Project Summary

The present SSA proposal aims to implement the outcome of a wide range of European research projects in the area of mycotoxins and toxigeninc fungi by supporting, stimulating and facilitating the participation and co-operation with countries having signed bilateral scientific and technological co-operation agreement with the EU.

In particular, the SSA will:
i) create a consortium of international experts in the area of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi;
ii) identify priorities of common interest by sharing results of the European research with the major international networks involved in the field of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi;
iii) address the evaluation of research policy in the SSA area by conferences focused on advanced research tools;
iv) improve co-operation practices in the SSA area by transfer of knowledge to developing countries (mainly African countries) and sharing information with advanced third countries (USA and Australia) by bilateral workshops and short mobility missions.

Six workpackages are foreseen:
WP1. Steering Committee activity;
WP2. Conference on “Integration of Mycotoxin and Toxigenic Fungi European Research for Food Safety in Global System” Brussels, 2004 (dissemination of results of the FP5 Mycotoxin Prevention Cluster);
WP3. Conference "Learning from EC: Reducing impact of Mycotoxins in tropical agriculture with emphasis on health and trade in Africa" Ibadan, Nigeria, 2005 (networking with African countries and dissemination of EC research results);
WP4. Conference “Advances on genomics, biodiversity and rapid system for detection of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins” Bari, Italy, 2006
WP5. Workshop/Training course on “Mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi detection methods” Bari, Italy, 2006 (training students from European and Third Countries in traditional and advanced analytical techniques applied to mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi);
WP6. Two bilateral workshops with Australia and USA, respectively, Sidney and New Orleans.

Socio-economic significance
MYCO-GLOBE will have the following long-term socio-economic impact:
• It will enhance the productivity and export potential of agriculture in tropical Africa and other third countries (Asia and South America)
• The global collaborative network setting up in the field of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi will help to control toxic wastage in crops
• It will transfer knowledge to developing countries
• It will enable more advanced countries to share information
• It will improve the coordination of EU food safety policies with those of other international institutions.

Scientific significance
Through dissemination of information and training, the project will contribute to the following scientific areas:
• Spread knowledge of advanced research tools in genomics and detection systems for mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi
• Evaluate research policy in this area
• Disseminate knowledge of best practice for control of food quality and safety in relation to mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi
• Act, through its final report, as a compendium for suggestions for future food safety research in fungal contamination in Europe and the rest of the World.