• The important questions are whether farmers will purchase and apply this product to reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops, and if so under what conditions. (iita.org)
  • Therefore, assessment of the response of aflatoxigenic species to different temperatures is important to add information about the understanding of aflatoxin production by Aspergillus nomius and may help in the development of new strategies to prevent aflatoxin contamination. (researchgate.net)
  • The discovery has the potential to drastically improve food safety and reduce losses caused by the contamination from the poisonous carcinogen aflatoxin. (feedstuffs.com)
  • If deployed commercially, this technology has significant potential to contribute to food safety in the under-developed and developing countries where mycotoxin contamination of groundnut, maize, chili and cottonseed pose a major threat to human and animal health,' said Dr. Dilip Shah, principal investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Aflatoxin exposure through food is frequent and widespread in most African countries where the key staples, maize and groundnut, are particularly vulnerable to aflatoxin contamination. (usda.gov)
  • A biological control technique that greatly reduces aflatoxin contamination of susceptible crops has been developed by USDA-ARS and is used commercially in the U.S. Over the past decade, USDA-ARS with its partner, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, has sought to adapt the biological control technology for use in Africa. (usda.gov)
  • This results in decreased crop aflatoxin contamination. (usda.gov)
  • One of the main results of the project concerned seed ripening rate: this is a key criterion in groundnut tolerance of aflatoxin contamination. (hyfoma.com)
  • This Policy Brief is an integral component of proactive measures being taken to create awareness and sustain on-going measures to effectively manage aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and other crops prone to aflatoxin contamination. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • This study presents the results of field experiments conducted in Nigeria to evaluate how combinations of Farmyard Manure (FYM), Gypsum, Single superphosphate (SSP) and NPK fertilizers affected yield and aflatoxin contamination. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • This study presents preliminary results of pre-emptive measures being undertaken by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and national partners on the management of aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut value chains of selected states in northern Nigeria. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • Aflatoxin contamination is highly prevalent in Ghana and affects crops such as maize, groundnuts, and their processed products, exposing humans and animals to the consumption of contaminated food and feed. (standardsfacility.org)
  • But these crops are also highly susceptible to fungal infestation, or aflatoxin contamination-the leading cause of liver disease and liver cancer in Tanzania- reducing the well-being of the population and the country's export-earning potential. (gafspfund.org)
  • Supervised by the African Development Bank and supported with GAFSP funding, the Tanzania Initiative for Preventing Aflatoxin Contamination (TANIPAC) is rehabilitating the Ministry of Agriculture's National Bio-control Unit. (gafspfund.org)
  • His three-hectare farm is dedicated to groundnut intercropped with maize, both of which are highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. (agrilinks.org)
  • 3. Aflatoxin contamination. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • Aflatoxin contamination of groundnuts is common because these harmful compounds are generated by specific kinds of fungi. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • Aflatoxin contamination is still a risk when frequently consuming groundnuts, even though there are safeguards in place to avoid it. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • On-farm trials and demonstrations will be undertaken with extension and NGOs to evaluate the potential of reducing aflatoxin contamination via improved pre- and post-harvest practices. (ccrp.org)
  • In collaboration with Ministry of Health, the project sampled aflatoxin levels in blood of inhabitants of two districts with high levels of aflatoxin to establish levels of human potential of aflatoxin for human contamination. (ccrp.org)
  • Results from study show Aflasafe to be highly efficient at reducing aflatoxin contamination in key crops. (cgiar.org)
  • In Nigeria, Aflasafe is a registered biological product for reducing aflatoxin infestation of crops from the field to storage, making the crops safer for consumption. (iita.org)
