Mycotoxin risk is increasing in complexity and frequency with climate‑induced variability reshaping harvest outcomes and emerging fungal threats underscoring the need for vigilance.
That was the stark message delivered at the Alltech 2025 Global Harvest Broadcast, with analysts stressing that rapidly improving analytic tools could provide new opportunities for early detection and strategic planning.
Climate change alters crop seasons
The Alltech “From Field to Feed – 2025 Crop and Mycotoxin Analysis” webinar heard that climate change was having an escalating impact on crop production.
Meteorological data presented by Dr Jan Dutton shows that warming temperatures have extended the growing season in parts of the US Midwest by up to 2 weeks over the past 40 years. At the same time, rainfall patterns are shifting toward fewer but more intense precipitation events, leading to more frequent periods of excess moisture.
Dr Dutton, CEO of CropProphet, said these conditions, which were once rare, were now becoming routine and pose significant agronomic challenges, including delayed planting, higher disease pressure, and compromised grain quality.
Producers can no longer rely on long-standing seasonal assumptions; the broadcast underscores the increasing need for proactive risk management, adaptive crop planning, and continuous monitoring of evolving climate patterns.
Rising mycotoxin risks across key regions
The webinar reported a significant rise in mycotoxin prevalence and severity across major grain-producing areas. Elevated levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and T‑2/HT‑2 toxins were detected across species, with DON showing marked increases across the United States and appearing in more than 40% of Canadian grain samples. These findings indicate widespread contamination and heightened risk to animal health and performance.
The panel emphasised that this escalation is not simply due to known fungal patterns. Instead, a combination of shifting weather conditions, moisture variability, and emerging fungal strains is producing more unpredictable contamination profiles. As a result, feed producers must prepare for greater variability, increased testing demands, and more stringent quality control throughout the supply chain.
Predictive tools enhance feed safety
One of the more hopeful insights presented during the broadcast relates to technology. The panel noted that accelerated progress has been made in predictive mycotoxin modelling, driven by expanding datasets and more advanced AI tools. As these tools continue to integrate global weather information, historical contamination patterns, and real-time sampling data, producers can anticipate faster, more accurate risk forecasts in the coming years.
Dr Alexandros Yiannikouris highlighted the growing complexity of risk interactions involving climate change, crop quality variability, and both established and emerging mycotoxins. He stressed the importance of leveraging data-driven insights to support better decision‑making throughout the feed supply chain – from field sampling strategies to storage management and ration formulation.
“What we’re seeing is a convergence of factors – changing weather patterns, increased variability in crop quality and the presence of both known and emerging mycotoxins – that is making risk more complex and more frequent. This reinforces the importance of using data, advanced analytics and predictive tools to better anticipate challenges and support informed decision making across the feed supply chain,” he added.
Proactive measures for feed safety
For feed and livestock stakeholders, the message from the webinar was clear: proactive monitoring, data‑driven decision‑making, and adaptive management strategies are essential to maintaining feed safety and ensuring optimal animal performance amid evolving environmental pressures.
