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Tag: food safety

  • Sustained collaboration, awareness critical for food safety —Stakeholders

    Sustained collaboration, awareness critical for food safety —Stakeholders

    Professionals in various sectors of the Food industry have stressed the need for sustained collaboration and awareness to ensure healthy citizens and a healthy economy.

    They spoke at the 18th annual conference and workshop of the Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria [MSN] in Lagos, which was held in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    MSN deals with mycotoxins, which are contaminants which affect livestock feed and agricultural products like maize, groundnut, sorghum, spices, dried melon and cassava, among others. According to the stakeholders, many issues and developments are impacting agricultural and trade practices from farming to export.

    Hence, concerted efforts on a regular basis to provide information and ensure necessary capacity and compliance with standards by all operators to address the challenges are very important.

    In her welcome address, MSN President Professor Yemisi Jeff-Agboola said food safety in the country could only be assured if it is considered as a shared responsibility rather than a solitary issue by a small group of professionals.

    Represented by the Vice President, MSN, North -Dr Danladi Abba, she said MSN demonstrated the need for collaboration by collaborating with SON for the 2025 conference and workshop because standards enforcement is important, especially if compliance with stipulated standards is ensured by all stakeholders.

    The MSN President described the Theme of the conference, ‘Mycotoxins In a Changing World: Risk, Management and Innovations’ as apt because it addressed various concerns on food safety.

    She disclosed that the risks of mycotoxins have continued to increase, with the effects of environmental realities, changes in health systems, and climate change, all of which have significantly impacted agriculture and ultimately the trading of agricultural products.

    “Today’s event is therefore not merely an academic exercise, but indeed historic because it has to do with the health and the well-being of everyone”, she added.

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    Declaring the conference open, the Director General, SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, who was represented by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Talatu Ethan, stressed that efforts at tackling the menace of mycotoxins deserved necessary support because food safety and the protection of public health are very important.

    Okeke added that tackling the menace is important for a developing country like Nigeria, which depends largely on agriculture. He therefore assured that SON would continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure standards compliance so that the country could meet local and international standards, which are necessary to boost competitiveness and international trade.

    He stated further that SON’s commitment to addressing the menace of mycotoxins was also a demonstration of the agency’s support of the ‘Nigeria First Policy’ and its desire to strengthen the national safety system.

    The DG commended MSN for shaping policy initiatives with its work and assured that SON would deepen its collaboration with MSN and other stakeholders.

    In the Keynote speech, a Trustee of MSN- Dr [Mrs] B.F. Oluwabamiwo disclosed that a quarter of agricultural products worldwide are contaminated by mycotoxins-according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO].

    She also disclosed that millions of dollars are lost yearly in global trade through the rejection of contaminated food products, identifying inadequate drying of products and poor storage of products as some of the issues deserving attention.

    These realities, she stressed, necessitated the need to share necessary information with all stakeholders, with actionable guidance starting with the farmers up to exporters. “Scientific knowledge must translate to meaningful solutions. That is the goal of today’s workshop,” Oluwabamiwo emphasised.

    She disclosed that climate change was a major issue in discussing mycotoxins because it has altered rainfall patterns and impacted temperature, among other challenges. The good news, however, she disclosed, is that “instead of waiting until contamination happens, new technology now helps us to predict, prevent, detect and manage mycotoxins much more effectively.”

    In many goodwill messages before this, the Director of Research, Edo State University, Professor Charles Adetunji, noted that the menace of mycotoxins wasn’t prevalent decades ago.

    According to him, “It is high time we reconsider indigenous knowledge. Our elders live old and have great farming stories, including preserving agricultural products for long, and harmlessly.”

    The Deputy Chairman, All Farmers Association, Farmer Sakin Agbeyewa-stated: “Today’s focus is topical, and it’s a burning issue because we must be healthy. We need to eat right to be healthy. If we do it well, our products could, on their own, replace drugs. Farming, processing, storage, consumer safety, all of these make today’s topic critical.”

