Describe the current conditions of Brazil nut production and commercialization in the Brazilian States of Acre and Pará, and their constraints and opportunities for aflatoxin control.
Formulate propositions to improve the organization and to provide better incentives for the development of a sustainable Brazil nut production chain.
Validate and update existing recommendations of good practices in the Brazil nut production chain for aflatoxin control through in-field case studies and the development of a simple predictive model for fungal growth and aflatoxin production.
Adapt and validate rapid methods brought in to the project for aflatoxin analyses in Brazil nuts - e.g. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Lateral Flow Device (LFD)-, and implement them in Brazil in the laboratory, the Brazil nut production area and one processing plant.
Set up training courses in ELISA and LFD for aflatoxin analyses in Brazil nuts, AFPA agar plate methodology for the identification of aflatoxin producing fungi and good practices in the Brazil nut production chain for the project participants and key stakeholders.
Disseminate project information and results through different information systems (website with details & outputs from the project ; scientific and specific sector publications, etc).
Organize project meetings and workshops (kick off meeting and first workshop, progress meeting and final workshop).