June 2002 Volume VI, No. 1NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES A Concerted Action (FAIR CT-4094) “Quality control measures in the production and processing chain to reduce Fusarium mycotoxin contamination of food and feed grains” involving 20 European participants started in January 1999 with Plant Research International as coordinator. The objectives include: an exchange of knowledge on problems caused by infection due to Fusarium fungi throughout the production chain of cereals; identifying possibilities for effective collaboration to minimize mycotoxin contamination of cereal-based products; identifying suitable quality control opportunities for mycotoxin content during production and manufacturing of food and feed products; identifying areas requiring further collaborative research; establishing a code of conduct to minimize mycotoxin contamination of cereal-based products. The activities of 2001 have been divided into research task-groups: reduction of mycotoxin contamination during crop production and grain processing, improved methodology to measure mycotoxin contamination, and integrated chain-wide approach. Three workshops organized took place in Wageningen (Netherlands), Paris (France), and Bari (Italy). The final workshop will be in Brussels (Belgium). More information on this Concerted Action can be found on the Web site: http://www.plant.wageningen-ur.nl/projects/fusarium |