Temperate cereals productivity

Geographically, the largest cereal production areas are in regions with temperate conditions, such as Europe, North America and cooler parts of Australia and China. 

A notable feature of the ecology of P. verrucosum is that it grows only at lower temperatures. This results in a distribution that is apparently confined to cool temperate regions. Cereal crops are its major food habitat, and it ranges across northern and central Europe and Canada. It appears to be uncommon, indeed almost unknown, in warm climates or in other kinds of foods. The occurrence of this species in European cereals has two consequences ochratoxin A is present in many kinds of European cereal products, especially bread and flour-based foods, and it is present in animals that eat cereals as a major dietary component. Ochratoxin A was detected in Danish pig meats 25 years ago (Krogh et al., 1973), and its implications for human and animal health were recognized at the same time. As bread and other cereal products and pig meats are major components of the European diet, the further consequence is that most Europeans who have been tested have shown appreciable concentrations of ochratoxin A in their blood (Hald, 1991 and many more recent reports). There is no doubt that this results from the growth of P. verrucosum in cereals. 

Highland temperate mixed cereals, e.g. wheat and barley, and legumes, e.g. pea and lentil, are the main staples. Farm size is 1-2 ha. Soil productivity suffers from soil erosion and lack of inputs. Cattle are kept as draught animals, for milk, manure, savings and emergency sale. Off-farm activities are limited. 

Triticale (family Gramineae) This is a hybrid between rye and wheat and is now grown in many temperate and subtropical countries. Protein is higher than other cereals and usually grown for food. Triticale is also used for making beer and other similar products as are made from barley. 

The fruit of a palm tree (of the family Palmae) that is native to Central America and northern South America, but is presently underutilized, considering that its production might be as profitable as that of the cereal grains in the temperate climates. 

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