Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation

Malt bagasse is the primary solid waste product from the brewing process, with notable environmental implications. Due to its nutritional value, it has potential as animal feed, primarily through ensilage. Alfalfa pellets can enhance this silage by adding digestible nitrogen and fibre. However, the...

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Main Authors: Tania Valicenti, Carolina Manno, Juan Ignacio Poo, María Inés Dinolfo, Mauro Martínez, Andrea Enriquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/505
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author Tania Valicenti
Carolina Manno
Juan Ignacio Poo
María Inés Dinolfo
Mauro Martínez
Andrea Enriquez
author_facet Tania Valicenti
Carolina Manno
Juan Ignacio Poo
María Inés Dinolfo
Mauro Martínez
Andrea Enriquez
author_sort Tania Valicenti
collection DOAJ
description Malt bagasse is the primary solid waste product from the brewing process, with notable environmental implications. Due to its nutritional value, it has potential as animal feed, primarily through ensilage. Alfalfa pellets can enhance this silage by adding digestible nitrogen and fibre. However, the high moisture content favours microbial contamination, particularly by fungi like <i>Fusarium</i>, which produces harmful mycotoxins. This study evaluated the impact of winter silage on fungal diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> presence, and mycotoxin contamination in malt bagasse, comparing the pre- and post-silage stages with the addition of alfalfa pellets. Results showed a diverse range of fungi, including <i>Mucor</i>, <i>Cladosporium</i>, <i>Fusarium</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i>, as well as yeasts. Fungal contamination was higher before silage, although the addition of alfalfa increased it after silage was produced. <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i> was the most common <i>Fusarium</i> species. Mycotoxin analysis detected DON (1.4 ppb) in only one sample. A two-month winter silage process under cold-temperate conditions appears to reduce fungal contamination and preserve feed quality. These findings support silage as a circular strategy to manage brewery waste safely, but further research and policy measures are needed to minimise biological risks in the brewing and livestock sectors amid climate change.
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spelling doaj-art-8d06334f712a4cddac916dcf2ded3da22025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-07-0111750510.3390/jof11070505Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change MitigationTania Valicenti0Carolina Manno1Juan Ignacio Poo2María Inés Dinolfo3Mauro Martínez4Andrea Enriquez5Grupo de Suelos, Agua y Ambiente, Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (CONICET-INTA), San Carlos de Bariloche CP 8400, Río Negro, ArgentinaInstituto de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología (BIOLAB), INBIOTEC-CONICET, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Azul CP 7300, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLaboratorio de Toxicología-Plataforma Analítica, Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible INTA-CONICET, Balcarce CP 7620, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaInstituto de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología (BIOLAB), INBIOTEC-CONICET, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Azul CP 7300, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaInstituto de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología (BIOLAB), INBIOTEC-CONICET, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Azul CP 7300, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaGrupo de Suelos, Agua y Ambiente, Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (CONICET-INTA), San Carlos de Bariloche CP 8400, Río Negro, ArgentinaMalt bagasse is the primary solid waste product from the brewing process, with notable environmental implications. Due to its nutritional value, it has potential as animal feed, primarily through ensilage. Alfalfa pellets can enhance this silage by adding digestible nitrogen and fibre. However, the high moisture content favours microbial contamination, particularly by fungi like <i>Fusarium</i>, which produces harmful mycotoxins. This study evaluated the impact of winter silage on fungal diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> presence, and mycotoxin contamination in malt bagasse, comparing the pre- and post-silage stages with the addition of alfalfa pellets. Results showed a diverse range of fungi, including <i>Mucor</i>, <i>Cladosporium</i>, <i>Fusarium</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i>, as well as yeasts. Fungal contamination was higher before silage, although the addition of alfalfa increased it after silage was produced. <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i> was the most common <i>Fusarium</i> species. Mycotoxin analysis detected DON (1.4 ppb) in only one sample. A two-month winter silage process under cold-temperate conditions appears to reduce fungal contamination and preserve feed quality. These findings support silage as a circular strategy to manage brewery waste safely, but further research and policy measures are needed to minimise biological risks in the brewing and livestock sectors amid climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/505barleyclimate change<i>Fusarium</i>malt bagassesilo-bagssustainability
spellingShingle Tania Valicenti
Carolina Manno
Juan Ignacio Poo
María Inés Dinolfo
Mauro Martínez
Andrea Enriquez
Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
Journal of Fungi
barley
climate change
<i>Fusarium</i>
malt bagasse
silo-bags
sustainability
title Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
title_full Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
title_fullStr Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
title_short Impact of Malt Bagasse Silage on Fungal Diversity, <i>Fusarium</i> Species, and Mycotoxin Contamination Under a Circular Economy Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
title_sort impact of malt bagasse silage on fungal diversity i fusarium i species and mycotoxin contamination under a circular economy approach to climate change mitigation
topic barley
climate change
<i>Fusarium</i>
malt bagasse
silo-bags
sustainability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/505
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