Project

Hopes for a Wind Turbine in Kentucky to Reduce Post-Harvest Loss in Nigeria

Grains and legumes grown in hot and humid weather are at risk of aflatoxin contamination, which is produced by mold that grows on staples, such as corn and groundnuts, when not dried thoroughly.
Aflatoxin contamination results in a loss of $450 million per year for grain producers in Africa. For farmers who live on less that $1.25 per day, grain loss is an immense financial burden.
The toxin is also linked to impaired brain development in children, as well as liver cancer, stunted growth, and death. Contamination of grains also puts a burden on food security.
Though post-harvest loss in inevitable, a student team at the University of Kentucky, dubbed the "UK Windcats," aims to help grain producers in Nigeria assemble wind technology in order to dry grains quickly and minimize loss.

Meet the Journalist: Roxanne Scott

In 1960, about 100,000 turkeys in England suddenly died. Could grain contamination be the cause? Roxanne Scott explores how Nigerian farmers are planning to recover from aflatoxin contamination.