A Minnesota-based non-profit, Partners in Food Solutions, provides business and technical training to farmers abroad by matching food processing industry volunteers with businesses in developing nations. http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/224647761.html
Food Wastage in Cape Happens After Harvesting
Most “food wastage” in Cape Verde, an island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, occurs in postharvest stages, especially processing and packaging. The country lacks adequate postharvest facilities to support market needs. http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2013/09/18/food-wastage-in-cape-verde-happens-after-harvesting/
Accra Brewery Donates Towards Farmers’ Day Celebrations
Accra Brewery Ltd. delivered their annual donation of products to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the National Farmers’ Day celebrations in December. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Managing Postharvest Losses”. http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201309/113322.php
Industry, Government Must Collaborate to Boost Food Security: Tariq Anwar
While speaking at a day-long summit on food safety, Indian Minister of State for Food Processing Industries urged industry and government to collaborate to achieve food security and safety. Anwar stressed the importance of efficient postharvest management and quality control to reduce waste and contamination in food along the supply chain. http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=34296§ionid=1
Innovations for Agricultural Value Chains in Africa
The Meridian Institute received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a project that seeks to identify out-of-the box postharvest management and processing technologies. The project will focus on African maize, cassava, and dairy chains, and will involve organized meetings between innovators and key value chain players. http://www.merid.org/Content/Projects/Innovations_for_Agricultural_Value_Chains_in_Africa.aspx
Strategies to Address Mycotoxin Problems
The United States National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Program Leader, Kitty Cardwell, speaks in a Virtual Briefing on options to reduce mycotoxin contamination at preharvest and postharvest levels. Cardwell overviews challenges for mycotoxin management from farmer, consumer, marketer, and government perspectives. http://www.donorplatform.org/postharvest-losses/virtual-briefings/1060-kitty-cardwell-strategies-to-address-mycotoxin-problems.html
East Africa: COMESA Advised on Postharvest Processing
An ag engineer from the University of Nairobi urges the member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to adopt a strategy for postharvest management as a means to mitigate risks of loss involved with surplus production. He points to Brazil’s postharvest strategy as a model, citing it as the foundation […]
President Receives UN-FAO Award
President Mahama of Ghana received an award from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. His keynote address announced the theme of the 29th Farmer’s Day, ‘Reducing Postharvest Losses for Sustainable Food Security and Nutrition’. http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/2012-02-08-08-32-47/general-news/1475-president-receives-un-fao-award
Upper House Warned Losses Risk Worsening
In a testimony to the Senate committee investigating the massive losses recently discovered in the Thailand rice scheme, a finance official admitted to corruption in every step of the rice pledging process. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/358014/supa-says-rice-purchases-riddled-with-graft
Waste Not Want Not: A Weapon for Food Security
Betty Bugusu, Ph.D., Managing Director of the International Food Technology Center at Purdue University, gave a TED talk focused around food security and reducing loss. The talk featured Purdue’s dissemination of ‘Incubation Centers’. http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2013/06/29/waste-not-want-not-a-weapon-for-food-security/