The Problem

Due to Sierra Leone's high levels of heat and humidity, fresh food does not stay that way for long, especially in rural areas that do not have electricity. (In these areas, only an estimated 1% of people have access to electric power). Since temperatures can reach as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels ranging from 70 to 90 percent, foods that are not refrigerated will mold extremely quickly. 

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A common diet in Sierra Leone consists of mostly rice, which is usually cooked as part of a "plasa", meaning plant stew. The most famous plasa is made with cassava leaves and red palm oil, and often includes peanut paste and okra, which help give the stew its thickness. When it is available, fresh meat and fish is added to the plasa. In the past, traditional ingredients, like Ogeri (fermented sesame seeds) and Sounbareh, (seeds of the African Locust Bean tree), were essential parts of the plasa's flavorful sauce, but recently they have been disappearing from the culture, being replaced with ubiquitous, unhealthy, imported bouillon cubes. (Specifically Nestlé-Maggi Cubes) These cubes have become an essential ingredient in most home kitchens and restaurants.

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In fact, imported food poses a huge problem for Sierra Leone. Since most farmers are only making enough to feed their families, there are not nearly enough domestic agricultural products on the market. There is also much corruption in the agriculture sector. Smugglers have been illegally removing food shipments from the country, just so they can bring them back in again at a much higher price. Due to these problems, foreign companies have been able to take over the entire market. Sierra Leone is now largely reliant on overpriced, imported food, which does not put money back into the economy.

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We believe we can help with this issue, by allowing small farmers to store more food than they would otherwise have been able to, and for longer periods of time. However, moldy food products are much more than a simply economic issue. They are also responsible for a large portion of disease within the country.

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When mold grows on food, it leaves behind nasty byproducts known as mycotoxins. These toxins can spread from plant-based food to the animals that eat it, further contaminating the food supply. Aflatoxins are a specific type of mycotoxin that are responsible for liver and other cancers, cirrhosis, hemorrhaging, malnutrition, and growth stunting, among other illnesses.

 

Approximately one-third of the African food supply is found to be infected  with aflatoxins. Studies have shown aflatoxins are so prevalent, that they are commonly found in women's breastmilk. When this is given to infants, it can start the growth stunting process before the child has even started eating solid food.