EAC WORKING GROUP OF AFLATOXIN EXPERTS

11-15 MARCH 2013, ARUSHA, TANZANIA

Aflatoxins Impacts & Management

Ranajit Bandyopadhyay
IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
 Food Systems
• Large Scale and Regulated
– Developed countries
– Trade based
– Advanced infrastructure
– Capital intensive

 Small Scale and Unregulated

– Developing countries
– Informal markets
– Subsistence
– High food insecurity
Tim Williams, Peanut CRSP
 Aflatoxin Facts

• Highly toxic metabolite produced • Some predisposing factors:

by the ubiquitous Aspergillus – pre-harvest high temp and
flavus fungus drought stress
• The fungus infects crops and – wet conditions at harvest
produces the toxin in the field and and
in stores post-harvest periods
• Fungus carried from field to store – insect damage
• Contamination possible without
visible signs of the fungus

www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin Contamination Occurs in
Two Phases

Phase I: Before Crop Maturity

 Developing crops become infected.
 Associated with crop damage (insect, bird, stress).
 Favored by high temperature (night) and dry conditions.

Phase II: After Crop Maturity

 Aflatoxin increases in mature crop.
 Seed is vulnerable until consumed.
 Rain on the mature crop increases contamination.
 Associated with high humidity in the field & store, insect
damage, and improper crop storage or transportation.
www.iita.org
Aflatoxin Contamination:
A Perennial Concern in Warm Climates
Contamination is most severe at low
elevations and during dry periods. During
drought the zone with contamination expands.

35°N

35°S Zone with Perennial

Contamination Risk
 Prevalence of Aflatoxins
in Food & Feed

• Several African staple commodities affected

• High human exposure in Africa – mother to baby
• Levels and frequency of occurrence high
– >30% maize in stores with >20 ppb aflatoxin
– ~90% stores are contaminated with Afla fungi
– Up to 40% grain in households with aflatoxin
• Concern for food and feed processors, government and
emergency food reserve agencies, school-feeding
• Aflatoxins disproportionately impact the poor
• Highly toxic strains, conducive environmental
conditions, traditional farming methods and improper
grain drying and storage practices, unregulated markets
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
 Aflatoxins in Food

Kenya – 2004 by CDC and Ministry of Health

District Samples Aflatoxin levels (ppb)

< 20 21 - 99 100 - 1,000 > 1,000
Makueni 91 35 13 40 12
Kitui 73 38 21 32 10
Machakos 102 49 25 23 3
Thika 76 66 17 13 4
TOTAL 342 47% 19% 27% 7%

www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin Exposure in Africa,
Europe & USA
100 Gambia (n = 950)
Benin (n = 479)
USA (n = 48)
Europe (n = 74)
Number of individuals (%)

80

60

40

20

0
<5 5-25 26-100 >100

Aflatoxin-albumin adducts (pg AFB1-lysine eq./mg albumin)

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin Exposure in Africa
• Exposure to aflatoxin in sub-Saharan Africa is
common and at high levels – important
exposure occurs at the small subsistence farm
level
• Exposure begins in utero and continues
throughout life, with a reduced exposure
during breastfeeding
• Exposure in young children is associated with
impaired growth and development
• Under-nutrition and growth faltering is an
underlying cause of 50% of deaths in children
<5 years age (Black et al., Lancet, 2003)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin and Human Health
 Death
 Binds with DNA -- mutagenic
 Type I carcinogen
 Causes liver cancer – increasing incidence
 Aflatoxin interacts with HBV
• 30 times more potent in HBV+ people
• 5-60 times higher cancer risk
• 40% of liver cancer cases linked to aflatoxin
 Impede uptake and utilization of micronutrients in
human systems
 Associated with Kwashiorkor in children
 Contributes to 40% of DALYs

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

 Aflatoxin Effect on Human Health
Organs/Systems Effects
Gene and Gene Teratogenic effect (birth defect)
Expression
Gene and Gene Carcinogenic effect—higher
Suppression incidence of cancer
Pathological changes Liver, kidney, and spleen
enlargement, fatty liver
syndrome
Immunosuppression Decreased resistance to
enteropathy, HIV, TB, and other
opportunistic infections

