The International Mechanical Engineers Association released a report titled “Global Food: Waste Not Want Not” stating that 30-50% of all food globally is wasted or lost. The report describes various instances where loss occurs, ranging from storage issues in India to supermarket waste in the UK. The report received substantial media coverage, demonstrating rising public […]
Global InItIatIve on Food Losses and Waste ReductIon
The opportunity to solve postharvest loss issues lies among various stakeholders. Governments can provide better storage and infrastructure, businesses advanced technologies and improved supply chains, and researchers knowledge and information that is both accessible and appropriate to farmers of all types. These opportunities also present challenges, however. The postharvest loss stakeholder network faces obstacles with […]
ADB Announces 3-Year Pipeline of $525 Million to Promote Cambodia’s Growth
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced its new business plan that has a strategic focus on Cambodia. The US$525 million pipeline will target urbanization of secondary towns, urban-rural linkages, and private sector development, among other things. It will support projects aiming to commercialize rice production and enhance supply chains overall. http://www.adb.org/news/cambodia/adb-announces-3-year-pipeline-525-million-promote-cambodias-growth?ref=themes/climate-change/newshttps://www.devex.com/en/news/blogs/adb-unveils-3-year-project-pipeline-for-cambodia?blog_id=the-development-newswire&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRouu6%2FMZKXonjHpfsX86%2BwrXqO1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSspmI%2FqLAzICFpZo2FFcH%2FaQZA%3D%3D
Nigeria: AfDB Lends Nation U.S.$650 Million for Agric Development
The African Development Bank is lending Nigeria US$650 million to support the country’s agricultural value chain. Small and medium size enterprises will be targeted with plans to develop infrastructure that will better connect farmers, markets, and processing centers. http://allafrica.com/stories/201212050534.html?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRohs6%2FPZKXonjHpfsX76u0tUKW3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FScFhI%2FqLAzICFpZo2FFcH%2FaQZA%3D%3D
The Role of Logistics in Reducing Post-Harvest Food Losses
The Global Agenda Council on Logistics & Supply Chains identified improving supply chains as essential to global food security. The Council plans to investigate current processes with hopes of determining potential solutions, though notes the current lack of empirical data available. http://forumblog.org/2012/11/the-role-of-logistics-in-reducing-post-harvest-food-losses/
Facilities for Mindanao Farmers Built by Japanese NGO Completed
A Japanese NGO turned over postharvest loss facilities in the southern part of the Philippines, worth around $400,000 USD, which were constructed using Japanese government funds for the “Construction of Small-Scale Agriculture Facilities for Climate Change Adaptation” project. At least 9 other facilities have been constructed for crops such as rice, corn, and cassava. http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/business/agri-commodities/2499-facilities-for-mindanao-farmers-built-by-japanese-ngo-completed
Scraping Together All the Rice We Waste
Some experts doubt the Philippines will reach its goal of self-sufficiency in rice production by the end of next year, saying it will take until at least 2020, but most likely longer. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank agree that financing requirements for necessary infrastructure developments are too large and realistically unattainable. The […]
Agriculture Department Urged to Invest More in R&D Projects
A Filipino senator urged the country’s Department of Agriculture to increase investments in agricultural research and development to improve efficiency of the ag sector. He cited postharvest loss as a major issue and a significant reason to invest in modernization of facilities, logistics, and infrastructure. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/292030/agriculture-department-urged-to-invest-more-in-rd-projects
No Storage Space for Bumper Stock in Country’s Food Bowl
At the start of the Indian procurment season, the government is still facing severe storage shortages. The large bumper crop is overwhelming current capacities that still hold much of last year’s procurement. Government reactions include plans to add more storage capacity, release additional grain to the open market, and export to neighboring nations. Meanwhile, significant amounts of grain continue […]
Vietnam Rice Farmers Urged to Build Storage Facilities
In Vietnam, rice farmers continue to face issues with storage, stable prices, and processing, making for an inefficient production chain responsible for 13% of rice postharvest losses. The government has admitted that its policy of buying up surplus rice to avoid price instability is not benefitting smallholder farmers but rather the trading middle man. Officials are […]