POWERGRAIN
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi (moulds) and can cause adverse health effects on animals.
Mycotoxins cannot be controlled properly in developing countries, i.e., Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), due to lack of funds and food insecurity. Therefore, mycotoxins contamination can be considered as a severe unsolved challenge in the consumption of grains in SSA.
Bran, outer layer of grains, is a nutritionally unique part of the grain and a good source of dietary fibre, good quality proteins, vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds, and should be utilized in human nutrition to ensure future food security and to promote overall health well-being in Africa.
Currently, there is no feasible post-harvest method to sufficiently detoxify contaminated grains to ensure their safety for human consumption. For developing countries, the biological binding of toxins initiated with tailored bioprocessing is a cost-effective and feasible solution.
The aim of the Powergrain project is to develop smart bioprocessing technology for salvaging cereal grains contaminated with mycotoxins without compromising the nutritional properties.
Work Packages
WP1. Establish the basis of detoxification of model toxins aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 by binding with bioprocessed maize bran and whole grain maize.
WP2. Establish and understand the basis of mycotoxin binding by EPS producing LAB.
WP3. Evaluate the stability of bound toxins in vitro.
WP4. Evaluate the efficacy of the most potential mycotoxin binder in reducing toxicity of model mycotoxins in vivo using rats.
WP5. Develop a realistic implementation plan of created technology and build know-how for utilization of the results.