P

Aflasafe: An

innovative

Biocontrol

Product for

Aflatoxin

Mitigation in

Nigeria

Debo Akande On Behalf of the Aflasafe Team

AGRESULTS AFLASAFE PROJECT

3 JULY 2013, OGUN NIGERIA

www.iita.org

• Highly toxic metabolite produced by the ubiquitous Aspergillus flavus fungus

• The fungus infects crops and produces the toxin in the field and in stores

• Fungus carried from field to store

• Contamination possible without visible signs of the fungus

• Some predisposing factors:

– pre-harvest high temp and drought stress

– wet conditions at harvest and

post-harvest periods

– insect damage

Aflatoxin Facts

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin, Health & Trade

Synergistic with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to cause liver cancer • 30 times more potent in HBV+ people • 5-60 times higher cancer risk

Impairs growth and development of children

Suppress immune system – increased susceptibility to diseases, e.g., HIV, malaria?

Impedes uptake and utilization of micronutrients in human systems

Animal productivity reduced – growth rate, embryo toxicity, feed efficiency, cancer, death……

~2.3 million bags contaminated maize not tradable in 2010 in Kenya

Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Food & Feed

• Several African staple commodities affected

• High human exposure in Africa

• Levels and frequency of occurrence high

– >30% maize in stores with >20 ppb aflatoxin

– ~90% stores are contaminated with Afla fungi

– Up to 40% grain in households with aflatoxin

• Concern for food and feed processors, government and

emergency food reserve agencies, school-feeding

• Aflatoxins disproportionately impact the poor

• Highly toxic strains, conducive environmental

conditions, traditional farming methods and improper

grain drying and storage practices, unregulated markets

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Exposure in Africa

• Exposure to aflatoxin in sub-Saharan Africa is common and at high levels – important exposure occurs at the small subsistence farm level

• Exposure begins in utero and continues throughout life, with a reduced exposure during breastfeeding

• Exposure in young children is associated with impaired growth and development

• Under-nutrition and growth faltering is an underlying cause of 50% of deaths in children <5 years age (Black et al., Lancet, 2003)

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Concentration in Groundnut and

Maize Samples at Harvest, 2012, Nigeria

Concentration (ppb) Groundnut (n = 188) Maize (n = 241)

Distribution (% samples)

< 4 46 30

< 10 59 48

< 20 71 76

> 20 29 24

Descriptive statistics (ppb)

Minimum Not detectable Not detectable

Maximum 3487 838

Mean 111 33

States sampled were Nassarawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa & Niger)

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

Gong et al. 2003

Aflatoxin & Stunting in Children

• Stunting - 40% more frequent in the high exposure zone

• 28% reduction in height gain

Aflatoxin exposure

group

AF-alb adduct

(pg mg-1)

Ht. increase*

(cm)

Lower quartile <23.3 5.88

Upper quartile >101.5 4.21

Gong et al. 2003

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

Animal Health Impact of Aflatoxin

Livestock and poultry losses

liver damage including cancer

recurrent infection due to immune system suppression

reduced growth rate

losses in feed efficiency

decreased milk and egg yield

embryo toxicity (reduced reproductivity)

death (cattle, turkey, poultry, swine..)

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin and Poultry (Broilers)

Aflatoxin

levels in

feeds in

Nigeria

Aflatoxin level (ppb) Samples (%)

<20 (safe) 38

>20 to 100 (up to 5x) 14

>100 to 500 (up to 25x) 41

>500 to 1,000 (up to 100x) 7

AF-free diet 500 ppb AF diet

AF-free

diet

500 ppb AF diet

~40% reduction in

live weight (8 weeks)

www.iita.org

Trade Losses due to Aflatoxins

• Nigeria and Senegal major groundnut

exporters in 1960s. Compliance has

economic incentives

Senegal:

• If aflatoxin levels are reduced, then

national income would increase by

– $281 million through oil cake export

– $45 million through confectionary

groundnut export.

• Best quality exported; poorer quality

consumed domestically.

Peanut

Maize

Coffee

Cocoa

Groundnut Pyramids in

Nigeria during 1960s Pyramids in Egypt?

World Bank; Mbaye (2004)

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Contamination Occurs in

Two Phases

Phase I: Before Crop Maturity

Developing crops become infected.

Associated with crop damage (insect, bird, stress).

Favored by high temperature (night) and dry conditions.

Phase II: After Crop Maturity

Aflatoxin increases in mature crop.

Seed is vulnerable until consumed.

Rain on the mature crop increases contamination.

Associated with high humidity in the field & store, insect

damage, and improper crop storage or transportation.

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Problem Starts in the Field

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Farmers

Afl

ato

xin

(p

pb

)

792 309

2010: Maize

64% fields above 20 ppb at harvest in northern Nigeria

Increases in stores; interventions required in field and stores

www.iita.org

AF36

Aflaguard

Biocontrol WORKS

In 100’S of thousands of acres in

the US!

IT WORKS In Africa

TOO!

