Addressing data gaps in a bid to stop food loss and wastage

Lack of precise data has hurt the fight against food loss and wastage, a researcher has said.

Prof Jane Ambuko from the University of Nairobi's Department of Plant science and Crop Protection on the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction on September 29 said not being sure of the extent of food loss has hurt efforts to curb it. 

According to Ambuko, 14 per cent of food produced is lost in the supply chain, excluding the consumer and retail stages.

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Data gaps are a huge challenge as it is not clear how much food is being wasted.

The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) in August announced its readiness to offer grain storage services to address post harvest challenges.

The cereals board said it is prepared to receive grains from individual farmers, cooperative societies or other groups for storage under the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) to maintain quality in readiness for market.

NCPB Managing Director (MD) Joseph Kimote said 58 warehouses and one Silo complex have been certified following completion of a one month inspection between May and June.

“The NCPB is prepared to implement WRS and post-harvest management activities after 58 of its stores completed the inspection and certification process for consideration,” said Kimote.

The inspection and certification was carried out by the Agriculture and Food Authority.

Kiomte further said certification of all NCPB stores across the country is continuing to ensure that they conform to the required standards for food storage as per KS 2657:2016 standards on WRS.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation 2011 data, 20 per cent of what we lose happens at the early stages of the supply chain. Most of the loss is attributed to bad practices and lack of technology.

To tackle the problem, Ambuko said it is impertinent to look at the supply chain. "How much do we lose at this stage? Are there technologies to be used in the stages to reduce food loss and waste? How can we use them?"

Call to action
The researcher said the prevention of food loss and wastage should be the responsibility of all.

Governments and private sectors as well as civil society cannot do it alone. In the same breath, the authorities need to train and build capacity as well as create awareness on the problem and what can be used to reduce food loss and wastage.

Consumers were urged to manage food stock properly and donate surplus food or redistribute if need be.

According to Ambuko, this year's objectives of the All Africa Post-harvest Congress was to create awareness, share knowledge and data.

There is a need to showcase technology and innovation such as cold storage for perishable goods and grains as well as establish partnerships to boost the initiative.

She added that technology such as dry chain for grains and cold chain for perishable commodities will address the plight of smallholder farmers.

"They can produce enough to feed themselves as well as have better storage to reduce quantitative losses."

The lack of proper on-farm grain storage leads to low prices from traders because of the high percentage of spoilage.

Cold storage technology reduces post-harvest losses, improves market access and ultimately improves access to food security.

Ambuko called for more awareness on the available solutions to farmers, especially small-scale traders in rural areas.

She cited the hermetic storage, where farmers in village aggregation centres can reduce food loss and wastage by selling stored grain later when prices are profitable.