No More Thirsty Crops

27 September 2016. Mountain View, California. Johannesburg schoolgirl Kiara Nirghin, 16, won the Google Science Fair's Community Impact Award for the Middle East and Africa with her submission "No More Thirsty Crops." The Google Science Fair is a global online science and technology competition for individuals and teams ages 13-18. Te Awards Show was streamed live on 27/09.

Using orange peel and avocado skins, the precocious student created a super absorbent polymer (SAP) capable of storing reserves of water hundreds of times its own weight, forming reservoirs that would allow farmers to maintain their crops at minimal cost. The polymer has the added benefit of sustainability as it uses recycled and biodegradable waste products.

"Kiara found an ideal material that won't hurt the budget in simple orange peel, and through her research, she created a way to turn it into soil-ready water storage with help from the avocado," Andrea Cohan, program leader of the Google Science Fair.

Nirghin’s invention is sure to alleviate the effects of drought, not just in South Africa, but in several other countries around the world. It will also help countries manage the effects of climate change for years to come. As stated in her research report titled ‘Combatting drought with a Low-Cost, biodegradable Superabsorbent Polymer made out of orange peels,’ Nirghin discovered, that naturally occurring polymers exist in most citrus fruits.

"I started researching what an SAP was, and what they all had in common was a chain molecule polysaccharide. I found that orange peel has 64% polysaccharide and also the gelling agent pectin, so I saw it as a good (option). I used avocado skin due to the oil." Kiara Nirghin

The teenager combined the skin and peel and left the mixture in the sun, where they reacted together to form the powerfully absorbent polymer. See the project

Programming experiences and future options for bi-regional research cooperation in food security

19 September 2016. CAAST-Net Plus released a new report analysing "programming experiences and future options for bi-regional research cooperation in food security".

"This report would be beneficial to all those involved in the creation, funding and coordination of ST and I multilateral collaborative initiatives, notably as part of large-scale EU programmes. We wanted to see what lessons could be learned from similar efforts already underway or concluded so as to avoid mistakes made previously and ensure we followed the best practices possible when attempting the establishment of a new cooperative venture between the EU and Africa and operating in the field of FNS," Johan Viljoen of the French National Institute for Research for Sustainable Development (IRD) (formerly the Institute for Research for Development).

Programming mechanisms reviewed in the report include the EU's INCO-NET, BILAT, and ERA-NET projects as well as the so-called Article 185 and Joint Programming initiatives.

"Within the framework of the EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue on science, technology and innovation (HLPD), food and nutrition security constitutes a priority area for scientific collaboration between Africa and Europe. As a result, this is the perfect moment for a retrospective of the major cooperative instruments having operated between the two continents and to consider the extent to which these would be suitable for addressing the theme of FNS." Dr Jean Albergel of the French National Institute for Research for Sustainable Development (IRD)

Highlight:Kenya Market-led Dairy Programme

The Kenya Market-led Dairy Programme (KMDP) is a 5.5 year programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (planned end date:  28-Feb-2018).

The programme started on 1 July 2012 and is implemented by SNV in collaboration with stakeholders in the dairy industry. The overall goal of KMDP is to contribute to the development of a vibrant and competitive dairy sector with beneficiaries across the value chain. KMDP acknowledges and appreciates that the dairy industry in Kenya is private sector driven.

KMDP has two pillars or strategic levels of intervention:

1. Dairy Value Chain: Increase efficiency, effectiveness and inclusiveness of the dairy value chain
2. Sector issues: Promote/support interventions and innovations that address systemic issues

ComCashew wins OECD-DAC Prize

9 March 2016. The Competitive Cashew initiative (ComCashew) won the OECD-DAC prize “Takinginnovation to scale” in Paris. Mary Adzanyo, ComCashew/GIZ Director Private Sector Development and Helene Widmer, ComCashew/GIZ Project Manager received the award on behalf of the initiative. ACi (now ComCashew) was among three winners from 43 applicants.

