Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin that commonly contaminates maize, posing significant health risks to both poultry and humans. In this study, a rapid and sensitive method utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) was developed for the quantification of OTA levels in maize. The method utilizes immunoaffinity column purification for improved specificity. Accuracy and precision were validated in line with European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL-MP) guidelines, meeting regulatory standards for linearity, trueness, detection and quantification limits, precision, and uncertainty, as per European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006 and its amendments. The method demonstrated an average recovery rate of 116.78% for maize, with RSD_wR values (within-laboratory reproducibility) of 12.72%. Furthermore, OTA occurrence and its possible effects were investigated in several farms in South Romania, where necropsy and histopathological analyses of poultry revealed severe kidney damage, including renal tubular degeneration.

In this study, we investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of pork carcass prices across European Union Member States, focusing on the influence of wheat prices and population income levels between 2014 and 2023. Our analysis revealed that both input costs (reflected by wheat price fluctuations) and income-driven demand factors exert significant and spatially correlated effects on pork carcass prices. The results demonstrate the existence of spatial interdependencies among neighboring countries, indicating that price changes in one region may propagate through the broader European market. By integrating spatial econometric techniques within a panel data framework, this research provides empirical evidence of the interconnected nature of EU agricultural markets, advancing the existing literature by demonstrating how input markets and consumer income dynamics jointly shape price behavior within an integrated regional economy. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of price transmission mechanisms in the livestock sector and offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance market efficiency and resilience within the Common Agricultural Policy context.