Grain, being a living organism, generates heat and moisture during respiration. These conditions can quickly deteriorate grain quality if not properly controlled. Maintaining optimal thermal conditions, such as cooling grain below 16°C to curb insect activity, along with moisture management to prevent mould growth, is vital for preserving grain quality and lowering the risk of mycotoxin contamination.
Global Product Manager Fylax
Selko
Grain storage practices can have a big effect on protecting and preserving grain quality, which in turn can support animal health and performance, feed-to-food safety, and producers’ margins. Post-harvest losses can be significant, ranging from 5–10% in developed countries. In lower-middle-income nations, these losses can escalate to 30–35% (Magan et al., 2020). The FAO reports that 10% of post-harvest grain losses stem from fungal contamination.
Proper drying and storage after harvest are essential for maintaining grain quality. Inadequate handling can result in significant losses that reduce both yield and financial value. Unsuitable storage environments provide favourable conditions for insect infestations, mould, and other microbial contamination. Such degradation often results in severe economic repercussions, especially in resource-constrained economies. Additionally, moulds can produce mycotoxins that compromise grain quality, leading to nutritional deficiencies and posing serious health risks to both animals and consumers. Aflatoxin, a mycotoxin generated by Aspergillus flavus, is recognized as one of the most powerful carcinogens in existence (Cho et al., 2022). Grains can become tainted with aflatoxins both pre- and post-harvest, with contamination levels rising when drying and storage are poorly managed, posing dangers to both human and animal health (Chulze, 2010). Inappropriate storage conditions also facilitate the production of numerous other mycotoxins, resulting in simultaneous contamination. Mycotoxin development is on the rise. During the 15th Mycotoxin Forum, it was noted that whereas a few years ago, the number of known mycotoxins hovered around 600, that number has increased to 700 today.
Grain, being a living organism, generates heat and moisture during respiration. These conditions can quickly deteriorate grain quality if not properly controlled. Maintaining optimal thermal conditions, such as cooling grain below 16°C to curb insect activity, along with moisture management to prevent mould growth, is vital for preserving grain quality and lowering the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Comprehensive storage strategies involving natural and artificial drying, routine moisture checks, aeration systems, and cleaning methods help regulate temperature, ensure airflow, and eliminate debris to limit spoilage. Yet, these measures may not always be practical or adequate to fully maintain the quality of stored grain introducing additional protective steps, such as the use of organic acids, provides an antimicrobial defence that inhibits the proliferation of moulds, yeasts, and bacteria, effectively preserving grain quality.
Organic acids serve as a formidable asset in integrated grain storage techniques. The mode of action deployed by organic acids prevents microbial growth by establishing an environment that is detrimental to bacteria, yeasts, and moulds, including those that generate mycotoxins. When integrated into a holistic storage approach, organic acids significantly protect grain quality by curbing spoilage, minimizing nutritional losses, and enhancing shelf life.
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Mycotoxins and Climate Conditions: Impacts on grain and food safety The mycotoxin crisis in Eastern Europe in 2013 emphasized how severe weather conditions intensified mycotoxin contamination, severely impacting maize production and leading to significant milk contamination in the Balkan area. Aflatoxin M1, a mycotoxin found in the milk of cows that consumed contaminated feed, was detected, raising concerns for public health. Furthermore, elevated levels of mycotoxins were detected in dry fermented sausages in Croatia, exceeding the legal thresholds for processed cereals and highlighting the wider ramifications of mycotoxins within the food supply chain (Garcia-Cela & Gasperini, 2024). The mycotoxin crisis of 2013 resulted in the recall of aflatoxin-tainted feed, affecting numerous countries and causing significant financial losses in the millions for stakeholders such as maize traders, feed manufacturers, and the dairy industry (Focker et al., 2021). These observations stress the importance of ongoing surveillance for mycotoxin contamination in both grains and animal products. More recent events have also introduced concern about how climate events are affecting mycotoxin contamination. For instance, in Northern Italy, a pattern of drought followed by rainfall has been associated with increases in aflatoxin concentrations, while wetter seasons contribute to higher levels of other mycotoxins such as zearalenone and deoxynivalenol (DON) (Locatelli et al., 2022). |
THE ROLE OF ORGANIC ACIDS IN GRAIN PRESERVATION
Adaptive storage techniques, which include efficient monitoring systems and the use of organic acid treatments, are vital for safeguarding grain quality, ensuring food safety, and reducing health hazards in an evolving climate.
Organic acids, including propionic acid, are well-known for their antimicrobial effectiveness, especially in low moisture environments, where they inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria, yeasts, and moulds that produce mycotoxins. These acids infiltrate microbial cells in their undissociated state, acidifying the cytoplasm and depleting energy reserves, which interrupts growth and metabolic functions. The established efficacy of organic acids in preserving grain quality makes them an essential component of grain storage management (Dijksterhuis et al., 2024).
