Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics Food Security Group

The 2nd African Continental Association for Food Protection (ACAFP) Food Safety Conference was held in Accra, Ghana, from December 12-14, 2023, at the Erata Hotel. With the theme "Towards a Safer Food Supply for Africa," the event brought together over 100 delegates from across Africa and featured keynote presentations, plenary sessions, and technical workshops focusing on food safety advancements, policy integration, and technological innovations.

The conference kicked off with an opening ceremony led by Prof. Joseph Odumeru, ACAFP President, who emphasized the association's goals of fostering collaboration among food safety stakeholders across Africa. Keynote speeches were delivered by prominent figures, including Prof. Paul Amuna, who addressed the need for a unified policy to combat foodborne diseases and improve long-term health outcomes in Africa. Prof. Amuna underscored the urgent need for innovations in food safety and nutrition to reduce morbidity and mortality related to unsafe food practices, especially among vulnerable populations.

Plenary sessions featured speakers like Dr. Blaise Ouattara, who highlighted the FAO's strategic framework for better production and nutrition, and Ms. Lusubilo Witson Mwamakamba, who spoke on the WHO's global strategy for food safety, aiming to strengthen food safety systems and reduce foodborne diseases. Technical workshops focused on five main sub-themes: capacity-building, integrating food safety with nutrition, the One Health approach, food safety policies, and technological advances. Participants discussed the critical role of public-private partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and technological innovation in addressing these challenges.

Day two of the conference featured a keynote by Dr. Irene Akpeokhai from GBFoods, emphasizing collaboration among stakeholders and highlighting GBFoods' efforts to ensure food safety through packaging integrity and better practices among suppliers. Dr. John Oppong-Otto, representing AU-IBAR, discussed the need for strong food safety policies and coordination across the continent.

A panel discussion on "Ensuring Food Safety Through Increased Collaboration" brought insights from academics, regulatory bodies, and industry players. Dr. Joycelyn Quansah stressed the importance of integrating food safety into educational curricula, while Dr. Rose Omari highlighted research institutes' role in solving practical food safety issues and shaping policy. Participants discussed the challenges facing SMEs, such as limited resources and trust issues, and emphasized the need for collaboration to ensure safe food practices.

Prof. Olusegun Adewale Obadina delivered the final keynote on day three, focusing on the risks posed by poor handling of vegetables and other food products. He provided insights from the RSM2SNF project, emphasizing the role of hygiene in reducing foodborne pathogens. His presentation underscored the need for adherence to best agricultural and food handling practices to mitigate contamination risks.

The closing ceremony featured remarks by ACAFP President Prof. Joseph Odumeru, who commended the organizers, participants, and sponsors for their contributions to a successful conference. Awards were presented to participants for exemplary presentations, with recognition given for effective time management. Prof. Charles Tortoe officially closed the conference, urging participants to contribute individually to addressing food safety challenges in Africa.

Key Takeaways:

• Food safety in Africa requires unified policies, collaboration, and innovative solutions.

• Educational initiatives and capacity-building are critical to advancing food safety.

• Strong partnerships among government, academia, and private sector stakeholders are essential for sustainable food safety improvements.

• Practical solutions, such as better hygiene practices and food handling training, are necessary to reduce contamination risks and ensure a safer food supply.