By Zablon Oyugi
KENYA faces s challenges controlling food safety risks effectively, including limited public resources. Making the situation even more complicated is the increasing scale at which food is produced, processed, and distributed and the distances over which it is transported to rapidly urbanising population centres, according to research by a team of experts on Food Safety in Kenya: Status, Challenges and Proposed Solutions for CGIAR.
While household-level testing for food safety hazards is not feasible, systematic surveillance of high-risk foods and provision of relative risk information by certification status, vendor, or product type could be used to steer consumers toward safer choices. However, Kenya’s food system is in the midst of various transitions with testing facilities being set up to ensure the safety of the food supply.
One such facility is a cutting-edge laboratory at Egerton University’s Njoro Campus which, in barely three years of existence, is already revolutionising food safety practices in the country. The Safe Food Reference Laboratory (SAF-Lab), funded by the National Research Fund and launched in 2021, has become a hub of innovation, and research offering practical solutions. The facility is equipped to detect, among others, heavy metals in both solid and liquid samples in food samples.
The lab’s array of services
The lab offers a comprehensive array of services designed to enhance food safety and good agricultural practices.
These include mineral analysis, which ensures that food products and soil have the correct nutrient levels; food and water safety testing, which checks for contaminants and ensures compliance with health standards; microbiology, which identifies harmful microorganisms that could pose health risks; and toxicology, which detects and analyzes toxins to prevent foodborne illnesses.
In addition to its research and testing services, the lab plays a pivotal role in education by offering specialised training programmes for graduate students and professionals.
These programmes are designed to cultivate a new generation of scientists and researchers who are well-equipped to tackle food insecurity issues in Kenya.
The lab offers consultancy services in food, feed, and water safety, aid in the standardization of food safety control procedures, and enhance food safety initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the Pest Control Products Board, and the Government Chemist Department, according to Agnes.
Through hands-on training, workshops, and mentorship, participants gain valuable skills and knowledge in food safety, agricultural practices, and cuttingedge research techniques.
Latest innovation
One of latest groundbreaking innovations at the facility is Aloe Secundiflora Herbal Extract (ASHE) derived from the robust Aloe secundiflora plant and which has shown efficacy in treating ascaris and coccidian parasites in free-range chickens.
According to Prof Charles Muleke Inyagwa, the lead scientist in the project, the initiative was triggered by indiscriminate use of antimicrobials and dewormers that has led to drugresistant in poultry, leaving farmers desperate for safe and effective alternatives for ascaris and coccidian parasites which wreak havoc on freerange chickens causing considerable economic losses to farmers.
“We have observed a rise in drugresistant parasites affecting poultry, leading to significant economic losses for farmers. Our objective was to develop a solution that is both effective and safe for consumption,” said Prof Muleke. For local farmers who have been relying on traditional treatments, the implications of this herbal remedy are profound. “With ASHE, there is hope. This natural product ensures that poultry meat and eggs remain free from harmful drug residues, effectively addressing health and safety concerns,” said Prof Muleke. Its proven effectiveness in trials has brought renewed optimism to farmers, he added.
“We have diligently developed a product tailored to the needs of our farmers. Our trials have demonstrated ASHE’s effectiveness, and we are confident it will be a game-changer when it reaches the market,” said Prof Muleke. The SAF Lab was established in 2018 after Egerton University secured a National Research Fund (NRF) Infrastructure Grant, standing out among 32 participating higher education institutions in response to the call.
The NRF then moved to fund the construction and equipping of the facility at of Kshs39 million with an aim to bolster production of quality food and economic development.
As a government-mandated research and science development agency, the NRF funds research, the development of high-end human capacity and critical research infrastructure to promote knowledge production. In its recent publication, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRR) Higher Education Web Publishing Ltd, on May 23 this year recognised the university among the institutions of higher education within the East Africa region that are championing safe food security tests and research. Egerton University and Uganda’s Makerere University were also recognised as key players in enhancing sustainable production practices to help build smallholder farmers’ resilience even as the climate crisis intensifies food insecurity across sub-Saharan Africa. The two universities have had their research aimed at consolidating agricultural productivity and resilience through sustainable, climate-smart agriculture for food and nutrition security in the region.
“Makerere and Egerton are conforming to initiatives across the world to establish institutes or centres of food security and the environment to help governments identify challenges and review food security problems,” said the publication. According to Prof Isaac Kibwage, the vice-chancellor at Egerton University, centres, which are part of the institution’s faculties, directorates and institutes, are always expected to propose solutions to food systems problems and the challenge of feeding the exponentially growing population. Prof Kibwage said: “The SAF Lab stands out as a premier food safety reference laboratory, equipped with state-of-the-art research facilities. Designed to serve researchers across the nation, it offers advanced tools and resources necessary for conducting cutting-edge food safety research.
By providing access to modern technologies and comprehensive testing capabilities, the SAF Lab supports a wide range of scientific inquiries, promotes innovation, and enhances the overall quality and reliability of food safety research in the country. This initiative not only benefits individual researchers but also contributes to the broader goal of improving public health and food safety standards nationwide.”
Today, the lab is significantly enhancing the horticultural industry in Kenya by enabling farmers to meet international export standards. This is by providing testing for pesticides and herbicides in vegetables, fruits, and flowers, farmers are able to ensure that their products comply with stringent safety regulations. This capability not only improves the quality and safety of Kenyan horticultural products but also open up new opportunities in global markets, ultimately contributing to the industry’s growth and sustainability.