MIMYCS

"MIMYCS, A framework for simulating maize kernels mycotoxin contamination in Europe"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Maize is one of the main crops grown for human food and livestock feed, using more than 8.5 million ha of cropland annually in Europe. The crop is heavily affected by mycotoxin problems throughout the world. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds recognised as the principal cause of human and animal chronic intoxications. In addiction to health risk, regulations of the European Union and other countries of the world on the maximum levels of mycotoxins in cereals have had an important socio-economic impact on the global cereal market. Mycotoxin contamination is the result of a complex pathosystem formed by maize, insect borers and toxigenic fungi, influenced by environmental and climate conditions and by agro-management. The objective of the project MIMYCS (Maize Infection and MYcotoxin Contamination Simulator) is the development of a simulation model system linking existing models and developing original approaches for estimating the behaviour of the pathosystem in response to weather conditions and agro-management in Europe. The pathosystem will be simulated using deterministic approaches, and process-based. The model will be implemented as a software component to be first used in the crop growth and monitoring system of the Joint Research Centre – AGRI4CAST of the European Commission. The implementation will follow the software architecture for reusable components in use at JRC. The development of MIMYCS via the component based methodology will allow an easy re-use of it for (i) performing simulations to inform European policy makers involved in food and feed safety of the effects of European mycotoxin policies and help them to fix safe and, at the same time, feasible contamination limits, (ii) performing simulation about climate change scenario effects on the pathosystem and on future maize grain safety, (iii) assisting maize producers in controlling mycotoxin contamination through agro-management and improving maize grain safety.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Scientists simulated the development of naturally occurring fungal toxins in maize in order to improve food safety in cereal crops.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Maize is a vital crop for both human food and livestock feed but it can be seriously affected by mycotoxins. Contamination is the result of complex interactions between maize, insect pests and toxin-producing fungi (together known as the pathosystem).

Mycotoxin development is influenced by climate conditions and crop management regimes. Consequently, a warming climate could have a major impact on contamination levels. Since mycotoxins can present a risk to human health their maximum level in cereals are carefully regulated. This can have a significant impact on the global cereal market.

The 'MIMYCS, A framework for simulating maize kernels mycotoxin contamination in Europe' (MIMYCS) project developed a computer model to simulate the risk from the main toxins contaminating maize. The computer model was linked to existing models as part of the crop growth and monitoring system of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Existing models included a simulation of moisture content in maize kernels. Models of two insect pests, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and the Mediterranean corn borer (Sesamia nonagrioiodes), were also developed and included. In addition, researchers created a model that simulated fungi development, infection of the maize grain and mycotoxin production.

Project results will help inform European policymakers, enabling them to fix safe and realistic mycotoxin contamination limits and to assess the effect of climate change on the pathosystem. Furthermore, they will assist maize producers in controlling mycotoxin contamination through improved agro-management and improvements in grain safety.