The other two winners were ReadyPay Solar and Plantwise. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) aims at promoting policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Prize “Taking innovation to scale” was, therefore, instituted to acknowledge the efforts of organisations which have taken an innovative approach, instrument or mechanism.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) aims at promoting policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Prize “Taking innovation to scale” was, therefore, instituted to acknowledge the efforts of organisations which have taken an innovative approach, instrument or mechanism beyond the pilot phase to wider application. The award event is organized to appreciate projects which improve the lives of people and also bridge existing developmental gaps in society.

The Competitive Cashew initiative (previously ACi) has since 2009, pursued the mission of improving the livelihood of African cashew farmers through aiding them to receive better returns for their produce. So far, ComCashew has trained over 414,508 farmers in five African countries- Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Mozambique to produce better quality raw cashew nuts and in larger quantities. These 414,508 trained farmers earn an additional USD 600 family income (corresponding to USD 120 net income) annually, exceeding the set goal by 10%.

The initiative has encouraged local processing which has increased the revenue derived by the African cashew sector. ComCashew has also supported processing factories to produce nuts which meet international standards and this has increased demand for African nuts on European and US markets. The third phase of ComCashew’s project, which began in May 2016, shall expand to more countries in Africa and the Caribbean with the aim of reaching about one million farmers. It will also further encourage intercropping on cashew farms and farmer business.


Related:
This 6th edition thus celebrates ComCashew for winning the OECD DAC Prize Award. The Master Training Program (MTP), Which what leden ComCashew and its partners to create a pool of experts cashew in West Africa is so featured. The third edition of the program has Brought together over 90 participants from over 10 countries in Africa. The first and second sessions were held in May and August 2016.

This year, the African cashew sector has Attracted the interest of major policymakers and Hence, experienced a significant amount of change. The bulletin THEREFORE, highlights the policies Which havebeen Formulated and Implemented in the cashew sector of various African cashew-producing countries. It also features a yield survey of the five project countries in Which Operates ComCashew thus revealed some interesting facts about the harvest season this year.

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures: addressing the challenges

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures: addressing the challenges

24 pages

ISBN: 978-92-79-51992-5

Published in 2016, this publication summarises European Commission (EC) experience with projects in the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) field. It is meant to support colleagues involved in the design and implementation of such projects, particularly those working in EU Delegations.

SPS measures or standards are increasingly employed in the context of international development cooperation. They are important for international trade, and play a crucial role in trade between developing countries. Agricultural and livestock products are the dominant source of export revenue for many developing countries, especially for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other small and vulnerable developing countries, including those dependent on commodities. While tariff barriers to the EU have been lowered for developing countries and abolished for LDCs, the requirements needed to fulfil international SPS standards are complex and may be hard to meet because of inadequate capacity or resources. This thematic review of EU technical assistance activities in the SPS area has been prepared by members of the Inter-Service Group on SPS.

Agribusiness development in Small Island Developing States

21 September 2016. Brussels. The Brussels Development Briefing n.46 on the subject of “Agribusiness development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): the potential of tourism-related markets” was held at the ACP Secretariat. It was organised by CTA in collaboration with the European Commission / DEVCO, Concord and the ACP Secretariat.

The Briefing promoted exchange of views and experiences around the lessons learnt from linking agribusinesses to the tourism markets in small island economies and paid particular attention to the key role of chefs as drivers of change for the development of food tourism. The event also discussed the enabling policy environment and opportunities for agritourism development. This Briefing build upon work accomplished by the organisers in collaboration with other partners across ACP small island economies in support of agritourism and agribusiness development, the most recent being the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum.

Panel 1: Development of Agribusiness and tourism linkages in SIDS

This panel provided an overview of the current status of agribusiness in ACP SIDS, and rationale for linking to tourism markets.

• Chair: H.E Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, Ambassador of Samoa, Coordinator of the ACP SIDS Platform
• Linking agriculture, tourism and health though Agritourism policy-setting ; Howard Aru, Director General of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Vanuatu
• Towards an agritourism strategy for Samoa: strengths and opportunities ; Papali’i Sonja Hunter, CEO, Samoa Tourism Authority and Chair of the SPTO
• Best practices in agritourism across the Caribbean ; Ena Harvey, Expert in Agritourism, IICA, Caribbean
• Linking agribusiness to tourism-related markets through quality iconic products ; Winston Stona, Managing Director, Busha Browne/Walkers Wood Caribbean Foods, Jamaica

Panel 2: Linking agriculture and tourism though collaboration with Chefs
This panel looked at specific examples of successful Chefs who promote local food to tourism markets and are ambassadors of the local and regional cuisine.

