IITA signed a Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreement (TTLA) with BAMTAARE SA in September 2017 to manufacture, distribute, and market Aflasafe SN01 in Senegal and Gambia.
Challenges of Aflatoxin Contamination
Aflatoxin is a poison that affects approximately 25% of the world’s food supply and disproportionately impacts the poor. Aflatoxins are a major concern because of their acute and chronic health effects on humans and domesticated animals. Moreover, Senegal loses between $140 and $300 million due to their inability to access groundnut premium markets in Europe as a result of a non-permissible level of aflatoxin.
A revolutionary bio-control product
Aflasafe SN01 is a revolutionary biocontrol product, developed by IITA, the United States Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Direction Nationale de Protection de VĂ©gĂ©taux (DGPV) which reduces the prevalence of aflatoxins in treated maize and groundnut by 80% – 99% from farm to fork.
The initial idea of the technology was developed by the USDA-ARS. The technology was adapted and improved for use in Africa by IITA, USDA-ARS and several national partners, including the Direction Nationale de Protection de Végétaux (DGPV) in Senegal.
IITA is the official registration holder of Aflasafe SN01 in Senegal and The Gambia granted by Comité Sahélien des Pesticides (CSP) of the Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte Contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS).
The genetic material of Aflasafe (i.e., the non-toxin producing strains of Aspergillus flavus) utilised for the Aflasafe SN01 product were isolated from soils and crops from Senegal, in 2007/2008.
Making Aflasafe available in Senegal and the Gambia through partnership
BAMTAARE SERVICES SA is a subsidiary of SODEFITEX which has more than 40 years of experience, developing diversified and quality service offerings for states, grassroots community organizations, various projects and actors. The company is also specialized in the production and commercialization of seed. Using participatory and innovative approaches, it has created, developed and maintained a mutually satisfactory collaboration framework with its clients both locally and internationally.
The company participated actively in the efficacy trials leading to the registration of the Aflasafe SN01 product. Following the process, including a call for application and the business plan evaluation set-up by IITA, BAMTAARE was selected for the manufacturing and distribution of the product in Senegal and the Gambia.
BAMTAARE was consequently granted the exclusive right to manufacture, distribute and market Aflasafe SN01 in Senegal and the Gambia. IITA remains the official registrant of the product.
The exclusive right granted is limited to the specific territories and to only the Aflasafe SN01 product. It i also limited to a 5-year duration unless extended.
The licensee is required to deal with the license in accordance with the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets 2012
Aflasafe is a new product in Senegal and the Gambia. The economic and social values are yet to be demonstrated to farmers, businesses and national and local governments. To achieve impact and reach the intended beneficiaries, significant investments are required in the market development and in the investment of a manufacturing plant capable of producing at scale. Therefore, there is a need to provide limited protection to investors interested to venture into this business.
IITA works with the licensee and other development partners to create awareness about the negative effects of aflatoxins and the integrated management practices, including the use of Aflasafe. IITA also supports the development and dissemination of communication tools at community, district, and national levels. IITA is also supporting the licensee to train various actors, including public extension officers, representatives of farmer’s organizations and farmers. Besides, IITA is helping the licensee set up a demonstration to make visible the product’s effectiveness and its value for target beneficiaries.
IITA is also helping to increase the reach of the product for benefitting smallholder farmers by initiating and facilitating innovative public-private partnerships in the groundnut and maize value chains.
Principles guiding the commercialisation of Aflasafe
The overall approach for the commercialization and the technology transfer of the technology starts with the design of a commercialization strategy adapted to each country. This strategy provides market projections, analyses manufacturing feasibility and distribution scenarios, investor’s landscape, and enabling interventions required to increase the uptake of Aflasafe in the country. This information is packaged to mobilize investors for the manufacturing and distribution during investor forums. After the review of expression of interest and due diligence on interested investors, pre-selected companies submit their business plans. The Advisory board of the project is in charge of the approval of the final commercialization strategy. This entity is also in charge of the final selection of the investors. At the end of the process, Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreements (TTLAs) are signed with the successful applicants. The TTLA provides an incentive for the private sector to invest, but it also attempts to maintain a balance between the profit and the public health benefit. IITA leverages the private sector investment and the support of other stakeholders in the ecosystem to raise awareness, to build the capacities of value chain actors, and organize an efficient delivery to farmers.
Aflasafe does not incorporate material from the multilateral system of the the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), thus the commercialization of the product does not trigger the monetary benefit sharing obligations under the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit Sharing of the ITPGRFA.
This licensing strategy is compliant with the CGIAR Principles for the Management of Intellectual Assets.
The initial license was granted for a 5-year term from 2017 to 2022. The license was renewed for a further term of 1 year in 2023, following the success of the initial term.
