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Cutting Food Loss and Food Waste Will Benefit People and the Environment, Says a New Study on World Environment Day

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a working paper titled ‘Reducing Food Loss and Waste’ on June 5th, World Environment Day. The report describes how reducing food loss and food waste contributes to global environmental sustainability goals, as well as recommends 5 strategies for reducing loss. The first […]

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Meta-Impact Assessment of Rice Research Consortium

The Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) published a report, ‘A Meta-Impact Assessment of the IRRC’, which analyzed the effects of its international research programs. The report found that research investment delivered a more than six fold return, bringing more than $70 million in benefits to four Asian countries with a $12 million investment. http://books.irri.org/9789712202971_content.pdf  

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Improving Global Food Security Without Rocket Science

Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), writes that ‘tackling postharvest losses is not rocket science’, but does require the coordinated effort of many actors. The WFP addresses postharvest loss under its ‘Purchase for Progress’ pilot capacity-building and training program, currently working in 20 countries. http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/improving-global-food-security-r-analysis-528272  

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Joint FAO, IFAD, WFP News Release: Food Security to be at Centre of Africa Development Agenda

The three Rome-based UN agency heads called for food security and nutrition to be the center focus of the international development agenda for Africa. The leaders stressed the importance of focusing investments and initiatives on smallholder farmers and rural development, and especially for women and girls. http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2013/26.htm?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonua%2FMd%2B%2FhmjTEU5z17%2BwtX6CygYkz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMSsRlN6%2BNFAAgAZVnyRQFHuWDeZg%3D  

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Advancing Global Food Security: The Power of Science, Trade, and Business

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs released the report, ‘Advancing Global Food Security: The Power of Science, Trade, and Business’, at their recent symposium in Washington, D.C. The report sites reducing loss as an essential element to sustainable intensification of agriculture. The Council also covered postharvest loss in a commentary piece leading up to the event. http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/UserFiles/File/GlobalAgDevelopment/Report/2013_Advancing_Global_Food_Security.pdf

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IFPRI Strategy 2013 – 2018: Food Policy Research in a Time of Unprecedented Challenges

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published a strategy report for the next 5 years in food policy research. Their first strategic area is ‘ensuring sustainable food production’, which encompasses reduction of waste within the food system. Read the full report here, or see highlights here. http://www.ifpri.org/publication/ifpri-strategy-2013-2018 Full report: http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/gi40.pdf Highlights: http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/strategy2013hl.pdf

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Feeding 9 Billion: What Research Do we Prioritize to Find Solutions?

Cross-sector representatives met in April for the first Food Security Futures Conference. Participants discussed how to accomplish the wide array of food security goals on the international agenda, and agreed that public and private research is essential. The conference produced a list of priorities, one being to develop better metrics for evaluating food systems. http://www.ifpri.org/blog/feeding-9-billion-what-research-do-we-prioritize-find-solutions

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Govt Urged to Establish a Postharvest Losses Policy, Framework

Tanzania policy markets action nodes (T-PAN) has proposed that the government develop a policy framework aimed at reducing postharvest losses based off results of a study carried out in in four districts in 2011. The study suggests farmers lose up to 40% of their crop to varying causes, and it looked at maize, paddy, and sorghum. The […]

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Bolga Poly Designs Post-Harvest Loss Programme

A public polytechnic in the Upper East region of Ghana has initiated plans to minimize postharvest losses. Officials say PHL is a major problem in the area due to lack of storage, preservation, and processing facilities. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/artikel.php?ID=271063

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Mud Brick and Wood Storehouses Save Grain After the Harvest

University of Kentucky researchers are currently working to reduce postharvest losses in Ghana and Nigeria. They have hosted workshops in the regions since 2009, and recently wrote a report for the US Department of Agriculture. https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/2013/03/06/mud_brick_and_wood_storehouses_save_grain_after_the_harvest.html

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