  • and their collaborators at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad, India, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Louisiana State University have made a significant research breakthrough by suppressing the aflatoxin-producing fungus in groundnut, or peanuts. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Aflatoxin-producing fungi are ubiquitous in Africa where they occupy soil and colonize diverse organic matter while producing spores that associate with crops leading to aflatoxin formation. (usda.gov)
  • Asked whether he is concerned that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plays an overly dominant role in providing over half of IITA's funding of "research and delivery" projects, Dr Ehui begins by expressing his appreciation of the foundation's support, particularly in the development of Aflasafe to combat dangerous aflatoxin in maise, groundnuts and other crops. (globalissues.org)
  • The first Outstanding Scientist award was conferred on IITA Emeritus Scientist Ranajit Bandyopadhyay in 2012 for the management of seemingly intractable plant disease problems of all IITA mandate crops in many African countries and for the promising results of the Aflasafe technology, which translated into the Aflasafe Initiative (that he co-founded in 2002) now being recognized as the world authority in aflatoxin biocontrol. (cgiar.org)
  • In Tanzania, maize and groundnuts are key food security and export crops. (gafspfund.org)
  • Concentrations of aflatoxins in maize and groundnuts regularly exceed safety threshold limits. (cabi.org)
  • At the same time, the project carries out public awareness and education on food safety, nutrition, and aflatoxin mitigation, and supports the development of bylaws to regulate codes of practice for maize and groundnuts. (gafspfund.org)
  • As of September 2017, IITA and its partners have sold and distributed more than 1,000 tons of Aflasafe® to farmers through public- and private-sector channels, covering a collective 100,000 hectares of maize and groundnuts. (agrilinks.org)
  • In the production of oncom, sanitation and hygiene are important to avoid contaminating the culture with bacteria or other fungi like Aspergillus flavus (which produces aflatoxin). (wikipedia.org)
  • oncomensis and Rhizopus oligosporus reduce the aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus. (wikipedia.org)
  • However, aflatoxin-producing molds (Aspergillus spp. (wikipedia.org)
  • Aspergillus nomius is a potent producer of aflatoxins B and G and is one of the most common species of fungi found in Brazil nuts. (researchgate.net)
  • Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus produce the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, but A. ochraceus together with Penicillium viridicatum and P. cyclopium synthesize ochratoxin A (OTA). (cabi.org)
  • The molds - Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus , which infect groundnut, maize/corn, cottonseed and chili - produce these toxins that suppress the immune system, hinder growth and even cause liver cancer. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Plant defensins exhibit potent antifungal activity against several economically important fungal pathogens, and it is exciting to see successful application of this technology for reducing the pre-harvest infection by aspergillus and alleviating the burden of mycotoxins in genetically modified groundnut. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Shah and his team transferred small proteins called defensins from alfalfa and Mediterranean clover to the DNA of an aspergillus-susceptible peanut variety widely grown in Africa and India, which allowed the groundnut to stop the fungus from infecting the plant. (feedstuffs.com)
  • ICRISAT scientists worked with collaborators at USDA and Louisiana State to transfer small RNA molecules from the aspergillus fungus that are involved in the aflatoxin synthetic pathway. (feedstuffs.com)
  • In order to study the relationship between the distribution and aflatoxin production capacity of Aspergillus species and soil types, 35 soil samples were collected from the main peanut planting areas in Xiangyang, which has 19.7 thousand square kilometers and is located in a special area with different soil types. (mdpi.com)
  • Aspergillus flavus occurs in nature in complex communities composed of both aflatoxin-producers and isolates that do not produce aflatoxins (atoxigenic strains). (usda.gov)
  • Aflasafe®, an innocuous blue ball, is an all-natural deterrent to the toxic strains of aspergillus flavus, the fungi that produces aflatoxin. (agrilinks.org)
  • Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly hepatotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus species. (bvsalud.org)
  • There is evidence to suggest that exposure to the Aspergillus mycotoxin aflatoxin (AF) during pregnancy can impair intrauterine foetal growth, promote neonatal jaundice and cause perinatal death and preterm birth. (bvsalud.org)
