Three years ago, we bet on a three-pronged approach to bring Aflasafe products sustainably to market across Africa.
The centrepiece of this strategy is the careful identification, selection and licensing of private-sector partners to lead the commercial part of taking Aflasafe to market. The second component is strengthening our partnership with national governments and development partners to create an enabling environment for effective aflatoxin control. Last but not least is the transfer of IITA’s technical know-how to licensees to ensure Aflasafe is readily accessible and also affordable, through local production than in no way compromises product quality and effectiveness.
This approach bore and continues to bear fruit. After Senegal, The Gambia and Nigeria, I am thrilled to announce that our network of private-sector Aflasafe manufacturing and distribution continues to expand. The latest entrant is Tanzania, where IITA and A to Z Textile and Mills Limited signed an Aflasafe Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreement in April 2019.
With this new partner now on board, Aflasafe will be in the hands of farmers through commercial production and distribution. Commercialisation will also be breaking into a new region, as Tanzania marks the northernmost tip of Southern Africa.
As we deepen and broaden partnerships in new countries, we are also making a qualitative leap in the old ones. I am excited to inform you that the first Aflasafe private-sector funded factory is now standing on Senegalese soil. Fully built, owned and operated by BAMTAARE Services, the factory is already in production and will also supply The Gambia, Senegal’s closest neighbour. This two-country factory marks an important milestone that heralds great things to come.
As our country count continues to rise, it is my great pleasure to announce the 1st Aflasafe for Africa Conference, fighting aflatoxin in food scheduled for 4th to 5th November 2019 in Arusha, Tanzania, with the theme ‘Business meets research for safer food in Africa’. This conference will gather together all our manufacturers and distributors, selected food processors and bulk traders, government and regional economic community representatives, equipment suppliers, food-safety industry players and funders.
This 7th issue of ATTC News carries details on all the above, and more. Here are some of the other highlights:
- How safe from aflatoxin are our everyday foods from shop-shelves and markets? Answers from Ghana
- Aflasafe gets a series of high-level nods in Nigeria
Abdou Konlambigue
Managing Director, Aflasafe Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, IITA
July 2019