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

 Aflatoxin & Stunting in Children

• Stunting - 40% more frequent

in the high exposure zone
• 28% reduction in height gain

Aflatoxin exposure AF-alb adduct Ht. increase*

group (pg mg-1) (cm)

Lower quartile <23.3 5.88

Upper quartile >101.5 4.21
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin and HIV

• HIV increases the toxic effect of Aflatoxin (AF) by

decreasing the levels of anti-oxidant nutrients that
helps detoxify AF in the body
• For HIV virus to penetrate a cell it has to overcome the
barrier of cell membrane & secretory IgA. AF reduces
the level of secretory IgA thereby easing one of the
barriers.
• In a large number of HIV cases there is a co-infection of
HBV causing liver damages thereby potentiating the
effects of AF
 Animal Health Impact of Aflatoxin

 Livestock and poultry losses

 liver damage including cancer
 recurrent infection due to
immune system suppression
 reduced growth rate
 losses in feed efficiency
 decreased milk and egg yield
 embryo toxicity (reduced
reproductivity)
 death (cattle, turkey, poultry,
swine..)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin and Poultry (Broilers)
500 ppb AF diet
Aflatoxin level (ppb) Samples (%)

<20 (safe) 38
Aflatoxin
levels in >20 to 100 (up to 5x) 14
feeds in >100 to 500 (up to 25x) 41
Nigeria >500 to 1,000 (up to 100x) 7
~40% reduction in
live weight (8 weeks)

AF-free
diet AF-free diet 500 ppb AF diet
www.iita.org
 Trade Losses due to Aflatoxins

Maize
• Nigeria and Senegal major groundnut exporters
in 1960s. Compliance has economic incentives
• Senegal: US$ 4.1 million added capital Cocoa
investment and 15% recurring cost would attract
30% price differential to oil cake.
• Export would increase from 25K tons to 210K
tons. Groundnut
PyramidsPyramids
in Egypt?in
Coffee
• Increased export volume and price differential Nigeria during 1960s
would annually add $281 million value to
groundnut export for the capital investment.
• For confectionary groundnut, adherence to Good
Management Practices would increase export
value by US$ 45 million annually.
• Best quality exported; poorer quality consumed
Peanut
domestically.
World Bank; Mbayewww.iita.org
(2004)
 EU Rejections of Imports
According to Risks

SOURCE: EU Rapid Alert System For Food and

Feed (RASFF, 2005)

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

 Trade Losses due to Aflatoxins

• Export compliance with food safety Maize

and quality standards.
• Total losses: $1.2 billion Cocoa
• World Bank estimate of unrealized
trade
– 2005 study: ~ Tens of millions of $
Coffee
• Reasonable estimate: US$ 450 million
• Some countries active to meet
standards by putting in place relevant
institutions
• Best quality exported; poorer quality
consumed domestically. Peanut
www.iita.org
 Agriculture & Medical Prevention of Aflatoxin-
related Food Security and Health Effects
Early diagnosis
Surveillance
Medical
Provision of safe food

Aflatoxin Enterosorption
Awareness e.g. Novasil clay
Intervention
Regulation Pre-harvest
Crop resistance to fungal infection or
aflatoxin biosynthesis
Agriculture Biocontrol e.g. nonaflatoxigenic strains
Reduce crop stress- irrigation,
Insecticides, fungicides

Post-harvest
Improved drying, sorting, insect control
and storage
(Adapted from Wild and Hall, Mutation Res., 2000) Detoxification, e.g., ammoniation
Alternative uses
 Agriculture Based Prevention of Aflatoxin-
related Food Security and Health Effects

• Pre-harvest
– Resistant cultivars, if available
– Biological control, e.g., aflasafe
– Irrigation and water conservation practices
– Lime and FYM application
• Post-harvest
– Sorting
– Insect control
– Improved drying and storage
– Detoxification, e.g., ammoniation
– Alternative uses including blending
 Less Aflatoxin Susceptible, High-
Yielding Yellow Maize Hybrids
Less toxin – high yield
Aflatoxin (ppb)
8,000 Grain yield (kg/ha) 7115
7,000 6438
6087 6040 5743
5891
Grain yield (kg/ha)