  • As aflatoxins are produced by fungi that grow on maize, soya bean and groundnuts, ensure that horse feed is kept dry and stored indoors. (farmersweekly.co.za)
  • 2016). Temperature is a key environmental factor that may favor the growth of these fungi and aflatoxin production (Arrus et al. (researchgate.net)
  • A market strategy promoting a premium price for aflatoxin-safe produce and creating awareness and explaining the availability of Aflasafe to potential users should increase Aflasafe usage. (iita.org)
  • In 2021, George Mahuku, Senior Plant Pathologist for East Africa, was recognized as the Outstanding Scientist for his multiple contributions to mycotoxin management in maize and groundnut, Aflasafe activities in Tanzania and Uganda, and research for control of multiple maize (i.e., maize lethal necrosis) and banana diseases (e.g., black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt, Xanthomonas wilt). (cgiar.org)
  • Olam recently purchased enough Aflasafe® to treat 3,500 hectares of groundnuts from its contract farmers. (agrilinks.org)
  • after new regulations regarding aflatoxin levels restrictions on imports to the European Union were implemented prominent, widely syndicated Indian newspapers began reporting on the prevalence of aflatoxins in Indian groundnuts. (leo.org)
  • This effort has resulted in several highly effective aflatoxin management products specifically targeted to regions in need in countries across sub-Saharan Africa. (usda.gov)
  • These products need to be moved into wide use to reduce aflatoxin exposure to the human populations across Africa. (usda.gov)
  • This was demonstrated by a European project conducted by CIRAD, centring on protecting groundnut against aflatoxins in Africa. (hyfoma.com)
  • In addition to the health issues it can cause, it also has a major economic impact (costing up to 1.2 percent of national GDP, according to the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa), since many African harvests cannot be sold on international markets. (agrilinks.org)
  • From 2006 to August 2010 CCRP funded a Groundnut Breeding project for southern Africa led by ICRISAT to strengthen existing work on foliar disease resistance breeding in Malawi, build capacity in the Tanzania NARS to select resistant lines, engage farming communities in the breeding and selection process and pilot local groundnut seed initiatives through the NASFAM farmers association in Malawi and by working with NGOs in Tanzania. (ccrp.org)
  • The current study evaluated the effects of feeding diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), fumonisins (FBs), or both on the performance and health of broiler chickens and the safety of their food products as well as the efficacy of bentonite and fumonisin esterase to mitigate the effects of these mycotoxins under conditions representative for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). (bvsalud.org)
  • Temperature is considered a major abiotic factor that influences fungal colonization and aflatoxin production in nuts during pre- and post-harvest. (researchgate.net)
  • The nuts produced these RNA molecules during fungal attacks and inactivated target genes responsible for aflatoxin synthesis. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites that impair the immune system and cause cancer in humans. (usda.gov)
  • Aflatoxin contaminates groundnut as a result of a soil borne fungal infection. (ccrp.org)
  • Research funded by CCRP in Malawi in 2009 has revealed that the proven carcinogen aflatoxin is a widespread contaminant of groundnuts and groundnut based foods consumed in the country. (ccrp.org)
  • Total aflatoxin (B1+B2+G1+G2+M1) was analyzed using an immunoassay technique while the presence of aflatoxin was confirmed using thin-layer chromatography. (researchgate.net)
  • Although the presence of aflatoxin is not the only criteria of quality, it is a binding constraint to accessing high-value markets. (agrilinks.org)
  • Aflatoxins are common in what we usually refer to as "tree" and "ground" nuts, including almonds, walnuts and pecans as well as peanuts and cashews. (marksdailyapple.com)
  • Peanuts are often said to have the highest concentration of aflatoxins, and they are among the most heavily (pesticide) sprayed food grown. (marksdailyapple.com)
  • Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur, a Principal Scientist at CIMMYT, says aflatoxin, a toxin produced from soil fungus and found in groundnuts like peanuts, is a serious public health and food safety problem around the globe. (cimmyt.org)
  • According to MayoClinic, Peanuts usually referred to as groundnuts, are a common ingredient in many recipes and a favorite international snack. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • Due to high potential of the technology to reduce aflatoxins, further efforts are required for widespread adoption of biocontrol by creating a flexible and enabling system for biopesticide regulation in tandem with other policy and institutional support. (usda.gov)
