597 c 2011 Society of Chemical Industry tharvest Technology and Cold Chain c tinoja, Horticulture and Food Security, World Food safety, and environmental conservation. and Adel A Kader b Correspondence to: Lisa Ki Logistics Organization, 1500 King Street, SuiteE-mail: 201, kitinoja@postharvest.org Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. World Food Logistics Organization, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Amity International CentreManagement, Amity for University Uttar Pos Pradesh,India Noida 201 303, Uttar Pradesh, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA Although extension services in developing countries are While researchers have identified many potentially useful ll-known varieties and the needs of local varieties of crops, ∗ c a es that are relevant to the overall success of horticulture, i.e. b increasingly involved intraining providing activities on educational postharvestfollow-through topics, programs and support often after and the there training. Those is participating a lack of postharvest technologies for use in developinga countries, lack there of is information regarding thethese postharvest costs technologies, and since costs financial are benefits rarely documented of during research studies.between Generally gathering the laboratory adaptiveresults is findings research missing and step orinvestigating local the extension technology costs and are its of field simply applications.useful Technically the not practices therefore considered tend when to be disregardedinformation on since costs there or is their no potential financial returnsdeveloping in regions. different Physical and quality lossesconcerns in about food turn safety, and lead lower to incomes for loss growers. of market value, ood, science-based, simple methods for postharvest handling ater loss, chilling sensitivity, ethylene sensitivity), ascertaining ce, university teaching and extension, and continued adaptive local needs as these continue to change over time. Development ng many potential postharvest technologies of practical use for arvest technologies in each locale and for each crop. Key issues 9 s; postharvest losses; quality; safety; vegetables Physicaland 9 Susanta K Roy b onomics, food processing, nutrition, food These losses are observed at 1–8 Sunil Saran, ∗ a : 597–603 www.soci.org 91 2011; capacity building; extension; fresh produce; fruit

2011 Society of Chemical Industry According to many studies, farmers have been losing between c J Sci Food Agric 30% and 40% ofthey the reach value the of their final fruits consumer. and vegetables before INTRODUCTION The primary goalstechnology of fresh of produce are researchquality to and reduce to losses on maintain in safety quantity between postharvestsites. and harvest The and consumption strategies biology for attaining and thesecultivars goals that include: have (1) growing goodpostharvest-life flavor potential and when nutritional harvested quality(2) at plus using optimum long an integrated maturity; crop managementyield system without that sacrificing quality; maximizes and (3) usinghandling optimal postharvest practices toproducts. maintain quality Recent and studiespostharvest safety losses and are of still literature the highlevels, and at food reviews that the not much farm, confirm improvement wholesale inlosses the that and can overall retail percentagof be documented from theactive 1970s to horticultural the present, education despite countries. and research programs in many that can beidentifying made causes and available sources of in losses for developing key crops, countries. identifyi Some of thethe traditional differences challenges between handling have recommendations been made for successfully we metinclude (i.e. building capacity at the local level in postharvest scien Abstract This article discusses the needs and challenges of developing g reducing losses), but many challenges remain.postharvest physiology These (e.g. include respiration the rate, characterization susceptibility of to indigenous w crops in terms ofand their determining unique cost effectiveness of scale-appropriate posth research efforts to match emerging postharvest technologies to of appropriate postharvest technology relies uponplant many biology, disciplin engineering, agricultural ec The expanding pool of new information deriveddirections from which postharvest are research likely and to outreach efforts have in an these impact areas on can relieving lead poverty in many in developing countries. Keywords: in research, outreach and advocacy Lisa Kitinoja, countries: challenges and opportunities (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI 10.1002/jsfa.4295 Postharvest technology for developing Perspective Received: 27 October 2010 Revised: 13 December 2010 Accepted: 13 