Continue structure system in your sucsessfull location deliver
We created a resume contractor at no cost enabling a person to enter into everything through your working out and give good results working hard endure to many more knowledge and various other successes so you can showcase your worthwhile to companies. Read more
The app was developed by Mobile Assay, which specializes in mobile lab innovations. The test, more formally known as an immunoassay test, involves analysing a colour-changing test strip for the presence of a particular substance, in this case Aflatoxin. The test strip is photographed using the smartphone’s camera and the app calculates the pixel density of the coloured strip to determine how much Aflatoxin is present within a certain threshold. Current available lab tests are priced at $15 each plus the cost of transporting samples from rural areas to those equipped with testing facilities. This is out of reach for many in the Global South. Some turn to cheaper tests, which return only a positive or negative result and don’t provide any information about whether or not the level of contamination poses a health threat or is fit for consumption. This test is set to cost about $2-3 and provides such detailed information. What’s more, it is immediately uploaded to an online database tracking Aflatoxin outbreaks.
feb, 2017
source=http://innovatedevelopment.org/2014/03/12/mobile-rapid-diagnostic-testing-helping-farmers-protect-crops-people-in-east-africa
Publishing procedures for your sucessfull highschool or college graduating
But the overview paragraph may come along at the final result of your essay it mustn’t be practiced as the afterthought. Read more
Zika has been known about since 1947. It has never been considered a health threat. It has been linked to mild transient illness with few symptoms. So, in that regard, it’s an absurd candidate for causing microcephaly and brain damage.
There was no reason to assert that Zika was the cause of microcephaly in the first place. It was all hype and no science.
So in Brazil, instead of obsessively looking for one cause of “microcephaly,” true researchers would be looking for multiple causes where, in general, brain and nervous-system damage is the result.
Causes such as? Toxic pesticides, including Roundup and atrazine. Brazil uses more pesticides than any nation in the world, and many of these chemicals are banned in other countries.
Toxic vaccines—for example, the like the one which was recommended to pregnant women in Brazil in 2014. The MMR vaccine. Other vaccines. Look, for example, at aluminum ingredients, which cross the blood-brain barrier and are neurotoxic.
Genetically-engineered mosquitoes, released to combat mosquitoes that carry dengue fever. No human health studies were done.
Anti-mosquito sprays.
Chemicals used to fumigate public places.
The mosquito-killing insecticide, pyroproxyfen, which has been dumped in water supplies.
And of course, those traditional immune-system destroyers, severe malnutrition, lack of basic sanitation, overcrowding, and stolen farm land.
There are other potential causes. For further readings please visit
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2016/02/16/zika-the-essence-of-the-hoax/
GM FOODS ARE GOOD; NO THEY ARE NOT !!! Is the introduction of GM foods the answer to the climate change induced food shortage in some countries of the world? This is the question on the lips of many scientists and policy makers According to Anjali Thomas, research is on going in the area […]
MOULDY YAM, MOULDY MAIZE, MOULDY MELON, MOULDY BEANS and SOYBEANS, MOULDY GROUNDNUTS, MOULDY RICE MOULDY CASSAVA,SESAME MOULDY GUINEA CORN and MILLET or ANY other food item
COUNTRY ASSESSMENT REPORT OF AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION AND CONTROL IN NIGERIA——–A SUMMARY
The Country Assessment of Aflatoxin prevalence and Prevention in Nigeria was released in 2013. The document, was submitted by Abt Associates, and prepared for the Meridian Institute in support of the partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA). Funding was from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (DFID) under contract number Contract #9678.2
The assessment was centred around the 3 pillars of PACA
Agriculture and Food safety
Trade
Health
The key crops noted were –maize, ground nut, cotton seed, sorghum millet rice walnut, pistachio nuts, sesame, spices and brazil nuts. However only 2 –maize and groundnut received the focus of the research as they were confirmed to have high aflatoxin prevalence in them and the data revealed contamination in both crops at levels higher than the EU(4ppb) and the US(20ppb)
For both and groundnut 7 regions were covered . These are humid forest, derived savanna, Northern guinea savanna , southern guinea savanna, mid altitude and Sudan savanna. These are apart from the estimates for aflatoxins for these crops and derivatives across the country as one geographical expression. The commodities were observed as raw, boiled and roasted as well as cake and gruel , where appropriate. Prevalence was defined as samples with >20 ppb aflatoxin
In 2010/2011, for example, of the available 9,706 MT of maize, 78% was used for human consumption, 17% was used for feed and residual uses, and a small percentage was set aside for re-planting(USDA FAS, 2012). Groundnuts are also primarily destined for human consumption. A share of groundnuts is used for making oil but the residual groundnut cakes, kulikuli, are part of the Nigerian diet. Only a negligible fraction of total groundnut production is exported. Average agricultural households report selling 41% of their maize produce, retaining 10% for seed, 1% for feed, and the residual 46% is used for own consumption or storage (based on analysis of 2009/2010 LSMS-ISA data).
