Genome sequencing of A. niger is important because of its involvement in producing citric acid as well as industrial enzymes, such as amylases, proteases, and lipases. The use of these enzymes are essential because of its importance for transformation to food enzymes. Other properties of this species include pathogens that cause the spoilage of food and production of secondary metabolites, such as aflatoxin, that are toxic. Metabolite production, involvement in food spoilage, and simply being a pathogen creates a great economic impact on the U.S. (roughly $45 billion on the U.S. economy alone). Understanding this economic importance as well as the effects it makes on the environment makes the genome sequencing of A. niger essential to biological applications.