Peter Bielik

Environment contamination by mycotoxins and their occurrence in food and feed: Physiological aspects and economical approach

ABSTRACT The contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins as toxic metabolites of fungi is a risk not only for consumers resulting in various embarrassment regarding health status and well-being, but also for producers, companies and export market on the ground of economic losses and ruined stability of economic trade. As it is given in historical evidence, the contamination of food by mycotoxins is a topic as old as a history of mankind, finding some evidence even in the ancient books and records. Nowadays, the mycotoxins are used in modern biotechnological laboratories and are considered an agent for targeting the specific cells (e.g., defected cells to eliminate them). However, this promising procedure is only the beginning. More concern is focused on mycotoxins as abiotic hazard agents. The dealing with them, systematic monitoring, and development of techniques for their elimination from agricultural commodities are worldwide issues concerning all countries. They can be found alone or in co-occurrence with other mycotoxins. Thus, this review aims to provide widened information regarding mycotoxins contamination in environment with the consequences on health of animals and humans. The inevitability for more data that correctly determine the risk points linked to mycotoxins occurrence and their specific reactions in the environment is demonstrated. This review includes various symptoms in animals and humans that result from mycotoxin exposure. For better understanding of mycotoxins impact on animals, the sensitivities of various animal species to various mycotoxins are listed. Strategies for elimination and preventing the risks of mycotoxins contamination as well as economical approach are discussed. To complete the topic, some data from past as historical evidences are presented.

The impact of the biogas industry on agricultural sector in Germany

Th e whole concept of the biogas industry is an ongoing issue particularly because of its diff erences from the original purpose and the criticism about causing too many externalities. Its high costs and low effi ciency compared to the traditional cheaper sources belong to the main problems. Th is issue is serious especially currently – at the times of a slow economic growth when a switch to renewable energy sources means yet another harm to the competitiveness of the EU producers as it increases their production costs. Another weak point is that the silage maize as the most common input material for the anaerobic digestion leads to the displacement of the food crops production and it is considered to be also a contributor to the food price increase. Biogas plants also compete for input with the livestock production that ends up in the biogas plants instead of e.g. feeding cows. Th e aim of the paper is to investigate the long-run relationship between the biogas industry and the agricultural sector in Germany – a leader in the technology with the most developed biogas sector among the European Union member states. Th e econometric analysis based on the Vector Correction Model confi rms the stated assumptions and concludes that the production of biogas via the anaerobic digestion has a signifi cant impact on agriculture in Germany.

The evidence of asymmetric price adjustments

The paper provides insights into the price transmission of dairy sector in Slovakia and examined the nature of price adjustments and market efficiency along the vertical chain. Th e results were based on monthly prices covering the time period 2004-2012. The farm gate prices of raw cow milk Q class and I. class were distinguished and the comparison was made also between the prices of semi-fat milk and durable semi-fat milk. The methodological approach called the Vector Error Correction model (VECM) was applied in the paper due to the fact that the Johansen co-integration test revealed that the time series were co-integrated, meaning that the long run relationship existed between them. The obtained results were in line with the recent empirical findings that have shown that the market power on the demand side, the imperfect market structure existence and also the fact that milk is a highly perishable commodity might be the explanations for the revealed asymmetric price adjustments.

Effectiveness of non-antibiotic stimulators in Japanese quail diet: Gender comparison and economical annex

Abstract Economical as well as medicinal and nutritional benefits of Japanese quails are important. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of probiotics and humic acids on some antioxidant, carcass and egg production parameters of Japanese quails. As Japanese quails are an interesting animal model attracting attention in the last years, a partial aim of this study is also a brief economical annex to the topic. A total of 60 birds (30 males and 30 females, age of 35 days) were involved in the experiment. Animals were fed by standard basal diet and divided to 6 experimental groups as follows: two groups (10 females and 10 males) received addition of probiotics preparation in a single dose of 1 g kg-1 of feed mixture, two groups (10 females and 10 males) received a preparation of humic acids in a single dose of 3 g kg-1 of feed mixture. The groups (10 females and 10 males) fed on basal diet without any additive served as the control group. After 210 days the animals were euthanized and blood samples, carcass organs and abdominal fat were collected. Antioxidant/oxidant parameters (activity of superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GPx, total antioxidant status TAS, content of bilirubin and reactive oxygen species ROS) from blood samples were measured. The production of eggs was recorded during the experiment. Probiotic and humic acids treatments resulted in significant increase of TAS in females in contrast to males. Content of bilirubin was significantly lower in females fed with addition of humic acids in comparison to the male group. In both treatments (probiotics and humic acids) significantly lower amount of abdominal fat in females in comparison to the controls were recorded. The other investigated parameters of Japanese quails were not influenced by the treatments. The effect of probiotics and humic acids is probably dose dependent and the assessment of an accurate dose of substantives used in poultry feeding plays a crucial role.

The Impact Of Subsidy Policy On Biogas Plants In Slovakia

Abstract Recently, renewable energy sources (RES) have become very popular all over the EU. Subsidy policies have provided huge amount of money flowing into the sector which were necessary for its development. In Slovakia, favourable legislation was one of triggers for building biogas plants using anaerobic fermentation for biogas and further electric energy production. This paper examines how subsidy policy has stimulated biogas sector over the years and the consequences arising from the legislation.

Organic Food Sourcing, Processing and Distribution: A Case of Satisfying a Growing Market

A case study of an organic food company in the Slovak Republic involved in producing and sourcing inputs, food processing and distribution is presented. The case is based on a June 2014 “live†case study prepared for students in International MBA in Agribusiness programs at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Warsaw University of Life Sciences and the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev. The company was established in 2001 with the objective to bring organic food to health conscious consumers. The company grows organic spelt grain, wheat, rye, buckwheat, herbs and apples on its 156 ha and 400 ha of owned and rented farmland. The company further processes these crops into more than 40 finished products. Students are presented with company information and summaries of a company visit and discussions with management. Students perform PEST and SWOT analyses, identify a shortage of owned and leased land as a problem the company must address, conduct research and analysis,and recommend product specification contracts as a solution to the problem.