Registration Deadline: June 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CET
Free Registration: Participation in the conference is free of charge, but registration is mandatory. Onsite attendance will be limited to the first 60 registered participants.
Conference Abstracts and Bios
Author: Clovice Kankya
Abstract
Globally, Contaminated food continues to pose numerous devastating food-related challenges in outbreaks. In Africa, a large proportion of ready-to-eat foods are sold largely by the informal sector, especially in areas experiencing rural-urbanization, as street foods. The hygienic aspects of vending operations and the safety of these foods are largely problematic for food safety regulators. The veterinary public health and food safety are crucial in ensuring smooth trade and protecting public health. This topic examines the main challenges facing African countries' VPH ecosystems and their future trends. It also highlights the measures to safeguard human health and control of disease in livestock and other animals for the prevention of the transmission of animal-borne or zoonotic diseases. Therefore, the implementation of a regional Food Safety Strategy that adopts an improved veterinary Public Health system and a holistic farm-to-fork approach that benefits the entire food control system is fundamental. Furthermore, integration of appropriate technologies and innovations to improve quality and food safety controls and strengthening the capacities for veterinary public health through partnerships and regional networking, and collaboration are also important moving forward with this agenda.
Bio-sketch
Clovice Kankya is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Biosecurity Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. Dr Kankya is also a biosafety committee member at the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology, and he is the country team leader of a Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa European Union-funded project (2021-2025) involving Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique.
Dr Kankya has successfully led two international multi-country projects funded through a consortium of 5 universities: Makerere University Uganda, University of Bahr-el-Ghazal South Sudan, University of Zambia, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and the Arctic University of Norway in Tromso focusing on zoonotic disease management with a VPH&FS education component.
Author: Delia Grace with contributions from Silvia Alonso, Kebede Amenu, Elizabeth Cook, Michel Dione, Theo Knight-Jones, Florence Mutua
Abstract
Africa bears the highest per capita burden of foodborne disease globally, and much of this is the result of consumption of fresh foods sold in traditional or informal markets. These include open, public markets, small shops, kiosks or dukas, street food and food sold in pubs and eateries. Recent evidence suggests the informal sector is likely to persist, for years if not decades.
The informal food sector is vast, un-organised, heterogeneous, and poorly regulated. While these characteristics make food safety assurance difficult, the informal sector also provides an essential service in ensuring availability of nutritious, affordable food while providing livelihoods for millions of poor people many of them women. The challenge is hence to reduce the health and environmental risks emanating from these markets while securing or increasing the nutrition and livelihood benefits.
While earlier research into food safety in informal markets focused on understanding the risks, burden, risk factors and priority hazards, recent years have seen the start of research into risk management options. One of the most promising is the “Three Legged Stool” approach which argues that food safety in informal markets can be improved if, and only if, three aspects are simultaneously tackled 1) building an enabling regulatory environment; 2) ensuring training and technologies for value chain actors; and 3) getting incentives in place for behavioural change.
We report on six recently completed projects using this approach to address 1) milk sold by informal vendors in Kenya; b) chicken sold by street restaurants in Burkina Faso; c) meat produced in local abattoirs in Kenya; d) beef sold in small butchers in Ethiopia; e} tomatoes sold by market vendors in Ethiopia; and f) vegetables sold by market vendors in Nigeria.
These projects used a variety of ways to engage with authorities and train farmers and likewise a diversity of appropriate technologies and incentives for behaviour change. They varied in their ability to improve actor knowledge, attitude and practice, in reducing foodborne disease risk, and in the effectiveness of incentives deployed. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of the different strategies and make recommendations for future research.
Bio-sketch
Delia Grace is an epidemiologist, veterinarian, and specialist in One Health and Food Safety with more than 25 years’ experience in developing countries. She graduated from several leading universities and currently is a professor at the university of Greenwich and joint appointed senior scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute Nairobi, Kenya where she leads the food safety theme in ILRI’s One Health Centre. Her research interests include food safety, emerging diseases, gender studies, and animal welfare. Her career has spanned the private sector, field-level community development and aid management, as well as research. She has lived and worked in Asia, west and east Africa and authored or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications as well as training courses, briefs, films, articles, chapters and blog posts.