6,000 5474 5671 5685 5662

Aflatoxin (ppb)

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000
800 809 816 956
1,000 334 396 400 488

Hybrids
www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin (ppb) in Low-Aflatoxin
Maize Lines With and Without
Aflasafe Treatment

Experimental At harvest After poor storage

variety
Control Treated Control Treated

RSYN2-Y 19.6 1.7 462 44

RSYN3-W 6.9 1.8 627 38

SYN3-Y 18.4 1.7 387 19

TZB-SR (susc.) 57.5 4.7 1152 163

www.iita.org
 Synergistic Effect of Resistance and
Biocontrol in Reducing Aflatoxins at
Harvest and after poor storage
Aflatoxin reduction (%)
Experimental
varieties Resistance Biocontrol Resistance +
alone alone Biocontrol
RSYN2-Y 66 (60) 91 (90) 97 (96)
RSYN3-W 88 (46) 74 (94) 97 (97)
SYN3-Y 68 (66) 91 (95) 97 (98)
TZB-SR (Susc.) 58 (1152) ppb 92 (86)
% Reduction in experimental varieties compared to susceptible variety (TZB-SR) under natural conditions

% Reduction in biocontrol treated plots compared to untreated

control plots
plots
ofof
the
the
same
same
experimental
variety variety

% Reduction in varieties with biocontrol compared to susceptible variety (TZB-SR) under natural conditions

www.iita.org
 Contaminated Crops have Uses and Can be Valuable
Markets are needed to provide value to crops unsafe for human consumption

US FDA Permitted Use

Action Level (Examples)

500 ppb Middleman (Blender)

300 ppb Finishing Beef
200 ppb Finishing Swine
Breeding beef and
100 ppb
swine; mature poultry
20 ppb Human Food, Feed
0.5 ppb (M1) Milk
Ammoniation is Highly
Effective in
Eliminating Aflatoxin
Trade Based Prevention of Aflatoxin-related
Food Security and Health Effects

• Awareness campaigns to increase demand for aflatoxin safe products

and incentivize adoption of aflatoxin control strategies along the value
chain
• Upgrade food control system
• Enhanced laboratory capacity and availability of rapid test kits, trained
users, documentation of results and withdrawal of contaminated
products
• Improved trader compliance with national regulatory codes
• Create a commodity exchange system such as warehouse receipts
• Improve enforcement mechanisms for domestic, import and export
trades
Awareness and Training

28 www.iita.org
Branding for Aflatoxin Testing as a
Case for Self-Regulation
Breeding Tens of Millions of dollars spent for over 40 years… No results
Exceptionally difficult problem due to complex trait
Leading international seed companies given up
Storage Pre-harvest problem, that can be made worse post-harvest
Toxic levels exist at harvest… Garbage in garbage out
Studies Already regulated to the most stringent standards globally; 0.05 ppb in milk
• Health 26 animal studies have proven health effects; Why test on African children
• Economics
• Trade Prevalence and severity can shift 100 fold in one year
Fungus likes warm, humid places… A.K.A, African Tropics
Aflatoxin reduces the revenue potential of poor farmers
Alternative A critical piece of the puzzle, but is NOT a solution
uses Alternative uses would by default create a lower price market
Must first control, or volumes would be too large to be sustainable
Biocontrol Proven, Cost Effective Solution
Solves the problem at it’s root cause
Dedicated team of African and International partners
Builds on over a decade of work to fin real solution for Africa
 2010: Maize

Aflatoxin Problem Starts in the Field

160
792 309
140
Aflatoxin (ppb)

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Farmers

64% fields above 20 ppb at harvest in northern Nigeria

Increases in stores; interventions required in field and stores www.iita.org
Texas 2010: At harvest this field’s grain
contained 400 to 1200 ppb aflatoxins

www.iita.org
 Aflaguard

Aflasafe AF36
Biocontrol
WORKS
In WORKS
IT 100’S of
thousands
In Africa
of TOO!
acres in
the US! www.iita.org
 From an article in Southwest Farm Press by Ron
Smith published October 24th, 2011 in which Ron
interviews Dr. Jim Swart, Integrated Pest
Management Specialist, Texas A&M based in
Commerce, Texas

