The UP-RISE project between the EU and the African Union (AU) integrates food safety practices related to mycotoxin contamination in all aspects of
food production, distribution, sale and consumption in the African Union and provides tangible tools and strategies to promote inclusive participation in the Enhanced African Food Safety System (AFSS) at local, national and regional levels.
participation in the Enhanced African Food Safety System (AFSS) at the local, national and regional levels. The activities of UP-RISE are aligned
with the current AU Food Security Strategy for Africa, focusing on 3 regions of the AU with fieldwork in 5 target member states (Benin,
Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa).
UP-RISE consists of 5 building blocks for knowledge generation and implementation: 1) Roadmaps for a shared culture of quality and
possible integration of the informal sector into the AFSS; 2) Strengthening the food safety regulatory framework with a focus on
mycotoxins in both the formal and informal sector; 3) Early warning to prevent mycotoxin contamination and adaptation to climate change; 4) preventing food loss and improving food safety by providing innovative microbiome-based solutions to reduce mycotoxins
and nutritious food and 5) co-creation, training and mentoring. The solutions created by UP-RISE will be demonstrated at 5
representative value chains for fermented foods based on maize, millet, sorghum or milk and will be implemented in 10 business cases of SMEs in the target regions of the AU.
from SMEs in the targeted AU member states.
UP-RISE builds on strong synergies among all outstanding consortium members combining social sciences with technological
approaches and an excellent network, which is complemented by the accelerator platform that includes competent
food safety authorities, farmers, consumers and trade organizations.
UP-RISE ensures sustainability by establishing Training Hubs in each target member state, an AU-EU Microbial Biobank
network, early warning systems, a risk assessment toolkit and a food safety regulatory model.