• Linking farmers to the tourism markets and promoting Pacific cuisine ; Robert Oliver, Chef, Author and Television Presenter, The Pacific
• Opportunities in supporting the local industry and promoting agritourism ; Charlotte Chan Mow, Chef, The Orator Hotel, Samoa
• Celebrating Caribbean cuisine and culinary skills for youth ; Peter Edey, Executive Chef, Barbados
• Promoting local food and rich Haiti’s gastronomy ; Stephan Berrouet-Durand, Executive Chef, Culinary by Design, Haiti
• Foodscape and food tourism in the Caribbean ; Rosemary Parkinson, Culinary Author & Contributor, the Caribbean

Integrated Seed Sector Development

19-20 September 2016. Nairobi. The Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa (ISSD Africa) project, in collaboration with partners such as the Centre for Development innovation (CDI) of the Netherlands-based Wageningen University and Research and Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development of Egerton University, Kenya, brought together seed experts from around the continent, government agencies, as well as donors and development partners.

This conference presented the synthesised findings of two years of action research across ten countries. Almost 100 participants from a wide array of African and global organisations came together to learn about the activities and findings of the ISSD Africa programme and collaboratively set the agenda for future ISSD work at the continental level. Sessions focused on lessons learned and entry points for future work and linkages and be based on the four prescribed themes of ISSD Africa. Read more on these themes here
The conference created a platform to share the outcomes of a two-year piloting phase, alongside the discussions on how to translate these findings into change agendas. ISSD Africa project’s goal is to support the development of a market-oriented, pluralistic, vibrant and dynamic seed sector in Africa that provides both female and male smallholder farmers access to quality seed of superior varieties.

"The lack of quality affects agricultural productivity, income resilience and livelihoods of

smallholders. Smallholder farmers face challenges in getting reliable access to sufficient quantities of quality seed of superior varieties and that impacts negatively on their productivity, earnings and livelihoods” Miltone Ayieko, regional coordinator for the Kenya-based  project

"Africa requires seed entrepreneurship that responds to demands by farmers, agro-dealers, service providers and others in the seed value chain. Entrepreneurship and market-orientation are important incentives for sustainable development” Marja Thijssen, the ISSD Africa Project Coordinator based at the Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) -Wageningen UR

Background:
Integrated Seed Sector Development
In partnership with Centre for Development Innovation (CDI), KIT is involved in country-specific Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania and Mozambique, as well as in cross-border programmes under the auspices of the African Union.

programmes in

The Pilot Phase of ISSD Africa is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. Executive Coordination is in the hands of a consortium comprised of an African-based Secretariat in close collaboration with the Centre of Development Innovation (CDI) of Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR), the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) and the Future Agricultures Consortium, (see Programme Structure figure hereunder). Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development in Nairobi Kenya (the policy research institute of Egerton University), hosts the African-based Secretariat. 

The two-year piloting phase began in September 2014 with the following four priorities:
access to varieties in the public domain:

1. common challenges in promoting entrepreneurship in seed value chains
2. matching global commitments with national realities, and
3. supporting the missions of the Africa Union Commission (AUC), Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Africa Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP) and 
4. development of the seed sector.

USAID Horticulture Programming in Feed the Future

8-9 September 2016, Sepang Utara, Malaysia. USAID Mission horticulture programming

Extract:

1. Horticulture in Tanzania: Richard Pluke
2. AFRICAN TRADITIONAL VEGETABLES ‐ HORTICULTURE INNOVATION LAB ‐ RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: Jim Simon
3. UNDERUSED VEGETABLES ‐ WORLDVEG: Roland Schafleitner
4. SCALING SEED KITS THROUGH HOME GARDENS ‐ WORLDVEG: Stuart Brown
5. HORT PROGRAMMING FOR NUTRITION ‐ HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL: Nancy Haselow
6. HORTICULTURE OPPORTUNITES AND NEEDS ‐ HORTICULTURE INNOVATION LAB ‐ UC DAVIS: Beth Mitcham
7. CAN URBANIZATION BE THE A GRAND OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL ECONOMIC GROWTH? Peter Richards

