Flagship projects

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mycotoxin Metabolism

We aim to investigate the metabolism of mycotoxins by plants, microbes and animals.

Despite huge research investment on mycotoxins (poisonous, low molecular weight, secondary metabolites of moulds), prevention and control remains difficult and the food industry continues to be vulnerable to problems of contamination. Continued research has led to some understanding of fungal metabolism, but has also highlighted the complexity of fungal/plant interactions and the fact that when analytical work is undertaken to monitor foods only a part of the total mycotoxins present is released and a significant fraction of bound or masked mycotoxins remains undetected. The toxicological fate of these substances is largely unknown. Recognising these significant gaps in current knowledge we aim to investigate the metabolism of mycotoxins by plants, microbes and animals, which form three integrated modules in our group. We concentrate our efforts on the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin B₁, as these compounds are significant contaminants of European cereal crops.

Contact: Ass.Prof. Dr. Franz Berthiller Further information: www.ifa-tulln.boku.ac.at/en/analytikzentrum/forschungsaktivitaeten/cdl-mykotoxin-metabolismus/

COMET - ADDA - Advancement of Dairying in Austria

The intention of ADDA is to create a national expert network to secure the economic value of national dairying in a competitive and changing business environment. Dairy practices are currently being subjected to major changes as a result of a restructuring process at the farm level and of the growth of enterprises, often acting globally, at the milk processing level. To improve the health of the cows, enhance the safety and quality of produced food, and guarantee the competitiveness of dairy companies sustainably, a national food production system is required, integrating expertise in all fields along the food chain and combing scientific and practice work.

The overall visions of the K project ADDA are

• to bundle the excellence of the academic institutions that dominate research in the dairy field in Austria with the research capabilities of highly innovative enterprises developing innovations along the dairy chain and

• to demonstrate the applicability of innovations to endusers by including the relevant national bodies and stakeholder organizations.