North America, Bilateral cooperation in Fusarium Genomics to reduce mycotoxin contamination

In Bioforsk Genetics and Biotechnology is defined as an area of strategic priority. At Bioforsk research on mycotoxin producing fungi has high priority and is regarded to be important in order to improve food safety. During the last 20 years, Bioforsk has been very active in research on epidemiology of plant diseases caused by Fusarium, development of Fusarium spp. in crops, control of these fungi in cereals and other crops, as well as in the development of molecular detection methods and detailed studies of the fungal genes involved in mycotoxin production. This BILAT project will allow the establishment of a valuable research network between the existing FHB research in Norway and the most important research groups in North America within the field of F usarium genomics. In the proposed BILAT project we want to develop the planned collaboration to North America even further. Through the BILAT project we will have the opportunity to invite potential collaborative partners to Bioforsk. The project will als o allow the project manager, Dr. Sonja Sletner Klemsdal to visit the strategically most important research groups in North America within the field of Fusarium genomics and Fusarium Head Blight research. The BILAT project will also allow us to develop add itional long term collaborative projects.