Her research program focuses on the design and promotion of risk-based approaches to food safety in livestock products in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. She is also involved in Ecohealth / One health approach to the control of zoonoses diseases and agriculture-associated antimicrobial resistance.
Author: Ms Narindra Randriamiarintsoa
Abstract
Aflatoxin is a major food safety hazard threatening the public health, the economy, and the food security of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of past aflatoxin interventions in SSA using the Agriculture Innovation System (AIS) model and to propose an integrated framework for future aflatoxin interventions. A systematic review on published peer-reviewed literature on aflatoxin intervention studies that have been implemented directly with farmers was conducted using five databases. The inclusion criteria for eligible studies were developed based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison/Context, Outcomes (PICO) protocol. The population was farmers in SSA, the interventions encompassed the pre-harvest, post-harvest and consumption stages of the value chain, the context was small-holder farming setting, and the outcome was aflatoxin level. Data extraction was conducted based on the three components of AIS model and the quality of each study was evaluated following the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool. A total of n=62 studies were included in the review, in which pre-harvest interventions (n=16) focused on agronomic practices including aflatoxin-resistant crop variety, biocontrol, and Novasil clay for animal feed. During post-harvest, interventions (n=23) involved improved drying methods using mats or raised platform, Mandela cork technique, hermetic storage, and training. At consumer level, interventions (n=15) included clay-based dietary supplements, dietary diversification, education campaign and willingness-to-pay studies. Some interventions involved two stages of the value chain simultaneously and were classified as mixed interventions (n=8). Throughout the value chain, multiple stakeholders were engaged in the interventions including farmers, government, and private sectors. Most of the interventions were shown to be effective, while others 'effectiveness was dependent on various factors including implementation method. Additionally, cost and safety concerns were common barriers to technology adoption among farmers. To improve the effectiveness of future aflatoxin interventions, an integrated framework based on the AIS model was proposed. The framework places farmers at the centre of the intervention and emphasizes on systematic and organizational networks among stakeholders throughout the value chain. The proposed framework would facilitate aflatoxin mitigation in SSA, while improving farmers ‘livelihoods of through market access and increased income, thereby improving food security in SSA.
Bio-sketch
Narindra is a research assistant and a PhD candidate in Biosystems Engineering at Michigan State University in the US. Her research focuses on pathogen inactivation modeling in different food matrices. She also conducts quantitative microbial risk assessment to ensure effective pathogen control in food processing facilities. Born and raised in Madagascar, Narindra’s career goal is to become a global researcher advancing multidisciplinary food safety research and innovations both in developed and developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, she obtained a masters ‘degree in Global Food Security and Nutrition from the University of Edinburgh, in which her dissertation focused on an assessment of existing aflatoxin interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa, which will be the focus of her presentation today.
Speaker: Dr Engelbert Bilashoboka Mbekenga
Abstract
Substandard veterinary products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control. Falsified medical products are those products that deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition or source with the intent to deceive consumers for financial gain.
Counterfeit veterinary medicine is a product which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity and/or source. It is also the product manufactured under a name which belongs to another drug.
The counterfeit product is an imitation of, or is a substitute for, another drug with the purpose of deceiving.
Substandard and counterfeit veterinary medicines pose significant risks to both animal health and public safety, undermining the effectiveness of veterinary care and leading to broader economic and public health concerns. These substandard products, which may include improperly formulated drugs or those with insufficient active ingredients, as well as counterfeit medications designed to imitate legitimate drugs, are often produced under conditions that disregard quality and safety standards. Animals receiving these medicines may suffer from ineffective treatment, prolonged illness, or even adverse reactions, contributing to the spread of diseases and reduced productivity in the agricultural sector.
