{"id":13768,"date":"2026-06-20T12:30:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-and-regional-grains-body-to-work-towards-producing-aflatoxin-free-grain-for-health-and-trade\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T21:36:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:36:22","slug":"iita-and-regional-grains-body-to-work-towards-producing-aflatoxin-free-grain-for-health-and-trade","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/iita-and-regional-grains-body-to-work-towards-producing-aflatoxin-free-grain-for-health-and-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"IITA and regional grains body to work towards producing aflatoxin-free grain for health and trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

CGIAR-<\/span>IITA<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC)\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0signed a<\/span>\u00a0memorandum of understanding (MoU)<\/span>\u00a0to work together to tackle aflatoxin contamination of grain in the region<\/span>. Achieving this will<\/span>\u00a0ensure\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>grains<\/span>\u00a0are safe for human and livestock consumption and meet export standards.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aflasafe\u2122
Aflasafe™ substantially reduces aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aflatoxin<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a highly poisonous chemical produced by a naturally occurring fungus known as\u00a0<\/span>Aspergillus flavus<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>poses\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>se<\/span>vere<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>health threat to both humans and animals. Acute poisoning\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0consuming foods with\u00a0<\/span>too<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>high levels of aflatoxin can lead to instant death. Chronic<\/span>\u00a0long-term<\/span>\u00a0exposure<\/span>\u00a0from<\/span>\u00a0consuming foods with above<\/span>\u2013<\/span>le<\/span>\u2013<\/span>allowable safe levels can result in lowered immunity, low birth weight<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and irreversible stunting in children<\/span>. People exposed to\u00a0<\/span>aflatoxin<\/span>\u00a0can also develop<\/span>\u00a0liver cancer.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the health risks, a<\/span>flatoxin also causes\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>loss in trade revenues\u00a0<\/span>when<\/span>\u00a0products\u00a0<\/span>fail to<\/span>\u00a0meet the required standards. According to<\/span>\u00a0le<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>PACA<\/span>)<\/span>, Africa loses an estimated US$670 million in rejected export trade annually due to contamination by aflatoxin.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA’s Aflasafe™ factory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the\u00a0<\/span>MoU<\/span>, IITA and EAGC, a membership organization that brings together key players across the grain value chain in Eastern and Southern Africa, will promote best practices and proven technologies to manage aflatoxin.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This\u00a0<\/span>integrated aflatoxin management strategy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>include<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0promoting the use of\u00a0<\/span>Aflasafe™<\/span><\/a>, an innovative, safe, and natural product that\u00a0<\/span>substantially<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reduces aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The technology<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>initi<\/span>ally\u00a0<\/span>developed by the\u00a0<\/span>United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(USDA-ARS)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0est<\/span>\u00a0used<\/span>\u00a0widely in the US. IITA, in partnership with the USDA, has successfully adapted this technology for use in many countries in Africa.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>Aflatoxin contamination is a serious food safety issue in sub-Saharan Africa and also a major impediment to trade. We are therefore excited about this partnership with EACG that will<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0among others, support efforts to create awareness on aflatoxin and mitigation strategies,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0said Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General for Partnerships for Delivery at the virtual signing of the\u00a0<\/span>MoU<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Dashiell<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stated that the collaboration would\u00a0<\/span>help towards the realization of our vision for an aflatoxin-free, food-secure Africa<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EAGC\u00a0<\/span>est<\/span>\u00a0identify<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0best practices in food safety and quality control among grain value chain actors to increase their potential\u00a0<\/span>grain trade<\/span>\u00a0with<\/span>in and\u00a0<\/span>between\u00a0<\/span>African<\/span>\u00a0countries<\/span>. The EAGC Executive Director, Gerald Masila<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>remark<\/span>ed<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>B<\/span>y reducing aflatoxin contamination in grains to\u00a0<\/span>safe levels, Africa could meet international food safety standards, thereby creating a huge opportunity for\u00a0<\/span>un\u00a0<\/span>increase in grain export potential.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MoU will leverage each\u00a0<\/span>organization<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>strengths<\/span>\u00a0to promote cooperation in the areas of advocacy, research, capacity development<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and awareness creation.\u00a0<\/span>This collaboration would also\u00a0<\/span>promote the implementation of EAC staple food standards and mobilize resources to attain and manage aflatoxin standards.\u00a0<\/span>Signing t<\/span>he MoU intend<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to increase knowledge and experience sharing to maximize\u00a0<\/span>le\u00a0<\/span>desired outcome<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IITA has registered 14<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Aflasafe<\/span>™<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>products<\/span>\u00a0for commercial use in 10 countries (<\/span>Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania,\u00a0<\/span>La Gambie<\/span>, et\u00a0<\/span>Zambie<\/span>)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The Institute<\/span>\u00a0has<\/span>\u00a0transferred t<\/span>hese pr<\/span>o<\/span>ducts to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>private sector\u00a0<\/span>partners\u00a0<\/span>for scale-up<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>et<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>est\u00a0<\/span>continu<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0\u00e0\u00a0<\/span>develop<\/span>\u00a0products in<\/span>\u00a012<\/span>\u00a0other<\/span>\u00a0countries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CGIAR-IITA and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to tackle aflatoxin contamination of grain in the 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