity purchasers and quality assurance and control professionals, by offering an early indication of the risk of mycotoxins in crops and feed. “Since 2004, customers have been highly appreciative of the service and insights that the Biomin Mycotoxin Survey represents,” noted Ursula Hofstetter, head of global product management mycotoxins at Biomin. “The new mycotoxin prediction tool, along with the Biomin mycotoxin survey and Mycofix®all serve to help our clients stay naturally ahead of mycotoxins,” added Hofstetter.
Based on the tool, weekly updates on the risk of mycotoxins in the European region will be available at www.biomin.net. The mycotoxin prediction tool generates predicted risk of fumonisins, aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in corn and deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in wheat.