  • Maximum concentrations of total aflatoxin and B1 were detected in nuts stored at 97% r.h. and at temperatures of 25-30 °C. Shelled half-nuts contained the highest total (6817 ng/g) and B1 (4483 ng/g) aflatoxin. (researchgate.net)
  • Biorex Food Diagnostics is pleased to announce the release of our latest Total Aflatoxin kit for detecting aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2. (biorexfooddiagnostics.com)
  • And then there's the issue of aflatoxins, dangerous metabolites produced by certain mold varieties . (marksdailyapple.com)
  • Earlier varieties with smaller seeds and technical improvements developed with producers are the keys to quality groundnut. (hyfoma.com)
  • Two reference varieties were chosen for study: a cultivar that gives average yields under drought conditions but has good aflatoxin resistance, and another that is higher-yielding but more susceptible to the fungus. (hyfoma.com)
  • Furthermore, varieties with improved drought resistance have been developed from an aflatoxin-resistant parent and are currently being disseminated within the production zone. (hyfoma.com)
  • A review paper highlighting advances in crop improvement to enhance groundnut grain quality and nutrient profile for food, nutrition and economic benefits, focusing on host-induced gene silencing and transgenic approaches, high oleic groundnut varieties, research on groundnut allergens, exploitation of diploid and tetraploid genome sequences, and the delivery of advanced genetics to smallholder farmers. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • Farmers preferred groundnut lines have been identified where in Malawi most farmers preferred ICGV-SMs 99722 and 99551 while in Tanzania the farmer preferred varieties were ICGV-SMs 01731, 02724 and 02715. (ccrp.org)
  • This study aims to present the results of epidemiological studies, including clinical cases, on the relationship between human exposure to some mycotoxins, especially zearalenone and aflatoxin, and the occurrence of reproductive disorders. (bvsalud.org)
  • This study investigated the association between aflatoxin exposure and (a) consumption of specific foods, (b) dietary diversity (DD), and (c) seasonality. (nutritioninnovationlab.org)
  • This review analyzes the prevalence and distribution of aflatoxins in the groundnut value chain in Mali and suggests timely interventions that can help to minimize health-related hazards and exposure to aflatoxin contaminated food. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • One of the most prevalent dietary allergens is groundnuts, and for some people, even a small quantity of exposure can result in life-threatening allergic reactions. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • A survey of aflatoxin prevalence in groundnuts was also completed in major producing regions of Tanzania. (ccrp.org)
  • Aflatoxin is a highly toxic, cancer-causing poison that contaminates food. (agrilinks.org)
  • A system for growing groundnuts in fungus contaminated soil in large containers has been established at Chitedze Research Station to allow lines to be screened for aflatoxin resistance under drought stress. (ccrp.org)
  • A study was carried out to address these questions and assess determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for the product among maize and groundnut farmers in Kano and Kaduna states in Nigeria. (iita.org)
  • The cashew, sesame and groundnut farmers are benefiting from the interaction of stakeholders from the agriculture, research, trade and logistics sector, and this contributes to an upswing in private sector development. (enhancedif.org)
  • With the country having foregrounded cashew, sesame and groundnuts as part of its trade strategy, on-the-ground efforts by the government in partnership with EIF and others include working with farmers to improve seed selection and the use of fertiliser, ensure water availability, correct plant density and handle harvests in better ways. (enhancedif.org)
  • A second four years period of funding for this research partnership takes forward breeding and selection work to release and promote GRD resistant cultivars in Tanzania and by the end of the project provide cultivars that combine resistance to all three major foliar diseases that constrain groundnut productivity in region. (ccrp.org)
  • Isolates were subsequently screened for aflatoxin production using yeast extract sucrose medium. (researchgate.net)
  • Data on aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-lysine adducts in maternal serum were collected once during pregnancy (at mean ± SD: 136 ± 43 d of gestation). (nutritioninnovationlab.org)
  • The fastest metabolism of AFB1 was observed in mouse hepatocytes which formed aflatoxin P1 as a major metabolite and also its glucuronidated form, while AFP1 occurred only in traces in the other species. (bvsalud.org)
