From October 1, 2017, the Institute BIOR started the implementation of the research application No.1.1.2 / VIAA / 1/16/219 “Development and application of mass spectrometric methods for the occurrence assessment of regulated and emerging mycotoxins in agricultural and dairy products in Latvia, providing contribution to the priority bio-economy sectors”.

Over the first period of the project (01.10.-31.12.2017.), post-doctoral researcher worked on the systematic analysis of publications discussing carbonaceous nanomaterials as solid phase extraction sorbents for the extraction of mycotoxins from food sample matrices performed towards the potential applications in advanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. The data were evaluated in order to prepare a review article, which could be published in a mycotoxin themed analytical chemistry journal indexed by SCOPUS or WoS databases.

Several activities have been carried out within the scope of work package 1 (WP1) “Instrumental (development of chromatographic methods):

 – Based on literature research and planned tasks, carbonaceous nanosorbents were modified with magnetic additives (in situ synthesized Fe3O4 particles) and their physio-chemical properties were evaluated, as well as research into their suitability for analysis of cereals and their processing products. The primary results of those studies were used for the preparation of abstract, which was submitted for the international scientific conference – the World Forum on Mycotoxins, which is going to take place in March, 2018 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

– For the planed activities on the research of mycotoxins in herbs, spices and herbal teas, a set of 60 herbal tea samples were purchased, as well as several unregulated mycotoxin standards (Alternaria and Fusarium modified mycotoxins), in order to perform activities planned during the next implementation periods. Parallell to that, work on the method development based on UHPLC-TOF MS technology was started.

 – On December 6, 2017, the post-doctoral researcher of the research project participated in a forum to school children “What does it mean to be a scientist”, which was organised by the State Education Development Agency and the Latvian Association of Young Scientists. Within the thematic section “Non-traditional food”, a presentation of the project actuality towards food safety, planned activities of the project was reported by the post-doctoral researcher. The dissemination of the knowledge and introduction to started activities was performed and reached stakeholder groups such as school-children, teachers, potential partners from Latvia (LLU), etc. stakeholders.

 – Regards the crosslinking activities and more the collection of actual information about trends in mycotoxin analysis, the postdoctoral student participated in a one-day seminar “The burden of Mycotoxins on animal and human health”, which was held on the December 15, 2017 in Rome, Italy, and organised by the EFSA and the Italian Ministry of Health. Programme is available at this link: https://www.ucy.ac.cy/research/documents/Announcements/Programme.pdf.

The discussion at the seminar actualised need to perform evaluation of unregulated Fusarium mycotoxins (e.g., enniatins – ENNs, beauvericin, etc.), modified mycotoxins and their masked forms, the need for mitigation measures, prevention, risk assessment methods was actualised. The post-doctoral student received a certificate approving participation in this event. The knowledge gained from the seminar will be used within the implementation of the research application.

The cooperation institution is The State Education Development Agency (SEDA). Project duration is 36 months. Total costs are 133 806 EUR where 85% is financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

The publication was prepared on 17.01.2018.