The issue of mycotoxins is not merely a safety and quality concern but also has substantial economic and environmental impacts. The Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that 25% of the world’s crops are affected by mycotoxins each year, with annual losses of around 1 billion metric tons of foods and food products. This underscores the urgent need for proactive mycotoxin management measures.

Adisseo, a leader in animal nutrition & health, and Syngenta, a leading agriculture company focused on crop protection and seeds, are joining forces to combat mycotoxin risk across the entire value chain — from the field where crops are grown to the feed produced from them. Syngenta brings its expertise in seed selection, crop management, fungicide applications and digital solutions, while Adisseo focuses on feed mill management, feed formulation, and the deployment of mycotoxin binders and deactivators.

Mycotoxins pose a complex issue that starts in the field (90% of mycotoxins develop before harvest) and has consequences on animal and human nutrition and health. The partnership between Syngenta and Adisseo makes sense because it combines complementary expertise and respective positions in the value chain (Syngenta upstream and Adisseo downstream). The aim of the partnership is to develop synergies to provide more integrated solutions, thereby strengthening the ability to effectively address the challenges posed by mycotoxins along the entire value chain.

A concrete example of this collaboration is the use by Adisseo's clients of the prediction model developed by Syngenta. Adisseo benefits from Syngenta's expertise on mycotoxins in the field to help its own clients better anticipate, adapt to, and mitigate mycotoxin contamination risks. In return, Adisseo shares mycotoxin analysis in feed with Syngenta to validate predictions and jointly invest in further tools to manage mycotoxin challenges more effectively.”

For many years Syngenta has collected samples of cereals and corn from across Europe, with data sets of location, weather and agronomy linked to mycotoxin analysis results. This is the wider database of field samples analysis in Europe. From our digital expertise and big data mining with new machine learning techniques we have developed robust and reliable prediction models named Qualimetre?. This predictive tool is aimed at various stakeholders across the agricultural sector, including farmers, feed manufacturers, and integrators. By providing early insights into mycotoxin contamination, Syngenta's predictive model empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions to safeguard feed quality, animal health, and food safety.?

Syngenta's predictive model helps better anticipate and proactively adapt to the mycotoxin risk. For instance, stakeholders can make more informed decisions ahead of time when harvesting and segregating the grain. The predictive model also allows for the adjustment of control plans and the frequency of mycotoxin analyses, as well as the implementation of feed mill management practices and feed formulation strategies.

The new predictive model will be offered under Adisseo’s MycoMan suite. MycoMan is an online platform designed as a one-stop-shop to assist users in mitigating mycotoxin risks effectively.

The MycoMan platform will provide customers with a wide range of services, such as:

? Dashboard analysis where users will be able to track their mycotoxin analysis data and visualize it in various ways

? Risk Assessment System where users can receive tailored recommendations for mitigation strategies based on their own mycotoxin analysis data. This personalized approach helps users implement targeted interventions to manage mycotoxin risks effectively.

? Feed Mill Assessment Service where users can utilize an online questionnaire for self-evaluation of their feed mill's mycotoxin risk management practices. Additionally, the platform offers guidelines for best practices in mycotoxin risk management within feed mills.

? Global Mycotoxin Prevalence Map. MycoMan includes a map displaying mycotoxin prevalence data on a global scale, showcasing past, current, and future trends in countries where prediction models are available.

? Resource Library with a wealth of valuable resources for individuals seeking to understand the challenges posed by mycotoxins in animal nutrition. Drawing inspiration from Mycopedia, the technical reference book for mycotoxins in feed published by Adisseo in 2023, this resource hub offers valuable insights and information. (Source: Feedinfo)