Africa does not have significant peanut oil production for the local or international market, with the exception of Senegal. There is no real production of peanut oil in Africa. Peanuts are a staple used for sauces and snacks in Africa, but most Africans are unaware of aflatoxin and consume contaminated peanuts unwittingly.
How can the peanut industry be revived?
The peanut industry can be revived by targeting the international snack market, which is lucrative enough to pay for investments in aflatoxin management. Rejected peanuts can be exported to China for oil production or processed locally in refined peanut oil for the local market by existing vegetable oil producers.
Is aflatoxin the backbone of the African peanut industry?
Although peanut oil production can provide a cost recovery for high aflatoxin peanuts in Africa, the margins on peanut oil production are not high enough for it to be the backbone of the peanut industry. Aflatoxin continues to pose a significant challenge to the African peanut industry.
Can rejected peanuts be exported to China?
Rejected peanuts can be exported to China for oil production. However, oil production is only profitable if the overcapacity can be used of a factory already producing sunflower, soybean or cottonseed oil.