West Africa Takes Major Step Toward Safer Livestock Feed with New Regional Framework
Regional collaboration aims to address critical food safety challenges and boost economic opportunities across West Africa and the Sahel
ABUJA – West African nations are mobilizing to transform their animal feed industry through a coordinated regional approach that addresses both food safety concerns and economic development opportunities, according to high-level discussions held in Nigeria’s capital.
A Regional Response to Shared Challenges
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a comprehensive initiative to build an integrated livestock feed industry across the region, recognizing that fragmented national approaches have limited effectiveness in addressing transboundary challenges like aflatoxin contamination and supply chain inefficiencies.
The two-day high-level workshop in Abuja, organized by ECOWAS’s Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA) in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, marks a significant escalation in regional cooperation on agricultural safety and productivity.
“Without an efficient and inclusive feed industry, efforts to modernize livestock production would remain incomplete,” stated Mr. Konlani Kanfitin, Acting Executive Director of ARAA, highlighting the strategic importance of the sector to regional economies.
Breakthrough in Food Safety Monitoring
A major technical advancement emerged from the discussions: Mali’s laboratories have achieved full capacity to conduct rapid tests for aflatoxin in food and aflatoxin M1 in milk. This development represents a critical step forward for regional food safety infrastructure.
Dr. Seydou Sidibé, Senior Researcher at Mali’s Institute of Rural Economy, revealed concerning data that underscores the urgency of these efforts: while only 20% of 318 feed samples analyzed showed contamination, a startling 90% of milk samples exceeded acceptable aflatoxin limits.
“Our experience shows that the PRISMA model can strengthen laboratory capacity and promote the production of healthy, aflatoxin-free feed,” Dr. Sidibé stated, referring to the Productive, Resilient and Safe Agropastoral Systems in West Africa project that underpins these regional efforts.
Economic Implications Beyond Food Safety
The initiative extends beyond technical safety measures to address fundamental economic challenges. High feed costs and weak regulatory systems have long constrained the livestock sector’s potential, despite its substantial contribution to member states’ economies.
The Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, described animal feed as “the backbone of sustainable livestock production and a strategic lever for achieving food and nutrition security across the region.”
The emerging framework emphasizes private sector leadership through producer associations, recognizing that market-driven solutions are essential for long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Building on Four Years of Foundation
The current push represents the culmination of four years of intensive collaboration between ECOWAS, the European Union, Spanish Cooperation (AECID), and member states. The PRISMA project has already delivered tangible results, including harmonized sampling protocols, advanced traceability research, and digital platforms to enhance feed distribution.
Mr. Santiago Ormeño García, Coordinator of the Spanish Cooperation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, noted that “this workshop demonstrates the power of regional cooperation” and reflects “shared ambition to make the livestock sector safer, more productive and inclusive.”
The Road Ahead
The technical discussions in Abuja will directly inform a subsequent Policy Dialogue Workshop focused on leveraging these results in regional agricultural priorities. The coordinated approach aims to create a harmonized feed traceability system and strengthen cross-border trade mechanisms.
For the people of West Africa, the initiative promises more than technical improvements—it represents potential economic transformation through improved livestock productivity, reduced contamination risks, and new employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth in agropastoral value chains.
The regional commitment to a self-reliant, food-secure West Africa now appears to be moving from policy aspiration to practical implementation, with the animal feed industry serving as a critical testing ground for regional integration and innovation.