Mycotoxins can occur in a range of feed materials and, while often associated with silage, are frequently more prevalent in purchased feeds. Understanding where risks are most likely to occur, and how they can be monitored and managed, is increasingly important for maintaining animal health and performance.
The webinar will present an overview of the AgriSearch mycotoxin study, delivered by Dr Sinclair Mayne, and will be complemented by international expertise from Prof. Rudi Krska and Dr Nick Birse, who will outline the latest research on mycotoxins in feed crops and silage. Prof. Krska is internationally acknowledged as the leading researcher in the field of mycotoxins. Practical industry experience will be provided by Dr Keith Agnew, CEO of Food Fortress, who will focus on monitoring and mitigation of mycotoxins in purchased feeds.
Speaking ahead of the event, AgriSearch Strategy Manager Jason Rankin said:
“There has been considerable interest from farmers in mycotoxins in silage, which prompted AgriSearch to carry out this study. This webinar brings together those findings with leading international expertise to provide a practical perspective on mycotoxins in both forages and purchased feeds.”
The webinar will conclude with a panel discussion, providing an opportunity to explore key issues in more detail and address questions from attendees.
For further information and to register for the webinar, visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-O1YTCXPRmK-wP6gMO8kPA
SPEAKERS:
Professor Rudi Krska, Professor of Analytical Chemistry· University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna & Queen's University, Belfast
Rudolf Krska is a Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry at BOKU University, where he leads the Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics in Tulln. Since 2017, he has also served as a Key Researcher at the Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFoQSI). Over the course of his career, he has been honoured with 13 scientific awards. He is internationally acknowledged as the leading researcher in the field of mycotoxins, both in terms of productivity and citations, and has served as coordinator of major EU-funded projects. In 2018, he was appointed as a Joint Professor at the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, UK.
Dr Nick Birse, Lecturer in Mass Spectrometry·Queen's University
Dr Nick Birse is a Lecturer in Mass Spectrometry at Queen’s University Belfast, specialising in the use of mass spectrometry to determine food authenticity, quality and safety. Nick has been at Queen’s University Belfast for more than 8 years, having studied for a PhD in Analytical Chemistry with Professor Chris Elliott, he then remained with Chris as a post-doctoral research fellow before establishing his own research group within the Institute for Global Food Security and School of Biological Sciences in April 2023.
Dr Sinclair Mayne, Scientific Consultant, AgriSearch
Dr Sinclair Mayne graduated in agriculture from Queen’s University, Belfast and undertook his PhD at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ARINI) at Hillsborough. He was then appointed leader of the dairy research programme at the Grassland Research Institute in Devon, England, before returning to ARINI as Head of Dairy Research in 1987. He was appointed Director of ARINI in 2002 prior to its incorporation into AFBI in 2006. Dr Mayne was appointed Departmental Scientific Adviser with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2009, and returned to AFBI in 2013 as Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division before being appointed CEO of AFBI n 2016. Dr Mayne retired from AFBI in 2018. Since 2021 Sinclair has acted as an external scientific consultant to AgriSearch. He also serves a a Director of AI Services (NI) Ltd. . Dr Mayne is recognised internationally for his research on grassland and milk production and is a past President of both the British Grassland Society and the British Society of Animal Science. He has published over 100 scientific papers, is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and received the Princess Royal Award in 2013 from the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
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Dr Keith Agnew, Chief Executive Officer·Food Fortress
Dr. Keith Agnew has a wealth of scientific expertise and leadership experience. At Queen’s University he completed a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Production. Throughout his career, he has held prominent roles, including Managing Director of Dale Farm’s Agri Division. A former President of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA), he remains a key figure in agricultural policy and innovation. In addition to his role at AgriSearch he was recently appointed as Chief Executive of Food Fortress Ltd, where he oversees one of the world's most advanced food safety and contaminant monitoring programmes, ensuring the integrity of millions of tonnes of animal feed, and he also leads advancements in feed efficiency and carbon reduction as a director at Fermentrics (UK) Ltd. He was appointed a Trustee of AgriSearch in 2025.