Business economics group contributes to research on improving food safety in Africa

No single African country is on track to achieve all the global nutrition targets by 2030, according to the United Nations. Africa remains the worst- affected region, with one in five people facing hunger on the continent, more than twice the global average. As part of the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) was endorsed in 2017. FNSSA aims at stimulating joint AU-EU research and innovation activities in the field of nutrition and health.

Responding to the challenge of reducing food contaminants, in particular mycotoxins, for a greater food safety and fewer zoonotic and food-borne diseases, Ghent University and consortium partners have been awarded an
European Horizon grant -the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation- to implement project UP-RISE: EU-AU Partnership for Resilient, Inclusive and Safe food systems for Everyone.

Fermented foods value chains
The project aims to provide new knowledge for understanding mycotoxin contamination in the informal sector, prediction of mycotoxin contamination, improving risk assessment tools to strengthen regulatory frameworks,
and developing innovative tools for reducing mycotoxin contamination in fermented food value chains, thereby aiming for safe food systems for all.

Prof. Sarah De Saeger and Prof. Siska Croubels from Ghent University will be leading the EU funded project for the next four years. Both have an outstanding track record of research in the field of food safety and mycotoxin research, and have exceptional experience collaborating with African countries.

“The UP-RISE Horizon Europe project will respond to one of the greatest global food safety challenges – mycotoxins. UP-RISE will unite EU and AU multi-stakeholders in the transformative process for a safer food supply
for all”.

Prof. Sarah De Saeger, Project Coordinator, Ghent University, Belgium

“Leveraging our EU-AU network, UP-RISE guarantees sustainability through Training Hubs and an Accelerator Platform, which will ultimately contribute to the Food Safety Strategy for Africa”.

Prof. Siska Croubels, Project Coordinator, Ghent University, Belgium