Aflatoxin and the agriculture – nutrition nexus in Africa

Aflatoxins are a silent threat to health on the African continent. They are a group of mycotoxins – poisonous chemicals produced by fungi on crops that they colonise. Fatal in large amounts, in smaller concentrations aflatoxins harm humans, animals, birds and fish. The fungi that produce aflatoxins infect many of the cereals, legumes, oilseeds, roots, tubers, spices and nuts which are widely grown and eaten in Africa, placing aflatoxins at the very crux of the agriculture-nutrition nexus. This Technical Brief gives recommendations to fight against aflatoxins.