• In spite of 40 years of research, no

aflatoxin resistant cultivars are
available commercially
• Biocontrol is the only viable solution
used by farmers
www.iita.org
 Strong Partnership
• IITA
• USDA
• AATF
• BMGF
• Doreo Partners
• KARI
Training is an important
• Several African institutions component

www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin Mitigation by Native
Beneficials: Principles
 In nature, some strains produce a lot
(toxigenic), and others no aflatoxin 100
T
(atoxigenic) O
A
 Atoxigenic strains identified from X
T
75 I
nature, introduced in a carrier, and G O

Incidence (%)
applied in fields to exclude toxigenic E X
N I
strains 50 G
I
 Shift strain profile from toxigenic to C E
S Strain A. flavus L Strain or “typical”
N A. flavus
atoxigenic I
25
 Thus, aflatoxin contamination reduced C

 Strains move from field to stores

0
 Multiple year carry-over effect
Natural Biocontrol
 We identify and promote only native On average, S strain isolates produce much
beneficial strains more aflatoxin than L strain isolates.

www.iita.org
 Atoxigenic Strain Identification

Collection/characterization Toxin assay VCG/DNA characterization

Unknown 2

cnx
nia-D

Lab
competition
assay
www.iita.org
Pre-field selection criteria

does not produce aflatoxin

can genetically not produce aflatoxin
can genetically not produce CPA
outcompetes toxigenic strains
belongs to different clonal lineages (SSR)
VCG with wide geographic distribution in country
VCG does not contain a single toxigenic member

~12 native strains are tested in the field

 Selection of 4 strains

selection criteria:
superior capacity
to colonize,
multiply and
survive
superior field
efficacy in
reducing aflatoxin

4 native strains formulated

into a registered product

www.iita.org
NAFDAC officials inspecting maize fields treated with AflaSafe
Product: Aflasafe
Nigeria

Mixture of 4 native atoxigenic strains

 How Does aflasafe Work?
Soil
Sporulation on moist soil
colonization

3-20
days

Insects
Wind

30-33 grains m-2 Spores

Broadcast
@ 10 kg/ha 2-3 weeks
before flowering Aflasafe in 5 kg boxes Fungal network
in killed grain
 Farmers treating maize and groundnut fields with Aflasafe in Nigeria
MAIZE: Aflatoxin reduction (%)
Stage 2009 2010 2011
Harvest 82 94 83
Storage 92 93 x

71% and 52% carry-over of

inoculum 1 & 2 years after
application

PEANUT: Aflatoxin reduction (%)

Stage 2009 2010 2011
Harvest - 95 82 Results from 382
Storage 100 80 x on-farm trials
www.iita.org
 Recovery of Atoxigenic Strains from
Treated and Untreated Fields
90

80

70
soil before inoculation
atoxigenic strains (%)
recovery of released

60 soil at harvest
grain at harvest
50

40

30

20

10

0
untreated fields treated fields

www.iita.org
 Aflatoxin Reduction in 4 zones 4
Months after Poor Storage in Nigeria

% reduction in aflatoxin reduction in treated fields over control

85% 82% 99% 95%
800
646 Mean
Aflatoxin (ppb)

Control
600 Treated reduction
90%
400
271
200 171
96
49 9
14 17
0
Birnin Gwari Lere Maigana Pampaida
Moist conditions may lead to moulding of feed
Aflasafe-treated maize: non-toxic strains grow
Non-aflasafe maize: mostly toxic strains grow www.iita.org
 Impact of Aflasafe on Trade and Health
Aflasafe
100 untreated
100 94

80 75 73 Productivity increased
farmers' fields (%)

of communities in
60
aflasafe-treated areas
39
40 DALYs saved: 103,000 - 184,000
27
cost-effectiveness ratio: 5.1 - 24.8
20
3 Source: Felicia Wu, Pittsburgh Univ.
0
0
<4 <10 <20 >20
EU WFP US unsafe
maximum allowable aflatoxin level (ppb)

www.iita.org
 Aflasafe Development in Kenya
• More than 3,400 isolates recovered
from 263 maize samples obtained
between 2004 and 2006 from the
Eastern, Coast and Rift Valley
• 11 atoxigenic VCGs (13 strains)
repatriated to Kenya and tested in
three experimental stations.
• Reduced aflatoxin contamination in
on-station trials by 88%
• Four selected and formulated as
aflasafe KE01
• 4.5 tons inoculum shipped from
Nigeria to Kenya
• 240 efficacy trials completed in
farmers’ field in 2012; 200 more in
2012/2013
 Apparent Versus Actual Reductions in Maize Aflatoxin
Content, Bura Irrigation Scheme, 2011
Applied Aflatoxin if
Observed Apparent VCGs Applied VCGs Actual
Plots aflatoxin reduction in Control not Present Reduction

