The UP-RISE EU-African Union (AU) project integrates food safety practices associated to mycotoxin contamination into all aspects of food production, distribution, marketing and consumption in the AU and provides tangible tools and strategies to enhance inclusive participation in the improved African Food Safety System (AFSS) at the local, national and regional level. UP-RISE activities are aligned with the current AU Food Safety Strategy for Africa, focusing on 3 regions of the AU with field work in 5 target member states (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, and South-Africa).

UP-RISE assembles 5 building blocks for knowledge generation and implementation: 1) Roadmaps for a shared quality culture and possible integration of the informal sector in the AFSS; 2) Strengthening the food safety regulatory framework with focus on mycotoxins in both formal and informal sectors; 3) Early warning to prevent mycotoxin contamination and adapt to climate change; 4) Prevention of food losses and improving food safety by providing innovative microbiome-based solutions for mycotoxin reduction and nutritious food and 5) Co-creation, training and mentoring. UP-RISEs co-created solutions will be demonstrated on 5 representative fermented food product value chains based on maize, millet, sorghum or milk and will be implemented in 10 business cases of SMEs in the target AU member states.

UP-RISE builds on strong synergies between all excelling consortium members combining social sciences with technological approaches and an outstanding network, which has been complemented with the Accelerator Platform comprising a.o. competent food safety authorities, farmers, consumers and trade organizations.

UP-RISE guarantees sustainability through the creation of Training Hubs in each target member state, an AU-EU Microbial Biobank Network, early warning systems, a risk assessment toolkit and a food safety regulatory model.