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Kenya and Germany united in the fight against dangerous mycotoxins!
A delegation of scientists from the University of Nairobi is working at RPTU Landau to combat aflatoxins in Kenya.
Kenya and Germany united in the fight against dangerous mycotoxins!
A delegation from Kenya arrived in Landau on September 22nd to work with RPTU scientists on an important project to combat aflatoxins. This group consists of four scientists, including two doctoral students from the University of Nairobi and professors Sheila Okoth (biology) and David Kariuki (chemistry). They will work for ten days on the challenges posed by the toxic and carcinogenic molds.
The collaboration between the RPTU in Landau and the University of Nairobi began in 2018 and aims to study and minimize aflatoxin contamination in Kenya's soils and crops. Aflatoxins are polyketidic mycotoxins produced primarily by fungal species of the genus Aspergillus. These substances are extremely harmful to health; they can damage DNA and lead to cancer, highlighting the urgency of research efforts. According to the WHO, exposure to mycotoxins is a global health problem, particularly in developing countries located between the 35th parallel north and south latitude reports the WHO.
Focus of the research projects
The current research is part of a follow-up project called “SolFOOD”, which runs from 2024 to 2027 and is based on the findings already gained from the previous project “AflaZ”. Dr. Katherine Muñoz Sepúlveda from RPTU highlights that the project aims to develop practical solutions. This includes training farmers to minimize aflatoxin contamination and improve food security in Kenya.
Professors Sheila Okoth and David Kariuki emphasize that they will continue to stay in Landau during their stay to both advance their doctoral topics and conduct additional research on soil quality. Dr. Christian Dorsch from RPTU underlines the long partnership with the University of Nairobi and the valuable support that the two doctoral students received.
The challenges in tropical agriculture
The delegation sees the cold, wet weather in Landau as one of the biggest challenges. The climatic conditions in Germany are significantly different from the warm and humid conditions in Kenya, which are the growth of Aspergillus. The growth of these molds can occur both before and after crops are harvested and has a significant impact on agricultural productivity.
The research results so far have already produced sustainable solutions, as David Kariuki expects. In particular, the focus is on pioneering training programs for farmers to improve the management of aflatoxins and prevent aflatoxin contamination in foods, including grains and oilseeds. Aflatoxins are very toxic and can not only cause acute poisoning, but also have long-term health consequences.
The collaboration is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Community, with the exchange of scientists taking place via the ERASMUS program. This initiative of all projects is of great importance in order to effectively combat the health threats posed by mycotoxins and to lay the foundations for better food security.