Treated 17 ppb
64% 88%

Control 49 ppb 66% 143 ppb

Data Measured Calculated Measured Calculated Calculated

Observed Aflatoxin = Quantity of total aflatoxin measured in the harvested crop.

Apparent Reduction = Calculated from the Observed Aflatoxin = [1 – (Treated Observed Aflatoxin ÷ Control
Observed Aflatoxin)] x 100.
Percent Applied VCGs in Control = the percent of the overall A. flavus community on the harvested crop composed
of the applied atoxigenic VCGs. Measured by performing Vegetative Compatibility Analyses on isolates from the
harvested crops.
Toxin if Applied VCGs not Present = Control Observed Aflatoxin ÷ [1 – (% Applied VCGs in Control ÷ 100)].
Actual Reduction = [100 – (Treated Observed Aflatoxin ÷ Aflatoxin if Applied VCGs not Present)] x 100.
 Senegal
Aflatoxin Reduction:
2010 : 87% at harvest; 89% after Storage
2011: 82% at harvest; 93% after Storage

38 Farms Treated in 2010

40 Farms Treated in 2011
196 Farms Treated in 2012

Farmers treating groundnut fieldswww.iita.org

with
Area-wide application: 196 Farms Treated in 2012
 Capacity Development

La

Laboratory infrastructure Human Technical capacity

• Burkina Faso • Senegal
• Kenya • Ghana
• Zambia • Cameroon
• Tanzania
• Nigeria
Awareness and Training

53
 Ownership and Advocacy by the Nigerian Government

Billboard Interactive Forum

A commercialization strategy for distribution and adoption being piloted

Consider Aflasafe as public health intervention for aflatoxin
 Policy Statement by the Honorable
Minister of Agriculture, Nigeria
When we consider the potential
benefits of Aflasafe, it is
Various Nigerian stakeholders ultimately the smallholder
have developed a 5 year, 4 farmer who stands to gain the
step commercialization plan. most benefits. Farmers consume
All parties involved, IITA, 65% of the maize they produce
Doreo, and the government, thus they stand to benefit the
have critical roles to play over most from the improved health
the next five years to ensure benefits of Aflasafe maize.
that Aflasafe treated food Trading in Aflasafe products also
crops are successfully increases smallholders’
introduced into the market. opportunity to access premium
and foreign markets where the
product is in demand.
 How do we Generate Demand in
the Medium-Term
• Develop manufacturing capacity
• Create awareness about aflatoxin
• Demonstrate efficacy of Aflasafe
• Incentivize use of Aflasafe by the poor
• Train farmers in aflatoxin management
• Enable aflatoxin testing of products
• Link Aflasafe users to food and feed market
• Being piloted by Doreo Partners
 Babban Gona Franchise Pilot
• Farmers’ cooperative with professional management
• Credit, inputs and technical services
• Yield enhancing practices
• Aflasafe use
• Aflatoxin testing – 100% met standard
• Incentive for meeting aflatoxin standard
• Warehousing
• Output marketing – linking to market
• Return profit after sale
• Farmers keep part of the harvest for family use
 Poultry feeding study

• Stakeholders’ meeting on 15 Jan

• Poultry producers with farmers’ groups on one platform
• Build relationships and create sustainable market
 Farmers’ Willingness to Pay
Source: Godwin Okpachu & Tahirou Abdoulaye
100% 100%
99%
90% Target Farm Gate Price
Range
80% 83%

