• Site map
• About us
• K-State photo services
• Inclement weather policy
• Social media guidelines
• Stock photos

 

 

Join us on facebook

 

 

Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: John Leslie, Tinna Manani and Twambo Hachibamba, 785-532-6176
News released prepared by: Kay Garrett, 785-532-3238, anuenue@k-state.edu

Monday, Nov. 17, 2008

TWO BORLAUG FELLOWS FROM AFRICA STUDYING AT K-STATE

MANHATTAN -- Two Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows are currently studying at Kansas State University. They are the first Borlaug Fellows to train at K-State since the fellowship program was established in 2004.

The Borlaug Fellowship is underwritten to promote food security and economic growth in developing and middle-income countries. Sponsors are the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Food science and technology researchers Tinna Manani from the University of Malawi and Twambo Hachibamba from the University of Zambia are studying modern microbiology methods for identifying fungi that produce mycotoxins. The work will help them in addressing the serious food contamination problems in their home countries. Their residency at K-State will end Nov. 22.

Aspergillus and Fusarium are fungi that thrive on the dietary staples of Malawi and Zambia, peanuts and maize. The fungi produce harmful mycotoxins that are regulated out of food in most developed countries, but not in the two African nations.

Manani and Hachibamba want to learn the modern microbiology technologies to identify fungi and learn to quantify levels of toxins in food samples. They also want to know better ways to store grain so that the molds found commonly in agricultural fields worldwide don't continue to grow and make toxins even after harvest is complete. Post-harvest problems of this sort in killed more than 200 people in Kenya in 2004 and 2005.

Once back home, Manani and Hachibamba will train future food science students.

While at K-State, the two African scientists have been to the fungal genetics labs in plant pathology under the direction of John Leslie, professor and head of the K-State department of plant pathology. They also have been studying in grain science and industry, animal sciences and industry and in the comparative toxicology section of veterinary medicine.

Along with Leslie, their K-State faculty include Dirk Maier, professor and head of the department of grain science and industry; J. Scott Smith, professor of animal sciences and industry and chair of his department's food science graduate program; and Deon van der Merwe, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

One drawback the two African scientists anticipate once they get back home is the high price tag for molecular genetics equipment, chemicals and reagents. Without such equipment, the two realize they will not be able to identify fungi to the species level.

"Without using the molecular techniques we are learning about here, the margin of error is high," Hachibamba said.

She and Manani are optimistic, though, that with what they are learning now, they can speak authoritatively to government officials, making clear the link between people eating contaminated food and the level of poor health.

"We would like to feed into the policymakers with the new information we are gaining here," Hachibamba said. "In the past, when there is a big problem, as in the case of malaria education, the government reacted strongly.

"We think they could do the same about the contaminated food," she said. "They could tell the people, 'if you keep the maize like this it is growing mold, and the mold is making you sick.'"

Manani and Hachibamba were honored in September at the annual World Food Prize conference. They are two of 15 women scientists among the 37 Borlaug Fellows from 18 nations who attended the conference.