Feed the Future Horticulture in East Africa

• Continued support for horticulture 
• Promotion of ‘Market Access’ approach by contractors 
• Focus on accelerated adoption of technologies 
• Focus on youth and the employment and income generation opportunities 
• Integration of horticulture into nutrition initiatives 
• Capacity building of SMEs in the VC

Recommendations 

• Continue extension and sensitization programs to reach a tipping point in the adoption of improved production practices and commercial philosophies 
• Support the growth & maturation of the value chain (e.g. training & certification of service providers) while promoting opportunities for women and youth. 
• Integrate F&V nutrition initiatives into broader community programs & understand their utilization better. 
• Measure: indirect impacts, SMEs involvement & effectiveness.

Tropentag 2016

18 - 21 September 2016.Vienna, Austria. Organised by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU Vienna), this year's theme  Tropentag is 'Solidarity in a competing world - fair use of resources' and the call for papers addresses prospective procedures for solidarity and the fair use of increasingly scarce natural and non‐renewable resources around the world.

Focus iss given to the rising demand for food, fiber, feed and fuel to cover the needs of a growing world population and to innovative sustainable
practices, e.g. organic farming, and new economies and policies.

Extract of the programme

16 pre-conference workshops were organisedWorkshop 5: Empowering smallholders through multi-stakeholder platforms and value chains
Organisers: Peter Ballantyne, Michael Peters, Tom Randolph, Barbara Rischkowsky, CGIAR

Livestock and Fish Program

• „More meat, milk and fish for and by the poor “, during this interactive workshop CGIAR presented the results of their five-year research in developing countries, encouraging to ask critical and challenging questions in order to improve their model.
• Background of the experiment is the increasing demand of livestock in developing countries, where smallholders currently provide about 70% of livestock produce. While the production of livestock thus offers great business opportunities, smallholders are often not part of this transition. CGIAR, in this “very expensive experiment”, tried to develop models, strategies and technologies to empower smallholders and women, ensure food security and improve health and environmental issues, amongst others.

Presentations

• Agricultural Cooperatives as Innovation Brokers: The Case
  
  of Climate Smart Agriculture in Uganda
  Abstract (ID 992 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf) — poster (pdf)
• Building Trust and Collaboration through Co-Learning - Multi-Stakeholder Platforms for Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming in Tanzania
  Abstract (ID 1135 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf)  — poster (pdf) 
• Trust as Integral to Multi-Stakeholder Processes for Dairy Value Chain Improvement
  Abstract (ID 1053 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf)  — poster (pdf) 
• The Formation of Organisational Networks in Emerging Economy: the Case of Agribusiness Incubators
  Abstract (ID 544 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf) — poster (pdf)
• Plant Residue-Derived Organic Carbon Input into Soil in African Indigenous Vegetable Production Systems
  Abstract (ID 834 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf)
• Strategies of African Indigenous Vegetables to Cope with Phosphorus Deficient Soils
  
  
  Abstract (ID 831 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf) — poster (pdf)
• Do Unique Farmer Trader Relations Enhance Resilience: Case of Greengram Markets in Mbeere County, Kenya
  Abstract (ID 554 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf) — poster (pdf)
• Association of On-Farm Animal Feeds Handling Practices with Growth of Mycotoxin Producing Molds in Feeds on Smallholder Dairy Farms in Nakuru, Kenya
  Abstract (ID 814 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf)  — poster (pdf) 
• Dietary Exposure to Mycotoxins and Risk Assessment for Adult Consumers of Locally Processed Rice from Nigeria
  Abstract (ID 1152 ): Web-Version (html) — Print Version (pdf) 

Regional forum on Climate Smart Agriculture

13–15 September 2016. Johannesburg.  To support the implementation of a new flagship project to bring climate-smart solutions to farmers and build genuine synergies with partners, CTA co-organised a regional planning meeting ‘Scaling-Up Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions for Cereals and Livestock Farmers in Southern Africa – Building partnership for successful implementation’.