December 2010 Published online in Wiley Online Library: 26 January 2011 quality losses are mainly dueuse to of poor poor quality temperature packages, rough management, handling, and aeducation general regarding lack of the needs for maintainingof quality and perishables safety at the producer, wholesaler, and retailer levels. harvesting, during packing, transportation, in wholesale andmarkets, retail and duringRwanda, delays Ghana, at Benin and different India,similarfindings,withlossesrangingfrom30%to80%. stages recent of studies have handling. generated In . et al : 597–603 91 2011; J Sci Food Agric Although there are a few researchers in each Futurepostharvestresearchneedstobuildonexisting 23 21,22 The terms ‘commodity system’, ‘value chain’ and ‘supply Although much of the information needed to properly handle Capacity building in postharvest research is an obvious need in Just a few examples of current research needs are local chain’ are used interchangeably to includeprocessing, production, wholesaling, collection, and retailing as well as supportsuch functions, as input supply, financial services,advertising.Asystematicanalysisof transport, packaging, eachcommodity’sproduction, and foods of plantrequirements origin and is recommendations known, forof the there each particular is commodity cultivars indigenous a produced crops grown need in in developing to a countriesdo about given refine which not we area. the have Also, enoughhandling conditions. there information are on their optimal postharvest developing country whothere carry tends out to be some veryresearchers postharvest little within coordination research, each among country the or postharvest region. among countries Also within each lackingproduction is horticulturists, interdisciplinarymarketing plant economists, collaboration engineers, pathologists, among foodscientists, entomologists, technologist, and consumer othersof who the may production and be marketingcollaboration involved systems. are Such in essential cooperation various to and establishingextension aspects programs. effective research and practical to completely eliminate postharvest losses, an acceptable loss level for each commoditycan and be production identified area on the combination investment basis determination). of Since energy cost–benefit use is analysis suchcomponent (return an of relevance important on and practical applications for postharvest technologies for usersto in consider developing the countries, availabilityoptions. it and is cost important of energy when assessing many developing countries and canfaculty be achieved exchanges, via internships, humanuniversity laboratories resource and research centers, development laboratoryimproved upgrades, for access staff toLeadership in web-based training information, isbuilding and and, an mentoring. while importantneglected. it component has in been capacity well characterized, is often postharvest losspackages, assessments, inexpensive studiescooling and of methods, safer reusable/recyclable pesticides, sanitation ripening and and alternative systems, energyDeveloping food countries low-cost sources are for tackling safety environmental postharvest issues inways, practices, uses. various some bio- of whichexample,abillwaspassedin2006inRwandathatbannedtheuseof will likely affectplasticbags.Alternativepackaging postharvest research. materialsforhorticulturalcrops For therefore need to be studied and locally assessed forcost feasibility and effectiveness. Possibilities includepolymers, the chicken use feather of polymers, cassava-based orstarches. bio-degradable non-food knowledge, and be adaptive, applied, andusers. suitable A systematic for analysis of small-scale the production and handlingfor system each commodityappropriate is strategy the for logical reducingessential postharvest to first determine losses. step the Also,selected in return it postharvest on identifying is investment technologies. an most in Scale farmers each is in of important developing the both in countries because terms of operate land area on in production,crops a and harvested in small and the low handled scale, volumes on of anycan given day. greatly Such facilitate information convincingvalue of handlers adopting the and recommended marketers technologies. of the USAID www.soci.org L Kitinoja 12 they have and DEVEX 2011 Society of Chemical Industry c 15 17–19 UNFAO inPHo, 14 20 as the historical focus has been on increasing While thousands of development projects have been 16 10,11 reported that priorities within the postharvest sector of World Bank Documents, 20 13 Postharvest losses vary greatly among commodities and production. In the 1990s the focusrecently moved to to marketing and more valueshow chain that development. less Still, thanglobally have 1 Internet focused in on