Agric and Food security
Use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) –actions that reduce moisture content and reduce susceptibility to aflatoxin-causing fungus and biological control (AflasafeTM),. These can include precision drying of grains and nuts, and hermetic storage can significantly reduce the risk of aflatoxin exposure. The use of GAP is low in Nigeria.
Awareness among farmers and exporters Enhanced resources for extension and general systemic challenges and rural poverty hamper extension efforts as low stipends, will contribute to awareness and help in solving the problem
Trade—Risk o f contamination in markets Regulatory agencies like SON and Nafdac as NAQS concerned with Standards can b e encouraged to improve on enforcement . Where enforcement occurs , its only on commodities destined for export. Local consumers are also human beings deserving of wholesome consumption and enhanced health . capacity for mycotoxin testing and regular training of staff of NAQS and SON can be enhanced. The research team who visited Ondo, Kogi and Niger states found no evidence of any testing for aflatoxins in the domestic maize and groundnuts markets in Nigeria although there are better control of aflatoxins in the feed industries. More younger staff must be recruited specifically at SON being the custodian of the nations standards
Health==In Nigeria the lack of aflatoxin control in agriculture sector and the lack of enforcement of aflatoxin standards in the domestic market mean that aflatoxin-contaminated maize and groundnuts (and other products) can easily enter the consumption stream leading to the risk of adverse health impacts. The fact that a majority of the maize and groundnuts produced are consumed domestically further enhances the risk, particularly because consumers are not aware of the problem. Some dangerous lifestyle also contribute to the risk.For example some farmers (outside of Lagos) were reported believe that moldy maize may produce better ogi (maize-based porridge). Other behavioral risk factors include consumption of kulikuli produced in environments that may not boast of hygiene. However, the data on kulikuli samples purchased monthly (April to November) from four Ibadan markets sites found that in all but two of the samples, aflatoxin B concentrations were between 20 ppb and 455 ppb
Expand universal coverage of the HBV vaccine. Since there is co-morbidity between high aflatoxin levels in the body and hepatitis B, the HBV vaccine can serve as one of the most important public health interventions available for reducing the risk of cancer related to aflatoxin exposure. Reducing prevalence of HBV to zero in Nigeria could reduce liver cancer levels threefold.
Upgrade the food safety control and practices. Recently the Federal Govt of Nigeria set up 2 Committees on Food Safety . This commendable step should harness resources from all the many facets of food safety. Already meetings of this group are being held . The co
While groundnut contributed 15.6% of all household income in the North East, the South received 14.4% of all domestic incomes from maize both being the highest in all the geopolitical zones
A review of the EU alerts and border rejections suggests that between 2007 and 2012, 2 maize consignments and 13 consignments of groundnut and groundnut-related products were detained because of aflatoxin levels above EU regulations
Between 1961 and 2009 maize export increased at irregular intervals reaching its peak in 1995, 2007 and 2009, however export fraction of this rose in 2001 and has been declining since then
The Health Impact of Aflatoxin Contamination in Nigeria: HCC Cases, DALY and Monetized Health Impact revealed that the North Central and North East were flash points.
IITA’s investigation of farmers’ willingness and ability to pay for the product (estimated at approximately NGN 1,600/hectare treated) is also informing the Aflasafe commercialization plan being developed by Doreo Partners
Dele Fapohunda
08033709492
An important food safety problem is the toxic substances produced by moulds and fungi called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are formed in susceptible grains such as maize and sorghum if they are handled or stored in wrong conditions.
