A Detox in The Gambia: Eradicating Toxins from Gambian Peanuts

The Gambia has the potential to become a major peanut exporter. Its climate is well-suited for peanut production and the country has a huge port, which with a little investment could grow out to be a major port for other West-African countries. The government is determined to boost Gambian export and in that light, Gambian exporters have started exporting their peanuts to Europe as well. There is, however, one hurdle to overcome before peanut export to the EU can really take off: eradicating toxins from The Gambia’s peanut crops.

The Gambia produced 109.8 K tonnes of peanuts in 2017 and the total peanut production has been steadily increasing over the last few years. The current season has not yet started, as the Gambian peanut season runs from November until March, but BB Trading, a trader operating in The Gambia and Guinea Bissau, is optimistic that this year’s production will exceed last year’s. Last year’s production was lower than average due to insufficient rains. Traditionally, most of The Gambia’s peanuts were exported to Asia, most notably to China, Vietnam, Singapore, and India. In 2018, the export to Asia declined. This was partly due to a decreased harvest in The Gambia. Furthermore, Gambian exporters and the Gambian government have set their sights on exporting to Europe, as the price for peanuts is more favorable in the EU.

Gambian peanuts have been exported to Europe for bird feed. However, Gambian peanuts for human consumption have been barred from entering the EU since 2014, until now. The main reason for this is the high presence of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a toxic mold that thrives in humid climates, such as in The Gambia. Only 4 parts per billion are allowed under EU regulations, but Gambian peanuts sometimes contain levels as high as 20 parts per billion. Not only peanuts were affected, but much of the country's other groundnuts and maize have been affected as well.

Luckily, The Gambian government has put a great importance on eradicating this toxin. It has distributed Aflasafe, which is a relative strain of the aflatoxin mold which occupies the crop without toxifying it, to Gambian farmers for free. In this way, the farmers have managed to reduce the levels of aflatoxin in peanuts to levels lower than the EU limit, in less than one year. In late 2018, the first exports of safe, toxin-free Gambian peanuts for human consumption to the Netherlands and Germany commenced. The government’s commitment to aflatoxin-free peanuts continues: according to BB Trading, “The Gambian government is in the process of setting a lab with EU standards and accreditation to help with the testing of the peanuts before they are sent to the EU market.”

Applying Aflasafe is a very labor-intensive process, but Gambian farmers realize that it will lead to more revenue in the long run. The price in the EU is 3% to 5% higher than the price in Asia, according to BB Trading. With the continued detoxification of Gambian peanuts, more Gambian farmers could enjoy this high price in the EU market.