Nigeria, the world’s largest producer of cassava, harvests 54 million metric tonnes (Mt) of cassava tubers annually. More than 95 per cent of its uses require peeling which generates up to 14 Mt of waste annually; mostly due to challenges related to drying. Sun drying is practically impossible during the wet season and it takes 2–3 days in the dry season to reduce the moisture content of fresh peels from about 60 per cent to 20 per cent or less – a marketable state. This is a report on a multi-centre and multi-disciplinary research work (in its early stages) to better utilize the waste. Ongoing work is showing great potential and has so far dramatically reduced cassava peels moisture content to 12–15 per cent within six sunshine hours using only equipment in current use by small-scale processors and households. The considerably shorter processing ensures high-quality products, low in aflatoxins contamination. Also, in a small sample experiment, when compared to sorghum grains currently being used for the production of aflasafe™ as control, the pellets supported the sporulation of Aspergillus flavus up to 87.5 per cent of the control with better cost effectiveness. The research challenges remain in terms of circumventing drying technologies, creating and maintaining product quality standards, and facilitating and catalysing collective action among adopters. Nevertheless, the research carries huge potential to address feed scarcity, contribute to food security and food safety, clean up the environment, and improve the incomes and livelihoods of people currently engaged in processing cassava tuber into food – 85 per cent of them women.

Bandyopadhyay, R. (2010) Aflatoxins – The Invisible Threat in Foods and Feeds [pdf], Technical Innovation Brief no. 6, Ibadan, Nigeria: CGIAR SP-IPM <www.shamba.worldpossible.org/practicalanswers/Food%20processing/Food%20Hygiene%20and%20Safety/aflatoxins-the-invisable-threat-in-foods-and-feeds.pdf> [accessed 30 January 2015].

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Dorner, J.W. and Lamb, M.C. (2006) ‘Development and commercial use of afla-guard®, an aflatoxin biocontrol agent’, Mycotoxin Research 22(1): 33–8.

Ehrlich, K.C. and Cotty, P.J. (2004) ‘An isolate of Aspergillus flavus used to reduce aflatoxin contamination in cottonseed has a defective polyketide synthase gene’, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 65(4): 473–8.

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Hell, K., Mutegi, C. and Fandohan, P. (2010) ‘Aflatoxin control and prevention strategies in maize for Sub-Saharan Africa’, Julius-Kühn-Archiv 425: 534.

Herrero, M., Thornton, P.K., Notenbaert, A.M., Wood, S., Msangi, S., Freeman, H.A., Bossio, D., Dixon, J., Peters, M., van de Steeg, J., Lynam, J., Parthasarathy Rao, P., Macmillan, S., Gerard, B., McDermott, J., Seré, C. and Rosegrant, M. (2010) ‘Smart investments in sustainable food production: revisiting mixed crop-livestock systems’, Science 327: 822–5 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1183725>.

Kirchgessner, M. (1997) Tierernährung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: DLG.

Liu, Y. and Wu, F. (2010) ‘Global burden of aflatoxin-induced hepatocellular carcinoma: a risk assessment’, Environmental Health Perspectives 118: 818–24.

Lukuyu, B., Okike, I., Duncan, A., Beveridge, M. and Blümmel, M. (2014) Use of Cassava in Livestock and Aquaculture Feeding Programs, ILRI Discussion Paper 25, Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute.

Strosnider, H., Hell, K., Henry, S.H., Jeffers, D., Jolly, C., Jolly, P., Kibata, G.N., Lewis, L., Liu, X., Luber, G., McCoy, L., Azziz-Baumgartner, E., Mensah, P., Miraglia, M., Misore, A., Njapau, H., Ong, C.-N., Onsongo, M.T.K., Page, S.W., Park, D., Patel, M., Phillips, T., Banziger, M., Pineiro, M., Pronczuk, J., Rogers, H.S., Rubin, C., Sabino, M., Schaafsma, A., Shephard, G., Stroka, J., Wild, C., Williams, J.T., Bhat, R.V., Wilson, D., Breiman, R., Brune, M.-N., Decock, K., Dilley, A. and Groopman, J. (2006) ‘Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries’, Environmental Health Perspectives 114: 1898–903.

