ABSTRACT
Aflatoxin poisoning of food and feed crops is common in tropical and subtropical areas. The main contaminants are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin in food and feed causes harm directly or indirectly to human health as well as trade agricultural sectors. Aflatoxin levels may be reduced to acceptable levels through various pre- and post-harvest measures, but this is not always the case. Using atoxigenic (non-toxin producing) A. flavus and other biocontrol isolates to remove 218aflatoxin producers reduces aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts from field to plate. Toxicological isolates as active ingredients are approved in many African countries, the United States and soon in Italy. This chapter provides an overview of biocontrol technology, explains how active ingredients such as atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus sp. and other biological inoculants are selected, how compositions are designed and tested, and how biocontrol products are used effectively.