    Also, a representative of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria [SMEDAN], Mrs Olaiya Elizabeth, said the workshop was a clear demonstration that Science and Standards must work together for a healthy nation and economy.

    The Representative of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) -Dr [Mrs] O. Kayode – lamented that “most of our grains and cereals are always rejected. So, this is a good development and a timely event. Processing is key, and FIIRO has the needed equipment to assist here. To the guest who just spoke on cassava, for instance, we have cassava drying equipment.”

  • Food Safety: FG, WHO push science-based reforms for safer food chain

    Food Safety: FG, WHO push science-based reforms for safer food chain

    The federal government has renewed its call for science-driven collaboration to tackle the persistent threat of unsafe food in Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need for stronger policies, innovation, and stakeholder action across the food supply chain.

    Speaking at the 2025 World Food Safety Day in Abuja on Monday, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said the heavy toll of foodborne diseases on public health and the economy demands a coordinated, evidence-based response.

    “With the theme ‘Food Safety: Science in Action’, we reaffirm our commitment to turning cutting-edge research into real-world progress. From farm to fork, every item must meet the highest safety standards,” she declared.

    Kachollom stressed that foodborne illnesses affect over 600 million people globally each year, with low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria carrying a disproportionate burden, both in human suffering and economic loss.

    Estimates place the global economic impact of unsafe food at over $110 billion annually due to lost productivity and healthcare costs.

    According to her, the Ministry has made substantial progress in embedding science into policy and enforcement, citing the revised

    National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, and the introduction of regulatory tools such as the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction and the Food Handlers’ Medical Test Guideline.

    “These initiatives set new benchmarks for consumer protection. We are actively upgrading laboratory protocols and deploying digital traceability tools to monitor food production, transportation, and retail with scientific precision,” she said.

    Kachollom added that Technical Working Groups (TWGs) have been convened to provide expert recommendations on food inspection, traceability, education, and risk assessment, key to shaping future food safety regulations.

    She also praised early gains from the sodium reduction policy, noting that some food producers have begun reformulating their products in line with healthier dietary standards.

    “Our strategy bridges science with regulation to create a sustainable, inclusive, and effective food safety system. We are not only protecting consumers today but building resilience against future risks,” she said.

    She called on stakeholders across government, industry, and civil society to serve as ambassadors of food safety, saying, “Let us return to our communities not just informed but inspired to act.

    “Together, through science and collaboration, we can ensure that every meal is safe, nutritious, and a testament to our shared responsibility.”

    In his remarks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, emphasised that science must be at the heart of national responses to foodborne diseases, which affect one in every ten people globally.

    Read Also: FG reaffirms commitment to food security

    “Underreporting and weak linkages between contamination and illness have long masked the true impact of unsafe food on health and the economy.

    “Science is the foundation of food safety. Without it, maintaining safety in today’s global food chains would be impossible,” Mulombo added.

    Represented by Dr. Pindar Wakawa, WHO Technical Officer for Nutrition in Nigeria, Mulombo highlighted WHO’s collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in developing global food safety standards and risk monitoring platforms like the Global Environment Monitoring System for Food (GEMS/Food) and the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).

    “These systems provide evidence-based tools that help countries respond to food safety threats and prevent cross-border spread of contaminated products,” he noted.

    Mulombo urged governments to invest in food safety research, enforce science-based policies, and ensure that such policies translate from the lab to the market and the dining table.

    He also called on food businesses to comply with safety regulations and adopt proven practices that protect consumer health.

    “Food safety is everyone’s responsibility. In this era of climate change and globalisation, our response must be smarter, faster, and rooted in evidence,” he added.

    Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana, the Director of the Food and Drug Department in the Ministry, echoed the importance of collective responsibility, saying every actor, from farmer to consumer, must play a role in applying scientifically proven practices.

    She noted that the theme of this year’s commemoration points to the power of science in preventing food contamination, reducing health care costs, and ultimately saving lives.

