Food Safety Awareness from Focus Group Discussions in the Republic of Benin

The Food Safety for Africa (FS4Africa) project is designed to address food safety challenges in Africa by focusing on food safety issues associated with weak pathways for value chain organisation, traceability and authentication of safe food. Food safety challenges addressed include mycotoxin contamination in multiple food/feed crops, pesticide residues in grains and vegetables, microbial contamination (especially by Escherichia coli), and food adulteration via four use cases: Sustainable Aflatoxin Management through a Food Convergence Innovation Approach (Use Case 1), Reduction in the Use and Misuse of Pesticides (Use Case 2), Safe and healthy vegetable and fish production through online platform and mobile communication (Use Case 3) and Microbiological quality of tomatoes and leafy greens from farm to fork (Use Case 4). The aim of the project is to improve African food safety systems. It pays particular attention to the informal sector through local market transformation, enhancing food security and regional trade while reducing negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity, health and society. It further utilises the consortium's expertise, skills, networks, and tools to achieve this. Our approaches include implementing strategies to uplift the informal sector to a mezzanine status. By utilising policy instruments, digital tools, communication strategies, scientific, social, and technological approaches, we address gaps in the informal sector. We deploy tools and strategies that meet "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The project leverages the activities of other previous and current EU projects and collaborates with the Joint Research Centre, which leads the Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security.