databases fresh 2000according produce to agricultural handling advanced and searches projects during marketing, 2009 undertaken using AiDA, not been implemented, inthe many following cases, socioeconomic duesystems; factors: (2) to inadequate (1) transportation one modes; inadequate (3) or unavailability marketing needed of more materials, tools, and/or of equipment; (4) lack ofand information; (5) governmental regulationsRolle and legislations. Mrema and production areas and seasons. While it may not be economical or wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS AND NEEDS Although the biological and environmental factors that contribute to postharvest losses are well understoodhave and many technologies been developed to reduce these losses, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND OUTREACH Less than 5% of funding(R&E) for horticultural has research been and20 extension years, allocated to postharvest issues over the past inpostharvesttraining maybeconvincedandwilling toimplement improved practices, but cannot do so when neededor supplies, equipment tools are not locally available. Even when usersprovidedwiththesetoolsandsuppliesaspartofatrainingprogram are initially or development project, there tendsand to be services a once lack the ofin local programs support postharvest end. practices Any arebe adoption made then of when abandoned changes facilities, coolers, asbreak equipment down repairs or and handling cannot tools systems or spare partsat cannot reasonable be cost. obtained locally or DEX, developing countrieshaveevolvedfromaprimarilytechnicalfocus geared towards the reduction of losses, to a more holisticdesigned approach to linkand distribution. on-farm Despite activities thisproblems evolution and to in concerns processing, trends, ofunchanged, with high fundamental marketing the postharvest losses, poor sector marketing systems, haveweak remained research relatively andin development policies, capacity, infrastructure,exchangecitedasmajorconstraintswithinthesectorindeveloping extension and services inadequacies regions of and the world. information databases. launched in developing countries between 1990time by and dozens of the donor present agencies, few have focused(less on agriculture than 6% accordingto to the the World AiDA(approximately bank), database; 1% very 25% of few according of have the these focused agricultural very upon fewcomponent. projects), ‘Postharvest’ designations, horticultural horticulture when and investigated projects further only includedin these 1/3 a databases, postharvest generally turnedprocessing. out to Most be of some the kindfocus of other upon food increasing horticulture food projects production via appearedimproving various to irrigation means such systems, as infrastructure projects,markets developing for processedcapacity in extension or work. export products or strengthening

598 599 40 wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa 37 and farmers cannot be expected 41 39 A variety of postharvest training of trainer (ToT) programs 38 In India a variety of government agencies through the extension Farmer or trader association or cooperatives are being widely Extension efforts and training needs differ by target group, for extensiondevelopment workers efforts in Egypt were (USAID AERI –Lebanon Hort implemented (USAID Project CEDARS 2004-07), 2003–7), as and Indonesia (USDAChain Indo part Cold Project 2001-04). of Moreprovided recently, major for horticultural postharvest extension workers, training who were was by then hired private sector companiesIndia (USAID 2007-08), GMED and a Project 2009-10 WFLO Maharashtra, projectMelinda funded Gates by Foundation the provided demonstrations Bill of and small-scale postharvest technologies with cost effectivenesshorticultural information growers for andSouth marketers Asia. in sub-Saharan Africa and services (Krishi Vigyan Kendras or KVKs), farmfairs demonstrations are and supposed to provide information onbut modern technology, studies showhouseholds that of only marginal a andthese very small services. In categories Uttar small Pradesh (UP) are percentage state 0.8% ablemarginal of of small farmers, to and and 1.2% farmer access in of Uttaranchal state 0.4% of small and 0.0% to adapt to theregulations, annual and changes standards. in New challenges demand,and will preferences, education continually programs prices, arise, must somehow keep pace. promoted as athe formation means and ofcomplicated management enhancing of and access farmers’ difficultneeded organizations to task. to is markets, More a identifyfacilitating but comparative ‘workable collaborative models’ research marketing and is in ‘best developing practices’ countries. for and there are oftenwomen, difficulties youth, in middlemen/traders reaching andmiddlemen