Developing resistant groundnut varieties most economical solution to aflatoxin contamination: ICRISAT
Hyderabad, June 7 (FN Bureau) The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on Friday announced in its recent research has identified a natural defense mechanism in groundnuts against fungal infection, paving the way for future breeding of fully resistant varieties. This study is crucial for advancing research aimed at eliminating the issue at its source, saving both cost and effort, the Institute said in a release here while highlighting innovative solutions to combat Aflatoxin on the occasion of World Food Safety Day in Friday.ICRISAT’s study on triple-layer Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags shows that they protect groundnut pods from quality deterioration, pest damage, and contamination by aflatoxin.
Shedding light on the health risks of ‘aflatoxin contamination’, it said in line with this year’s theme, “Prepare for the Unexpected,” the organization underscores successful farm-level interventions to tackle this issue.Aflatoxin, known as the “hidden poison,” severely affects human health, particularly in children.It causes delayed development, stunted growth, severe liver damage, and increases the risk of liver cancer, the Institute said. Contaminated crops expose millions to chronic aflatoxin exposure, leading to health issues and economic losses for farmers due to rejected produce.
The aflatoxin-producing strains that commonly infect groundnuts are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasitic.The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified them as Group 1 carcinogens, a proven human carcinogen, based on their toxicity and prevalence in milk.Drinking milk from dairy animals that have eaten feed contaminated with aflatoxin can increase the risk of cancer. This is a significant food safety concern globally, the Institute said.Groundnut kernels, prized for their oil content, are a nutritional powerhouse, rich in protein, antioxidants, essential minerals, and vitamins, and a staple in diets worldwide, the Institute said developing countries produce nearly 95 per cent of the world’s groundnuts, with India and China contributing the majority.
ICRISAT’s expertise includes developing tolerant cultivars, optimal harvesting and drying techniques, and control agents. Over the years, several awareness campaigns have also been conducted.cELISA Detection Kit, is affordable, fast, and simple test kit reduces testing costs from $25 to $1 per sample, delivering results comparable to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tests, the Institute said.Through this test can analyze up to 200 samples daily, even in remote areas, and has helped the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM) regain the European groundnut export market. The kit is also used in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, the Institute added.