    Earlier, the National Coordinator for Food Safety and Quality Programme, John Atanda, reaffirmed the Ministry’s long-term vision for a science-led regulatory framework and called for sustained vigilance.

    While World Food Safety Day offers a moment of reflection, he said, “It is more importantly a call to action to strengthen systems and scale innovations that protect our food, our people, and our economy.”

  • Fed Govt, others partner on food safety

    Fed Govt, others partner on food safety

    The Federal Government is working with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and other relevant agencies in food and health sectors to strengthen border controls, products recall and inspection data to guarantee food safety for Nigerians.

    Chairperson of Technical Committee, Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria and the Head, Nutrition Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ladi  Bako-Aiyegbusi made this disclosure while answering journalists questions during the introduction of the GAIN’s  Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform  designed to improve  food fortification monitoring  and enhance food safety supervision.

    According to her, the government is making efforts to encourage food manufacturers and producers to recall contaminated products using a methodology that allows prioritisation of consumers’ reports based on recognised risks, adding that the idea is to sustain food safety culture.

    She explained that the DFQT+ platform represents a significant leap forward in addressing longstanding challenges within Nigeria’s food fortification ecosystem. 

    She noted that the initiative was developed with contributions from key stakeholders, which included government agencies, food producers, and technical advisory groups such as TechnoServe, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

    Additionally, prominent food producers  such as  PZ Wilmar, Sunola Oil, and Apple & Pears Limited were involved.

    While large-scale food fortification is acknowledged as the practice of incorporating vitamins or minerals into widely consumed foods, she pointed out the necessity for a data platform that would provide crucial records, including legislative details, standards, health and nutrition statistics, best practices, and regulatory information. The platform,she noted, could serve as an efficient and cost-effective solution to combat micronutrient deficiencies.

    Read Also: Reps pass Bill to establish institute of organic agriculture, food safety for second reading

    She stressed that the platform would enhance the efforts of food business operators in reinforcing systems and procedures to ensure product traceability throughout all stages of production, processing, and distribution.

    She noted that an effective traceability system is important in order to quickly and effectively manage food safety risks and to protect consumers.

    She continued that a soundly organised traceability system furthermore reduces the potential economic damage in the event of a public recall.

    A representative, GAIN London, Rami Sawas noted that the traceability platform, gives stakeholders and consumers access to verify a product fortification  claims at every supply chain checkpoint as well as help policy makers and experts understand data which is necessary to track global progress ,empowering them to make informed decisions that align with their values.

    He maintained that the fundamental aims of the Digital Lab include its proficiency in monitoring the quality of fortification, obtaining vital feedback for future advancements, and fostering greater voluntary participation across various food production sectors.

    He pointed out that the DFQT+ platform addresses several pressing challenges in food fortification, such as weak enforcement mechanisms, insufficient transparency, limited traceability, and resource constraints.

     He noted that the platform compiles and visualises fortification data, employing digital tools and robust IT systems to ensure effective information sharing throughout the food production value chain.

    The event attracted participants from a wide array of Nigeria’s food and nutrition ecosystem, including producers from sectors like edible oil, wheat flour, sugar, salt, and margarine.

  • Workshop on food safety holds

    Workshop on food safety holds

    To mark World Food Safety Week, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with London Professional Training Centre in Lagos, has hosted International World Food Safety Workshop: “Prepare for the Unexpected.”

     The workshop  drew 100 in-person attendees and 500 virtual participants from states.

     The event is to raise awareness about importance of food safety and equip food handlers with knowledge and skills to tackle unexpected challenges in food industry. Convener, Malvis Humphrey, said the event focused on best practices, trends, and novel solutions.

     It provided a platform for experts, policymakers, and industry professionals to engage in discussions and share knowledge.

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     The workshop  began with a market sensitisation in Lagos and included school sensitisation in two Lagos schools, targeting junior and senior secondary pupils.