World Bank (n.d.) ‘Data: GDP growth (annual %)’ [online] <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Durante Fish Industries, www.durantefish-ng.com/ [accessed 1 June 2015].

FAOSTAT, http://faostat3.fao.org/ [accessed 1 June 2015].

Bandyopadhyay, R. (2010) Aflatoxins – The Invisible Threat in Foods and Feeds [pdf], Technical Innovation Brief no. 6, Ibadan, Nigeria: CGIAR SP-IPM <www.shamba.worldpossible.org/practicalanswers/Food%20processing/Food%20Hygiene%20and%20Safety/aflatoxins-the-invisable-threat-in-foods-and-feeds.pdf> [accessed 30 January 2015].

Bandyopadhyay, R. and Cotty, P. (2011) Presentation at Annual Meeting of APS/IAPPS, 6–10 August 2011, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Beti, J., Tw, P. and Eb, S. (1995) ‘Effects of maize weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on production of aflatoxin B1 by Aspergillus flavus in stored corn’, Journal of Economic Entomology 88: 1776–82.

Dorner, J.W. and Lamb, M.C. (2006) ‘Development and commercial use of afla-guard®, an aflatoxin biocontrol agent’, Mycotoxin Research 22(1): 33–8.

Ehrlich, K.C. and Cotty, P.J. (2004) ‘An isolate of Aspergillus flavus used to reduce aflatoxin contamination in cottonseed has a defective polyketide synthase gene’, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 65(4): 473–8.

FAO (2003) Worldwide Regulations for Mycotoxins in Food and Feed, Rome: FAO.

FAOSTAT (2015) ‘Production: crops’ [online] <http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QC/E> [accessed 6 May 2015].

Hell, K., Mutegi, C. and Fandohan, P. (2010) ‘Aflatoxin control and prevention strategies in maize for Sub-Saharan Africa’, Julius-Kühn-Archiv 425: 534.

Herrero, M., Thornton, P.K., Notenbaert, A.M., Wood, S., Msangi, S., Freeman, H.A., Bossio, D., Dixon, J., Peters, M., van de Steeg, J., Lynam, J., Parthasarathy Rao, P., Macmillan, S., Gerard, B., McDermott, J., Seré, C. and Rosegrant, M. (2010) ‘Smart investments in sustainable food production: revisiting mixed crop-livestock systems’, Science 327: 822–5 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1183725>.

Kirchgessner, M. (1997) Tierernährung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: DLG.

Liu, Y. and Wu, F. (2010) ‘Global burden of aflatoxin-induced hepatocellular carcinoma: a risk assessment’, Environmental Health Perspectives 118: 818–24.

Lukuyu, B., Okike, I., Duncan, A., Beveridge, M. and Blümmel, M. (2014) Use of Cassava in Livestock and Aquaculture Feeding Programs, ILRI Discussion Paper 25, Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute.

Strosnider, H., Hell, K., Henry, S.H., Jeffers, D., Jolly, C., Jolly, P., Kibata, G.N., Lewis, L., Liu, X., Luber, G., McCoy, L., Azziz-Baumgartner, E., Mensah, P., Miraglia, M., Misore, A., Njapau, H., Ong, C.-N., Onsongo, M.T.K., Page, S.W., Park, D., Patel, M., Phillips, T., Banziger, M., Pineiro, M., Pronczuk, J., Rogers, H.S., Rubin, C., Sabino, M., Schaafsma, A., Shephard, G., Stroka, J., Wild, C., Williams, J.T., Bhat, R.V., Wilson, D., Breiman, R., Brune, M.-N., Decock, K., Dilley, A. and Groopman, J. (2006) ‘Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries’, Environmental Health Perspectives 114: 1898–903.

