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Abstract

Mycotoxins continue to represent one of the most significant biological hazards in global food and feed supply chains. Climate variability, changing agricultural practices, and increasingly complex international trade networks have heightened the risk of mycotoxin contamination in cereals, oilseeds, nuts, and other agricultural commodities. As the 2026 harvest season approaches, proactive testing strategies are essential to ensure compliance with regulatory limits, protect animal and human health, and minimize economic losses. This article reviews the expected mycotoxin risks for the 2026 harvest and presents practical testing strategies for producers, processors, traders, and feed manufacturers.

Introduction

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, primarily species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. These compounds can contaminate crops in the field, during harvest, transport, and storage. The most economically significant mycotoxins include aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FUM), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin.

The global impact of mycotoxin contamination is substantial. Beyond direct yield losses, contamination can lead to rejected shipments, reduced animal performance, food recalls, and significant reputational damage. Regulatory authorities worldwide continue to tighten monitoring requirements, increasing the need for robust testing programs throughout the supply chain.

Mycotoxin Risk Outlook for the 2026 Harvest

Impact of Climatic Conditions

Climate conditions observed during the 2025/2026 growing season suggest elevated mycotoxin risks in several agricultural regions. Increased frequency of:

• Heat stress periods
• Heavy rainfall events
• Extended humidity during flowering
• Delayed harvest conditions

can create favorable environments for fungal growth and toxin production.

Key Mycotoxins of Concern

Aflatoxins

Aflatoxins remain the most toxic and tightly regulated mycotoxins globally. Produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, aflatoxins are increasingly detected in maize, peanuts, tree nuts, spices, and other commodities grown under warm and drought-stressed conditions.

Particular attention should be paid to:

• Southern and Eastern Europe
• Mediterranean regions
• North Africa
• Areas experiencing prolonged drought followed by rainfall

Fusarium Mycotoxins

Fusarium toxins remain a significant concern in wheat, barley, oats, and maize.

Key compounds include:

• Deoxynivalenol (DON)
• Zearalenone (ZEN)
• Fumonisins (FUM)
• T-2 and HT-2 toxins

Wet weather during flowering and grain filling stages significantly increases infection risk and subsequent toxin production.

Emerging and Masked Mycotoxins

Growing evidence indicates that masked mycotoxins and emerging metabolites may contribute to overall toxicological burden. Although regulatory frameworks are still evolving, analytical laboratories increasingly include these compounds in comprehensive surveillance programs.

Why Testing Is Essential

Food and Feed Safety

Mycotoxins are associated with numerous adverse health effects including:

• Hepatotoxicity
• Nephrotoxicity
• Immunosuppression
• Reproductive disorders
• Carcinogenicity

Aflatoxin B1 is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Regulatory Compliance

The European Union, United States, China, and many other jurisdictions maintain strict maximum levels for key mycotoxins. Non-compliant lots may result in:

• Shipment rejection
• Import restrictions
• Product recalls
• Financial penalties

Economic Protection

Early detection enables segregation of contaminated lots before they enter processing streams, reducing downstream costs and protecting product value.

Recommended Testing Strategies for Harvest 2026

1. Risk-Based Sampling

Sampling remains the most critical step in mycotoxin testing.

Because mycotoxins are heterogeneously distributed, poor sampling can introduce greater analytical error than laboratory testing itself.

Recommended practices include:

• Collection of multiple incremental samples
• Representative composite sampling
• Compliance with EU Regulation (EU) 2023/2782 and relevant national standards
• Increased sampling frequency for high-risk regions and commodities

2. Rapid Screening at Intake

Rapid lateral flow and quantitative immunoassay technologies provide immediate decision-making capability at grain reception points.

Benefits include:

• Results within minutes
• Reduced storage of suspect lots
• Immediate segregation decisions
• Lower overall testing costs

Recommended targets:

• Aflatoxin total
• DON
• ZEN
• Fumonisins

3. Laboratory Confirmation

High-risk or positive screening samples should undergo confirmatory testing.

Preferred analytical methods include:

• LC-MS/MS
• HPLC-FLD
• UHPLC-MS/MS

These techniques provide:

• High sensitivity
• Multi-mycotoxin capability
• Regulatory-grade documentation
• Quantification of emerging toxins

4. Multi-Mycotoxin Surveillance Programs

Contamination rarely involves a single toxin.

Modern testing programs should monitor:

5. Storage Monitoring

Testing should not end at harvest.

Post-harvest monitoring should include:

• Moisture control
• Temperature surveillance
• Periodic mycotoxin verification
• Testing before shipment and processing

Storage-related fungal growth can significantly increase contamination levels after harvest.

Integrated Mycotoxin Management Approach

Testing should form part of a broader risk management framework including:

Pre-Harvest Measures

• Selection of resistant varieties
• Crop rotation
• Fungicide programs where appropriate
• Timely harvest

Harvest Controls

• Moisture assessment
• Removal of damaged kernels
• Segregation of suspect lots

Post-Harvest Controls

• Rapid drying
• Aeration
• Continuous monitoring
• Routine testing

Combining preventive measures with analytical verification provides the highest level of protection against mycotoxin-related losses.

Conclusion

The 2026 harvest is expected to present significant mycotoxin challenges driven by increasingly variable climatic conditions and evolving regulatory expectations. Aflatoxins, Fusarium toxins, and emerging mycotoxins remain critical hazards requiring proactive management. Organizations throughout the food and feed chain should implement risk-based sampling, rapid screening technologies, confirmatory laboratory analysis, and continuous storage monitoring. Such integrated testing strategies are essential for ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting public health, and safeguarding the economic value of agricultural commodities.

