The FoodSafety4Africa project, in collaboration with the FCI4Africa project, delivered a capacity development training in Moniya Community, Oyo State, Nigeria, for members of FitCrown Agro Technical Enterprise, a farmers’ cooperative network.

The training, which took place on 31 January 2026, aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of aflatoxin mitigation while improving access to knowledge and resources that support safe and profitable food systems for domestic value chain actors.

To ensure accessibility and effective knowledge transfer, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) team delivered the training in both Yoruba and English to 56 participants. Prior to the workshop, most participants had limited awareness of aflatoxins and available management practices.

The training introduced practical control and mitigation approaches, including the use of Aflasafe, DryCards, and PICS bags, as well as quantitative assessment methods using the Neogen Raptor system for rapid aflatoxin detection.

To support the adoption of improved storage and contamination management practices in daily operations, participants received PICS bags and educational factsheets.

Feedback from participants indicated high satisfaction with the training, alongside a clear increase in awareness and understanding of food safety practices-particularly in reducing contamination risks during farming, storage, and food preparation. These outcomes highlight the importance of targeted capacity development in strengthening local food systems and advancing safer, more resilient value chains in line with the FS4Africa project’s objectives to improve food safety across African markets.

If you wish to know more about the PICS bag, you can watch the demonstration video below