Côte d'Ivoire is establishing itself as the African capital of food security. Since Monday, June 29, 2026, Abidjan has been hosting the 4th edition of the African Workshop of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) . Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts through the National Laboratory for Testing, Metrology and Analysis (LANEMA), this event brings together representatives from 31 countries, including 29 African nations, with a central objective: to strengthen consumer protection .

5 days to arm Africa against food risks

For one week, more than 100 experts and decision-makers will work on the major challenges facing the food chain. The discussions will include:

1. Control of chemical contaminants and microbiological risks.
2. The application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
3. The use of nuclear techniques to guarantee the quality and traceability of food.

"Food safety is now much more than a public health issue; it is a real driver of economic competitiveness, consumer protection, industrial development, and the facilitation of trade."

— Assoua Raymond Laurent , Chief of Staff, representing the Minister of Commerce.

To support this momentum, the Ivorian government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue investing in the modernization of national laboratories in order to support the country's industrial transformation.

A strong signal for Ivorian expertise

The choice of Côte d'Ivoire to host the 2026 edition is no coincidence. For Professor Koné Mawa , Director General of LANEMA, it is a recognition of the country's concrete progress, particularly thanks to the Food Safety project launched in 2021 with the support of the IAEA. This program has enabled local laboratories to achieve the analytical capabilities of international standards.

The health and economic emergency in figures

IAEA representative James Sasanya reiterated the urgent need for collective action by revealing alarming figures across the African continent:

Impact of food hazards in Africa (per year)	Data
Cases of illness	~ 866 million
Registered deaths	1.5 million
Economic losses	$310 billion

Heading towards a 2026-2028 roadmap

This week's work will not remain theoretical. Participants are tasked with developing an African roadmap (2026-2028) . This action plan will aim to pool the strengths of the continent's various laboratories and harmonize food safety risk monitoring in Africa.