The updated recommendations follow a landmark review, commissioned by AHDB and led by ADAS, which assessed the latest academic research and industry evidence to refine best practice for tackling Claviceps purpurea—the toxic fungus behind ergot.

Ergot infects cereal crops at flowering, replacing grain with hard, dark fungal bodies called ergots that contain dangerous alkaloids. Ingestion by humans or livestock can cause severe poisoning. Despite generally low levels in UK cereals, periodic spikes in contamination present food safety and export risks.

The findings, published in AHDB Research Review 102, form the most comprehensive ergot guidance to date and focus on four strategic areas that target different stages of the disease’s life cycle. These aim to help growers meet increasingly strict domestic and international grain quality standards, reduce financial losses, and minimise the fungus’s impact on the wider supply chain.

Contractual limits on ergot in feed grain are already tight in Great Britain, and zero tolerance applies to other categories. Since 2022, the EU has introduced maximum levels (MLs) for ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal-based foods—rules which the UK may soon adopt.

Joe Brennan, head of technical at UK Flour Millers (UKFM) and chair of the Ergot Working Group, said ergot is driving up costs across the cereal supply chain.

“The AHDB contaminants monitoring project shows that alkaloid levels are generally very low, but spikes do occur,” he said. “Ergot adds cost and contributes to food waste. Tackling it early, at the farm level, is key to reducing those impacts and safeguarding public health.”

Notably, ergot alkaloids can still be present in visually clean grain, which makes effective field management essential.

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Limit the presence and viability of existing ergot to suppress spore production.

Key actions: Use clean, certified seed; bury ergots through cultivation—ploughing to at least 5 cm depth is considered most effective.

Choose crop types and rotations that reduce susceptibility.

Key actions: Include non-cereal breaks or less susceptible cereals (e.g. barley, oats); avoid varieties with extended flowering or many late tillers.

Control grass weeds that can harbour ergot and spread spores.

Key actions: Use integrated weed management to target early-flowering grasses like black-grass.

Stop infected material from mixing with clean grain.

Key actions: Monitor hotspots in fields; harvest and store infected crops separately; clean grain where possible, though complete ergot removal is difficult.

The review was commissioned through a levy-payer process and represents a coordinated effort across the cereals industry. It reflects growing recognition of the need for proactive, field-level interventions to manage plant toxins before they impact human and animal food chains.

The full Research Review 102 is available on the AHDB website.