smallholder processors. farmers, have Traders been and generallylarge impact ignored on although the final they qualitymarket of have fresh produce a value. and its Future potential this extension group efforts of should menpostharvest and seek handling women to losses. in Reaching include training programs workshops women were aimed offered in may or at near be the reducing marketssell where easier produce they and/or if shop for food.planned Extension around programs should their be freethem time to and better provide focusactively. child care on to the allow information and participate more manipulation of more thangenes one have gene not and, yet been in identified. some cases, target Export marketing isin especially the sector dynamic can as be extreme, global competition OUTREACH ACHIEVEMENTS AND NEEDS Outreach or extensioninvolves in making the caseproducersandmarketers.Inallcountries,thereisaneedtoimprove the of link postharvestthe between technology outreach research effortsmarketers, and aimed and small-scale at consumerssafety about informing of how producers, food to handlers, success products. maintain Recently quality stories, there and including(IT) have the been kiosks a use inmarket few of local information India, information in cellgroups technology Rwanda, for phone direct and marketing. text Acommunication formation current technologies messages of study and of for smallholder a existingservices wide Internet providing in variety of Uganda,are commercial Indonesia willing to and pay India forto IT-based indicate text-based advisory that services, messages but farmers rates. is their access limited by high costs and illiteracy 36 2011 Society of Chemical Industry c Future research 34,35 32,33 as have many small-scale storage includes these five components, and : 597–603 9,21,22,29 26,27 91 that are common for all products (production, but much more research is needed to determine 2011; 24,25 points out that while studies of postharvest innovation 9,22,30,31 proposed that priority should be given to the following 28 37 Biotechnologyisatoolthatcanbeutilized,inaninterdisciplinary More attention should be given to developing value-added Food safety is a major concern of the produce industry and the Studies of the causes and magnitude of postharvest losses Postharvest technology for developing countries www.soci.org approach, to address some of the concerns about quality attributes and the biological causes of deterioration of harvested produce. practices, goals: (1) to attain and maintain good flavorto and meet nutritional consumer quality demands and encourage greaterof consumption fresh fruitsphysiological disorders and and/or decay-causing pathogens vegetables; into order (2) reduce to use introduce ofand/or chemicals; resistance and composition (3) to tomicrobial of modify contamination surface some potential. structure biologists The commodities challenge is to to that molecular many reduce of their the desired improvements require breaks the collectioncomponents step that down are(harvest, sorting, into grading, important cleaning, packing, many cooling, for storage, etc). Vellema more many individual horticultural crops J Sci Food Agric Kader postharvest handling and marketing system is the logicalin first step identifying an appropriatelosses. strategy While for value reducing chaincomponents postharvest analysis typically considers five major areas include developingand reliable procedures indices forinvestigating of minimizing how microbial various microbial postharvest quality conditions contamination, handling influence survival treatments and of and human pathogens on produce. products, such as fresh-cut fruits andwith vegetables superior and flavor fresh and juices, nutritionalpreferences. quality Management that and satisfy consumer utilizationwaste of fruit are and garnering vegetable incomes. interest Studies have as shown it aof is fresh way possible produce to by to utilize furtheror up generate processing trimmings to the typically increased 100% culls, discarded peelings,variety as of seeds waste, chemical and and industrial by-products. manufacturing a the return on investment (ROI) of various postharvest technologies such as improved packaging, cooling,scrubbing, ethylene treatment exclusion with and/or 1-methylcyclopropene tolene inhibit ethy- action, modified atmosphere packaging,treatments. and Such decay information control cantechnologies with greatly high ROI enhance potential by adoption produce handlers. of regulatory agencies, such as the US Food and DrugUse Administration. of ‘good agriculturalsystem practices’ and throughout use theprocessing production of steps are ‘good highly manufacturing recommended. practices’ during all collection, processing, marketing and consumption),systems commodity assessment