A project led by UEx researchers proposes solutions to the growth and production of mycotoxins in food

On April 7 and 8, the University of Extremadura organized an international conference at the University Research Institutes in Badajoz, within the framework of the European University Alliance EU GREEN. This event is part of the "SEED BIOFUNGIFOOD" project: Innovative procedures against emerging fungal species under challenging climate change conditions for healthy and safe vegetables. This project is highly relevant to the European Union's green mission and vision .

Five universities from the EU GREEN Alliance are participating in this project: the University of Extremadura (Spain), the University of Évora (Portugal), the University of Wrocław (Poland), the University of Angers (France), and the University of Gävle (Sweden).

[img src="https://comunicacion.unex.es/wp-content/uploads/sites/70/2025/04/IMG-20250408-WA0016-1-591x329.jpg" alt="Opening panel of the international conference for the “SEED BIOFUNGIFOOD” project" width="591" height="329">The welcoming ceremony was attended by Jose María García Alonso , Director of Technology Transfer and Business Development at the Vice-Rector's Office for Research and Technology Transfer, and Francisco Hinojal Juan , Project Manager of the EU GREEN Alliance. Both highlighted Extremadura's potential in the agri-food sector and also emphasized the importance of BIOFUNGIFOOD for the objectives of Cluster 2 of the EU GREEN Alliance on sustainable agri-food.

The BIOFUNGIFOOD project, led by the University of Extremadura and researchers Alicia Rodríguez Jiménez, María José Benito Bernáldez and Alberto Martín González , proposes developing innovative procedures to detect, evaluate and control emerging fungal species that affect plants in different countries, especially under conditions of climate change.

It seeks to increase scientific knowledge about these pests, study sustainable solutions based on biocontrol and natural fungicides, and analyze how climate change can exacerbate the development of these pathogenic fungal species. All of this is aimed at reducing environmental and socioeconomic losses, minimizing the use of synthetic fungicides that are hazardous to human, animal, and environmental health, and producing healthier and safer plant foods for human and animal consumption, laying the groundwork for a future European Horizon project.

[img src="https://comunicacion.unex.es/wp-content/uploads/sites/70/2025/04/thumbnail_20250407_101622-591x443.jpg" alt="International conference for the “SEED BIOFUNGIFOOD” project" width="591" height="443">The conference is attended by participants from these five universities, as well as FUNDECYT PCTEX, and research centres at the universities, such as INURA (University Institute for Agricultural Resources Research of Extremadura), SONAS (Substances of Natural Origin and Structural Analogues at the University of Angers) and MED (Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development at the University of Évora), as well as the companies FAESAL and ERGOFITO.