    Key highlights included interactive discussions,  presentations, case studies, and hands-on demonstrations.

     Participants learnt from experts, and network with peers, enhancing their understanding of food safety practices and protocols.

    Speakers, including representatives from the ministry and international organisations dedicated to promoting food safety and public health, delivered keynote addresses.

     The sessions noted importance of robust food safety measures and collaborations in ensuring public health.

    Free food handlers’ tests were provided to attendees by a sponsored partner organisation, reinforcing the workshop’s commitment to improving food safety standards.

  • FG, USG, partner express commitment to food safety

    FG, USG, partner express commitment to food safety

    The federal government has stepped up its determination to curb the incidence of diseases and deaths from unsafe food by launching a national policy and establishing four Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on food safety.

    While assuring Nigerians of its commitment to food safety, the government emphasised the institutionalization of global best practices and standards in the food value chain, from farm to table, in collaboration with development partners.

    The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made this commitment in Abuja on Friday during the commemoration of this year’s World Food Safety Day, themed “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected.”

    He stated that the government’s resolve is driven by a World Health Organization (WHO) report indicating that 1 in 10 people worldwide fall ill from contaminated food each year, with over 200 diseases caused by eating contaminated food.

    According to WHO, 40 percent of the food-borne disease burden is carried by children under 5 years of age.

    Pate emphasised that launching the national policy and forming the four TWGs in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a step in the right direction.

    Pate, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said this year’s theme for World Food Safety Day is a clarion call to action, reminding us that vigilance is essential for our sustenance.

    He said: “We live in a world of unpredictability, where the unexpected lurks around every corner. It is not just the menace of foodborne diseases that we battle, but the unforeseen events that can compromise the integrity of our food supply.

    Read Also: Nestlé reiterates commitment to food safety in Africa

    “From natural disasters that devastate crops to the menacing power of climate change, from the accidental contamination of a trusted food source to deliberate adulteration for profit, the threats are as varied as they are frightening. In the face of daunting challenges, our resolve remains unshaken.

    “Preparedness is not just a watchword but our steadfast shield against the unpredictable tides of adversity.”

    Kelly Scavella, Programme Manager, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), reiterated that the United States government is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to help build food safety systems relevant to consumers, producers, and regulators.

    According to her, the TWGs were set up to modernize Nigeria’s food safety regulatory framework in line with international best practices to address food safety concerns and facilitate the development of a strong agriculture and food industry.

    “Over the last decade, the Nigerian government has implemented important changes to bolster food safety by examining and enhancing critical components of the national food safety control system.

    “Harnessing the expertise of the TWGs aligns with the core mission of World Food Safety Day, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in safeguarding food and feed safety,” she noted.

    WHO’s country representative, Walter Mulombo, represented at the event, called for a concerted effort from everyone in the food value chain to commit to food safety.

    He noted that the hazards of a breach in food safety have no borders and can escalate from a local emergency to a global crisis.

    He urged governments at all levels, farmers, vendors, and consumers to commit to food safety to reduce food-borne diseases.

    The TWGs are mandated to provide expertise and leadership to drive effective communication, capacity building, and strategic partnerships among stakeholders, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and harmonize Nigeria’s regulatory environment and risk-based food safety systems.

    The groups are expected to also improve industry engagement in national regulatory processes and compliance with international food safety standards.

  • Stakeholders urge National Assembly to pass ‘Food Safety and Quality Bill’

    Stakeholders urge National Assembly to pass ‘Food Safety and Quality Bill’

    Stakeholders have appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the National Food Safety and Quality Bill 2019 into law. They made the appeal in Abuja at the validation workshop on the Draft National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan 2023. The Director and National Coordinator, Food and Safety Programme, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr John Atanda, said that the policy, which was being validated needed the necessary legislation to help in its implementation.