The planning meeting discussed the business case for the engagement of private sector in the scaling up of climate-smart practices. It will also assess the existing level of use mobile communications, ICT, knowledge management and extension tools to disseminate agricultural information to smallholder farmers. Participants draw from partner organisations, the private sector, farmers' organisations, banks and financial sector players, mobile and ICT operators, and national and regional government institutions. The meeting will lead to detailed implementation strategies for scaling-up each of the solutions in the region.

• Read the blog posts written by the social reporters at the event
• Read 'Climate Solutions that Work for Farmers'
• Read the article 'Drought study reveals dire results for farmers', in the Southern African Federation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) newsletter

GODAN Summit 2016

15 - 16 September  2016. GODAN organised a global summit in 2016 for all its partners to move forward the agenda for open data in agriculture and nutrition. This follows a very successful partners' meeting in January 2015. The Summit brought together world leaders, researchers, farmers, students and others united around a collaboration on agriculture and nutrition data openness.

the GODAN Action project has published a global map of standards relevant to the exchange of agriculture and nutrition data. The GODAN Action partners are now calling on their network of experts to contribute to this new global map.

We are building on two existing portals: the AIMS VEST Registry of FAO and the AgroPortal of University of Montpellier / Stanford University, so we aren’t starting from scratch or duplicating efforts. We are looking for the community to drive improvements to the platform. We want this map to be maintained beyond the end of the project, as a common asset of the community working with agricultural and nutrition data.

Willy Bett Cabinet Secretary

Min.Agric Kenya

Extract of the programme:

Precision Agriculture: How Could Open Data Revolutionize Farm Productivity?
This session explored precision agriculture – farming practices based in information and technology that allow farmers to manage fields in a site-specific manner. It assessed at how open data can enable emerging precision agriculture technologies in a variety of contexts, from smallholder- to larger-scale growing operations across developed and developing regions.

Agricultural Data as Public Good for Africa’s Prosperity
The session explored agricultural transformation that could leverages connectivity and mobile devices to deliver critical information (soil, crop, weather), market facilitation and financial services.

Communicating Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition
For the agricultural sector, the use of data visualisation tools can help reveal important trends and different variables such as environmental factors, geographic location yield percentage, types of products, seed care data that effect changes to crop and yields. Nowadays, there are many data visualisation tools and software programmes open source and free that can give decision support for policy-makers, researchers, farmers for better planning. This session outlined some of the agriculture open data visualisation tools providing information on agricultural science and technology.

International Phytosanitary Conference

Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Richard Lesiyampe (centre)

KEPHIS MD Dr. Esther Kimani (right)

Khamis Chome Abdi, a member of the Board of Directors (left)

12-16 September 2016. Nairobi, Kenya. Some 100 participants attended the 2016 International Phytosanitary Conference held at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) headquarters.

Mr. Klaus Gauch, the European Union 

Acting Head of Co-operation

The participants came from Botswana, Burundi, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the hosts, Kenya. There are also participants from National Plant Protection Organizations, government departments,
multinational organizations and agencies and Industry including IITA, AATF, Real IPM, Sygenta, International Flower Trade Association, Monsanto, CIMMYT, CABI as well as local and international universities.

Extracts of the programme:

• Ralf Lopian, Finland NPPO (Key note address): The initiative to declare 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health: Impacts and opportunities for authorities, private enterprises and phytosanitary research
  
  "It is anticipated that the observance of the IYPY will lead to better trade opportunities. More plant health related research activities are needed to address new challenges in plant health. It is wished that the decline in plant health research of the past years is turned around and that the IYPH will cause improved national, regional and international research coordination and a stronger prominence of plant health related research projects in national research budgets".
• Dr. Lorna Migiro and Dr. Washington Otieno, CABI Kenya: Pest surveillance and pesticide
  
  risk reduction - the role of Plantwise, an interactive system for agricultural advisory service
• AshaBakari Mohamed & Charity Mutegi (IITA): Managing sanitary barriers to trade: Controlling aflatoxin producing Aspergillusflavus S-strain in lower Eastern using atoxigenic A. flavus L-strain (Aflasafe KE01)
  