Keywords

Mycotoxins, Harvest 2026, Aflatoxin Testing, DON, Zearalenone, Fumonisins, Food Safety, Feed Safety, Grain Testing, Risk Management, LC-MS/MS, Rapid Screening, Agricultural Commodities

Field Trial Confirms the Benefits of Pidolin® PCa in Breeder Hens

As breeder hens age, maintaining egg production, shell quality, and flock vitality becomes increasingly challenging. A recent large-scale field trial in the Czech Republic (2025) demonstrates how Pidolin® PCa (calcium pidolate) helps support laying persistence, egg quality, survivability and overall profitability in late-production breeder flocks.

Real Farm Conditions, Real Results

The 49-day trial was conducted under commercial conditions, involving nearly 40.000 breeder hens:

• Control group: Isa Brown, basal diet
• Pidolin® PCa group: Bovans Brown, basal diet + 300 g/t Pidolin® PCa
• Supplementation period: weeks 64–68

All management parameters (housing, temperature, lighting, density) were identical, ensuring supplementation was the key differentiating factor.

Improved Laying Persistence and Egg Output

Despite the advanced age of the flock, hens receiving Pidolin® PCa showed a clear performance advantage:

• +1.2 points laying persistence compared to the control
• +1.5% more eggs selected for incubation
• More stable production with lower variation over time

These results indicate that Pidolin® PCa helps sustain productive performance when natural calcium utilization typically declines.

Beyond productivity, flock health also benefited from supplementation:

• −0.19 percentage points lower mortality during the supplementation period

This reduction reflects improved physiological resilience in aging breeder hens.

Why Pidolin® PCa Works?

Pidolin® PCa combines calcium with pidolic acid, a biologically active molecule that:

• Promotes active calcium transport via arginine supply
• Supports collagen synthesis via proline supply
• Contributes to improved eggshell formation and structural integrity

The trial confirms that these mechanisms translate into measurable on-farm benefits.

Strong Economic Return

Performance gains were accompanied by an excellent financial outcome:

• Net benefit: €0,23 per hen
• ROI: 9:1
• Equivalent to €232 net benefit per 1.000 hens

Even after accounting for the supplementation cost, increased chick output drove a clear return on investment.

Proven Support for Aging Breeder Flocks

Pidolin® PCa is a practical nutritional tool to help breeders stay productive, profitable, and resilient in late lay.

Contact us to learn how we can meet your needs

Jadis has launched Fulvi Plus, a new concept for calves, extensively tested in practice, with feedback indicating that calves were more robust and healthier opening up for reduction of antimicrobials. 

Supporting the calves during the Immunity gap yield in better health, growth and future milk production  

Calves are susceptible to diseases and problems due to underdeveloped immunity and stress factors during the famous immunity gap of calves. They often experience issues with protozoa, bacteria, and viruses in the first weeks of life. These issues lead to: 

• Reduced intestinal health and inflammation, 

• Diarrhea and reduced growth, 

• Lower future production capacity. 

To address these challenges and reduce the need for antibiotics, Jadis Additiva developed Fulvi Plus for optimal support during this sensitive period. 

Key Benefits and Composition Supporting Intestinal Health and Improving Growth 

Fulvi Plus is a unique blend of phytogens specially developed to support the intestinal health of young calves. 

• Key Components: The base primarily contains clean and highly soluble fulvic acids and a small amount of humic acids, originating from humus (extracted from human drinking water). Those are known to improve intestinal health and gut integrity. 

• Enrichment: It is enriched with carefully selected aromatic and plant-based active ingredients, such as Yucca Shidigera, each with a unique effect in the intestines. They have been selected for known anti-protozal effect, binding ammonia, and improved digestion. 

Trial Results Highlights 

In vitro trials were conducted in 2019, confirming the expected successful mode of action. In 2023, a first field trial showed us improvement in growth. And now after successful start of Fulvi Plus for the first users, a trial in 2025 at a large dairy farm in the Netherlands confirm again the benefits. The results showed great potential for Fulvi Plus in supporting intestinal health and improving growth performance. 

• Trial Size: 106 calves were split into a control group (58 calves) and a Fulvi Plus group (48 calves). 

• Method: The trial group received 10 ml of Fulvi Plus mixed into their morning milk daily for the first 14 days and performance was measure after 14 days 

• Result:  

• Growth in the Fulvi Plus group improved significantly by 58 grams/calf/day. 

• • The Fulvi Plus Group have shown fewer occurrences of diarrhea   

 Availability 

Fulvi Plus is available as a liquid product, allowing it to be added directly to milk preparation for the calves. 

➡️Contact us to learn how we can meet your needs. 

SONDERANGEBOT für Mycotocin-Standards – gültig bis zum 31.01.2026

• Kaufen Sie 2 Einzelstandards – erhalten Sie den dritten mit 50 % Rabatt.
• Kaufen Sie 2 Mykotoxin-Mix-Standards – erhalten Sie den dritten mit 50 % Rabatt.
• Kaufen Sie 2 beliebige Artikel – Sie erhalten 100 g Multitoxin-Referenzmaterial kostenlos dazu.

Alle Standards finden Sie hier:Aflatoxin, DON, Zeralenone, T2HT2, Ochratoxin

Finden Sie das Multitoxin-Referenzmaterialhier

https://www.lva.at/en/