Co-creating Food Safety: UP-RISE Workshop Empowers Akpan Value Chain Operators in Benin

16 February 2026

In October 2025, the UP-RISE project reached a significant milestone in West Africa with the successful completion of the first multi-actor co-creation workshop in Cotonou, Benin. Hosted at the Chant d’Oiseau meeting centre on 24 and 25 October, the event brought together 39 participants to address food safety challenges within the akpan (a traditional fermented maize-based product) value chain.

Specific objectives

• Identify and discuss best practices and risk mitigation strategies tailored to the local akpan value chain;
• Pinpoint barriers and risky behaviours that currently hinder the market production of safe food;
• Build a common understanding among operators regarding the definitions of food safety, quality, and the risks associated with mycotoxins; and
• Jointly develop practical, low-cost innovations and an engagement plan for stakeholders to test safety solutions.

Insights from the field

The workshop followed a participatory “farm to fork” approach, recruiting a diverse group of 27 operators, including farmers, wholesalers, retailers, millers and processors. Analysis showed that while men are predominantly involved in maize production, women play a central role in maize retail and akpan processing.

Key discussions revealed several critical insights

• Knowledge Gaps: Participants were capable of identifying visible hazards, such as stones or insects, but initially struggled with “invisible” threats. While everyone recognised mold, no participant initially identified the hazard as mycotoxins until the research team provided detailed explanations.
• The “Cleanliness” Subjectivity: A significant mismatch was discovered between perception and reality; all operators valued hygiene, but the notion of “cleanliness” was found to be deeply subjective.
• Contextual Constraints: Operators highlighted major obstacles to safety, including the high price of equipment, lack of modern storage units, and inconsistent access to electricity and potable water.

Co-Created Solutions and Commitments

Through small-group discussions and exchanges of ideas, stakeholders moved from identifying problems to proposing realistic improvements and developing practical solutions, low-cost innovations and a stakeholder engagement strategy for testing safety solutions. The workshop culminated in a series of concrete commitments (Engagement Plan) from each category of operator:

• Farmers pledged to implement good agricultural practices discussed during the workshop and to dry maize kernels properly on plastic tarpaulins before storage.
• Wholesalers and Retailers committed to using pallets for bag storage to prevent humidity and moisture.
• Millers agreed to clean their mills every two days and replace parts before they rust to avoid heavy metal contamination.
• Processors vowed to use only potable water, dress staff in appropriate protective gear, and store ogui (fermented corn starch) at 4°C.

Next Steps

The results of this workshop will be instrumental in building UP-RISE best practices guidelines specifically tailored to the constraints of local operators. Participants expressed high enthusiasm, with many confirming their motivation to attend a follow-up implementation workshop in one year to report on the results of the solutions they have decided to test.