Solfood Project: The fight against Toxic mold

PhD candidates, Fatuma Sheramo Fora and Henry Momanyi from the Department of Biology, are at the forefront of an urgent international research collaboration, as profiled in the German newspaper Die Rheinpfalz. While participating in the Erasmus Mundus Exchange Program at Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), their vital work addresses a severe food safety crisis in Kenya. The article underscores the devastating impact of aflatoxin-producing mold fungi, which frequently contaminates maize, a national staple, leading to fatal poisoning outbreaks and long-term health consequences like liver cancer, with children being particularly vulnerable. This dire situation, exacerbated by climate conditions and storage challenges, has mobilized a sustained partnership since 2018 under the DAAD-funded "SolFood" project, uniting experts from the University of Nairobi, RPTU, and other institutions to find actionable solutions. You can read the full feature here: Kenyan Researchers in Landau: The Fight Against Toxic Mold. A translation of the Article is available here: 

The feature details how Fora and Momanyi, working under the guidance of their supervisors, including Prof. Sheila Okoth, Prof. David Kariuki, Dr. Ruth Amata, and Dr. Katherine Munoz, are conducting sophisticated analyses of Kenyan soil samples in RPTU's advanced laboratories. Their research, led by Prof. Peter Karlovsky, moves beyond mere identification of the problem to explore innovative biocontrol strategies. A core focus is investigating how agricultural practices and soil microbiology influence the proliferation of toxic molds, with the goal of promoting beneficial microorganisms that can naturally suppress the dangerous fungi. This practical science aims to develop affordable and sustainable methods for farmers, encompassing crop rotation, soil treatment, and improved storage, to break the cycle of contamination from field to harvest.

“If we can help reduce aflatoxins even a little, we can save lives.” - Fatuma Sheramo Fora, PhD student, University of Nairobi.

This international exchange exemplifies how global scholarship creates direct impact. The access to advanced technology and collaboration with RPTU scientists equips our researchers with vital tools to combat the crisis at home.  This research will have profound real-world significance of their academic mission and bringing great pride to our institution.