This is one of several angles that Lynn Brown, independent consultant, assesses in the GCAN Policy Note No. 9. Aflatoxins affect all of Africa and the severity of the impact might well grow under climate change (as a forthcoming GCAN modeling study by IFPRI and the University of Florida is currently assessing).
The two key avenues to address aflatoxins include minimizing contamination in the growing cycle through the use of good agricultural practices and by mitigating toxin development in the postharvest supply chain. The second pathway is to reduce the consumption of contaminated food by diversifying the diet to include more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and animal-source foods, thus reducing the dominance of staples in diets, particularly of maize. Clearly women have substantial roles to play in both of these pathways and the policy note describes how.