     According to him, the bill supposed to take care of the existing gaps in food safety quality and also gave responsibility to every tier of government. “This bill is supposed to complement the policy to give it more strength and a powerful transformation to food safety in Nigeria. Based on the provision of this policy when it was first developed in 2015, it was set to modernise Nigeria food safety structure. So there was a need to have a legislation to back it up and the National Food Safety and Health Committee that was established by the provision of this policy developed the National Food Safety and Quality Bill. It went to Federal Executive Council and was approved and then transmitted to the National Assembly. It passed through all the legislative process and was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent but was not assented to before the expiration of his administration.”

     Speaking on the essence of the policy being validated, he said that it was to provide an overarching framework for food safety and security in the country. Atanda said that it would address the issue of regulation for those that it is intended for. The Director, Food and Drug Services, Mrs Olubunmi Aribeana, in an address, said that in Nigeria, research had shown that over 200,000 people reportedly died from food poisoning and contamination annually. Represented by Mrs Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, Head, Food, Chemical Cosmetics and Water Safety Division, she added that Nigeria needed a more robust and comprehensive policy to strengthen the food safety and quality sector of the country, hence the need for the validation.

    “The Federal Government in January 2015 in partnership with the critical stakeholders in the food sector, inaugurated the National Policy on Food Safety and its Implementation Strategy (NPFSIS). This was to provide the government with the needed framework and to modernise the national food safety control system in line with international standards. Based on government determination to modernise and strengthen its National Food Safety Control and Management System in line with global best practices and standards, the ministry and its partners have reviewed the existing National Food Safety Policy document, to address the identified inherent gaps.

    Read Also: Stakeholders seek regulatory policy to close food safety gaps

     “This version will provide the framework for upgrading national capacity to develop and operate an integrated food safety control system to achieve more effective collaboration and coordination between agencies responsible for food quality control system in Nigeria.”

     The Executive Director, Nigeria, Resolve to Save Lives, an NGO, Mrs Nanlop Ogbureke, hoped that the document would provide an opportunity and the potential to work on the health outcomes of our country. “The collaborative and the multisector angle to pushing forward this policy is very critical, so we hope that with validating this policy, we will be able to push together to ensure that the bill gets signed.”

     For the Assistant Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, NAFDAC, Mrs Felicitas Anyanwu, implementation of the policy is key to achieving the set targets. “There are so many policies but implementation is very important so at NAFDAC we are always ready to collaborate towards the implementation of any policy that is within our mandate. Also, we promise to do all to ensure that food safety is taken very seriously in Nigeria. Safeguarding the public health is important and food safety is key to achieving that”, she added.

     The USAID, Advancing Nutrition Project, Technical Advisor, Mr Micheal Eveshoyan, said that the project works to ensure food safety and nutritious foods are available for all Nigerians for productivity and resilience. “We say that no food is nutritious if the food is not safe, therefore, we say that food safety is also  paramount in advancing nutrition.” According to him, it is hoped that once the policy is validated, the action plan would be followed to ensure that Nigerians have a document to protect what they eat.

  • Stakeholders seek regulatory policy to close food safety gaps

    Stakeholders seek regulatory policy to close food safety gaps

    Stakeholders in the agriculture and health sector have called for an effective regulatory, institutional and policy framework that will address the gaps in food and feed safety systems for the sector to thrive.

    Speaking at the Food and Feed Safety expertise coordination workshop in Abuja yesterday, the CEO Designate, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr Tayo Aduloju, said the frameworks will not only improve the well-being of citizens but also impact Nigeria’s position in international trade.

    Aduloju noted that the country has over 70 million hectares of agricultural land, which is a massive potential for economic growth and development.

    He stated that the private sector plays a crucial role in the agricultural value chain, enhancing productivity, opening markets, and attracting investment. Their active involvement in food and feed safety, he said, will also improve food quality for consumption and trade.

    He said: ”To benefit effectively from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), reforming food and feed safety systems in Nigeria is inevitable.

    ”There is still work to be done in the ecosystem, and today, I will again reiterate the importance of collaboration, coordination and cooperation to achieve our desired goals”.