Mycotoxin contamination is a health risk for lifestock as well as for humans, and mycotoxins can be transferred to humans through milk and dairy products if the animals are fed with contaminated grain.
Mycotoxins can cause acute poisoning as well as cumulative ill-health including cancer. One of the most toxic mycotoxins (aflatoxin) affects almost one quarter of global food and feed output. Aflatoxin reduces productivity of the livestock that decreases farmers’ income.
Each year over 4.5 billion people are at risk of chronic exposure to mycotoxins. These people mainly live in developing countries where the exposure to mycotoxins is not sufficiently controlled. Sub-Saharan Africa is especially vulnerable to mycotoxins because of the climate conditions and climate change may further aggravate the situation.
Mycotoxin control for the staple crops
The fifth work package of the FoodAfrica Programme concentrates on reducing the risk for mycotoxin contamination in staple crops in Kenya. In order to achieve this goal cost-effective and incentive-based mycotoxin control strategies and solutions will be developed for the use of poor farmers and other actors within the feed-dairy chain.
The work package is composed of three principal tasks that are:
Evidence dissemination and capacity building are included in each task. The capacity of local researchers and thesis students is developed through participation in designing surveys, field work, and data analysis.
This work package also applies participatory methods to develop and test strategies for mitigation of mycotoxins in the feed-food chain. Farmer participatory research engages farmers in action research on their fields so they can learn adopt new technologies and spread the knowledge to other farmers.
Project has started with training and meetings
Delia Grace, the leader for the fifth work package, says that the project has got a good start. Development of a conceptual framework to bring together economic costs and health risks has started with a workshop at ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute).
Other important meetings have been the kick-off event of all FoodAfrica partners, and an introduction to research methods.
‒ Just last week we had a short introduction to research methods at ILRI where the two PhD students attended from the University of Nairobi. It covered statistical software, reference management, research ethics, systematic literature reviews and gender, describes Grace.
Meet the experts
 |
Delia Grace is veterinary epidemiologist and food safety specialist. She works at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) on developing and managing risk-based approaches to animal diseases, particularly zoo noses, in the developing countries. |
 |
Erastus Kang´ethe holds a BVM from the University of Nairobi, MSc in Meat Science from the University of Bristol, and PhD from the University of Nairobi. He has extensive experience in teaching, consultancy and research since 1980’s with a strong focus on food safety. He has published on meat and milk safety, agro-ecosystem health and mycotoxins in dairy feed |
The number of people under malnutrition is estimated to be about 800 million. This number does not give the whole picture as the number of people under “hidden hunger” is estimated to be two billion. Eighteen out of the twenty countries suffering from this problem are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The term hidden hunger means people suffering from chronic lack of micronutrients and it has usually no visible warning signs. Most commonly deficient nutrients are iron, iodine, zinc or vitamin A. They cause impaired development and even deaths to the poor, especially children and women in developing countries. The reason to these deficiencies is usually their low intake in the diet.Micronutrient Forum is a series of congresses dealing with micronutrient deficiencies. The latest one was in Addis Abeba Ethiopia in June this year. There were about 1000 experts from all continents; scientists, nutrition experts, decision makers, private sector etc. discussing the problem. Many countries are taking actions against hidden hunger as it has been recognized that it contributes to poverty and limits productivity and economic growth. The most common means of intervening micronutrient deficiency is addition of these elements to the diet, drinking water or directly to the humans.
FoodAfrica work package one dealing with soil micronutrients attended the Forum and is looking ways of networking with experts in human nutrition to be able to develop new methods of combating hidden hunger. We wish to share information on areas with low soil micronutrient content and work together to develop strategies and agronomic means for improving status of these elements in humans.
More informationProfessor Martti Esala, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, martti.esala@mtt.fi
Mycotoxins, often one of the most neglected considerations in ruminant diets, should be a major animal health and welfare concern in modern animal husbandry, according to one leading researcher and veterinarian. “Under the conditions of modern agricultural practice, mycotoxin contamination of feed materials cannot entirely be avoided,”…
Read more en.engormix.com