can be very helpfulextension in in identifying each priority country. areascioeconomic of Such constraints research studies to and should usein include each of the situation recommended so- and technologies howis no to standardized overcome protocol these for constraints.and documenting There each postharvest published losses, studyterviews utilizes and a measurements, wide eachvariables. focusing variety on Cooling of a surveys, practices different in- into set general of be have cost been effective, documented acknowledge the relevance ofwell institutional as the and systemic policy naturebetween issues of this change, as ‘there literature is and littleinnovation the connectivity found in scholarly the work social sciences on and development technological studies’. . and et al 47,48 : 597–603 91 2011; and/or Postharvest Systems ortcrsp.ucdavis.edu/). Recently J Sci Food Agric 26,27 and currently the USAID Horticulture Col- 46 techniques to help trainees learn to identify local 45 In 2005 the Global Horticultural Assessment included both The human element in postharvest handling of horticultural There is a need in all developing countries to improve posthar- postharvest technology and capacity buildingrecommendations, among its priority commodities isare extremely lower important. inproductivity, developing and Although management countries, are generally labor labor bettercountries. in supervision, developed Effective costs training, trainingalong of with workers delegationsupervisors and of are their responsibility morein supervisors and developing common authority countries. indeveloping to The countries developed tendency the to limit countries inin authority the many than for procedures to operations making the any owner in leads or changes very to few trusted poorly personsexpertise developed often among the management supervisors and and reducedworkers. productivity problem-solving of the vest extension programsbetween and researchers, to extensionof workers, producers strengthen and and handlers. the All appropriate clientelecating connections methods relevant of groups information communi- in aThere concise are many manner opportunities should for collaborative be efforts in used. of extension postharvest information among manyregion, of especially the when countries they in share a each language. causes and sources of losses forToT the programs crops of should interest. Postharvest many include causes/sources hands-on of demonstrations lossestemperature of and in the relative horticultural humidity mismanagement, cropsdamage, mechanical pathogenic (including decay, ethylene exposure, etc.),data exercises collection on and farmer training needs assessment, postharvest tool kits, and audiovisual materialstool (posters, kits videos). for Postharvest traineestemperature should probe, sling include, psychrometer, attester, digital refractometer, the scale, color firmness charts, minimum, sizing rings, a calipers,and pH test digital chlorine strips, test strips. Finally, ToTup programs with should be mentoring followed viainitial ToT live programs, interactions occasional with trainingrelatively visits instructors low-cost as ongoing during follow-ups, mentoring and viaand Internet interactive websites. chats, emails, Research laborative Research Support Projectis (initiated providing in funds Octoberpostharvest for 2009) components (http://h several newthe pilot concept projects ofservices promoting that centers integrated include for postharvest postharvest training outreach and has emerged commercial horticultural businesses andmuch practical export use crops to R&E toPostharvest professionals ToT be in needs developing to of be countries. conductedCommodity locally Systems Assessment and to begin with is underway in Cape Verde,ters with in plans to Rwanda implement and similaran India. cen- integrated approach Such to a postharvest center100% management utilization and is of aims production designed at in to onewould form provide be or another. utilized The as center aagri-entrepreneurs, training and site provide for postharvest farmers, servicesclientele small to on traders assorted a and fee forat service both basis. the Ideally national ituniversity level would faculty) (with be and participation supported at the by local researchersThe level center (by and should the include extension service). all thefor infrastructure improved facilities postharvest desirable management oncollection, sorting/grading, a packing small house with scale appropriate suchnologies, tech- inspection, as low-cost cooling and cold storage, transport 43 In 9 www.soci.org L Kitinoja identified Azadirachta 44 2011 Society of Chemical Industry . c et al ´ ee. Sanni Other problems related to packaging 39 42 Otherconstraints,suchaslackofpropersorting, 9 ) extracts and other