overview of the aflatoxin challenge and paca
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Overview of the Aflatoxin Challenge and PACA. Regional Workshop 11-13 March 2014, Lilongwe, Malawi Amare Ayalew, PACA Secretariat. What are aflatoxins?. Fungal metabolites (naturally occurring) Produced by strains of Aspergillus flavus and related species - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Overview of the Aflatoxin Challenge and PACA
Regional Workshop11-13 March 2014, Lilongwe, Malawi
Amare Ayalew, PACA Secretariat
What are aflatoxins? Fungal metabolites (naturally
occurring) Produced by strains of
Aspergillus flavus and related species
Highly stable compounds, withstand normal food/feed processing procedures
Contamination occurs preharvest and posthavest
www.ipm.iastate.edu
Impact of aflatoxins
Food and Nutrition Security
Availability of food
Access to food
Use and safety of
food
Aflatoxins affect each of these elements
Aflatoxins affect trade and efforts to streamline SPS matters in Africa
Picture after Aubee (2013)
Africa loses 450 Mil US$ per year from lost export trade due to aflatoxins
What makes aflatoxins notorious is their impact on public health
Fatal at high concentrations; e.g. outbreaks in East Africa where hundreds of persons died due to aflatoxin poisoning (Probst et al., 2007)
Cause liver cancer (WHO, 1988; 2002) Linked to:
– Stunted growth and being underweight in children – Suppression of human immune system
4.5 billion people chronically exposed (WHO, 2004)
The aflatoxin Challenge in Africa
Factors contributing to the Aflatoxin Challenge in Africa:
Conducive climatic conditions Traditional crop production practices Inadequate harvesting, drying and
storage practices Dietary practices Policy and institutional capacity Lack of awareness
Aflatoxin contamination is a perennial risk between 40° N and 40° S of the equator, but is a global problem due to int. trade
Aflatoxin Management
Rationale Aflatoxin contamination is a complex
problem:– Hard to solve by a single actor/discipline– Requires multi-stakeholder actions – Need to focus on the cause rather than
the symptoms– No single answer
Integrated and coordinated actions needed
A ‘bag of tricks’(integrated valid options) to address the complex aflatoxin problem:
RegulationTechnology solutions
Policy and institutions
Photo credit: africabags.org
What is PACA? Innovative consortium aiming at
coordinating aflatoxin mitigation and management across health, agriculture and trade sectors in Africa.
Continental, regional and country level approaches
Africa-based Aims to adapt proven solutions, and identify
new ones, that will work for African situation.
PACA Steering Committee1 AUC, 2 RECs, 2 Technical Agencies, 1 Farmer
Organization, 1 Civil Society, 1 Private Sector, 1 African Health, 1 African Research, 1 Development Partner, 1
PACA Secretariat
Technical Subcommittee
1 REC, 2 Tech Agency, 1 Health, 1 Research (support
by Secretariat)
Budget, Finance & Administration
1 AUC, 1 REC1 Dev Partner, 1
Farmer Org, 1 CSO(support by Secretariat)
African Union Commission
Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa: structure for co-identification of problems and co-creation of solutions
PACA SecretariatProgram Manager, Technical Advisor, Program Officers,
Administrative Support, Consultants
PACA PlatformBroad engagement of diverse stakeholders involved in aflatoxin control
in Africa
Chart after Dalberg Global Development Partners (2013)
20 March 2012 | Slide 18
Food Security | Trade | Health
Pre-harvest including beneficial
fungi
Post-harvest drying, storage,
handling
Market development: structured demand,
alternative usesConsumption
Testing (sampling; diagnostics)
Training, communication, and capacity strengthening
Economic Assessments
Food Security Assessments Health Assessments
PACA Comprehensive Program
Policy, standards and regulations
PACA’s Engagement Approaches PACA aims at mainstreaming aflatoxin
control in existing mechanisms:– the CAADP framework– Health and nutrition frameworks
RECs, Member States, Technical Organizations, Private Sector and CSGs take lead in implementation of PACA’s Strategic Plan
(See 2013-22 Strategy at PACA Website)
The PACA Strategy2013 – 2022
available at: www.aflatoxinpartnership.org
Strategic Thematic Areas of Work1. Research and technology for prevention
and control of aflatoxins2. Policies, legislation and standards for the
management of aflatoxins3. Growing commerce and trade and
protecting human health from aflatoxins4. Enhancing capacity for effective aflatoxin
prevention and control5. Public awareness, advocacy and
communication
PACA Focus Areas in 2014 Regional workshops and action planning Establishment of online data
management system as a one-stop-hub for all aflatoxin and related information
Country-led aflatoxin situation analyses Policy advocacy and communication PACA Partnership Platform Meeting Africa Year of Agriculture events On the ground projects
Conclusion Aflatoxins are insidious poisons that affect
public health, trade and food security Aflatoxin contamination is a complex
problem that can be addressed through integrated measures and concerted efforts
PACA’s 10 year strategy identifies priorities through an inclusive process
The Partnership’s vision: “An Africa free from the harmful effects of aflatoxins”
