In Zambia IITA are conducting pilot studies in two districts investigating the effect of aflatoxin on stunting

For those who might have missed it, go here for links to ILRI, BecA, IITA, IFPRI and other links on aflatoxin research, as enumerated in a series of Media Briefs we prepared for a lunchtime media roundtable on aflatoxin research in November 2013:

ILRI Media Briefing 5: Safer food through risk reduction of mycotoxins within the feed-dairy chain in Kenya
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/34287

ILRI Media Briefing 6: Biological control of aflatoxins: Outcompeting harmful aflatoxin producers
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/34288

ILRI Media Briefing 7: Strengthening regional research capacity to improve food safety
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/34289

And some more ILRI science published by IFPRI:

Unnevehr, L. and Grace, D. (eds). 2013. Aflatoxins: Finding solutions for improved food safety. IFPRI 2020 Focus Brief 20. Washington, DC: IFPRI.
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/33955

Unnevehr, L. and Grace, D. 2013. Tackling aflatoxins: An overview of challenges and solutions. IFPRI 2020 Focus Brief 20(1). Washington, D.C.: IFPRI.
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/33956

Grace, D. 2013. Animals and aflatoxins. IFPRI 2020 Focus Brief 20(5). Washington, D.C.: IFPRI.
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/33957

Grace, D. and Unnevehr, L. 2013. The role of risk assessment in guiding aflatoxin policy. IFPRI 2020 Focus Brief 20(14). Washington, D.C.: IFPRI.
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/33932

Harvey, J., Gnonlonfin, B., Fletcher, M., Fox, G., Trowell, S., Berna, A., Nelson, R. and Darnell, R. 2013. Improving diagnostics for aflatoxin detection. IFPRI 2020 Focus Brief 20(19). Washington, D.C.: IFPRI.
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/33964

Thanks Lance. I look forward to discussing this further and learning more

Thanks Shirley! Good question, it is indeed a challenge (as I’m sure it is for all of us). We have a series of discussion groups emerging. These now include a sub-group under CRP4.3 aflatoxin that met for the first time just last week, focused on aflatoxin issues related to Kenya (which is a global hotspot where there is much already known and going on to try and address this issue) – Johanna is also part of that. Post-IPM will be a good chance to take stock again and denitrify priorities that are also marketable with donors.

I am also in Rome right now, on an FAO/WHO Expert Panel focused on hazards associated with feeds. This will be a very timely opportunity to get a sense of the biggest issues, quick wins, etc for our prioritisation.

Thanks Roger. (As you know), we are answering demand from NARS partners to address key challenges, so when we look to downstream impact, we often already have a set of NARS partners with whom we can engage to reach farmers and others. I think Biosciences has a lot to add in the area of understanding and ensuring that these toxins do not reduce productivity and suppress immunity (which can reduce effectiveness of vaccines). There’s a range of work that can be done to fill this gap.

Thanks Nadhem! Yes, this is also an issue in other parts of the continent and world as well (including Haiti). We have had researchers use the platform from Nigeria, albeit not on aflatoxins. We have yet to get researchers through from many of the BecA countries which have scant information about mycotoxins, so while we will not stick exclusively to these, they are the priority. For example, we have two ABCF fellows from Rwanda who are generating the first information on mycotoxins in maize for Rwanda, and the first for rice for the region. The AUC Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa initiative is helping us to see where we might expand our partnerships and impact strategically across the continent. Also, I will be on a panel and attending a Peanut Mycotoxin Innovation Lab meeting in Haiti next month, where I will have an opportunity to engage in discussions beyond Eastern and Central Africa.

The hosted projects that have come in since last year are also really to enrich the community around the lab and expand our capacity. These have included scientists from ILRI itself (Grace group), CIP, Texas A&M (Texas State Chemist – received ISO accreditation of an aflatoxin test in our lab), and others. A balance of hosted projects focused on different geographic areas and dimensions of the issues will continue to help us host an increasing amount of research and capacity building activities.

We have also carried out a study on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for “aflatoxin-free” certified milk with both urban consumers (packaged milk) and peri-urban consumers (raw milk) and we found that in general both groups are willing to pay more for such a product.
The results are summarized in Master thesis and we also have for the moment a Conference paper for the raw milk consumers (http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/182729/2/Walke-Kenyan_perceptions_of_aflatoxin-435_a.pdf )