G.C. - E.L
A team of experts in Animal Health, coordinated by Professor Antonio Arenas and in collaboartion with dairy farmers, will analyze affected farms to design a control protocol to prevent new infections
A team of experts in Animal Health, coordinated by Professor Antonio Arenas and working with dairy farmers, awill analize affected farms to design a control protocol to prevent new infections
The scientific team from the ceiA3 Agrifood Campus of International Excellence has set a six month deadline to develop the first epidemiological study on cow's milk alfatoxins in Andalusia. The work, which will be coordinated by professor Antonio Arenas and partly funded by Asociación Frisona Andaluza (Andalusian Friesian Association, AFA), aims to find a definitive solution to a problem that has caused the destruction of 2 million kilos of milk in the last six months in Andalusia.
Milk contamination with aflatoxins is caused by the intake of grains, mainly corn, infected by a common fungus in crops. Their effects on human health are harmful because they are related to the occurrence of certain cancers and liver problems. European legislation sets very stringent limits on aflatoxin presence in milk for human consumption: 50 parts per trillion, 10 times more strict than U.S. laws.
Such figures have not yet become lethal to the sector but are posing serious problems for farmers, as explained this morning by Antonio Casas, president of the AFA, during the official presentation of the agreement that will allow ceiA3 researchers to undertake this study.
Antonio Arenas, who is in charge of the project, explained that they will analyze risk factors and management models for this problem in different farms to try to design protocols to introduce corrective measures that prevent new infections.
For Juan Jose Badiola, president of the General Council of Veterinary Colleges, the ceiA3 study will be essential to tackle a problem that affects 'the global market' and which demands “increased border control that prevents importation of infected cereals at Spanish ports'. He praised Andalusian government for acting with transparency and the livestock sector, especially the scientific community, for their rapid reaction. In this sense, the general coordinator of ceiA3 and Vice Rector for Science Policy at the University of Córdoba, Justo Castaño, has reiterated ceiA3 and ceiA3 research teams’ offer to find solutions for agrifood problems not only for productive sectors but also for consumers.
The scientific team from the ceiA3 Agrifood Campus of International Excellence has set a six month deadline to develop the first epidemiological study on cow's milk aflatoxins in Andalusia. The work, which will be coordinated by professor Antonio Arenas and partly funded by Asociación Frisona Andaluza (Andalusian Friesian Association, AFA), aims to find a definitive solution to a problem that has caused destruction of 2 million kilos of milk in the last six months in Andalusia.
Milk contamination with aflatoxins is caused by intake of grain, mainly corn, infected by a fungus commonly present in crops. Their harmful effects on human health are related to occurrence of certain cancers and liver problems. European legislation sets very stringent limits on aflatoxin presence in milk for human consumption: 50 parts per trillion, 10 times more strict than U.S. laws.
Such figures have not yet become lethal to the sector but are posing serious problems for farmers, as explained this morning by Antonio Casas, president of AFA, during the official presentation of the agreement that will allow ceiA3 researchers to undertake this study.
Antonio Arenas, who is in charge of the project, explained that they will analyze risk factors and management models for this problem in different farms with the aim to design protocols to introduce corrective measures that prevent new infections.
For Juan Jose Badiola, president of the General Council of Veterinary Colleges, the ceiA3 study will be essential to tackle a problem that affects 'global market' and which demands “increased border control that prevents importation of infected cereals at Spanish ports'. He praised Andalusian government for acting with transparency and livestock sector, especially scientific community, for their rapid reaction. In this sense, general coordinator of ceiA3 and Vice Rector for Science Policy at the University of Córdoba, Justo Castaño, has reiterated ceiA3 offer and compromise to find solutions to agrifood problems that may affect both production sectors and consumers.
