Aflatoxins are highly toxic secondary metabolites produced by aflatoxigenic fungi that frequently contaminate food and feed commodities. Their presence compromises quality and safety, posing a significant threat to public health, food security, and international trade.

This volume, the first of a two-volume set, provides comprehensive coverage of the biological and chemical properties of aflatoxins, their classification, and their toxicological effects. It further examines advanced analytical and detection methods, current regulatory frameworks, and emerging strategies for prevention, control, and mitigation. Emphasis is placed on integrating fundamental scientific knowledge with applied approaches relevant to real-world challenges.

The content is intended for a broad, interdisciplinary readership, including researchers and students in food science, food safety, toxicology, microbiology, nutrition, public health, biotechnology, and agricultural sciences, as well as policymakers, regulatory authorities, and professionals working in agriculture and the food and feed sectors.

By addressing both foundational concepts and practical implications, the volume contributes to closing critical knowledge gaps and supports ongoing efforts to strengthen food safety systems, enhance risk management, and protect public health globally.

Queenta Ngum Nji is a researcher specializing in mycology, food safety, and mycotoxin risk assessment, with particular expertise in toxigenic fungi and afla toxin contamination in food and feed systems. Her research focuses on the occur rence, ecology, health impacts, risk assessment, and management of toxigenic fungi, particularly Aspergillus species and aflatoxin contamination across food and feed systems with emphasis on developing evidence-based strategies to enhance food safety and agricultural sustainability. She holds a Ph.D. and MSc in Biology from North-West University, South Africa, as well as earlier degrees in Agro-Food Processing (MEng) and Microbiology (BSc) from Cameroonian institutions. Dr. Nji has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, including several highly cited articles in the fields of agricultural sciences, food safety and mycotoxi cology. Her research has had a measurable influence on the field, supporting her reputation as a leading voice in fungal toxicology and food safety. She continues to drive evidence-based strategies using fungal ecology, climate change, and myco toxin interactions as well as predictive models to address food contamination and insecurity, drawing from her multidisciplinary expertise in microbiology, food engi neering, and fungal biology.

Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo is Vice Dean (Global Engagement) in the Faculty of Science and a Full Professor of Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa. He is also Director of the Centre for Innovative Food Research (CIFR) at UJ and an International Affiliate at the College of Agriculture and Food Science, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, USA. He leads multidis ciplinary research focused on African fermented and indigenous foods, resilient food systems, improvement of traditional food processing techniques, enhancement of health-promoting food constituents and the valorization of underutilized resources using conventional and emerging technologies, including 3D food print ing. His work extends to the mitigation of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, in sta ple crops and traditionally processed foods. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa-rated researcher and recipient of several national and inter national awards. Since 2022, he has consistently been recognized among the world’s Top 2% Scientists and currently ranks among the leading food science and technol ogy researchers in Africa. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, edited and authored books, hold patents and has contributed to technical reports. He has delivered numerous invited, keynote and plenary lectures internationally, super vised and graduated many postgraduate students, secured millions of dollars in grants from national and international organizations. Beyond his research, he advances research internationalization by developing institutional partnerships across Africa, Global South and Global North. He serves on several journal editorial boards and as a reviewer for national and international funding bodies. Through these roles, he continues to promote capacity development, equitable international collaboration and globally connected scientific networks. 

Patrick Berka Njobeh Currently, Patrick is a full professor of Food Safety at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg. He is the head of the Mycotoxin Unit that hosts more than forty honour’s, postgraduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. He has 1 edited book, 21 book chapters, 142 journal papers, and 75 conference proceedings/workshop/public lectures along with several media outlets. These publications have resulted to an h-index of 50 and 7708 citations according to Google Scholar (Scopus h-index of 41 with 5123 citations). Patrick has successfully supervised 7 postdoctoral fellows, 18 PhDs, 36 MSc, and 53 Bachelor of Technology students to completion with 8 hon our’s, 13 MSc, 11 PhD students, and 3 postdoctoral fellows currently under his supervision. He is a member of the Joint (FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) saddled with the responsibility of delivering scientific advice for the establishment of global food safety standards of Codex Alimentarius among others. He is a consultant of the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in providing technical expertise on food safety and has been involved in ground verifications and selections of African Union’s Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centers for Food Safety in Africa. Invited by the African Union, he is a member to a Technical Working Group in support of the Post Malabo Agenda development process in Propelling Africa’s Agricultural Growth and Agri-Food Systems Transformation to Boost Economic Transformation, Food Sovereignty and Resilience. He is an expert member of the International Advisory Board of the World Bank-African Center of Excellence in Mycotoxins and Food Safety (ACEMFS) hosted at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. Patrick is an editorial board member of the journal, Mycotoxin Research, a regular reviewer of over 25 scientific journals; several funding bodies including National Research Foundation (NRF), Medical Research Council, Water Research Commission of South Africa and Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), Belgium. Professor acts as an external examiner of theses and dissertations from several uni versities both in South Africa and beyond. He has received several local and inter national grants and awards to a value of close to USD 2.7 million. He is a C1 NRF-rated researcher.