Abstract
The contamination of food commodities with major contaminants such as fungi and mycotoxins is causing serious food security problems, especially in sub-Saharan countries where food shortages already exist. These contaminants (fungi and mycotoxins) hugely contribute to deteriorating effects on health and economic losses. Different control strategies are being developed and implemented in various domains in the food and agricultural sectors to control fungi and mycotoxins. Nonetheless, the problems associated with fungi and mycotoxin contamination of food commodities continue to persist. Also, existing methods to control fungi and mycotoxins along the food chain seriously pose problems to humans, animals, and the environment since hazardous by-products derived from these methods could be carried over to human food, animal feed, or even disseminated to the environment. In addition, the persistent utilisation of synthetic antifungal agents (fungicides) in agriculture has triggered the development of mutation and antifungal resistance in some strains of toxigenic and phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, there is a need to develop new techniques which can be safely applied to control fungi and mycotoxins along the food chain. The development of new techniques via the exploitation of green nanotechnology techniques to control both fungi and mycotoxins along the food chain should be encouraged. This is because, the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles through green nanotechnology is cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and simple when compared to conventional techniques (chemical and Physical). More to that, these nanoparticles have been shown to limit contamination of food and feed commodities and associated impact on health and the economy. Metallic nanoparticles like silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that are synthesised via the green route using plant sources are less toxic in humans and may not stimulate any cellular impairment. Also, AgNPs are known for their excellent antimicrobial efficacy and as such has attracted much attention. They have been used in medical plasters, textiles, wound creams, and packaging materials for certain foodstuffs due to their antimicrobial efficacy. Nevertheless, less interest has been given by researchers to how AgNPs could be harnessed to limit or at best, prevent fungi and mycotoxin contamination in food and feed commodities...
M.Tech. (Biotechnology)