World Bank (n.d.) ‘Data: GDP growth (annual %)’ [online] <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Durante Fish Industries, www.durantefish-ng.com/ [accessed 1 June 2015].

FAOSTAT, http://faostat3.fao.org/ [accessed 1 June 2015].

Bandyopadhyay, R. (2010) Aflatoxins – The Invisible Threat in Foods and Feeds [pdf], Technical Innovation Brief no. 6, Ibadan, Nigeria: CGIAR SP-IPM <www.shamba.worldpossible.org/practicalanswers/Food%20processing/Food%20Hygiene%20and%20Safety/aflatoxins-the-invisable-threat-in-foods-and-feeds.pdf> [accessed 30 January 2015].

Bandyopadhyay, R. and Cotty, P. (2011) Presentation at Annual Meeting of APS/IAPPS, 6–10 August 2011, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Beti, J., Tw, P. and Eb, S. (1995) ‘Effects of maize weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on production of aflatoxin B1 by Aspergillus flavus in stored corn’, Journal of Economic Entomology 88: 1776–82.

Dorner, J.W. and Lamb, M.C. (2006) ‘Development and commercial use of afla-guard®, an aflatoxin biocontrol agent’, Mycotoxin Research 22(1): 33–8.

Ehrlich, K.C. and Cotty, P.J. (2004) ‘An isolate of Aspergillus flavus used to reduce aflatoxin contamination in cottonseed has a defective polyketide synthase gene’, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 65(4): 473–8.

FAO (2003) Worldwide Regulations for Mycotoxins in Food and Feed, Rome: FAO.

FAOSTAT (2015) ‘Production: crops’ [online] <http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QC/E> [accessed 6 May 2015].

Hell, K., Mutegi, C. and Fandohan, P. (2010) ‘Aflatoxin control and prevention strategies in maize for Sub-Saharan Africa’, Julius-Kühn-Archiv 425: 534.

Herrero, M., Thornton, P.K., Notenbaert, A.M., Wood, S., Msangi, S., Freeman, H.A., Bossio, D., Dixon, J., Peters, M., van de Steeg, J., Lynam, J., Parthasarathy Rao, P., Macmillan, S., Gerard, B., McDermott, J., Seré, C. and Rosegrant, M. (2010) ‘Smart investments in sustainable food production: revisiting mixed crop-livestock systems’, Science 327: 822–5 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1183725>.

Kirchgessner, M. (1997) Tierernährung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: DLG.

Liu, Y. and Wu, F. (2010) ‘Global burden of aflatoxin-induced hepatocellular carcinoma: a risk assessment’, Environmental Health Perspectives 118: 818–24.

Lukuyu, B., Okike, I., Duncan, A., Beveridge, M. and Blümmel, M. (2014) Use of Cassava in Livestock and Aquaculture Feeding Programs, ILRI Discussion Paper 25, Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute.

Strosnider, H., Hell, K., Henry, S.H., Jeffers, D., Jolly, C., Jolly, P., Kibata, G.N., Lewis, L., Liu, X., Luber, G., McCoy, L., Azziz-Baumgartner, E., Mensah, P., Miraglia, M., Misore, A., Njapau, H., Ong, C.-N., Onsongo, M.T.K., Page, S.W., Park, D., Patel, M., Phillips, T., Banziger, M., Pineiro, M., Pronczuk, J., Rogers, H.S., Rubin, C., Sabino, M., Schaafsma, A., Shephard, G., Stroka, J., Wild, C., Williams, J.T., Bhat, R.V., Wilson, D., Breiman, R., Brune, M.-N., Decock, K., Dilley, A. and Groopman, J. (2006) ‘Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries’, Environmental Health Perspectives 114: 1898–903.

World Bank (n.d.) ‘Data: GDP growth (annual %)’ [online] <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Durante Fish Industries, www.durantefish-ng.com/ [accessed 1 June 2015].

FAOSTAT, http://faostat3.fao.org/ [accessed 1 June 2015].