Biological Control of Aflatoxins in Maize for Enhanced Food Safety and Income in Burkina Faso

01.04.2011 - 31.03.2014
Auftragsforschungsprojekt
Aflatoxins, a group of mycotoxins mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus, are of particular public health importance because of their effects on human health. Aflatoxin exposure in humans is chronic in Burkina Faso since contamination is widespread in major food sources. Children exposed to aflatoxin are malnourished and have lower growth rates. Aflatoxin exposure also leads to increased liver cancer, immune suppression, and possibly vaccine failure. This project aims at developing biocontrol technology for improving food quality, human health and livelihoods of populations in Burkina Faso by reducing aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut. The competitive exclusion principle of biocontrol will be used as a new type of aflatoxin intervention strategy to mitigate the negative effect of aflatoxin on human health and trade. The primary beneficiaries will be small to medium scale farmers and poor households in the areas most vulnerable to aflatoxin exposure.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Subprojektleiter_in

Institut

Contract/collaboration

  • Österreichische Entwicklungszusammenarbeit

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Environmental Monitoring and Climate Adaptation: 100%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
AspergillusAspergillus
Aflatoxinaflatoxins
Biokontrollebioconrol
quantitative PCRquantitative PCR
AfrikaAfrica

Externe Partner_innen

  • International Institute for Tropical Agriculture

Publikationen