Welcome Message

Dear Delegates

It is a pleasure to welcome all delegates to the first ACAFP Conference on Food Safety in Africa scheduled for Nov 10 – 11, 2021. The conference will be held virtually as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic and we hope that you are all able to join us using the State of the Art technology that allows us to hold this valuable food safety conference on a virtual platform. ACAFP is an affiliate of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) that provides a forum for food safety professionals in industry, international organizations, government, academia, and students in food safety programs to share information and experiences on food safety related issues in the Continent of Africa and to share ideas on how to improve the quality and safety of foods produced in the Continent as w?ell as imported and exported food products. The organization welcomes members not only in the Continent of Africa but across the Globe, that have interest in Food Safety in the Continent. Hosting a Conference on Food Safety in Africa is one of the top goals and objectives of ACAFP and the Board of Directors of the organization are very happy to partner with African Union Commission (AUC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) in hosting this important and valuable Conference on Food Safety in Africa. The conference theme is “Food Safety in Africa, Past, Current and The Future” and 5 subthemes that address this theme. We are very confident that the excellent scientific and food safety policy-based content of the conference proceedings including technological advancements will contribute to current and future Food Safety initiatives in Africa. We welcome delegates across the continent of Africa and outside the continent to engage virtually with each other and with the exhibitors participating in the conference. We look forward to your participation in the presentations, posters, exhibition of food safety technologies and products, and exchange of scientific and policy related information on food safety in Africa. With Best Regards Joseph A. Odumeru Ph.D. President ACAFP and Chair Conference Organizing Committee

Delegates, Presenters, Exhibitors and Sponsors

We are extremely proud to be involved in supporting the organization of the “ACAFP Food Safety Conference for Africa.” This conference has been in the planning for many years and it is now exciting to see that it will take place over the dates of November 10 and 11, 2021. The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) has encouraged conference organizers over the years and worked to bring this event to fruition. It is so exciting to see it take shape now as it has developed into a quantum event.

Participants in this event will learn from each other over the two-day program. Presenters will come from academia, industry and government all with a different perspective on the same lofty goal of providing safe food to consumers. What could be more important than this? Safe and nutritious food helps prevent unnecessary illness and leads to improved public health which in turn leads to a productive society.

IAFP welcomes everyone to the ACAFP Food Safety Conference for Africa and we hope you will have an excellent experience that you can share with your colleagues. It has been said many times that food safety is not a competitive advantage. Food safety is information to be shared so that all parties can benefit from providing the consumer with a safe product. This fits in directly with IAFP’s mission: “To provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply.”

You are encouraged to join with the African Continental Association for Food Protection (ACAFP) and with IAFP to continue your personal food safety learning upon conclusion of this conference.

Best regards,

David W. Tharp, CAE
IAFP Executive Director

Goodwill Message

The African Union Commission is honoured to partner with the African Continental Association for Food Protection (ACAFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners to organize a food safety conference from 10-11 November 2021. The conference aimed to create awareness on emerging food safety matters, engagement, and collaboration among different stakeholders in Africa, will showcase the common, yet diverse, food safety challenges of Africa as a whole, as well as those between sub-regions and countries. The conference will be a great opportunity to build on the various initiatives that are ongoing and led by various institutions and stakeholders in the continent. It is to be recalled that the African Union Commission in February 2019, the FAO, WHO convened the First International Food Safety Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During that event, the AU announced the plan to create a continental food safety agency. Since then, a number of steps have been taken to materialize the Africa Food Safety Agency (AFSA). For example, a scoping study commissioned by the AUC in 2019, with support from United States Department of Agriculture and US Agency for International Development, showed broad support for the creation of a continental food safety agency to help lead and coordinate improvements to modernize food safety in Africa. In October 2019, the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development of endorsed the AU SPS Policy Framework. A Food Safety Strategy for Africa has been developed to facilitate implementation of the policy framework. The Food Safety conference scheduled from 10-11 November 2021 therefore comes at an opportune time and will provide an opportunity for professionals from industry, government, international organizations and academia to dialogue on how to promote, educate and communicate advances in food production, food processing, and nutrition and food safety in Africa. The AU Commission wishes to welcome all stakeholders of good will to join the conference to share their experience, expertise, comparative advantage and resources in working towards enhancing the much needed Africa’s food safety capacity for improved health of its citizens and all.

AFRICAN UNION
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment

Welcome/Goodwill message for the ACAFP conference

Excellences, distinguished guests, delegates, colleagues, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the African Continental Association for Food Protection (ACAFP), African Union Commission (AUC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this maiden edition of the conference tagged ‘Food Safety in Africa: Past, Current and the Future’. I am absolutely confident that this virtual conference will be a great success. While Africa has been at the forefront in food production, food storage has been above her means, being dependent on the West on aid. This has been compounded by harsh weather conditions, inadequate food preservation techniques, irregular power supply and the lack of political will, coupled with political instability that characterizes her to have the frail economies that can ensure food security. Food is of infinity of varieties in Africa, abundantly blessed with varieties of cereals, nuts, tuber crops, fruits and vegetables which are all essential for nutrition and health but require quick consumption and are difficult to preserve. Further to these are challenges of safe food. Since everything is connected, Africa has to first resolve these issues. This situation therefore, necessitates that the topic on Food Safety in Africa via this platform brings together various stakeholders to tackle these challenges.

Critical technologies have been identified in areas of new methods of investigation, technologies of innovation and development for food safety and security, public policy on food safety, instrumentation for hazardous contaminants, food and health risk assessment, risk communication, food control and regulation, impact of climate change on agriculture in Africa, amongst others. Africa as one, must ensure that the future is brighter than ever before. I am quite excited with the partnership between ACAFP, AUC and FAO in organizing this great event. I really look forward to the discussions and potential solutions to food safety challenges that will follow during this virtual conference.

I would like to use this medium to equally express my sincere gratitude to the sponsors, exhibitors and members of organizing committee for all of their efforts and time in organizing this conference. In closing, I wish all a fulfilling, wonderful and successful time at this conference and look forward to many more editions to this conference.

PB Njobeh
Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa