WMFmeetsAsia: Top 5 answers learned

Prof Rudolf Krska of BOKU University, Austria and Prof Chris Elliott of Queen’s University, Northern Ireland, both chairs of the conference, summerised the conference in top 5 answers learned:

1. Asia remains at high risk of aflatoxin contamination with changing contamination levels including increased Fumonisin and ZEA contamination and considerable co-contamination.

2. Inter and intra-region research network collaboration and capacity building in the ASEAN region is needed to increase awareness of mycotoxins and to mitigate the issue.

3. Monitoring mycotoxin contamination of crops, foods & beverages and human biomonitoring using mycotoxin biomarkers are important for exposure assessment in ASEAN countries.

4. Minimising mycotoxin contamination is not only about technology, behavioural changes & sustained efforts on a daily basis are needed.

5. Implementation of multi-mycotoxin monitoring programs with product traceability across the supply chain.

Poster winner Takumi Okano – Prof Rudolf Krska and Prof Chris Elliott handed out the poster awards. Photo: Marieke Ploegmakers

Best poster awards

Takumi Okano of Azabu University, Japan, and Chenxi Zang of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China, both won a best poster award.

Takumi Okano conducted an expression analysis of candidate genes for citreoviridin biosynthesis in Penicillium citreonigrum.

Poster winner Takumi Okano – Prof Rudolf Krska and Prof Chris Elliott handed out the poster awards. Photo: Marieke Ploegmakers

Chenxi Zang conducted an morphological and transcriptomic analysis of the inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin production.