Warning climate change will spread mycotoxins

Mycotoxins will become more prevalent in Europe due to climate change, impacting rumen function in cows, says a leading veterinarian.

Johanna Fink-Gremmels of Utrecht University said mycotoxins cause a 25% decrease in genetic potential in dairy cows and an annual economic loss globally of several billion euro.

Natural toxins produced by diverse fungal species, mycotoxins are rising in diversity via both pre- and post-harvest contamination, she said.