    Earlier, The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Ali Pate, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Operations, Mr Emmanuel Odu, said the ministry is making deliberate efforts to ensure it attains the required National Health Security Status in Nigeria.

    Pate noted that the Ministry is about to validate the revised National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan, 2023 as well as the launching of the first National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response.

    Read Also: ‘Embrace artificial intelligence to enhance food safety’

    He said the revised policy will look at new and emerging areas that will improve the regulatory, enforcement and data-gathering system to ensure it is more effective, efficient, and robust.

     He however said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare prioritises Food Safety as a serious element of public health that requires concerted efforts.

     Also, the Counsellor for Agriculture Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Christopher Bielecki said, over the last decade, the Nigerian government has implemented important changes to increase food safety by examining and enhancing critical components of the national food safety control system.

        He said priority areas for continuing modernisation of the food safety regulatory system will be emphasised over the course of the preparation of the Food Safety and Quality Bill and later prioritised by the competent authorities during and following a workshop held in December 2022.

         The workshop is jointly organised by the NESG, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA), the USDA, and the University of Missouri (MU) as part of the Africa Food Safety Initiative.

  • ‘Embrace artificial intelligence to enhance food safety’

    ‘Embrace artificial intelligence to enhance food safety’

    A food safety expert and pioneer president of the Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MSN), Prof Stephen Fapohunda, has called for the immediate application of artificial intelligence (AI) in food safety activities in the country. 

    Fapohunda made the remark while addressing the 16th annual MSN conference hosted by the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.

    A statement from MSN qouted Fapohunda who was the lead speaker as saying that there was the need for stakeholders to embrace AI to be abreast of global research and development in food and nutrition systems.

    Fapohunda said the emerging AI–powered tools are capable of advancing and transforming food safety practices and outcomes “thereby ensuring that the food we consume is safe and of the highest quality”.

    He added: “Virtually all aspects of mycotoxin research are now positively influenced by AI.”

    The statement reads: “The food safety activist listed critical areas of achieving cheaper and faster outcomes as the on-field prediction and detection of fungi and mycotoxins, analyses of food samples by intelligent equipment, smart targeting using drones to broadcast bio-pesticides, removal of mycotoxins from animal feed as well as data analysis and report writing.

    “Fapohunda recalled that Nigeria still has an unresolved food safety issue with the European Union (EU) since 2015 and called for a conscious and holistic effort to align the country with the UN by preventing food fraud through compliance with set standards on contaminants.

    “He hailed recent contribution of the EU in supporting five Nigerian universities to run a programme in AI.

    “MSN president, Dr Yemisi Agboola said Mycotoxicology is an evolving field that requires members to remain at the forefront of innovations.

    Read Also: NAFDAC partners varsity on research, food safety, others

    “She listed a few activities of the society in the past year, including participating in the making of the National  Food Safety law, collaborating with USDA on food safety systems in Nigeria,  contributions at the World Mycotoxin forum that was held recently in Antwerp, Belgium, as well as the increased awareness among Nigerians.

    “The chief host and vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi expressed willingness to support every research that can enhance the quality of human health and promote the university’s image. He also pledged to support MSN activities in future.

    “The president of the International Society for Mycotoxicology (ISM), Prof Sarah de Saeger, said there is need for the reduction of mycotoxins in foods to enhance human health and to align with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). De Saeger who addressed the conference virtually reiterated the willingness of the international body to partner with the MSN at all times to achieve the global goal of food safety.

    “Other speakers were Prof Chibundu Ezekiel, Dr Jannie Dubois (USA) and Dr Carol Verheecke-Vaessen (Cranfield, UK). The highlight of the event was the presentation of an award to Taiwo Adesina, a post-graduate Microbiology student of the University of Ibadan, who cleared all the available prizes from the ISM, World Mycotoxin Journal and the MSN.

    “The event was attended by farmers, feed millers, commodity traders, researchers, regulatory agencies, solution providers and exporters.”