Developing integrated strategies to reduce the disease burden of mycotoxin contamination in Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia often lack the resources and knowledge needed to implement proper agricultural and storage practices, leading to frequent mycotoxin contamination of staple crops. This thesis examined maize and sorghum farming and storage practices in relation to mycotoxin contamination, aiming to develop integrated methods to reduce the associated disease burden. The maize study is based on a systematic literature review. The sorghum study used primary survey data, including analysis of freshly harvested and stored sorghum samples for 33 mycotoxins, as well as interviews with farmers about their practices. In addition to assessing the links between sorghum farming and storage practices with mycotoxin contamination, the thesis estimated human exposure to aflatoxins and fumonisins through sorghum consumption and the resulting disease burden. The thesis identified the better practices for preventing mycotoxin contamination from the available alternatives, and implementing these practices properly could substantially reduce contamination levels, human exposure and related health impacts.