alternative practices to control insect Outreach efforts and training needs will also vary by crop and Simple packaging improvements, such as using inexpensive Reducing rough handling is a simple yet neglected practice for Postharvest Training of Trainers (ToT) programs for international The problems associated with transportation include overload- Small- scale food processing offers another avenue for outreach climate zone. Increased attentionissues must for farmers be in given West Africa,are to since peri-urban many food farmers vegetable who safety use producers sewageis water for also irrigation. There widespread misuse of chemicals for pest management. lack of cleaning, washing or sanitation,trimming, rough misuse handling, of improper postharvest treatments (suchand as misuse over-waxing of hot-water dipsconcentrations for pest of management), chlorine inadequate inchemicals or wash misuse water, of useand registered lack of pesticides of quality and inappropriate standardization and food inspection,which additives, are need major areas attention. fiberboard liners in roughabrasions packages, during can transport decreaseplastic bruising to crates and increased market. the market In valuecompared India, of to guava unlined liners fruits packages by during in 12.5% a rough 50 km trip to market. wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa indica pests instead of the useinsects of in chemicals, cabbage is in important Ghana. for controlling reducing mechanical damage in fruits such asgrow mangoes. Mangoes on tall treesgenerally practiced by in hitting the West tree with Africa adrop pole to and and the letting ground. fruits India, Manual labor and isthe available markets the for handling in harvest fruits Ghana at is (typicallythese handlers by lack drivers’ training mates in or loadingThe and helpers) unloading use but of produce. ofanother shade simple to yet reduce neglectedstructure weight for practice. loss field In packing in results Indiaas in leafy compared a 1% to 5% weight vegetables weight simple loss losses when is shade for packed duringperiodundersun. spinach the same time Promoting the use of bio-pesticides, such as neem ( of marginal farmers, have access tosource extension of service workers information. as a a variety of issuesuser-friendly, and fuel-efficient and strategies durable to equipment in ensure Africa. the development of audiences are funded on occasion by large agenciesand such as USAID UNFAO, and postharvestoffered by workshops many universities. and Efforts short haveterm typically courses been in too are short nature, too expensive, and too oriented to large-scale Ghana, simply halving thefor size transporting cabbage of was the able to typicallyfrom reduce 30% large to mechanical less damage than sacks 10%. used material that canuse be of targeted flimsy for ormaterials outreach intended to rough cushion efforts produce, use packing of include oversized containers,over-filling packages, the containers, overuse and inadequate of ventilation. packing ing of vehicles, useleading of to bulk compression damage, transport lack or ofcooling, adequate poor-quality ventilation and packaging, and rough handling. Inthe India traders it is and a laborers common sittingloaded sight on on to trucks. top see of the packaged produce efforts aimed atbeen reducing widely studied postharvest and losses. continuesextension to Solar services be due drying of to particular its has interest low(WTC) consumes cost. to very Whole little energy tomato and time concentrate toand prepare the has product been shown to betraditional more products cost such as effective tomato than pur processing of

600 601 wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa Producers and handlers of foods of plant origin in each country Throughout the developing world, there are still many issues Advocacy needs in developing countries are many and include A few local success stories have recently emerged from India should be encouraged to form a trade organization that can serve related to roads and transport, including whetherconnect roads exist farms at to all, markets, whether roadsgood and repair, etc. vehicles Road are networks kept in Ghana in areaccessible generally considered but not allespecially roads during are the rainy passable season. towithin Transport large the delays local are vehicle markets common traffic, whenduring trucks the rainy break season, all down, contributing to and high postharvest especially losses. those mentioned (i.e. enhancedgoverning funding markets) for as well R&E, as updating micro-credit,for interest laws associations, rates, extension support programs for women,ing hiring more and women as train- horticultural extension agents, accessqualityplantingmaterials/seeds,simplepostharvesttools,supplies to