Mycotoxins are toxins produced by microorganisms categorized as fungi. Some of them, such as aflatoxins, have shown to be dangerous to both humans and animals. Exposure to these elements is linked to a range of serious illnesses and diseases in humans, from respiratory problems to cancer diseases. Besides these health issues, mycotoxins cause relevant economic losses and decrease of productivity. These losses have been estimated around one billion dollar/year, and over US$ 500 million to mitigate the damage of only three mycotoxins: aflatoxins, fumonisins and trichothecenes.
To face these problems, there exist several synthetic fungicides which serve as the primary means by which postharvest diseases are controlled. However, new solutions are needed for many reasons, such as the limited efficacy of chemical pesticides due to development of pathogen resistance, and public demand for organic foods. The employment of synthetic pesticides negatively affects the environment, polluting the ground, groundwater and the agricultural products. Also, these products, can affect flora and fauna of the zone in microbial and animal level. Under these circumstances, the most optimal strategy to reduce the synthetic fungicide use is the biological control.
Biological control using antagonistic microorganisms is an emergent alternative to efficiently manage fungi and mycotoxins production and hence, reducing the use of chemical compounds.
The aim of Ideagro company through FREEMYCO project is the development of a new bio-fungicide able to reduce or eliminate the main mycotoxin-producing fungal species and especially Aspergillus that synthesize aflatoxins. FREEMYCO product will have a pre-harvest application, reducing/eliminating so the concentration of mycotoxins in the field and consecutively in the final product.
FREEMYCO is important for the society because it will contribute to ensure food security and food quality by reducing mycotoxins contamination and more specifically aflatoxin in food, feed and fodder. The reduction of mycotoxins levels, involves the reduction of several human health issues, such as, in the worst case, cancer. Furthermore, this product will have a great impact in avoiding economic losses and environmental problems caused by mycotoxins.
Ideagro is a 9-years experienced company which main activity is R&D focused on the agri-food sector. During the last six years, we have tested commercial and experimental products, which have led us to specialize in the use of microorganisms and bio-stimulants reducing the input of agrochemicals, as well as developing new bio-phytosanitary products to promote the reduction of residues in agricultural products.
The key goal of FREEMYCO project is to producing in a high scale level a bio-fungicide product able to control aflatoxin contamination on the field. Therefore, the objectives of the first phase project were: (1) Market analysis, (2) Technical and (3) Financial viability of FREEMYCO
