Aflatoxins, toxic compounds produced by fungi in soil and crops, contaminate up to 25% of Africa’s staple foods, including maize, groundnuts, and sorghum. These carcinogens suppress immune systems, cause liver disease, and contribute to childhood stunting, which UNICEF links to 40% of affected children in sub-Saharan Africa. With climate change intensifying contamination risks, UNICEF supports integrated strategies to safeguard nutrition and economic security across the continent.
Health and Economic Toll
- Child Development: Chronic aflatoxin exposure correlates with wasting, stunting, and impaired brain development in children. In Tanzania, biomarker studies revealed over 80% of infants and young children had aflatoxins in their blood.
- Mortality and Trade Losses: Acute poisoning outbreaks, like Kenya’s 2004 incident (124 deaths), highlight immediate risks. Economically, Uganda loses $38 million annually in export rejections, while the EU rejects 39% of Nigeria’s contaminated agricultural shipments.
UNICEF-Backed Mitigation Strategies
UNICEF collaborates with initiatives like the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), which coordinates country-led plans across six pilot nations. Key interventions include:
- Farmer Training: In Rwanda, programs educated 59,430 maize farmers on post-harvest practices (e.g., drying crops on raised platforms, hermetic storage), increasing Grade 1 maize sales from 61.3% to 91.1% within a year.
- Biological Controls: Nigeria’s adoption of Aflasafe, a natural fungus that outcompetes toxin-producing strains, reduced contamination by 80–100%. However, limited awareness hinders scalability.
- Policy Integration: PACA advocates mainstreaming aflatoxin control into national agriculture plans, such as Uganda’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which secured $27 million for nutrition initiatives.
Table: Aflatoxin Impacts and Mitigation Results in Africa
| Aspect | Findings | Source |
| Child Health Impact | 40% of sub-Saharan African children stunted; linked to aflatoxin exposure | UNICEF |
| Export Rejections | 39% of Nigeria’s EU-rejected crops due to aflatoxins | PACA |
| Training Efficiency | Rwanda’s farmer education boosted Grade 1 maize sales by 30% | AGRA/CDI |
Challenges and Forward Path
Despite progress, barriers persist:
- Detection Limitations: Expensive lab tests make contamination invisible to most farmers, delaying action.
- Policy Enforcement: Africa’s aflatoxin limits (e.g., 40 ppb) exceed stricter global standards (EU: 4 ppb), weakening trade competitiveness.
UNICEF and PACA prioritize scaling low-cost solutions, such as mobile testing and Aflasafe subsidies, while advocating for continental food safety regulations.
UNICEF’s alignment with PACA’s “country-led approach,” emphasizing data-driven plans and cross-sector partnerships, aims to turn scientific gains into sustained health and trade benefits.
