Aflatoxin Talked Up at USDA Listening Session (7-1-03)
Aflatoxin
was in the air Monday, or so to speak, when the Multi-Crop Aflatoxin
Working Group presented comments on aflatoxin elimination at a U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) stakeholder listening session in
Denver, Colo.
The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a member of the working group,
which was established in 1988 to help USDA pursue aflatoxin elimination
and serve as an informal liaison committee to assist with aflatoxin
research.
Aflatoxin
is a naturally occurring mycotoxin (toxin produced by various fungi),
which is produced by two types of mold: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus
parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus has especially been prevalent for
growers in recent years due to drought and other stressful conditions
that can promote the mold in certain grains.
"The
aflatoxin problem will only be solved through coalitions working to
increase funding and attacking the problem from different angles,
such as plant breeding, atoxigenic work and binding agents,"
said Scott Averhoff, chairman of NCGA's Mycotoxin Task Force and a
Waxahachie, Texas, grower.
According
to the group’s comments, aflatoxin is the biggest mycotoxin
problem facing U.S. crops. Aflatoxin costs U.S. industries over $1
billion every year.
“The
primary export markets have lowered their acceptable aflatoxin levels
in food to almost zero,” said the statement. “This coupled
with better detection methods and consumer concerns has had a major
impact on corn, peanuts, cotton, figs, and tree nuts produced in the
United States.”
The group
is encouraging USDA to appropriate additional research funding of
$5 million annually to address the aflatoxin problem.
In the meantime,
NCGA formed last year the Mycotoxin Task Force to continue the push
for the elimination of aflatoxin and other harmful toxins.
"While
the Mycotoxin Task Force was created less than a year ago, it has
quickly joined forces with the other commodities affected by aflatoxin,”
continued Averhoff. “Together we are raising the profile of
aflatoxin and its research needs."