high- (especially improved packages), equipment, marketetc. Prevailing information, interest rates at the bankshigh in (23–30%) Ghana are that currently most so farmersmoney. simply In cannot India afford there to are borrow as government-operated some websites private as well sources thatmation which provide can current be market viewed and priceTamil utilized infor- by Nadu registered members. AgriculturalExchange University, Ltd Coimbatore: (http://www.nationalspotexchange.com) NationalDirectorate and of Spot Marketing the and Inspection: Directorate ofand Marketing Inspection, Department of Agriculture andistry Cooperation, of Min- Agriculture, Government of Indiaare (http://agmarknet.nic.in) just two examples of these new services. on the advocacysome front, Indian states wherereducing are market postharvest beginning regulatory losses. to The revisionsis have National the a in Horticultural lead positive Mission publicand effect sector on the organization Global (http://www.nhm.nic.in/), new Cold private Chain industry Alliance – professionaland India both organization is are (http://gcca.in/), currently an advocatinginfrastructure. example strengthening of the Decades cold a chain ago,the Government in of responseand India Cooperation established under to the its Agricultural foodCommittee Produce Department (APMC) Marketing shortages, governed of by Agriculture transactions the for all APMC agricultural Act, commodities outside which the regulated wholesale prohibits markets. Accordingand to direct the procurement Act offrom farmers’ agricultural no fields, produce direct and canrestricted. the marketing The take setting APMC laws place up were of created tofarmers alternative ensure through better markets an prices open is for auction system,the but development instead of it local has vested led interests to options and reduced for marketing smalldomestic farmers retail by and export limiting markets. RecentlyMaharashtra, their the states Bihar, access of Punjab, and to UP,APMC emerging among Act others, in haveFoodland, order amended NDDB, the to Reliancenetworks permit to Fresh, procure goods. private and According to the companies ITCAct Model 2003, Central it APMC such Ltd is envisaged to as that eventuallyAct each to set RK state allow farmers can up to amend sell the their their to commodities do anywhere they so, want and the wholesale marketbe taxation removed. system is This proposed simple to movecrops to allows quicker direct handling, marketing fewer of delaysmarketing, perishable between less harvest and unnecessary transportto/from central of markets, and crops no extra without unloading/loading/stacking of cooling produce to be weighedreduce and losses. taxed, all of which have helped to stated that 2011 Society of Chemical Industry c 50 50 This situation must 49 laboratory facilities for quality : 597–603 91 2011; drew the following conclusions, which are still relevant 50 As the significant contributionCGIAR of goals postharvest such research as to sustainability poverty becomes reduction, clear, food and security inof and the return, the light very of skewed allocation high ofversus rates funds to postharvest production topics cannot berelatively justified. little Since has so been far, there invested in is postharvest research, potentialbottlenecks are for removed. It large wouldexamine thus impacts current be funding desirable as priorities to and re- proportion constraints to of resources allocate and to a the larger postharvest area. Establishing a Postharvest Working Group in each country can Funding for postharvest research and extension efforts should Postharvest technology for developing countries www.soci.org today: J Sci Food Agric be very useful in providingall a those forum concerned for communicationsresearch with and among extension. postharvest The next biology stepthe is various and to Postharvest Working establish Groups technology a in each link region among toexchange facilitate of information andand regional other areas collaboration of on mutual interest. training be enhanced. Although reducingproduced postharvest food losses is more ofto sustainable already compensate than for increasingof these production agricultural losses, research internationally lessallocated and to than the in postharvest 5% most research areas. of countries is the funding ADVOCACY ISSUES Postharvest R&E hascountries. long A been survey of neglected theresources in current most human, allocated physical, developing andactivities financial to in every postharvest countryshould should be research be conducted used and andeffective to the postharvest develop results extension research an andthe action extension needs plan program of for tosolutions clientele establishing to serve existing groups problems an in the in postharvestrequire handling