On 17 December 2025, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), in collaboration with the FS4Africa project (co-funded by the European Union), officially launched the Africa Food Safety Operators Network, an African Food Safety Database Network during a high-level virtual event. The initiative supports the harmonisation of food safety data and contributes to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Food safety remains both a public health imperative and a trade priority for Africa and is fundamental to food security. Each year, foodborne diseases affect an estimated 91 million people across the continent, resulting in approximately 137,000 deaths and placing a heavy burden on health systems, livelihoods, and economic growth. Addressing these challenges requires not only stronger regulations, but also reliable, harmonised, and accessible data, a core focus of the FS4Africa project’s mission.

The Africa Food Safety Operators Network addresses this need directly.

A foundational tool for harmonisation and decision-making

The database is being piloted in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, where it brings together key food safety-related information within a structured digital platform. It provides an integrated overview of regulations and standards across both formal and informal sectors, enables exchange and linkages among food system operators, public authorities, and development partners, and supports the integration of digital innovations that contribute to consumer protection and safer trade.

By bringing together verified and structured data, the database complements other digital and innovation-driven solutions developed within FS4Africa, building on project use cases that translate research and data into practical food safety applications across African value chains.

Insights from policy, research, and practice

The launch event featured contributions from senior representatives of African and international institutions, highlighting the shared responsibility for strengthening food safety systems.

In her opening remarks, Madame Estherine Fotabong, Director of Agriculture, Food Security, and Environmental Sustainability at AUDA-NEPAD, underlined the strategic role of regional coordination in closing food safety gaps across Member States. Dr. Mark Bagabe,  Former Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda, emphasised the importance of prioritising food safety as both a public health and trade issue.

Presenting the FS4Africa perspective, ዶክተር ቲቲላዮ ፋላዴ, Project Coordinator (የአለም አቀፉ የትሮፒካል ግብርና ተቋም (IITA)), highlighted that food safety is a crucial component of food security and how the FS4Africa project’s activities are aligning with African Union Member states’ and global priorities.

Further technical insights were shared by Dr. Dorra Fiani (Knowledge Economy Foundation), who presented the Africa Food Safety Operators Network  as a practical resource for harmonisation and for facilitating safe intra-African trade, and Dr. Hans-Joerg Lutzeyer (European Commission, DG Research and Innovation), who highlighted the role of research and innovation in strengthening food safety systems globally.

The session was concluded with remarks given for their countries from representatives of:

• Egypt: Dr. Hussein Mansour
• Ghana: Mr. Roderick Daddey-Adjei
• ኬንያ: Dr. Brenda Obura
• Nigeria: Mr. John Atanda

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