dsm-firmenich the leading innovator in health, nutrition and beauty, has released the results of the World Mycotoxin Survey from January to December 2024.
Mycotoxins are naturally produced by the fungi that can contaminate feed raw materials in the field and during storage. When ingested by animals, mycotoxins have a wide range of negative effects such as impaired reproduction, digestive disorders, carcinogenicity, and reduced performance.
About the survey
Each year since 2004, dsm-firmenich has analyzed a large number of feed samples from all around the world to understand and monitor contamination levels of the different mycotoxins in a variety of feed ingredients. This information is shared in the annual dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey. The survey accurately identifies mycotoxin risks based on animal species and location.
Effective mycotoxin risk management should include frequent testing along with a multi-strategy mitigation approach.
The Results
- Until December 2024, a total of 28,388 samples were collected and analyzed from 95 countries around the world. Compared to 2023, results concluded that all 6 main mycotoxins increased, including aflatoxin, zearalenone, vomitoxin, fumonisins, T-2 mycotoxin and ochratoxin A.
- Risk increased in Central Europe, as well as in the Middle East and North Africacompared to 2023. Risk remains extreme with the highest regions of mycotoxins found in North and Central America, South Asia, China and Taiwan.
- The mycotoxin risks that threaten feed quality and animal performance globally vary across regions worldwide, with multiple kinds of mycotoxins often occurring together.
The survey also includes further details on:
- Trends in mycotoxin occurrence over the years
- Prevalence levels for each mycotoxin in each region
- Global and local risk levels for each mycotoxin
- Risk levels posed to each species
- Comparison of prevalence levels from January-December 2023
- Insights on mycotoxin levels in grains and soy from major producing countries
- More information about Spectrum 380®, the most powerful mycotoxin detection method used as a research tool and performed at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU)
- Overview on the occurrence of the most frequent mycotoxins, their masked and modified forms as well as emerging mycotoxins; based on results delivered by the most comprehensive commercially available multi-mycotoxin method, Spectrum Top®50
Additionally, a range of key by-products and alternative feed components were tested, analyzing metabolites found and their prevalence with numerous mycotoxins discovered. The global contamination of key by-products and alternative feed components is summarised in the dsm-firmenich Mycotoxin Survey.
Ursula Hofstetter, Head of Mycotoxin Risk Management at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health stated:
“The persistent presence of mycotoxins continues to pose a threat to animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture. These results once again underscore the critical need for effective mycotoxin management strategies. Implementing such strategies is crucial for maintaining the profitability of both the feed industry and animal protein sectors as well as ensuring feed and food safety.”
