Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based food and feed in India: A step towards improving health of human and livestock
William D. Dar
Director General, ICRISAT

Dr Sutirtha Bhattacharya, Dr Chowdary, Dr Singh, dear participants, collaborators, guests, and colleagues from ICRISAT, allow me to welcome you to this stakeholders meeting to form consortium of partners on "Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based food and feed in India: A step towards improving health of human and livestock". This will roll on from today until 29 November.

Before anything else, I would like to thank DFID for its financial support for organizing this meeting.

As you all know, ICRISAT works on the improvement and integrated management of the five major crops grown by poor farmers in the semi-arid tropics of the world.

This is guided by our new vision which is "improved well being of the poor of the semi-arid tropics through agricultural research for impact."

To attain this, we are committed "to help the poor of the semi-arid tropics through science with a human face and partnership-based research and to increase agricultural productivity and food security, reduce poverty, and protect the environment in SAT production systems."

ICRISAT's vision is guided by the seven planks of the new CGIAR vision and strategy. This is also anchored on our core competencies and thematic comparative advantages, strategic analysis of opportunities in the semi-arid tropics, and potential impacts on the livelihoods of the poor.

In order to pursue our vision and mission, we have mapped out six global research themes which forms the core of our research strategy. These are:

1) Harnessing biotechnology for the poor

2) Crop management and utilization for food security and health

3) Water, soil and agro-biodiversity management for ecosystem health

4) Sustainable seed supply systems for productivity

5) Enhancing crop-livestock productivity and systems diversification

6)SAT futures and development pathways

As you can see from the foregoing, we are very much involved in improving crops and managing natural resources. Aflatoxin is an important constraint to groundnut production and has a significant role in trade. It also affects human and animal health. These priorities are well reflected in different research themes.

More detailed information about our research on aflatoxin will be provided during this meeting. I would like to personally reinforce this objective by putting major emphasis on "building a strong partnership". As aflatoxin contamination can occur at different stages it is essential that everyone involved in this production and utilization chain should be involved. In addition role of policy makers is very important as they can support our research outcomes by developing and implimenting appropriate policies.

I am very happy to see a number of top-caliber experts from NARS, Research Institutions and NGOs, Government Officials, Oilseed Companies, State Millers, Extension Workers, Dairy Board, Medical and Veterinary Services, Traders and Processors, and Farmers and within ICRISAT in this workshop. I am therefore confident that the results of this meeting will significantly boost our initiatives in sustaining agricultural productivity and enhancing livelihoods in the semi-arid tropics by managing aflatoxin contamination.

The objectives of this meeting are:

1) To form a consortium of partners to combat aflatoxin for the benefit of poor farmers and other stakeholders.

2) To identify means to promote awareness of aflatoxin among farmers, processors and consumers

3) To identify technologies that reduce aflatoxin contamination and the means to transfer of these to farmers and processors

4) To promote transfer and uptake of technology among stakeholders

But most of all, our work should eventually reach the most marginalized, disadvantaged, and hungry. We must therefore tailor our research and development efforts to meet real human needs: reducing poverty, hunger, environmental degradation and social inequity. This is the heart of doing science with a human face.

I wish you all success in this workshop and hope you will enjoy your brief stay at ICRISAT.

Thank you.