The problem of aflatoxin contamination is a cross-cutting issue that is undermining public health and development efforts. Aflatoxins themselves are highly toxic, cancer-causing fungal metabolites known to cause immune-system suppression, growth retardation, liver disease, and death in both humans and domestic animals. According to the FAO, 25% of world food crops are affected, and countries that are situated between 40ºN and 40ºS are most at risk. Over 5 billion people in developing countries are at risk of chronic aflatoxin exposure. Unless aflatoxin levels in crops and livestock are effectively managed, international development efforts to achieve greater agricultural development, food security and improve health will be undermined, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where contamination is widespread and often acute. Inexpensive, traditional post-harvest practices can reduce the level of contamination, and a new aflatoxin management technology in the form of a local beneficial technology, derived from native African micro-flora, has been developed to fight aflatoxin in the soil, where it begins.
With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Agriculture of Mozambique, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the University of Eduardo Mondlane and the University of Lurio launched on 21 September a multi-year aflatoxin control project in Mozambique (AFLASAFE MZ). The project will specifically target the devastating aflatoxin contamination problem and will support the Comprehensive African Agriculture Program (CAADP) of the African Union and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of Mozambique Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development (PEDSA 2010‐2019). The launch marks the culmination of a process involving the regional and national offices of the USDA and USAID working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Mozambique.
Specifically, the project will develop a biological control product, aflasafe MZ, utilizing native beneficial strains of Aspergillus flavus to competitively exclude harmful aflatoxin producing fungi in the environment. The technology, developed by USDA plant pathologist Dr. Peter Cotty at the University of Arizona, is a deliberate method of influencing average aflatoxin-producing potential of fungi associated with crops. In the resulting biological struggle between the good and bad strains of A. flavus, the good strains competitively exclude their highly toxic relatives. By competitively excluding aflatoxin producers, the biocontrol significantly reduces (80 to 90%) the aflatoxin content of crops. Thus, while fungal communities continue to exist naturally in the environment, the biocontrol strategy causes naturally occurring atoxigenic strains to replace aflatoxin producers without increasing the overall level of fungi present and without harm to the environment. Awareness of the risks posed by aflatoxin caused by improper crop and post-harvest management are a critical element of the project with training of farmers and extension service to improve pre-harvest and post-harvest practices by Mozambican farmers.
Dr. Ranajit B andyopadhyay, a plant pathologist with IITA, says that, when aflasafe MZ is available in 3 to 4 years, a single application two to three weeks before maize flowering will not only prevent aflatoxin contamination in the field but also will inhibit contamination once grains are stored.
“The ability of this technology to continue working even when the grains are stored ensures the safety of maize from aflatoxin contamination,” said Dr. B andyopadhyay.
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