Aflasafe

www.iita.org

From an article in Southwest Farm Press by Ron

Smith published October 24th, 2011 in which Ron

interviews Dr. Jim Swart, Integrated Pest

Management Specialist, Texas A&M based in

Commerce, Texas

• In spite of 40 years of research, no

aflatoxin resistant cultivars are

available commercially

• Biocontrol is the only viable solution

used by farmers

Strong Partnership

www.iita.org

• IITA

• USDA

• Doreo Partners

• AATF

• BMGF

• NAFDAC

• CADP, NAERLS, NEPC Training is an important

component

www.iita.org

SUMMARY OF KEY MESSAGES

27. The meeting noted the importance of advancing sanitary and

phyto-sanitary (SPS) matters within CAADP to enhance food

security and market access. In this context, the meeting

underscored the need to address aflatoxin control and other SPS

challenges in a holistic and integrated manner across the entire

value chain and across the various partners involved.

Mainstreaming SPS

62. The meeting urged the AUC and the NEPAD Agency to oversee

the establishment of a Continental SPS Working Group to

mainstream SPS matters in the CAADP framework and

establishment of an Africa-led Partnership for Aflatoxin control.

Africa-Owned Africa-Led

Chaired by African Union Emphasizes Biocontrol

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Mitigation by Native

Beneficials: Principles In nature, some strains produce a lot

(toxigenic), and others no aflatoxin

(atoxigenic)

Atoxigenic strains identified from

nature, introduced in a carrier, and

applied in fields to exclude toxigenic

strains

Shift strain profile from toxigenic to

atoxigenic

Thus, aflatoxin contamination reduced

Strains move from field to stores

Multiple year carry-over effect

We identify and promote only native

beneficial strains

0

25

50

75

100

Natural Biocontrol

Inc

ide

nc

e (

%)

T

O

X

I

G

E

N

I

C

A

T

O

X

I

G

E

N

I

C

S Strain A. flavus L Strain or “typical” A. flavus

On average, S strain isolates produce much

more aflatoxin than L strain isolates.

How Does aflasafe Work?

Broadcast @ 10 kg/ha 2-3 weeks before flowering

Sporulation on moist soil

Spores

Insects

Aflasafe in 5 kg boxes

3-20 days

Wind

Soil colonization

30-33 grains m-2

Fungal network in killed grain

www.iita.org

Atoxigenic Strain Identification

Collection/characterization Toxin assay

Lab

competition

assay

VCG/DNA characterization

cnx nia-D

Unknown 2

+

Pre-field selection criteria

does not produce aflatoxin

can genetically not produce aflatoxin

can genetically not produce CPA

outcompetes toxigenic strains

belongs to different clonal lineages (SSR)

VCG with wide geographic distribution in country

VCG does not contain a single toxigenic member

~12 native strains are tested in the field

Selection of 4 strains

selection criteria:

superior capacity

to colonize,

multiply and

survive

superior field

efficacy in

reducing aflatoxin

www.iita.org

4 native strains formulated

into a registered product

NAFDAC officials inspecting maize fields treated with AflaSafe

Product: Aflasafe

Mixture of 4 native atoxigenic strains

Nigeria

Farmers treating maize and groundnut fields with Aflasafe in Nigeria

MAIZE: Aflatoxin reduction (%)

Stage 2009 2010 2011 2012

Harvest 82 94 83 93

Storage 92 93 x x

PEANUT: Aflatoxin reduction (%)

Stage 2009 2010 2011

Harvest - 95 82

Storage 100 80 x Results from 482

on-farm trials

71% and 52% carry-over of

inoculum 1 & 2 years after

application

www.iita.org

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

untreated fields treated fields

recovery

of re

leased

ato

xig

enic

str

ain

s (

%) soil before inoculation

soil at harvest grain at harvest

Recovery of Atoxigenic Strains from

Treated and Untreated Fields

www.iita.org

Aflatoxin Reduction in 4 zones 4

Months after Poor Storage in Nigeria

0

200

400

600

800

Birnin Gwari Lere Maigana Pampaida

Afl

ato

xin

(p

pb

) Control

Treated

96

14

271

49

646

17

171

9

85% 82% 99% 95%

% reduction in aflatoxin reduction in treated fields over control

Mean

reduction

90%

Moist conditions may lead to moulding of feed

Aflasafe-treated maize: non-toxic strains grow

Non-aflasafe maize: mostly toxic strains grow

75

94 100

0 3

39

73

27

100

80

60

40

20

0

<4 <10 <20 >20

EU WFP US unsafe

maximum allowable aflatoxin level (ppb)

farm

ers'

fie

lds

(%)

Aflasafe

untreated

Productivity increased of communities in

aflasafe-treated areas

DALYs saved: 103,000 - 184,000 cost-effectiveness ratio: 5.1 - 24.8

Source: Felicia Wu, Pittsburgh Univ.

www.iita.org

Impact of Aflasafe on Trade and Health

30

Awareness and Training

Extent of Aflasafe use by farmers belonging to various organizations in Nigeria, 2011

Organization State Crop Farmers

(No.) Area treated

(ha)

