By Jake Lyskawa
A toxin produced by a fungus in corn will increase over the next few years because of global warming, according to a Michigan State University study.
From 2031-2040, over 89.5% of the counties among 15 U.S. states will experience a rise in aflatoxin levels, according to the study published in the Environmental Research Letters last April.
Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic toxin produced by two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which typically grow near food crops. They enter the corn through pollen tubes or through damage caused by insects.
Aflatoxins are the most prevalent natural liver carcinogen. Chronic levels of exposure can hinder child growth and nutrition, according to the study.
The primary culprit for this projected rise in aflatoxin levels? Climate change.
The two fungi that produce aflatoxins grow more readily in warm, dry climates. That’s why they are most prevalent in southern corn crops, the study said.
As climate change worsens and the air becomes warmer and dryer, more corn crops are going to be contaminated with aflatoxins, according to the study. This will likely decrease the amount of healthy, clean corn available for those who rely on it for dietary and economic purposes.
How we collectively manage this problem over the coming years is a primary concern for agricultural scientists like David A. Hennessy, a production economist at Iowa State University who worked on the study while he was at Michigan State University.
“Part of the reason for writing this paper is to alert corn growers in the Midwest that this problem may be on the way to you,” Hennessy said.
The Midwest is likely to see the greatest rise in aflatoxin accumulation because its current climate is less dry and less warm compared to the southern U.S. The hotter the air in the Midwest becomes, the more likely these fungi are to grow there.
Avoiding the myriad of issues that result from aflatoxin accumulation is critical over the coming years, Hennessy said. He and his colleagues identified a few mitigation strategies in their study.
“There are papers in the literature that demonstrated, nearly two decades ago, that irrigated cropland was less prone to aflatoxin incursions than non-irrigated,” Hennessy said. “Where the aflatoxin is currently most prevalent is in the U.S. south and along the Great Plains, in particular Texas. But not when you go further north, because of the Ogallala aquifer.
“[The northern states] do draw up from an aquifer to provide the water, and that protects, in part because unlike rainfall, the water is available when needed. The stress that allows for [insect] incursions isn’t as likely to occur when the crop is irrigated.”
These prevention measures are great for farmers and scientists, but what can the average individual do to help?
Much of the solutions to these problems require a large scale effort. Scientists and researchers like Hennessy continue to work toward an answer every day. But people like Bill say we can help reduce the many effects of climate change, including aflatoxin production.
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