OTA risk management is, effectively, chain management from tree to finished product. Key factors in the successful management of OTA include good hygiene practices along the chain, rapid drying, and avoiding re-wetting of coffee by ensuring clean and dry storage and transportation. In order to define these, and other, prevention strategies, and to disseminate good practices, the project has undertaken a comprehensive series of interrelated activities and investigations.
Activities under the project are now being completed. The tables on the following pages outline what these activities have been under three main components - diagnosis, dissemination and training, and monitoring. Project objectives and targets, and the completion status of activities to date are also included, and activities scheduled for completion in 2004/2005 are noted. Details are correct as of February 2005.
Activities |
|
Target Set |
Status |
|
Component I: Diagnosis in chosen participating countries |
Activity 1.1.1 |
Laboratory experiments at the CoE to determine
Aw windows for different OTA producing fungi |
Identify OTA producing Aspergilli
Identify exact window of action for OTA producing Aspergilli, and importance of competing yeasts |
Completed.
Completed. OTA production window sufficiently defined. Report finalised. |
Activity 1.1.2 |
Validation of critical Aw windows through experiments in collaborating centres in project countries |
Establish operating (drying) conditions in each country and relate observed Aw with mould and OTA contamination |
Near completion. Core validation completed, and final related experimental trials in progress 2004/5 under Activity 2.1.2. |
Activity 2.1.1 |
Selection and acquisition of optimal moisture measuring equipment for use by collaborating centres |
Methods of moisture analysis established for all participating centres and all necessary equipment acquired. |
Completed. Equipment procured for Brazil, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Uganda. Low-cost moisture meters procured and evaluated. Additional equipment (thermo-hygrometers, Aw meters, solarimeters and anemometers) procured for drying trials under Activity 2.1.2. |
Activity 2.1.2 |
Conducting drying experiments in collaborating centres |
Improved and appropriate drying procedures tested in participating countries. |
Near completion. Drying experiment protocols developed for all countries and final trials ongoing re: delayed drying, tree-drying, re-wetting, raking, drying layer thickness etc. |
Activity 3.1.1 |
Sound ecological understanding of fungal communities - design trials to investigate and evaluate conditions during processing, storage and transportation, allowing for comparative analysis of production practices. |
Determine the relationship between the fungal communities, mould growth and conditions of processing & storage |
Near completion. First and second phase sampling concluded and contamination locales identified. Summary mycological studies reports completed.
Final research trials on storage of dry and fresh beans/cherries and impact of processing regimes being completed 2004/5. Final international transportation trial (Uganda to Europe) to be completed early 2005.
Survey of coffee chains to help evaluate CCPs being completed in 2004/5 in Côte d'Ivoire, India, Indonesia and Uganda. Interim findings from Uganda chain survey reported by CIRAD. |
Activity 3.2.1 |
Systematic and objective evaluation of field trials, verification of risk of re-contamination via by-products and optimization of their disposal. |
Determine risk of contamination from pulp and husk. |
Near completion. Inconclusive evidence to date re: mulching and composting. Results from dust contamination and composting trials from India analysed, and additional composting trials in Colombia and India scheduled for completion early 2005. |
Activity 3.3.1 |
Determination of valid critical control points for dissemination, based on field trial results. |
Determine and disseminate code of good agricultural and manufacturing practice and HACCP-based tools for coffee chain |
Near completion. CCPs determined and working operational limits established and incorporated into ToT courses and training materials as well as ECF Code of Practice. See also Activity 5.1.1 for details. |
Activity 3.4.1 |
Conduct feasibility studies on proposed recommendations of changes in practices and uptake of recommended technologies. Studies to cover socio-economic as well as non-economic feasibility aspects, and to look at investment project possibilities. |
Feasibility studies completed with socio-economic analysis and recommendations / justifications for proposed practices / technologies. |
Ongoing. Interim socio-economic studies on solar dryer technology completed in Uganda. Socio-economic studies being undertaken in Côte d'Ivoire and India in 2004/5. CIRAD overseeing socio-economic studies and surveys in Uganda and Indonesia during 2004/5, involving national consultants and local counterparts.
Global economic-based study to determine the impact and costs of adopting recommended hygiene practices along the coffee chain commissioned for mid-2005. |
