Cargill report highlights global mycotoxin risks as Brazil halts soybean exports to China

GLOBAL — Published March 11 by Cargill Micronutrition & Health Solutions, the report, one of the most comprehensive assessments of mycotoxin presence in animal feed, analysed 389,926 samples from 41 countries and confirmed that mycotoxin pressure remains a persistent, performance-limiting risk for producers worldwide.

“Producers are not facing isolated toxin events,” said Clement Soulet, category lead for anti-mycotoxin agents at Cargill. “They are managing multiple and regionalised risk patterns.”

The report found that 71% of feed samples tested positive for at least one mycotoxin above detection limits, and 34% exceeded performance-based risk thresholds, levels associated with measurable impacts on animal productivity. 

Deoxynivalenol (DON) remained the most prevalent risk globally, affecting 53% of samples. 

Fumonisins (FUM) increased in risk compared to the previous year, while Zearalenone (ZEN) stayed consistently high across multiple regions. 

Nearly half of all samples contained three or more mycotoxins, highlighting the need for comprehensive mitigation strategies.

Performance thresholds varied by species: 17% of samples exceeded limits for calves and heifers, 27% for broilers, and 26% for nursery pigs. 

DON and ZEN were identified as the leading contributors to reduced gut integrity, immune resilience, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency, emphasising that mycotoxin management should prioritise animal performance over regulatory minimums alone.

“Effective mycotoxin management requires more than mitigation,” Soulet said. 

“It requires data-driven decisions. Our goal is to help producers translate global insight into practical, performance-focused action.”

Regional variation underscores need for local strategies

The report highlights clear regional differences in toxin prevalence.

North America and China continue to experience high DON pressure. 

Parts of the Americas and Asia exhibit elevated FUM levels.

ZEN remains high in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and aflatoxin (AFL) risk is increasing in some Asian markets.

These differences underscore the importance of localised testing and tailored mitigation strategies in partnership with mycotoxin specialists.

Cargill integrates these insights into its micronutrition offerings, combining diagnostics, global trend analysis, and species-specific solutions to effectively manage multi-mycotoxin risks.

Brazil soybean exports disrupted amid new inspections

Adding to global feed challenges, Cargill has paused soybean exports from Brazil to China following changes in sanitary inspections by the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry. 

According to Paulo Sousa, head of Cargill Latin America, new inspections introduced stricter checks for pests and weeds at the request of the Chinese government. 

The altered process has delayed the issuance of sanitary certificates required for shipments.

“As a result, soy vessels cannot travel, and we have temporarily stopped buying beans from local farmers,” Sousa said at the Argentina Week 2026 conference in New York.

China is Brazil’s largest soybean customer, purchasing roughly 80% of the country’s exports. 

The pause comes during Brazil’s peak export period, raising concerns among local farmers and traders about market disruptions and supply chain continuity. 

The Brazilian grains export lobby, ANEC, noted that exporters are struggling to adapt to the new inspection system.

Negotiations between the Brazilian authorities, exporters, and importers are ongoing, but no immediate solution has been reached. 

The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

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