ENHANCING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPACITY OF TUBITAK MAM FOOD INSTITUTE ON MANAGEMENT OF MYCOTOXIGENIC FUNGI AND MYCOTOXINS

ended

MycoTWIN aims to significantly strengthen a defined field of research (researches on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins) in TUBITAK (an institute from a widening country) by linking it with CNR and UVEG (two internationally-leading research institutes in Member States Countries). MycoTWIN will support the entire value chain from planning of the cropping system to cultivation of crops, harvest, storage, transport, processing and consuming, all of which can be affected by mycotoxins. This multi-actor partnership approach will integrate the EU Commission food safety policy as well as relevant supranational guidelines (e.g. CODEX). MycoTWIN will provide knowledge and experience transfers on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins achieved from other FP7 and H2020 projects (e.g. MycoRed and MycoKey), and clustered in three operational areas: i) Integrated Information System; ii) Toxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxin Monitoring; iii) Prevention, Intervention and Remediation MycoTWIN will enhance the scientific and technological capacity of the all three institutions in this specific field with a principal focus on TUBITAK. Five specific objectives have been identified: OBJ1 – to increase knowledge, experience, and skills of research staff with a specific focus on involvement of early stage researchers through exchange of knowledge among project partners with scientific activities OBJ2 – to achieve rapid and effective communication with relevant parties/stakeholders in the field of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins OBJ3 – to provide effective dissemination and exploitation of MycoTWIN outcomes by organizing scientific events open to all parties/stakeholders including industrial/commercial user groups OBJ4 – to raise awareness on MycoTWIN through external scientific events and scientific papers OBJ5 – to strengthen cooperation and formulate scientific strategy among the project partners for further researches in the field of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins