Mitigation of aflatoxin contamination of maize, groundnut, and sorghum by commercial biocontrol products in farmers’ fields across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo

Authors: BONKOUNGOU, SAÏDOU - Institute Of The Environment And Agricultural Research; DAGNO, KARIM - Institute Of Rural Economy, Bamako, Mali; BASSO, ADAMOU - National Institute Of Agronomic Research Of Niger; EKANAO, TEDIHOU - Togolese Institute Of Agronomic Research; ATEHNKENG, JOSEPH - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); AGBETIAMEH, DANIEL - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); NEYA, ADAM - Institute Of The Environment And Agricultural Research; TOURE, MAHAMA - Institute Of The Environment And Agricultural Research; TIENDREBEOGO, ASSIATA - Institute Of The Environment And Agricultural Research; KONATE, MAMADOU - Institute Of Rural Economy, Bamako, Mali; OUTANI, BIBATA - National Institute Of Agronomic Research Of Niger; KONLAMBIGUE, MATIEYEDOU - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Callicott, Kenneth; Cotty, Peter; DIENG, IBNOU - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); FALADE, TITILAYO D.O. - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); BANDYOPADHYAY, RANAJIT - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); ORTEGA-BELTRAN, ALEJANDRO - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Submitted to: CABI Agriculture and Bioscience (CABI A&B)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2024
Publication Date: 11/11/2024
Citation: Bonkoungou, S., Dagno, K., Basso, A., Ekanao, T., Atehnkeng, J., Agbetiameh, D., Neya, A., Toure, M., Tiendrebeogo, A., Konate, M., Outani, B., Konlambigue, M., Callicott, K.A., Cotty, P.J., Dieng, I., Falade, T., Bandyopadhyay, R., Ortega-Beltran, A. 2024. Mitigation of aflatoxin contamination of maize, groundnut, and sorghum by commercial biocontrol products in farmers’ fields across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience (CABI A&B). 5(106). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-024-00313-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-024-00313-3

Interpretive Summary: This article describes the development of a new aflatoxin biological control product, Aflasafe BF01, and its testing, registration, and commercial use in Burkina Faso is described. Additionally, the product was tested in Mali, Niger, and Togo, which share a regulatory scheme with Burkina Faso and several other west African countries. In all four countries, treated crops had significantly less aflatoxin than crops from untreated fields, with most crops from treated fields containing less than 4 ppb. This study documents the success of using regional aflatoxin biocontrol products rather than country-specific ones, which can speed access to the technology and provide cost savings in biocontrol production while also effectively reducing aflatoxin contamination.

Technical Abstract: Background: Aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi poses a significant threat to food security and public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Maize, groundnut, and sorghum are staple crops frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, sometimes at dangerous levels. Despite its detrimental effects, many farmers in SSA lack access to effective tools for mitigating aflatoxin contamination. Biocontrol based on atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus is an effective tool to limit aflatoxin contamination. Methods: The development, testing, registration, and commercial use of the aflatoxin biocontrol product Aflasafe BF01 for use in Burkina Faso is described. In addition, the deployment of the biocontrol technology across Mali, Niger, and Togo is documented, and for the first time, the use of aflatoxin biocontrol in sorghum is reported. Results: In all four countries, treated crops had significantly (P < 0.05) less aflatoxins than crops from untreated fields. Most treated crops met the stringent tolerance threshold for human consumption, 4 ppb total aflatoxin. Using native atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus and employing a multi-disciplinary approach, aflatoxin biocontrol products have demonstrated significant success in reducing aflatoxin in treated crops compared to untreated ones. Conclusions: This multi-year, multi-funding source study underscores the effectiveness of biocontrol strategies in mitigating aflatoxin contamination at scale, offering a regional approach for sustainable management in West Africa and potentially unlocking health and economic benefits for the region.