From Laboratory Screening to Field Application: A Comprehensive Review of Biocontrol Strategies Against Aflatoxin Contamination

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic mycotoxins that can contaminate many crops and whose distribution is increasing due to climate change. Given the mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of aflatoxins, protecting public health requires minimizing dietary exposure. In the European Union, maximum regulatory levels can be as low as 0.10 µg/kg for AFB1 in processed cereal-based foods and baby foods. Once produced, aflatoxins are stable, so the best way to protect consumers is to minimize aflatoxin production. Numerous studies have investigated sustainable and eco-friendly strategies to limit aflatoxin contamination in food and feed. These strategies rely on microorganisms or natural, plant-derived compounds that hinder the development of aflatoxigenic species and/or specifically inhibit toxin biosynthesis. However, a substantial translational gap remains between initial in vitro evidence of the effects on fungal growth and/or aflatoxin synthesis and the effective application of such biocontrol agents under field conditions. This review aims to clarify the current state of the art by presenting the diverse biocontrol strategies currently being investigated to combat aflatoxins. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such strategies and describe the level of technological readiness, which spans from in vitro tests to large-scale in-field applications.