RAFBCA: Risk assessment of fungal biological control agents

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0023

Key words (English)

Risk assessment; biological control agents (BCAs); fungal metabolites; toxin production; Stagonospora; bindweeds; leptosphaerodione; elsinochrome A; cercosporin; Convolvulus; Calystegia;
Agriculture; Economic Aspects; Food; Industrial Manufacture; L

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK1-CT-2001-01391

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.5 Sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: T. Butt (UK)

Abstract (English)

The aim of this unique project is to establish whether metabolites produced by fungal biological control agents (BCAs ) enter the food chain and if they pose a risk to human and animal health.

This will be achieved through:
1) development of tools (e.g. biosensors) and methods (e.g. high throughput assays like ELISA, Vitotox) for rapid and accurate detection of fungal metabolits;
2) biochemical and molecular studies to elucidate their mode of action;
3) molecular markers to monitor fungal BCAs in the environment;
4) studies to determine if metabolites enter the food chain and, if so, identify the route of entry and type and quantities present, this multidisciplinary project will assure food safety by anticipating risks, tracing the sources of contaminants, if any, in the food chain and quantifying risk factors (key actions 1 and 3).

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0023