Sustainable biological and green processing technologies for mycotoxin control and mitigation: from circular bioeconomy to climate-resilient food systems

Abstract This review aims to critically evaluate sustainable biological and green processing technologies for mycotoxin control and mitigation, identifying current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future opportunities to advance circular bioeconomy principles and climate-resilient food systems. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and covered studies published between 2000 and 2025. Literature searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Approximately 425 records were screened, with 80 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Included studies were peer-reviewed and focused on biological and green mycotoxin mitigation with validated experimental data, while non-English papers, conference abstracts, and methodologically weak studies were excluded. Sustainable biological and green processing technologies offer promising alternatives to conventional chemical approaches for mycotoxin control, aligning food safety objectives with circular bioeconomy and climate-resilience goals. Biological control agents, enzymatic detoxification, and eco-friendly processing methods demonstrate potential to reduce mycotoxin risks while minimising environmental footprints. However, key gaps remain, including limited field-scale validation, inconsistent efficacy under diverse agro-climatic conditions, and insufficient understanding of long-term ecological impacts. Sustainability challenges also arise from regulatory barriers, scalability constraints, and limited adoption in resource-poor settings where mycotoxin exposure is highest. Future research should prioritise integrated, systems-based approaches that combine biological mitigation with climate-smart agriculture, real-time monitoring, and predictive modelling. Advancing interdisciplinary collaboration, standardising evaluation protocols, and strengthening policy support will be critical to translating green mycotoxin mitigation strategies into resilient, safe, and sustainable food systems under changing climatic conditions.