Maintaining grain quality during storage is crucial for minimizing losses and preserving its nutritional content. Minimising loss and optimising grain quality during storage were key objectives in the development of Fylax Grain. The potent mixture of buffered and non-buffered organic acids provides a holistic solution that inhibits the growth of mould and yeast while preventing quality degradation in grains. The product’s blend of organic acids lowers the pH, creating an unfavourable environment for microorganisms, including those responsible for mycotoxin contamination, such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus chevalieri. By disrupting microbial metabolism, the product effectively diminishes mycotoxin production and spoilage, prolongs grain shelf life, and improves storage safety.
in presence of Fylax Grain (FG)
The effectiveness of Fylax Grain has been validated in both laboratory and field settings. Figure 1 illustrates its influence on the germination of spores and mycelial growth of the mycotoxin-producing mould Aspergillus chevalieri. Moreover, the application of Fylax Grain to stored barley successfully lowered mould and yeast populations to below detectable levels, as demonstrated in Figures 2 and 3.
on day 14 after treatment with Fylax Grain
at day 7 after treatment with Fylax Grain
To further improve grain preservation, innovative organic acid treatments such as Fylax Grain can be effortlessly combined with enhanced storage management. This collaboration guarantees that grain quality is effectively protected under various conditions, providing a thorough and dependable solution to the difficulties of grain storage.
CONCLUSION
Successful grain storage requires a holistic strategy to address environmental and microbial issues, particularly as climate change heightens the likelihood of mould growth and mycotoxin contamination. Organic acids, like those found in Fylax Grain, are vital in this process due to their strong antimicrobial attributes that combat moulds and yeasts, including mycotoxin-producing fungi such as Aspergillus and Fusarium. These acids contribute to lowering microbial levels, averting spoilage, and prolonging shelf life, thus forming a fundamental aspect of contemporary grain preservation. It is important to remember that not all mycotoxin contamination occurs during storage. For mycotoxins that develop in the field prior to storage, incorporating an effective mycotoxin management product, such as TOXO-XL, into animal feed helps safeguard grains from microbial threats prior to harvest.
References
1. Cho, H. J., Son, S. H., Chen, W., Son, Y. E., Lee, I., Yu, J. H., & Park, H. S. (2022). Regulation of Conidiogenesis in Aspergillus flavus. Cells 2022, Vol. 11, Page 2796, 11(18), 2796. https://doi.org/10.3390/CELLS11182796
2. Chulze, S. N. (2010). Strategies to reduce mycotoxin levels in maize during storage: a review. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 27(5), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440040903573032
3. Dijksterhuis, J., Kleinhoven, P., van Kuijk, S., Wolters, A. H. G., & Bruinenberg, P. G. (2024). Synergistic antifungal effects of the preservative ammonium propionate and medium chain fatty acids against dormant and germinating conidia, germ tubes and hyphae of Aspergillus chevalieri, a feed spoilage fungus. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 422, 110802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110802
4. Focker, M., van der Fels-Klerx, H. J., & Oude Lansink, A. G. J. M. (2021). Financial losses for Dutch stakeholders during the 2013 aflatoxin incident in Maize in Europe. Mycotoxin Research, 37(2), 193. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12550-021-00429-9
5. Garcia-Cela, E., & Gasperini, A. M. (2024). Climate change and mycotoxins: a growing food safety concern. Journal Fur Verbraucherschutz Und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 19(4), 373–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00003-024-01528-2/
6. Locatelli, S., Scarpino, V., Lanzanova, C., Romano, E., & Reyneri, A. (2022). Multi-Mycotoxin Long-Term Monitoring Survey on North-Italian Maize over an 11-Year Period (2011–2021): The Co-Occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Fungal Metabolites. Toxins, 14(8), 520. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14080520
7. Magan, N., Garcia-Cela, E., Verheecke-Vaessen, C., & Medina, A. (2020). Advances in post-harvest detection and control of fungal contamination of cereals (pp. 339–362). https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2020.0072.14
8. Ruan, M-L., Wang, J., Zia, Z-Y., Li, X-W., Zhang, B., Wang, G-L., Wu, Y-Y., Han, Y., Deng, J., & Sun, L-V. (2023). An integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent can effectively mitigate the combined toxicity of AFB1, DON and OTA on the production performance, liver and oviduct health in broiler breeder hens. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 182, (114-159).
About Eugenio Alcalde
Eugenio Alcalde Rodríguez is the Global Product Manager for Fylax at Selko, the feed additive brand of Trouw Nutrition. He is specialised in mould control and moisture optimization solutions for the feed industry. With a robust academic foundation, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, a Master’s in Microbiology, and a Ph.D. in Fungal Biology, from the University of Sevilla, Spain.
He further expanded his expertise with postdoctoral research in biotechnology, focusing on fungi and yeasts, at Royal Holloway, University of London. Eugenio Alcalde has completed an Executive MBA at Maastricht University, enhancing his strategic business acumen. His passion for fungal biology and biotechnology has driven his career for over 15 years, with significant contributions in both research and industry applications. Alcalde worked in biotech industry developing a technology platform in fungal hosts to produce high value products to several industries. He has published several peer-reviewed papers and presented at international conferences in multiple countries. His extensive experience spans research, project management, and business development, ensuring effective implementation of innovative solutions in the feed industry. Alcalde combines scientific excellence with strategic business insights, playing a key role in driving the success of mould control products on a global scale.
