The course aims to train the Agri-food industry on mycotoxin and associated mitigation strategies with a specific focus on T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in oat grains.

At a glance

  • DurationDuration: 30 hours available at any time. Recommended within 1 month with a maximum duration of 6 months.
  • LocationOnline
  • Cost£250

Course structure

The total length of the course is four days and consists of several theoretical, practical online activities and case study sessions to reflect on your current practices prior to a face-to-face personal session with one of the scientists of the Mycotoxin Training Hub.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Understand and apply the fundamental concepts linked with fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination,
  • Critically discuss the quantification of mycotoxins and link with potential ongoing regulation: the case of T-2 and HT-2,
  • Identify and critically discuss the different mitigation strategies and how they could be implemented,
  • Define and challenge a new protocol to establish good practices within your research/industry context.

Core content

Core Modules

  • Introduction to food mycology
    • Fungal occurrence in food and food environment, introduction to mycotoxigenic fungi, hurdle technology.
  • Introduction to mycotoxins
    • What are mycotoxins? Chemistry, Toxicity, when are mycotoxins produced? Mycotoxins reduction.
  • Mycotoxin Regulation
    • Which mycotoxins are regulated in the UK? Glance of mycotoxin regulation worldwide,
    • Emerging mycotoxins – which mycotoxins are under surveillance?
    • Mycotoxin sampling.
  • Mycotoxin Detection
    • Mycotoxin detection techniques introduction and context-specific usage

Food-chain specific modules

  • T-2 and HT-2 in the oat food chain
    • Fusarium spp. production of T-2 and HT-2. History, warfare, in the UK, Norway and Europe,
    • On-field, Post-harvest and Process T-2 and HT-2 management.
  • Future of T-2 and HT-2 
    • Impact of Climate Change on T-2 and HT-2 risk.
  • Economics impact of T-2 and HT-2 in the oat food chain
    • Within EU context, Importers to EU, Example of success stories.

Who should attend

This training is suitable for farmers, merchants, and actors of the oats food chain that want to obtain knowledge on applied aspects of T-2 and HT-2 management in the oats food chain.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.