Biological control against mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins: formulations, challenges, and future prospects

AIMS: Mycotoxin contamination remains a major challenge to food safety and agricultural sustainability worldwide. Conventional physical and chemical control measures often show limited effectiveness or raise environmental and safety concerns. This review aims to critically examine recent developments in biological control strategies against mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins, with particular emphasis on formulation approaches, practical challenges, and emerging technologies that influence field performance and large-scale application. RESULTS: This review summarizes current knowledge on microbial biological control agents and their mechanisms in suppressing mycotoxigenic fungi and reducing mycotoxin production. Advances in solid and liquid formulation technologies, including encapsulation, carrier selection, and stabilization techniques, are discussed as key factors determining microbial viability, shelf life, and consistency. Major constraints such as formulation instability, variable field efficacy, regulatory complexity, and market acceptance are highlighted. Recent progress in molecular tools, microbial consortia, and integration with precision agriculture offers promising opportunities to overcome these limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Biological control is increasingly recognized as a promising and environmentally compatible approach for mitigating mycotoxin contamination across agricultural production and storage systems, but its success depends strongly on formulation optimization and system-level integration. Continued interdisciplinary efforts combining formulation science, biotechnology, and supportive regulatory frameworks are essential to translate laboratory success into reliable and scalable solutions for sustainable mycotoxin management.