70%

60%
60%
50%

40%
34%
30% 31%
25%
20% 18% 19%
10% 12%
5% 4%
0%
$0 $3 - $6 $6 -$9 $9 - $12 $12 - $15 $15 - $19 $20
Farmers who have used Aflasafe (n=246) Farmers who have not used Aflasafe (n=119)
• 365 farmers in Kano and Kaduna interviewed in Nigeria
• All prior-users willing to pay; almost 50% non-users willing to pay
• Prior-users willing to pay more than non-users
 AF36 manufacturing facility
Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council, USA

Innovative Product,
Excellent Efficacy…….
SCALING!
Manufacturing
facility in
Africa is the
missing piece
for SCALING
Aflasafe plant in Nigeria (under construction)

Capacity:
5 tons/hour OR
4,000 ha per shift
• G20: Aflasafe incentivization selected for implementation in Nigeria
• Aflasafe will be used by smallholder farmers in 200,000 ha
 Strategic Plan to Drive Sustainability
Leverage Strong Regulatory Enforcement to Sustain Premium Market for Aflasafe maize

1
PACA and Pull Mechanism
Generate Supply of
Cost Effective Low
Aflatoxin Maize

2
Policy: Policy:
Enforce Regulatory Build Develop
Policy: Phased in regulatory enforcement mechanism
Policy Regulators regulatory
Capacity framework

3
Enable Market Market Forces
Forces to Drive
Sustainability

4
Health Awareness: Farmer Focus
Promote Health
Awareness to Value
Chain Actors Health Awareness: Industry
Health Awareness: End Consumer
Focus

1 2 3 4 5
Year

64

• USDA-ARS, IITA, Universities of Ibadan
and Bonn: Technology development
• GTZ/AATF/EU/BMGF: Funds
• Doreo Partners: Commercialization
• AATF: Intellectual propriety
• USDA-FAS: Registration
• NAFDAC: Regulation, monitoring
• Ag Dev Program (extension):
Testing/promotion/awareness
• Maize Association of Nigeria:
Promotion/awareness
• Ministry of Health: Promotion/awareness
• Ministry of Agric: Promotion/awareness
• Nigerian Mycotoxin Society: Awareness
• Commercial Ag Development Program:
Testing/awareness
Partnerships are Key:
Nigeria
• Millennium Village Program:
Testing/awareness
• Nestle: Market
• Babban Gona: Commercialization
• Obasanjo Farms: Poultry Study
• Poultry Association of Nigeria: Market
• UNIDO: Promotion/investor forum
• Nigerian Export Promotion Council:
Promotion/investor forum
• NEPAD Business Group: Promotion/investor
forum
• Nigerian Economic Summit Group:
Promotion/investor forum
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:
Promotion/commercialization
 National Products Regional Products

Mali
Senegal Nigeria

Kenya
Burkina
Ghana Tanzania

Zambia

Aflasafe-NigeriaTM
Mozambique Aflasafe-SenegalTM
Aflasafe-KenyaTM etc…
Products ready for registration
Aflasafe-WestTM
Products under testing in farmers’ fields Aflasafe-EastTM
Strain development to start or in progress
www.iita.org Aflasafe-SouthTM
 Aflatoxin Biocontrol Facts

Crops are infected by complex Treatments May have

communities of diverse fungi Long-Term Influence
Fungal communities differ in aflatoxin- & Cumulative
producing ability & this influences crop Benefits
vulnerability to contamination. Atoxigenic
strains can be used to reduce aflatoxin-
producing ability. More than One Crop
May Benefit From
There are many atoxigenics the Applied Strain
Select safe strains best adapted to cropping
systems, ecosystems, & climates
Atoxigenic Strains can
Atoxigenics are Already be Applied Without
Present on the Crop Increasing Infection
and without increasing the overall
Just increase the frequency of endemic
quantity of A. flavus on the crop &
strains & natural interference with
throughout the environment
contamination
• Aflatoxins in food and feed pervasive
in Africa Summary
• Biological control in conjunction with
other management practices can
dramatically reduce aflatoxin
contamination
• Efforts underway to pilot
commercialization of aflatoxin
biocontrol and develop regional
strains
• Technologies available but must be
implemented to reduce aflatoxin
burden in African economies and
food system
• Support and partnership needed
from national governments,
regulators, donors/investors, private
food/feed sector and farmer groups
IITA Aflasafe Team