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Managing Food Safety: Aflatoxin in Bulk Grains – Early Warning Program

This study delves into managing Aflatoxin in bulk grains through an early warning program. It addresses crucial aspects such as cost management, meeting crop insurance requirements, product integrity, and economic viability. Suggestions include scouting for threats pre-harvest, farmer meetings, and press utilization for information dissemination. Advanced warning methods, past-year analysis, and benefits of early notice are discussed, emphasizing planning and mitigation strategies. Strategies for notifying stakeholders include NASS coordination, sentinel plots, and scouting systems. The importance of public awareness, funding options, and avenues for disseminating information are explored.

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Managing Food Safety: Aflatoxin in Bulk Grains – Early Warning Program

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  1. Managing Food Safety Issues in Bulk Grains -Aflatoxin Do we need an early warning program?

  2. What is Important Here? Keep Cost Down Satisfy Crop Insurance Requirements (But No Games) Maintain Integrity of our Products Maintain Economic Viability of all Concerned

  3. What can be done in advance of harvest? • Scout to Determine if a threat is present • Hold meetings for farmers • Use the press to disseminate information. • Some of the above was done last year

  4. Problems with Aflatoxin Advance Notice • You can be blamed for starting a panic • Farmers will not pay attention unless it is publicized as a problem • Does anyone care? Is our food supply important? Are consequences predictable?

  5. Possible Methods of Advance Warning of A Problem • Coordinate with NASS to get samples to analyze. • Set up Sentinel Plots (like with soybean rust) • Develop a scouting system to check high risk areas (early August)

  6. Look at Past Years When Aflatoxin was a Problem • Compare Weather Pattern • Relate to Plant Stress • Look at Insect Damage • Build a Model • Ground Truth with Scouting

  7. Advantages of Advance Notice • Time for proper testing • Can make plans for dealing with the Aflatoxin tainted corn. • Segregation • Combine settings • Grain cleaning • Time to find alternative markets • List of Labs: • www.iowagrain.org

  8. Getting the Word Out • Meetings • Press/Media • Web Sites • Mailings • Insurers? • Extension? • Grain Receivers?

  9. How should it be Funded? • Surveys suggest public agencies conduct early warning system. The costs should be covered by • Tax Dollars? • Grant Funding? • Other?

  10. Questions / Comments / Solutions? Thank You.

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