Kenyan and German Researchers Join Forces in the Fight Against Aflatoxins

A delegation from the University of Nairobi (UoN) recently traveled to Landau, Germany, to advance a long-standing joint research project with Rheinland-Pfalz Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU). The collaborative effort, which began in 2018 with the "AflaZ" project, is now in its follow-up phase, "SolFOOD" (2024-2027), aimed at combating aflatoxins—highly toxic and carcinogenic molds that contaminate Kenyan soils and staple foods, particularly maize.

The main goal is to improve food security and greatly support the health of Kenya's population, since food safety directly affects public health.

The project features a practical, solution-focused approach. Researchers have already succeeded in reducing aflatoxin contamination in soil and during harvest storage by providing direct training to farmers. The current focus is on creating solutions to decontaminate affected crops.

The recent delegation, which arrived on September 22, included UoN Professors Sheila Okoth (Biology) and David Kariuki (Chemistry), along with two doctoral students. The professors spent ten days strengthening the partnership, while the graduate students will stay for an entire semester to conduct additional soil research at RPTU labs.

This ability to reliably support two doctoral students from UoN is a crucial development aimed at strengthening the collaboration.

The flagship initiative involves interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration, including UoN's Environmental and Soil Chemistry Working Group and Chemistry Education Working Group (focusing on risk literacy). Knowledge translation for practical use is further supported by the Julius Kühn Institute and its Kenyan partner, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

Funding and Support: The project receives funding from the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Homeland Security, while the ERASMUS program supports the student exchange.

Prof. David Kariuki emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, "Together, we have already developed solutions that we have sustainably integrated into the population." The partnership is characterized by mutual respect and a shared goal of strengthening the longstanding, productive relationship.