Biological Control of Aflatoxins

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Norma Bruce
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Bandyopadhyay, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Ibadan, Nigeria Breakout

1 Biological Control of Aflatoxins Peter J. Cotty, Agricultural Research Service, USDA University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Ibadan, Nigeria Breakout Session 4 on Food Security Science Forum 2013 Nutrition and health outcomes: targets for agricultural research, September 2013, Bonn, Germany

2 Opportunity Aflatoxins are highly toxic cancer causing fungal metabolites that contaminate crops and impact human health, development, and income throughout the warm production regions. With a single biological control technology aflatoxins can be reduced and eventually eliminated on treated crops, rotation crops, and throughout the environment. $50 million over the next decade will be used to adapt and disseminate this technology across sub-saharan Africa. Aflatoxin prevention will have health and economic impacts throughout the warm regions such as sub-saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.

3 One Technology Many Benefits This technology will reduce aflatoxins in all susceptible crops (Groundnut, Maize, Chilies, etc.) both prior to and after harvest. Protection remains with the crop until it is actually consumed. The technology is adaptable to any target location. Does not assert selective pressure on aflatoxin producers. The technology works every time and is Less Expensive than sampling a small holders field and analyzing it for aflatoxins. Removes the need to increase and maintain host resistance to aflatoxins during the process of selecting high yielding cultivars. Resistance to aflatoxin contamination has been sought for over 3 decades in both groundnut and maize without development of commercially acceptable cultivars.

4 Prevent Formation of Dangerous Aflatoxin Levels Protect Crops Until Use During Crop Development Irrigation, Weed Control, Fertilize Best cultivars, Insect Control During Storage Dry, prevent moisture, cool Prevent damage: insects, rodents During Processing Sort, Cull, Discard, Add binders. During transport Rapid, Dry, No Damage

6 Biological Control: One Action by the Farmer Reduces Aflatoxins under all Conditions A single application at 10 kg/hectare is enough to consistently reduce aflatoxins in maize, groundnut, and other crops. Nigeria

7 As Applied Either Sorghum, Wheat, or Barley are used. Sorghum is used in Africa. The grain is killed by cooking before use. After Fungal Growth

8 Aflatoxin in Crop versus Atoxigenic Incidence Aflatoxin B 1 (ng/g X 10,000) Dots Represent Values for Replicate Plots Isolates (%) in Applied Atoxigenic Strain Cotty, Phytopathology:

10 MAIZE: Aflatoxin reduction (%) Stage Harvest Storage x x 71% and 52% carry-over of inoculum 1 & 2 years after application PEANUT: Aflatoxin reduction (%) Stage Harvest Storage x Results from 482 on-farm trials

11 Crops are Protected in the Field and During Storage Aflatoxin reduction after 4 months poor storage (Field Treated Crops Nigeria) % reduction in aflatoxin content in treated fields over control 85% 82% 99% 95% 800 Control Treated Aflatoxin (ppb) Birnin Gwari Lere Maigana Pampaida

12 38 Farms Treated in Farms Treated in Farms Treated in 2012 Farmers threshing groundnut Senegal Aflatoxin Reduction: 2010 : 87% at harvest; 89% after Storage 2011: 82% at harvest; 93% after Storage 2012: 86% at harvest; 83% after Storage Farmers treating groundnut fields with AflaSafe

13 Hola Irrigation Scheme, Coast Province, Kenya: 2012 Tests First Season Farmer Field Tests Treatment = 10 kg/ha Aflasafe KN01 Total Aflatoxins Deadly (3,700 ppb & 2,270 ppb) Safe Food Percent of Fields

14 Partners Ministries of Health, Trade, & Agriculture African Union and it s Regional Economic Commissions Technical Organizations (IR-4, Regulatory Organizations Farmers & Farmer Organizations Universities & Cooperative Extension Processors, Food & Feed Producers Producers of Poultry, Fish, Pork, etc. Middlemen, Marketers, Exporters Implementers, Public & Private Manufacturers

15 Plan Engage, Adapt, Disseminate, Develop, Optimize, repeat.. Pesticide Registrations, Agronomic Practices, Fungal Germplasm, Business Models, Manufacturing..

16 1 st Generation Large-Scale Manufacture Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council Phoenix, Arizona 2 nd Generation Large-Scale Manufacture International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Ibadan, Nigeria 3 rd Generation Large-Scale Manufacture 4 th Generation Large-Scale Manufacture 5 th Generation Large-Scale Manufacture

17 More Health Return on Investment Improved Immune Systems Reduced Stunting Slower spread of HIV Better Utilization of Nutrients Less Cancer Healthier Lives The very reasons aflatoxins are regulated stringently in the developed world. More Money Export Value of Crops and Crop Products will be Increased.

18 Punch Line The biological control works. It can be the principal tool for eliminating aflatoxins from the food supply and the environment. Elimination of aflatoxins will have broad benefit.

Developing crops become infected. Associated with crop damage (insect, Aflatoxin increases in mature crop. May occur before or after harvest.

Developing crops become infected. Associated with crop damage (insect, Aflatoxin increases in mature crop. May occur before or after harvest. Biocontrol and other solutions: Addressing Aflatoxin in Sub--Saharan Africa Sub Peter J. Cotty Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture School of Plant Sciences University