A first-of-its-kind study reveals that contaminated crops on farms could be costing poultry organisations over £150,000 in losses annually
The research, published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review, demonstrated the detrimental impact of mycotoxins on the environmental and economic sustainability of the global poultry industry, primarily due to contaminated crops.
Mycotoxins are a group of naturally occurring chemicals produced by certain fungi that frequently contaminate the feed that animals consume. While the effects of mycotoxins on livestock health are extensively studied, comprehensive research quantifying their combined economic and environmental impacts remains limited.
A fast-growing industry faced with contaminated crops
Poultry farming is one of the fastest-growing livestock industries worldwide, driven by the increasing demand for poultry meat and eggs. However, the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed is presenting a significant challenge for livestock farmers around the world.
Contaminated crops can substantially reduce profitability and cause food waste, as well as decrease food production, resulting in a reduction in poultry feed efficiency of up to 10%. This can lead to losses of more than £150,000 per annum for a medium-scale poultry operation. In addition, the impacts of these mycotoxins on birds can result in poor health, even mortality.
Professor Chris Elliott from the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast is the lead investigator of the study, and he said: “While the effects of mycotoxins on livestock health have been extensively studied, comprehensive research quantifying their combined economic and environmental impacts remains very limited.
This study is highly significant as it addresses a critical research gap by evaluating the potential economic and environmental consequences of the rearing of chickens specifically for meat consumption using mycotoxin-contaminated crops, a widespread issue globally.
The findings show that addressing mycotoxin contamination in feed crops such as wheat, maise, and soybean is essential for achieving sustainable, low-carbon, and profitable poultry production.”
Mycotoxins increase the carbon footprint of poultry production by 8%
Researchers at Queen’s University, in collaboration with a multinational team from BOKU University, the Austrian Food Competence Centre FFoQSI, and DSM-Firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, have shown that even very low levels of mycotoxins can increase the carbon footprint of poultry production by more than 8%.
Professor Rudi Krska, from the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s and BOKU University, a co-author, added: “This study will have a great impact and will likely propel important changes in how the agri-food industry will view low-level mycotoxin contamination in feeds.
These data are of substantial importance to the poultry industry, and we envisage that it will drive the economic and environmental sustainability of the world’s most widely consumed animal protein. We believe that farmers, consumers and the planet will all benefit.”
Dr Gerd Schatzmayr, Head of Global R&D Centers at dsm-Firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, a co-author, stated: “In an era where climate volatility and global trade disruptions increasingly challenge poultry production, the economic stakes are higher than ever.
This highlights the urgent need for safe, science-based mycotoxin mitigation strategies. Effective and consistent mycotoxin risk management not only supports animal health and welfare but also strengthens farm profitability, sustainability, and food security.”
These findings underscore the importance of feed safety in achieving climate-resilient and economically sustainable livestock systems. Reducing mycotoxin prevalence in feed supply chains, reassessing regulatory thresholds to account for the synergistic effects of multiple toxins, and promoting cost-effective detection and detoxification technologies are crucial steps toward more sustainable poultry production.