Furthermore, the use of such medicines in food-producing animals can result in harmful residues entering the food chain, potentially threatening human health. The illegal trade of substandard and counterfeit veterinary medicines also undermines regulatory frameworks and erodes trust in the veterinary profession. The risks associated with these products highlight the need for stronger regulatory oversight, enhanced detection mechanisms, and international collaboration to combat the circulation of substandard and counterfeit veterinary medicines and protect both animal and public health.
Bio-sketch
Dr. Engelbert Bilashoboka Mbekenga is an accomplished veterinary professional and public health expert with a robust background in veterinary medicine, epidemiology, and regulatory affairs. Born on 21st October 1975 in Bukoba, Kagera, Tanzania, Dr. Mbekenga has dedicated over two decades of his career to advancing public health, veterinary medicine, GMP inspection and the regulation of medical products to ensure public safety.
Dr. Mbekenga holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Zambia, where he further honed his skills in public health management and research. He earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. His diverse academic qualifications are complemented by extensive theological, philosophical, and human psychology studies from Kipalapala Theologicum and Ntungamo Philosophicum Senior Seminaries (affiliated to Urbaniana University-Rome) institutions in Tanzania, which reflect his commitment to holistic understanding and leadership.
Dr. Mbekenga’s career spans various key roles in both veterinary practice and regulatory affairs. Currently, he serves as the Zonal Manager of the Southern Zone for the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), a position he has held since January 2020. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing TMDA’s inspection, enforcement, and benchmarking activities across multiple regions, ensuring that regulated products meet high standards of safety and quality. Prior to this, he managed TMDA’s Central Zone from 2016 to 2020, where he successfully led efforts to inspect and monitor pharmaceutical and medical device facilities, contributing to the enhancement of public health and regulatory compliance in Tanzania.
Dr. Mbekenga’s career is further marked by significant contributions in the food safety and animal health sectors. His experience as the Factory Operations Manager at Sumbawanga Agricultural and Animal Food Industries (SAAFI Ltd) involved overseeing large-scale factory operations, ensuring quality control, and implementing HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards. He also worked as a Ranch Veterinary Officer at SAAFI, where he played a key role in establishing disease-free zones for cattle ranching, facilitating export readiness to the European Union.
In addition to his regulatory roles, Dr. Mbekenga has been involved in numerous research and publication efforts. His notable research includes the investigation of oxytetracycline (OTC) residue levels in beef, a critical study for food safety and public health. His work has been published in prestigious journals, contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of veterinary medicine and public health in Tanzania.
Dr. Mbekenga is a dedicated member of the Tanzania Veterinary Association (TVA) and the Tanzania Veterinary Council (TVC). His leadership and expertise have been recognized by various institutions, including his advisory role with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries in Tanzania. In his spare time, he is passionate about community service, charity work, and sports, particularly basketball and lawn tennis.
Author: Dr Matthys Uys
Abstract
In the African context, where food systems are highly diverse and often fragmented, food retailers occupy a unique and powerful position to influence food safety, quality, and animal welfare outcomes. As a South African retailer renowned for its exceptional standards, Woolworths demonstrates how the retail sector can actively contribute to raising the bar—beyond compliance—through robust internal standards, supplier engagement, and collaborative knowledge sharing. This presentation offers insights into the evolving role of high-end retailers in Africa in strengthening food safety practices across the supply chain. By partnering with suppliers, supporting capacity development, and fostering transparency, retailers are not only gatekeepers of quality but also catalysts for broader systemic improvement. Drawing on Woolworths’ experience, this talk explores the challenges, opportunities, and real-world strategies that can position retail as a central driver in Africa’s journey toward safer, more resilient food systems.
Bio-sketch
Dr Matthys Uys is a South African veterinarian registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). He holds a BVSc from the University of Pretoria, an MSc in Food Safety from the University of Edinburgh and is currently in the final year of his residency with the European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH), specialising in food science. Matthys works at Woolworths South Africa, where he plays a key role in advancing food safety, food quality, animal welfare, sustainability, and regulatory compliance across the supply chain.