Concept Note on The Official Launch of the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) Theme: Keeping the Standards: Challenges and Implications for Safer Foods, Market Access and Public Health Venue Multi-Purpose Hall AUC Conference Centre 14.30h 31 Oct 2012 Page 1of 5
Preamble Within the Context of the Continental Blueprint for agricultural growth and economic development, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has emerged as an initiative of the African leaders to help African countries reach and sustain a higher path of economic growth through agricultural-led development. The overall, CAADP s goal is to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty through agriculture. To do this, African governments have agreed to increase public investment in agriculture by a minimum of 10 per cent of their national budgets and to raise agricultural productivity by at least 6 per cent. The Aflatoxin Challenge has constituted a significant concern to food security and poverty eradication on the continent. It is a major cause of post-harvest loss that further constrains the quantum of food reaching our markets and households across the continent. In addition, it poses a major public health challenge to consumers all over the continent. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by mold that can damage the liver and may lead to liver cancer. Aflatoxin is a problem particularly in undeveloped and developing countries. Evidence abound that aflatoxin ingestion through contaminated foodstuffs is one of the major etiological factors in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China and sub-saharan Africa. In certain regions of these countries, at least 250,000 deaths from HCC occur annually. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 25 percent of world food crops are affected by aflatoxin, and countries that are situated between 40ºN and 40ºS of the equator all around the globe are most at risk. While aflatoxin-control measures are implemented in developed and international markets, many of the 1 billion people who live on less than $1 per day rely on their own agricultural production for food, which can contain harmful levels of aflatoxin. Partnership for Aflatoxin Control for Africa (PACA) aims to adapt proven solutions, and identify new ones, that will work for smallholder farmers in Africa. Comprehensive farmer-centered solutions are being developed to address the health, nutrition, trade, and agricultural impacts of aflatoxin. Solutions will include effective measures to control aflatoxin along the value chain, from crop production to processing to food preparation to consumption. Many other measures can be taken to reduce aflatoxin exposure to local consumers and improve opportunities to sell aflatoxin-safe crops to markets, but measures need to be supported by appropriate policy and regulatory actions. It is expected that comprehensive and feasible solutions being developed for the African small farmer context will also be useful for other regions where aflatoxin is a problem Page 2of 5
Through the leadership of the African Union Commission, and with interest from African and other governments, Regional Economic Communities, the private sector, farmers organizations, and civil society leaders from across Africa, a comprehensive, Africa-wide approach to aflatoxin control is being established. Objective The General Objective of the PACA Launch is to raise awareness and to sensitize high-level decision-makers on the magnitude of the Aflatoxin Challenge in Africa as well as the potential options for addressing the problems. Specifically, the event focuses on the following: Presentation of the Continent-wide approach of the AUC to control the Aflatoxin challenge in the context of CAADP. Inauguration of the newly constituted members of the Steering Committee of PACA Panel-Discussion on Agribusiness and Agro industrial Challenges in Africa (within the context of the theme) DRAFT- Official Launch of the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa 2012 31 OCTOBER 2012, AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION, ADDIS ABABA-ETHIOPIA MAIN EVENT ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME Moderated by Ms. Maureen Nkandu, Head of Communications, NPCA 31 OCTOBER 2012 14H00-17H00 Welcome Statement H.E Mrs. Rhoda Peace-Tumsiime, Commissioner, AUC-DREA Opening Remarks Mme Fatima Haram Acyl, Commissioner for Trade and Industry Update on Progress on PACA Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Chair PACA SC Page 3of 5
Keynote Paper The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Facilitated Open Forum Ms. Maureen Nkandu, Head of Communications, NPCA Live Music Panel Discussion Theme: Keeping the standards: challenges and implications for safer foods, market access and public health Orientation Paper Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Director, AUC-DREA Panel Discussion Ms Treasure Maphanga Mr. Francis Fay, European Union Commission Prof. Ruth Oniang o Ms Lucy Muchoki, CEO Pan AACA Minister of Agriculture, Brazil Mr. Atul B. Jain, Jt Managing Director, Jains Irrigation Systems Ltd Launch of PACA H.E Mrs. Rhoda Peace-Tumsiime, Commissioner, AUC-DREA Presentation of PACA Partners ACDI/VOCA, Doreo Partners, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Abt Associates, Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, United State Agency for International Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Presentation and Inauguration of PACA SC Members Composition of PACA Steering Committee Members: Chair: Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission Page 4of 5
Vote of thanks Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) - Regional Economic Communities (these two positions will be filled initially by ECOWAS and COMESA, and then regularly rotated to include other RECs as appropriate. Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO): Farmer organizations Consumers International (CI): Civil Society organizations Pan African Agribusiness and Agro Industry Consortium (PanAAC): Private sector African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF): African health institutions Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA): African research or academic institutions Expert Institution to be recommended by (ECOWAS): African food safety and trade institutions United State Agency for International Development (USAID): Development Partners African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA): Technical Agencies (2) Meridian Institute Page 5of 5