When we launched this continent-wide initiative in December 2016, I promised to keep you informed about our progress, our successes, lessons learnt, and – more importantly – to share best practice. Here we are. Welcome to the inaugural issue of our newsletter!
With a decade-and-a-half of solid research in Africa behind it, Aflasafe has come a long way as one of the effective weapons to control aflatoxin contamination in foods and animal feed across the continent. What we are promoting today is a lifetime effort of several pioneers, early adoptors, the converted and supporters. For their work to make food safe in Africa, I would like to dedicate this first issue of the newsletter to Dr Peter Cotty (Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture) and Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay (Principal Scientist in Plant Pathology and Research Leader of the Africa-wide Aflasafe Initiative at IITA), the innovators behind the Aflasafe technology.
Aflasafe Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, or ATTC, ushers in another new chapter for Aflasafe. We are actively expanding and extending the use of Aflasafe in Africa through commercialisation, taking advantage of the emerging vibrant private sector in the agricultural R&D ecosystem, changes in consumer behaviour, and the increasing interest of governments and civil society to improve food safety, and not just food security.
This first and last edition of 2017 brings you some important milestones in Aflasafe’s commercialisation:
- Attaining the target of 1,000 metric tonnes of commercially sold Aflasafe in four countries – enough to cover 100,000 hectares of maize and groundnuts
- Take-off on commercialisation in Senegal and The Gambia with the signing of the first ever Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreement with BAMTAARE Services SA in Dakar, Senegal
- Revamping the aflasafe.com website as an effective online tool to promote Aflasafe products
- Stepping into the global arena through a side event during the Borlaug Dialogue 2017 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA
We appreciate the generous financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development and the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health. Additionally, none of the successes above would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of staff and consultants from IITA, Dalberg Global Advisors and Chemonics International working as ‘ONE Team’. I must also acknowledge the tremendous contribution from our Advisory Board comprising seasoned scientists, business and development practitioners. The entire team is very grateful.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas, and a joyous holiday season. I look forward to reaching out to you again during the first quarter of 2018 with yet more exciting news.
Abdou Konlambigue
Managing Director, Aflasafe Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, IITA
December 2017
