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Development and implementation of sustainable strategies ti improve food-safety and retain nutritional values by reducing fungal infestation and aflatoxin contamination in the food-chain in Kenya as model region for Sub-Saharan Africa - subproject 2 (AflaZ)
Project
Project code: 2816PROC12
Contract period: 01.11.2018
- 31.12.2023
Budget: 220,456 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: plant diseases (virusus, bacteria, fungi, phytoplasma), poison/toxins, storage protection, processing, maize, food security, prevention, crop production, food toxicology , microorganisms
Maize and milk are food products, which are highly accepted and commonly consumed by the African population. However, both staples, livestock feed and milk, are frequently and heavily contaminated with fungal aflatoxins. This results in a constant exposure of the population to toxin levels far above the recommended limits. Nevertheless, the consumption of these products is steadily increasing. Therefore, AflaZ focusses on improving food safety and quality standards of milk, maize and its respective processed products. Kenya is used as an example, as it is a high-risk region with regard to fungal infestation and aflatoxin contamination of animal feeds and food products. Within the frame of AflaZ, fast, effective and sustainable methods to monitor, to analyze and to reduce fungal infestation and aflatoxin contamination on field and in storage will be developed. Subproject 2 examines which insects are associated with the vegetation in/around maize fields of different cultivation practices, to what extent spores are transferred to maize plants, and how the insects can induce/suppress Aspergillus toxin production. Furthermore antifungal extracts from local plants are tested to develop a cost-effective method for aflatoxin reduction, as extracts from many plants have proven promising against fungal infestation and farmers have easy access to the locally growing plants.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Food microbiology
- Process engineering
- Toxicology
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants – Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
