RESULTS from two-year field trials of AflasfeTZ, an innovative technology to control aflatoxin contamination have proven the effectiveness of the technology in reducing poison in maize and groundnuts.
The trials were conducted in 11
districts of four regions in Tanzania (Dodoma, Morogoro, Manyara and
Mtwara) which are known hotspots for aflatoxin contamination and showed
that the technology reduced aflatoxin contamination on maize and
groundnut by more than 85 per cent in both years (2016 and 2017) and
increased the quantities of maize and groundnuts with levels that are
fit for human consumption.
“We are happy with the findings which are consistent with results from other countries where the product has been tested.
The next step is to present the dossier
on its efficacy and safety to the bio-control registration committee, so
the technology can be officially registered for use in the country,”
said Dr George Mahuku, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) plant pathologist who is leading these efforts in the country
while presenting the results.
Assistant Deputy Department of Food
Security, Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Beatrice Pallagyo said that
aflatoxin contamination is a major challenge in Tanzania and are happy
that they have this technology that has shown that it can work.
Once it is registered, they will then
face the next hurdle of getting the technology to as many farmers as
possible to ensure food is safe and free from this killer. “The
technology is easy to use.
The farmers simply broadcast the product
in their fields 40-50 days after planting groundnuts or 2-3 weeks
before maize flower. The technology will also need partnership with the
private sector for mass production to ensure it reaches farmers and it
is affordable,” she added.
The field studies were conducted by a
team from IITA in partnership with the department of research at the
Ministry of Agriculture, and monitored by the Plant Health Services and
biological control units of the Ministry of Agriculture and with support
from many international partners including USAID.
Aflatoxin is a poisonous chemical
produced by naturally occurring fungi belonging to the Aspergillus
species that are found in the soil. Aflatoxins are a serious threat to
health and food security in the country and many parts of the world.
Aflatoxin has been associated with
cancer and other liver diseases, reduced immunity and stunting in
children. In cases of acute poisoning, as witnessed in Tanzania and
Kenya, poisoning can lead to death.
Aflasafe, on the other hand, is a
technology first developed by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and which IITA and partners are spearheading its
adoption in Africa.
It is developed using the same family of
fungi as those that produce aflatoxins but, themselves do not produce
the poison. They are also able to outcompete and displace the aflatoxin
producing one.
The biological control product, known as
Aflasafe, is made from non-toxin producing strains of Aspergillus
species that are found in the country where they will be used. Thus, the
strains found in the Aflasafe product are native to the country where
they will be used.
The technology is currently in use in
Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and Gambia. Nine other African countries are at
various levels of developing their country specific strains. These
include Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Burundi.
The participants at the event were
impressed with the technology and urged for urgent action to ensure it
is available in the country to ensure safety of food and feed. “As
regulators, we are interested in ensuring the safety of the product to
humans and to the environment.
From the presentation, all the relevant
toxicological and environmental data which determines to what extend the
effects on health and environmental safety have been generated using
good laboratory practices and in accordance to international guidelines.
It is therefore safe if it shall be used
accordingly,” said Habib Mkalanga, Principal Scientists Tanzania Pest
Registration Institute (TPRI) The next step is for the team to present a
dossier to the government approval board.
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