July 10, 2007

International Plant Protection Congress to offer good mycotoxin advice
 

Press release
 

This year's 16th International Plant Protection Congress is set to offer practical advice on how to deal with the hazard of mycotoxins in cereals.

Based on the results of a five-year project identifying the impact of agronomy in minimising the risk of mycotoxins, speakers will set out to explain how growers can take practical steps to reduce the formation of mycotoxins through good agricultural practices.

Participants will be introduced to important mycotoxins in cereals, including fusarium mycotoxins and ochratoxin A, and current legislation surrounding them.

Providing a preview of his presentation, session organiser and speaker Dr Simon Edwards of Harper Adams University College, said risk assessment for fusarium mycotoxins can be performed at three points during the season: At the start of the season to assess the agronomic risk; at ear emergence to assess the need for an ear spray and at harvest to assess the overall risk (weather and agronomy).

Dr Edwards advised avoiding corn as the previous crop (a major cause of mycotoxins in milling wheat), minimising crop debris on the soil surface, avoiding susceptible varieties, considering an ear spray against fusarium and having a timely harvest.

Another session will present results from a large European project on the prevention of ochratoxin A in cereals. The presentation examines how these results can be used in a HACCP programme to facilitate good storage practices for cereals. Outputs such as a mathematical model to calculate safe storage time have provided useful store management tools for growers.

16th International Plant Protection Congress, in association with IAPPS (International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences) and the BCPC (British Crop Production Council) International Congress & Exhibition, takes place from Oct 15-18, 2007, in Glasgow.

For more information, please contact Chris Todd, BCPC at +44 (0) 1420-593200 or Andrew Kendall at +44 (0) 1394-610022.

More details on 16th International Plant Protection Congress can be found here.