Intensification of the fight against food contamination by aflatoxins in Haiti (AFLAH project)


Reporting Organization:Universite Laval
Total Budget ($CAD):$ 1,100,879
Timeframe: January 1, 0001 - December 31, 2019
Status: Implementation
Contact Information: Patrice Dion
[email protected]

Partner & Funder Profiles


Reporting Organization


Universite Laval

Funders (Total Budget Contribution)


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Location


Country - Total Budget Allocation


Haiti - $ 1,100,879.00 (100.00%)

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Areas of Focus


Other - Total Budget Allocation


Food Security & Agriculture (50 %)

Other (50 %)

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Description


Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and carried out in partnership with a number of Haitian organizations, the AFLAH project involves identifying the conditions conducive to the adopting of sustainable solutions in combating aflatoxins in the North and North-East departments of Haiti.

Food contamination by aflatoxins is responsible for stunting in children, various nutritional problems, and liver cancer. In Haiti, aflatoxin contamination of peanuts and products derived from them is common and occurs especially during the post-harvest period, mainly during storage and processing. The AFLAH project aims to promote the health of Haiti’s population by using methods to control and reduce aflatoxins in local foods, by developing effective food quality monitoring strategies and organizing public awareness campaigns. The peanut industry is being studied in order to identify the factors that will promote the adopting of good control methods by producers, intermediaries called “Madam Saras”, artisanal processors and other players in the industry. Those methods include good techniques for drying and storing peanuts. They also involve sorting contaminated or otherwise abnormal peanuts, which requires special attention. In fact, although this practice is an effective way of reducing aflatoxin contamination, effective adoption of it requires (i) an understanding of the treatment for contaminated peanuts and (ii) developing an economically viable alternative for making use of the contaminated material. To ensure the longevity of its impacts, the project supports the capacity-building of Haitian universities for carrying out research on controlling aflatoxins. It also supports the public institutions in developing policies focused on population health and food security. Women are particularly encouraged to participate in the project in order to design and implement solutions geared to their situation and the difficulties they face.

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Target Population


Gender and age: Adult women Adult men
Total Direct Population: 730
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Outputs


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Results & Indicators


Expected Results


1. Better knowledge of women’s role in the production, processing and marketing of peanuts and their potential contribution to combating aflatoxins;

2. Support for two women’s organizations involved in producing, processing and marketing peanuts or peanut products in order to improve quality control and step up the fight against aflatoxins;

3. Support for a consumer association to encourage its involvement in combating aflatoxins, and better understanding of how a consumer association takes action in this regard;

4. Evaluation of the cost of peanut producers applying aflatoxin control methods;
5. Assessment of consumers’ willingness to pay in formal and informal markets for peanut butter that meets international standards for aflatoxin content;

6. Better understanding of how the peanut industry operates and of potential aflatoxin control points along that chain;

7. Understanding of the sources of aflatoxin contamination of maize and sorghum;
8. Process for treating contaminated peanuts through extraction and purification of the oil and incorporation of peanut meal into the feed of broiler chickens;
9. Increased capacity of the Haiti Bureau of Standards for establishing standards pertaining to aflatoxin content in foods.

Achieved Results


Unspecified

Indicators


None Selected
  • None Selected
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Associated Projects (If applicable)


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