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The strategic objective is to minimize the health risks and economic losses caused by mycotoxins and phycotoxins in feeds, foods, and crops by promoting multidisciplinary scientific cooperation on an international level. <P>Within this objective, the specific aim is to bring together leading experts from a broad range of interelated disciplines, who are engaged in mycotoxin and phycotoxin research, for discussing the latest research initiatives, generating new approaches, identifying problem areas and future research needs, and establishing the multidiscipline collaborations needed to reduce mycotoxins and phycotoxins in foods and feeds.
Non-Technical Summary: Mycotoxins and phycotoxins are natural contaminants of food and feeds. They cause diseases in animals and humans as well as economic losses to agriculture and food-related industries. Research is needed in a number of scientific areas to reduce the amount of these toxins in food and feeds and to protect consumer health. This project will bring together leading experts from around the world in a five-day conference to discuss ongoing research, prioritorize future research needs, and promote the establishment of multidisciplinary international research to reduce mycotoxins and phycotoxins in foodstuffs. <P> Approach: The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) will be used as a venue to bring together 100 to 115 leading scientific experts on mycotoxins and phycotoxins from around the world. The range of disciplines represented is broad and includes a mix of academic, government, and industry scientists engaged in research and regulatory aspects. The conference format is designed to promote frank discussion of ongoing research initiatives to reduce health risks and economic losses caused by these natural food contaminants. The 2007 Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins GRC program includes 35 invited speakers whose lectures are organized into sessions on "Human Health", "Detection Methodologies", "Public Health and Epidemiology", "New Toxins, Metabolites, and Synthesis", "Toxin Biosynthesis", "Regulation of Toxin Biosynthesis and Toxicity", "Toxigenomics and Molecular Mechanisms", "Mediators of Plant Pathogenesis", and "Economic Impacts". Forty to 50 poster presentations on these and related topics are scheduled. Ample discussion time is provided to explore these and a variety of other research areas in depth and to promote the establishment of multidisciplinary research initiatives and novel approaches to mycotoxin and phycotoxin food safety related problems.