Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding of:
1) Main legislation on pesticide use and limitations
2) Correct use of pesticides in agricultural production
3) The impact of pesticide and mycotoxins on food security and food safety
4) The significance and properties of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi
5) Major issues associated with mycotoxin analysis and contamination along the food chains.
6) Main legislation on mycotoxins limitations
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge on fungal biology. Basic knowledge on biological and integrated control of plant pests and pathogens.
Course unit content
Pesticides: definition, use in agriculture, target species, classification, toxicity, hazard and risk. International conventions: Rotterdam, Stockholm, Basel. Adverse effects of chemical pesticides on the environment and the general public: notes on environmental toxicology and safety issues for consumers. Environmental pathways and fate of chemical pesticides: evaluation and impact assessment. Harmonised risks indicators. Use of microbial biocontrol agents in agriculture and associated risks. Pesticides in food and feed commodities: MRLs, Admissible Daily Intake (ADI), IqR related to food safety. Development and implementation of strategies for detecting pesticides in food matrices. How to raise awareness of risks in the general public. How to correctly communicate data on food safety related to the use of pesticides in agriculture.
Mycotoxins: definition, classification, toxicity, hazard and risk. Fungi mycotoxin producers and plant disease associated, factors affecting growth of fungi in foods, prevent and control fungal growth in foods and food processing environments. Mycotoxins presence in economically important food and feed chains (maize, wheat, barley, apple, dried fruits and grape) in pre and post-harvest, mitigation strategies and detoxification treatments on mycotoxin contamination. EU legislation concerning mycotoxins in food and feed; methods to analyze for mycotoxins in foods; economic impact of mycotoxins. CFU as follows: 4 CFU (32 hrs) on mycotoxins; 2 CFU (16 hrs) on pesticide residues.
Full programme
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Bibliography
George N. Agrios, PLANT PATHOLOGY, 5TH EDITION, Elsevier, 2004
EU Pesticide database. In: https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/eu-pesticides-database/public/?event=homepage&language=EN
PESTICIDES EU-MRLs - Regulation (EC) No 396/2005
Randall C, et al. (2014). "Pest Management". National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual (2nd ed.). Washington: National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation.
"Pesticide Applicator Core Tutorial: Module 4 - Toxicity of Pesticides". Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). Cornell University. In: http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/Tutorials/core-tutorial/Default.aspx
World Health Organisation (WHO), Pesticides. In: https://www.who.int/topics/pesticides/en/
Teaching methods
The lessons will be held with the support of power point presentations.
Working groups may be organised on specific topics of interest for the students, mainly on mycotoxin contaminating food and feed.
The course will be integrated with seminars on specific topics relevant for the course (EFSA expert from Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues, PPR).
Teaching language is English. Attendance is not mandatory, bu strongly encouraged.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final exam will be oral, with questions on the main course topics.
Other information
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