Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research
Project Number: 2020-42000-022-015-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2016
End Date: Aug 30, 2019
Objective:
To continue collaboration between International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and USDA/ARS in understanding aflatoxin contamination in sub-Saharan Africa and development of methods to prevent formation of aflatoxins in crops. The work will include continued efforts to develop, improve, and deploy biological control of aflatoxins.
Approach:
USDA-ARS will assist International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) both by training personnel and providing technical backstopping for activities to understand and manage aflatoxin contamination in Africa and by extending development of biological control of aflatoxins in Africa including assistance with developing manufacturing and formulations and improved agronomic practices. Selection of optimal biocontrol active ingredients will use molecular criteria and molecular techniques will be applied to identification and characterization of aflatoxin producers from Africa of mutual interest and of potential importance to aflatoxin contamination of staple crops.
