Risk Management
Implementation of a quality management system is critical to risk management
Firms that participate in the APTECA program develop food safety plans following the APTECA Handbook. The food safety plan prescribes
product sampling and testing frequency. APTECA provides reference material so firms can ensure testing accuracy. An additional step to
ensure testing accuracy includes verification of a firm’s results in the AgriLife ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited laboratory located on
the University of Nairobi Chiromo campus. Key elements in an ISO accredited laboratory include proficiency, traceability, and uncertainty.
Following implementation of the APTECA program, firms testing accuracy improved to 95%.
In 2016, the APTECA program began evaluating aflatoxin risk management practices at the farm level. This activity began in Meru County and
expanded throughout Kenya in 2017 and 2018. The project explores cultural practices including planting date, density, hybrid, fertilizer,
and the use of other factors that could reduce aflatoxin presence at the farm. This effort also explores alternative methods to evaluate
the presence of aflatoxin and predictive modeling. Use of the field data could also support food security policy based on the prevalence
of aflatoxin in the food chain.
Benefits
- Verification of results in ISO accredited lab
- Proficiency testing
- Reference material production