  • Fatty acid composition differs depending on whether or not the variety is aflatoxin-resistant, and the fatty acid metabolism can thus be assumed to be another parameter linked to groundnut resistance mechanisms prior to harvest. (hyfoma.com)
  • This article provides an overview on the complex molecular regulatory events associated with aflatoxin resistance mechanisms in groundnut. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • While certain farming practices can reduce the problem, the aflatoxin related molds are considered at least somewhat inevitable. (marksdailyapple.com)
  • It infects maize and groundnut during drought and heat stress. (feedstuffs.com)
  • Breeding and selection work has provided lines with resistance to groundnut rosette virus disease (GRD), early leaf spot and groundnut rust, selected other early maturing and high yielding farmer preferred lines proposed to national authorities for release in Tanzania and has demonstrated workable local seed systems with farming communities and other stakeholders. (ccrp.org)
  • Two (2) field days were conducted in Malawi engaging 797 stakeholders in order to increase an understanding on issues of aflatoxin and groundnut. (ccrp.org)
  • One field day was conducted in Tanzania engaging 100 stakeholders in order to increase understanding of aflatoxin and groundnut. (ccrp.org)
  • Collaborators plan to conduct field trials in India in coming years for further development of aflatoxin-resistant peanut. (feedstuffs.com)
  • In Malawi and Tanzania groundnut is grown on 316,000 ha by more than 300,000 households providing a highly nutritious (12-36% protein, 36-54% oil) component for otherwise cereal-based diets. (ccrp.org)
  • We are now trying to add value particularly in the area of cashew, sesame and groundnuts," said Gambian Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Isatou Touray in an interview in the country's capital, Banjul, in May 2018. (enhancedif.org)
  • One important step in enhancing the country's exports of cashew, sesame and groundnuts is the commercialisation of the industry, in part through supporting processing abilities, access to the technology needed to develop export quality items and certification so that products adhere to international standards. (enhancedif.org)
  • For example, foodborne aflatoxins may enhance the carcinogenic potential of hepatitis B virus. (cabi.org)
  • Regular consumption of groundnuts might increase weight gain and the risk of obesity and related health issues including diabetes and heart disease. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • Ghana faces a number of challenges to comply with stringent requirements related to aflatoxin levels requested by importing countries and to develop potential value chains for export. (standardsfacility.org)
  • Aflatoxin levels and impacts are expected to increase with higher temperatures and increased water stress . (gafspfund.org)
  • Application of carefully selected atoxigenic strains at appropriate stages in crop development shifts the community composition within the production area from one dominated by aflatoxin producers to one in which beneficial atoxigenic strains dominate. (usda.gov)
  • While groundnut grains destined for export are subjected to rigorous testing there is no monitoring of nuts produced for the local market or consumed by producers. (ccrp.org)
  • Yet, there are several reasons why you should refrain from regularly consuming groundnuts. (bellnewsonline.com)
  • Having identified cashews, sesame and groundnuts as local products with global potential, The Gambia and its partners are working to get them from fields to marketplaces the world over. (enhancedif.org)
  • The training that Faye and others attended was an outcome of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) trade studies of The Gambia in 2007 and 2013 that noted cashew's growth and income prospects, as well as those of sesame and groundnuts. (enhancedif.org)
  • Aflatoxin affects around one-quarter of the world's total food supply, and it is even more common in warm, tropical countries. (agrilinks.org)
  • Aware of the dangers of aflatoxin, Husaini is now taking the measures to ensuring a safe and healthy crop yield that is ready for market. (agrilinks.org)
  • The lead will also be taken to advocate appropriate policy to national governments establish to agree standards, establish education programs and routine testing of groundnuts in local food chains. (ccrp.org)
  • Aflatoxins pose a major risk to human and animal health worldwide and result in an enormous amount of food waste. (feedstuffs.com)
  • This paper presents multiple pre-emptive management measures in the management of aflatoxins in the groundnut value chain in Nigeria. (tropicallegumeshub.com)
  • Husaini Abdullahi, a farmer in the Abaya Dagwaji community of Jigawa, Nigeria, just took his first step towards an aflatoxin-safe future. (agrilinks.org)