CADP Kano Maize 158 193.0

CADP Kano Groundnut 106 61.5

CADP Kaduna Maize 92 560.0

MVP Kaduna Maize 59 30.5

MVP Kaduna Groundnut 19 10.5

TOTAL 434 855.5

CADP = Commercial Agriculture Development Project

MVP = Millennium Village Project of the United Nations

Total Area Treated ~2,000 ha

B

Ownership and Advocacy by the Nigerian Government

Billboard Interactive Forum

A commercialization strategy for distribution and adoption being piloted Consider Aflasafe as public health intervention for aflatoxin

Policy Statement by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Nigeria

Various Nigerian stakeholders have developed a 5 year, 4 step commercialization plan. All parties involved, IITA, Doreo, and the government, have critical roles to play over the next five years to ensure that Aflasafe treated food crops are successfully introduced into the market.

When we consider the potential benefits of Aflasafe, it is ultimately the smallholder farmer who stands to gain the most benefits. Farmers consume 65% of the maize they produce thus they stand to benefit the most from the improved health benefits of Aflasafe maize. Trading in Aflasafe products also increases smallholders’ opportunity to access premium and foreign markets where the product is in demand.

How do we Generate Demand in the Medium-Term

• Develop manufacturing capacity

• Create awareness about aflatoxin

• Demonstrate efficacy of Aflasafe

• Incentivize use of Aflasafe by the poor

• Train farmers in aflatoxin management

• Enable aflatoxin testing of products

• Link Aflasafe users to food and feed market

• Being piloted by Doreo Partners

Poultry feeding study

• Stakeholders’ meeting on 15 Jan

• Poultry producers with farmers’ groups on one platform

• Build relationships and create sustainable market

Farmers’ Willingness to Pay

100% 99%

83%

60%

25%

19%

34% 31%

18%

12%

5% 4% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

$0 $3 - $6 $6 -$9 $9 - $12 $12 - $15 $15 - $19 $20

Farmers who have used Aflasafe (n=246) Farmers who have not used Aflasafe (n=119)

Target Farm Gate Price

Range

Source: Godwin Okpachu & Tahirou Abdoulaye

• 365 farmers in Kano and Kaduna interviewed in Nigeria

• All prior-users willing to pay; almost 50% non-users willing to pay

• Prior-users willing to pay more than non-users

AF36 manufacturing facility Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council, USA

Innovative Product, Excellent Efficacy……. SCALING!

Manufacturing facility in

Africa is the missing piece for SCALING

Aflasafe plant in Nigeria (under construction)

Capacity:

5 tons/hour OR

4,000 ha per shift

• G20: Aflasafe incentivization selected for implementation in Nigeria

• Aflasafe will be used by smallholder farmers in 200,000 ha

cnx nia-D

Unknown 2 Unknown 1

nia-D cnx

-

+

Partnerships are Key: Nigeria

• USDA-ARS, IITA, Universities of Ibadan and Bonn: Technology development

• GTZ/AATF/EU/BMGF: Funds

• Doreo Partners: Commercialization

• AATF: Intellectual propriety

• USDA-FAS: Registration

• NAFDAC: Regulation, monitoring

• Ag Dev Program (extension): Testing/promotion/awareness

• Maize Association of Nigeria: Promotion/awareness

• Ministry of Health: Promotion/awareness

• Ministry of Agric: Promotion/awareness

• Nigerian Mycotoxin Society: Awareness

• Commercial Ag Development Program: Testing/awareness

• Millennium Village Program:

Testing/awareness

• Nestle: Market

• Babban Gona: Commercialization

• Obasanjo Farms: Poultry Study

• Poultry Association of Nigeria: Market

• UNIDO: Promotion/investor forum

• Nigerian Export Promotion Council:

Promotion/investor forum

• NEPAD Business Group: Promotion/investor

forum

• Nigerian Economic Summit Group:

Promotion/investor forum

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:

Promotion/commercialization

Aflatoxin Biocontrol Facts

Crops are infected by complex

communities of diverse fungi Fungal communities differ in aflatoxin-

producing ability & this influences crop

vulnerability to contamination. Atoxigenic

strains can be used to reduce aflatoxin-

producing ability.

There are many atoxigenics Select safe strains best adapted to cropping

systems, ecosystems, & climates

Atoxigenics are Already

Present on the Crop Just increase the frequency of endemic

strains & natural interference with

contamination

Treatments May have

Long-Term Influence

& Cumulative

Benefits

More than One Crop

May Benefit From

the Applied Strain

Atoxigenic Strains can

be Applied Without

Increasing Infection and without increasing the overall

quantity of A. flavus on the crop &

throughout the environment

Summary • Aflatoxins in food and feed pervasive in Africa

• Biological control in conjunction with other management practices can dramatically reduce aflatoxin contamination

• Efforts underway to pilot commercialization of aflatoxin biocontrol and develop regional strains

• Technologies available but must be implemented to reduce aflatoxin burden in African economies and food system

• Support and partnership needed from national governments, regulators, donors/investors, private food/feed sector and farmer groups

IITA Aflasafe Team