Transcript Slide 1

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
 Highly stable compounds,
withstand normal food/feed
processing procedures
 Contamination occurs
preharvest and posthavest
www.ipm.iastate.edu
Impact of aflatoxins
Access
to food
Use and
safety of
food
Aflatoxins affect each of these elements
Availability
of food
Food and Nutrition Security
Aflatoxins affect trade and efforts to
streamline SPS matters in Africa
Africa loses 450 Mil US$ per year from
lost export trade due to aflatoxins
Picture after Aubee (2013)
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:
Technology
solutions
Regulation
Photo credit:
africabags.org
Policy and institutions
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.
Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa: structure for
co-identification of problems and co-creation of solutions
Technical
Subcommittee
1 REC, 2 Tech Agency,
1 Health, 1 Research
(support by
Secretariat)
Budget, Finance &
Administration
1 AUC, 1 REC
1 Dev Partner, 1
Farmer Org, 1 CSO
(support by
Secretariat)
African Union Commission
PACA Steering Committee
1 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
PACA Secretariat
Program Manager, Technical Advisor, Program Officers,
Administrative Support, Consultants
PACA Platform
Broad engagement of diverse stakeholders involved in aflatoxin control in Africa
Chart after Dalberg Global
Development Partners (2013)
PACA Comprehensive Program
Food Security | Trade | Health
Policy, standards and regulations
Testing (sampling; diagnostics)
Training, communication, and capacity strengthening
20 March 2012 | Slide 18
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 Strategy
2013 – 2022
available at:
www.aflatoxinpartnership.org
Strategic Thematic Areas of Work
1. Research and technology for prevention
and control of aflatoxins
2. Policies, legislation and standards for the
management of aflatoxins
3. Growing commerce and trade and
protecting human health from aflatoxins
4. Enhancing capacity for effective aflatoxin
prevention and control
5. 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”
Contact us
www.aflatoxinpartnership.org
email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]