Alltech’s 2024 European harvest report highlights rising mycotoxin threats amid extreme weather

EUROPE – Alltech, a leader in agricultural biotechnology, has published the interim results of its 2024 European Harvest Analysis, revealing a concerning trend in mycotoxin contamination across Europe’s crops.

Conducted as part of Alltech’s extensive mycotoxin testing program, the report provides early, actionable insights on the prevalence and risks posed by mycotoxins,  natural toxins produced by moulds and fungi which are present in more than 95% of today’s crops.

The findings underscore that these contaminants are not only common but also increasingly complex to manage.

Many crops contain multiple mycotoxins, complicating risk mitigation and posing severe health risks to animals that consume contaminated feed.

Dr. Radka Borutova, Alltech’s global technical support for the Technology Group, highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the season’s extreme weather has played a major role.

According to him, unpredictable patterns spurred the spread of moulds that generate mycotoxins, especially in southeastern Europe.

 “The mycotoxin risk for all animal species is medium to high, and for some mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1, even extremely high.”

This was conducted in partnership with SGS, a leader in testing and certification; Alltech’s program analyzed samples from 20 countries in Europe, spanning a wide range of crops, forages, and feed ingredients.

Samples were examined at Alltech’s advanced 37+ laboratory, which detects 54 types of mycotoxins.

The report’s initial results show moderate to high contamination levels, particularly in corn from central and southeastern Europe, where aflatoxin B1 concentrations have reached up to 506 parts per billion (ppb).

Other prevalent contaminants include type B trichothecenes like deoxynivalenol (DON), which affects a wide range of crops. Aflatoxin B1 levels, observed in countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria, highlight the severe risk of contamination.

Alltech’s report also provides a crop-specific breakdown. Wheat samples tested to date show an average of 7.7 mycotoxins per sample, with 99% of samples containing multiple mycotoxins.

Barley follows closely, averaging 6.3 mycotoxins, with emerging mycotoxins and type B trichothecenes like DON as the most common. Straw samples, tested primarily for animal bedding and forage, show an average of 5.9 mycotoxins, with nearly all samples containing multiple toxins, posing a high risk.

Grass and corn silage, essential for livestock feed, contain an average of 2.9 mycotoxins per sample, with a notable presence of Penicillium-derived mycotoxins such as penicillic acid and patulin, indicating a high overall risk.

In light of these findings, Alltech emphasizes the need for proactive mycotoxin management to ensure animal health and feed quality.

The full report, expected soon, will offer detailed insights by region, crop, and species, allowing producers to take informed steps in safeguarding their feed systems.

 In addition, Alltech is organizing a live broadcast titled From Field to Feed: 2024 Crop and Mycotoxin Analysis, scheduled for Nov. 21 at 10:00 a.m. EST, streamed from Lexington, Kentucky.

The event will cover global weather impacts, preliminary harvest outcomes, supply chain trends, and practical recommendations for optimizing feed choices, concluding with a panel discussion.

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