  "Efficacy of atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus L-strain to manage aflatoxin production was
  
  determined by application of impregnated sorghum seeds in maize fields at seventh leaf growth stage and maize grains sampled at harvest. Maize samples had high levels (61.8%) of A. flavus S-strain than other Aspergillus species. The A. flavus S-strain isolates produced high levels of aflatoxin B1 of up to 22,000 ng/g in maize in vitro. However, field application of atoxigenic A. flavus L-strain competitively excluded the aflatoxin producing A. flavus S-strain by up to 77% and reduced aflatoxin level in the harvested maize grains by 47%. The study showed that Aflasafe KE01 is a promising biocontrol product in shifting the population of toxigenic strains of Aspergillus section Flavi and subsequently reducing aflatoxin levels in maize."
• Dr. Henry Wainwright, Real IPM, Kenya: The role of bio-pesticides in management of
  
  Phytosanitary challenges : Real IPM Kenya‟s commercial experience in the development of a biological control programme for fruit flies for mangoes in Kenya
• Dr. Roshan Saeed Khan, WTO-STDF, Switzerland, Capacity building under STDF for phyto sanitary challenges. Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a global partnership of FAO, OIE, WHO, WTO and World Bank, to help developing countries implement international standards, meet SPS import requirements of trading partners and gain/maintain market access. The presentation focused on results of some key STDF projects in the area of plant health.  
  Related PAEPARD blog post 10/08/2016: Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)

See Book of Abstracts

XXV World’s Poultry Congress

5-9 September 2016. Beijing, China. The XXV World’s Poultry Congress (WPC2016) was co-hosted by the China Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA-CN) and the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (CAAV).

Charles Okoli, Nigeria

WPC2016 addressed a wide range of subjects, and provided a unique and comprehensive platform for sharing and discussing the latest developments in scientific research and technology transfer for poultry production worldwide.

Extract of the programme

Dr.Tom E.Porter, University of Maryland USA: Future Challenges and the Need for Poultry Science
Research: A Global Perspective

Research over the past six decades resulted in dramatic increases in feed efficiency, product yield, and animal health in poultry. However, many challenges face global production in the coming decades. Estimates predict that global food production must double by 2050. Simultaneously, global warming will likely affect food production in many regions. Demand for antibiotic-free poultry products and concerns about poultry welfare are increasing. Approaches to address these concerns have implications on food safety. While poultry production is becoming more globalized, consumer preferences vary regionally. These issues present significant challenges that warrant equally significant investment in poultry science research worldwide.

Leo den Hartog, Wageningen University, The Netherlands: Sustainable feed supply for worldwide poultry production

The global poultry sector is characterized by differences in dynamics. In developing economies, the poultry sector is evolving in response to rapidly increasing demand for meat and eggs. Poultry production will increasingly be affected by external factors. Several indicators demonstrate that further optimization of poultry feed and nutrition is potentially possible. Innovations have the potential to meet the challenges and to result in resource efficiency, healthy poultry, responsible production systems and optimal profit throughout the value chain.

Jose Antonio Fierro (Mexico): Biotransference of Aflatoxin B1 from feed to the breast of hens as Aflatoxin M1

Simone Schaumberger – Impact of fumonisins in layers and effect of a counteracting strategy (Simone Schaumberger is a mycotoxin risk management product managers at Biomin, Austria and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna)

A trial was conducted with the aim to investigate the influence of a multi-component mycotoxin deactivator (Mycofix® Select, MSE) on performance and health status of broiler chickens fed diets naturally contaminated with mycotoxins in an environment with high pathogen pressure from E. coli. The addition of a multi-component mycotoxin deactivator proved to be effective, counteracting low level of mycotoxin challenges in combination with E. coli pressure. Overall performance of broiler chickens was enhanced; the endotoxin load in the gut lowered and the negative effect of E. coli was reduced. These results reinforce the importance of counteracting the effects of endotoxins in order to protect birds’ health and improve performance.