Asha Bakari WEBINAR Catalyzing the Use of Aflatoxin Control Technologies in Kenya and Ghana NOV 26, 2019 - 09:00 AM TO 11:00 AM EST

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IITA is a member of the CGIAR System Organization. www.iita.org | www.cgiar.org
Aflasafe evidence and availability in Kenya
Asha Bakari
Research Technician, IITA
On behalf of the KALRO-IITA Aflasafe Team

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What is aflasafe?
• Aflasafe is a bio-control product that contains live
fungi (Atoxigenic A. flavus L-strain) which
competitively excludes toxigenic fungi hence
reducing aflatoxin contamination
• It is composed of:
– Sorghum - Carrier material
– 4 atoxigenic A. flavus L-strains - Active ingredient
– A blue dye (food grade)
– Polymer

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Spores
Aflasafe in 2.5 & 5 kg bags
Wind
Soil colonization and displacement of toxigenic fungi
Sporulation on moist soil
3-20
days
Insects
Broadcast
@ 10 kg/ha 2-3 weeks before flowering
30-33 grains/m2
How does Aflasafe work?
A member of CGIAR consortium December 5, 2019 www.iita.org

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Proportion of toxigenic fungi
A member of CGIAR consortium December 5, 2019 www.iita.org

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High aflatoxin contamination
Non-treated fields
A member of CGIAR consortium December 5, 2019 www.iita.org

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Little to no aflatoxin contamination
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Treated fields

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Evidence
Aflasafe trials have been conducted in the 10 aflatoxin hotspot
areas of Kenya:
• Machakos
• Makueni
• Kitui
• Embu
• Meru
• Tharaka Nithi
• Muranga
• Kwale
• Kilifi
• Tana river
• Lower levels of aflatoxins have been observed in treated
fields compared to untreated fields

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• Managed by the National
Irrigation Board (NIB)
• Highly productive area
but aflatoxin-prone
• Maize frequently
rejected as >50% strains
in soil are highly toxic
Maize grown under center pivot in Galana-
Kulaku, which is a part of 1 million acre Jubilee
Food Security project of the Kenyan Govt.
• 238 tons aflasafe ordered
(8.1 tons airlifted for
emergency treatment)
from IITA in Nigeria
• The entire crop of 3,000
acres treated with aflasafe
• 99% of harvested grains
had <4 ppb aflatoxins
(meets strict European
limit) in spite of delayed
harvest
Aflasafe KE01 in the Aflasafe
factory in IITA-Nigeria ready
for shipment to Kenya
Maize crop being treated
with Aflasafe KE01 in Galana
Kenya food security project

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Evidence
In a recent study (2018/2019 short rain season) several
farmer groups were trained on aflatoxin and Aflasafe KE01

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Evidence
Application of Aflasafe KE01 was monitored

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Monitoring Aflasafe KE01 sporulation

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Approach
Harvesting of maize samples
A total of 52 maize samples were collected at harvest
from both treated and untreated

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Approach
Shelling of maize and subdivision

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Simulated poor storage assay
Set up in Mwili, Kagaene and Thinyaine

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Simulated poor storage Assay
• 150 g of maize was placed in plastic
containers that had a sponge soaked in water
• The containers were left for 7 days and after
that aflatoxin levels were measured in control
and maize fields
• The other portion of the maize samples were
taken to the lab and were analyzed for
aflatoxin

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Aflatoxin analysis in the lab
• The maize samples were oven dried to
moisture of < 13%
• Samples were ground using a coffee mill
grinder
• Analysis was done using a Neogen lateral
flow
• Aflatoxin measured by the Accu Scan-Pro
reader

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Results
A B
Aflasafe treated maize (A) and untreated maize (B)
Note change in Aspergillus community

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Results
Aflatoxins levels were lower in Aflasafe KE01
maize treated fields while in the untreated fields
the levels were high
Aflatoxin reading from treated fields in the AccuScan reader

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Aflatoxin results
S/No. Aflatoxin levels (ppb)
Treated Untreated
1 4.9 8.8
2 3.2 136.6
3 2.8 1448.0
4 2.2 1242.0
5 2.5 98.2
6 666.0 >1500.0
7 2.8 35.2
8 3.2 1367.5
9 1.3 44.4
10 2.4 415.5
11 2.9 12.6
12 2.5 41.0

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Aflatoxin results
S/No. Aflatoxin levels (ppb)
Treated Untreated
1 0.8 2.7
2 1.3 19.6
3 5.4 86.6
4 1.7 5.0
5 2.9 45.8
6 23.6 81.8
7 2.9 22.4
8 363.0 >1500.0
9 3.2 3.4
10 22.5 695.5
11 2.0 7.5
12 2.5 2.9
13 3.4 91.0
14 2.4 49.3

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Aflatoxin results
85% of the treated farms met the KEBS
threshold (≤ 10 ppb) while 77% of the untreated
farms did not meet the KEBS threshold
Threshold
(ppb) Proportion of samples
Treated Untreated
0-<4 76.9 11.5
>4-<10 7.7 11.5
>10 -<100 7.7 46.2
>100-<1000 7.7 11.5
>1000 0.0 19.2

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Availability of Aflasafe KEO1
• Aflasafe KE01 Modular plant has been commissioned in KALRO
Katumani by the CS, Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri
• The modular plant has a production capacity of 10 tons/ day
which can be adjusted according to demand

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Availability of aflasafe KE01
• More than 150 tons have been produced locally already
• The CS flagged off the 1st Consignment of 20 tonnes bought by
the national government for vulnerable farmer
• Distributor identification is at an advanced stage

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Thank you