Figure 6. Climate change impacts on risk of cereal contamination by A. flavus and F. graminearum.

Influence of climatic conditions on life process is shown in red (F. graminearum), purple (A. flavus), and green (both). Climate change is predicted to drive conditions in northern Europe towards warmer wetter environments favoured by F. graminearum. In contrast, southern Europe is expected to become hotter and dryer, as favoured by A. flavus. In both systems, elevated CO₂ is associated with increased mycotoxin contamination. Climate change projections may therefore allow for increased contamination of our cereals by mycotoxigenic fungi.