Mycotoxins metabolites produced by specific fungi are introduced into the food chain by pre-harvest and post-harvest contamination of foods and livestock feed. Infestation of crops and food by mycotoxin producing fungi causes serious immunosuppressive carcinogenic cytotoxic and teratogenic effects in humans and animals. The Aspergillus mycotoxin aflatoxin is the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen and one of the most economically important mycotoxins worldwide.

Current changes in global climate land use and other human activities such as the increased use of pesticides can have a negative impact on the well being of animals. UW-Madison researchers have developed an accurate method to predict and thereby diminish or even prevent these negative effects. Their system uses an integrated set of models to incorporate all the conditions needed to accurately predict how animals (both ectotherms and endotherms) will react to changes in their surroundings.