each system use country. In ofexisting most appropriate available technologies. cases, Thus informationstrengthen the it connection and between is researchers and highly extensionists implementation(both desirable public and of to private consultants) to assure the smoothof transfer relevant information to those whomodel need is it. The that most where successful researcherssame and organization extensionists and belong are to co-locatedand the for collaborations. maximum interactions evaluation and monitoring food safety. vehicle, low-cost processing/preservation unittling, solar (canning drying, or etc.), bot- and basic be changed to reachbetween a efforts better towards increased balance production and in thosereducing allocation towards of postharvest resources losses. Goletti and Wolff ‘while research on thehas improvement received of considerable agricultural attentionpostharvest production and activities funding, have untilinternational not recently research attracted organizations muchCTZ, (CGIAR, attention CIRAD, FAO, from NRI, ACIAR, USAID)’.to IDRC, They justify identified the anby following the increased reasons international commitmentof agricultural to return; system: (2) postharvest (1) international highpoverty; research (4) public internal effect rates good on foodsustainable character; use security (3) of and effect resources. health; More on Wolff and than (5) 10 effect years ago on Goletti and . FAO et al : 597–603 :1464–1480 91 35 Indian J Agric Econ (in press). 2011; Postharvest Biology and Trends Food Sci Technol :48–61 (2006). World Dev 1 9,39 Acta Hortic :288–297 (2008). The Agricultural Development 1 ypical consumer retail display rsification into horticulture and tharvest diseases in tropical fresh J Sci Food Agric No. 152 (2004). :261–270 (1991). . University of California, Davis, CA, 270 :251–254 (1999). :232–241 (2009). Acta Hortic 51 483 Int J Postharvest Technol Innov Int J Postharvest Technol Innov :134–146 (2006). :413–417 (2008). evaluation of postharvest losses,Systems in Projectpp. in 42–48; pp. 190–194 Egypt (1984). state farms. Acta Hortic (2007). poverty reduction: a research agenda. of post-harvest losses in vegetables in Karnataka. 61 Agricultural Services Bulletin in vegetables along theLaos. supply chain in Vietnam, Cambodia and industry and creatingfor improving a health better and future: environment. two key IIR challenges assuring the quality and safety of horticultural crops. produce. 19 Technology appropriate postharvest technologies for improving marketand access incomes for smalland horticultural South Asia. farmers Invited in paper in sub-SaharanSymposium three Lisbon, Africa parts August for 23, the 2010. IHC Postharvest conditions encountered duringaffect fruit and t vegetable quality and waste. on training and otherreduce duplication areas of efforts. of mutualCapacity-building interest, efforts and undertaken help inogy in postharvest to developing countries technol- must be more comprehensive, and include technical knowledge onskills, handling access practices, research to toolsextension skill and development (training needs supplies, assessment, teach- cost/benefiting information, methods, advocacy), Internet/Webof access, follow-up and mentoring provision workers for after formal young training programs scientists haveA been central completed. and site for extension conducting postharvest researchlocal and extension offering programs such asServices Center’ a is ‘Postharvest recommended for Training each and developingThis country. site is where local R&Epractical personnel could meet adaptive and conduct under research local conditions, identifying issues regarding aimed practicality, costs, at potential testing returns,innovations providing innovations determined demonstrations to of befinancially), feasible those providing (both comprehensive, technically hands-on and improved postharvest training practices, and on providing informationpractical of use to women involved in horticulture. 1 Blond RD (ed.), Fruit and vegetable postharvest losses; Economic 2 Tadesse F, Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables3 in horticultural Boonyakiat D, Postharvest losses of highland vegetables in Thailand. 4 Kumar DK, Basavaraja H and Mahajanshetti SB, An economic analysis 5 Korsten L, Advances in control of pos 6 Weinberger K, Genova C II and Acedo A, Quantifying postharvest loss 7 Coulomb D, Refrigeration and the cold chain serving the global food 9 Kitinoja L, AlHassan HA, Saran S and Roy SK, Identification of 8 Nunes NCM, Emond PJ, Rauth M, Dea S and Chau VK, Environmental 11 Weinberger K and Lumpkin AT, Dive 10 Kader AA and Rolle RS, The role of post-harvest management in • • We thank ourUniversity, many IITA-Benin, Ghana colleagues Polytechnical Institutes, at ACDI/VOCA, theAVRDC, WFLO, KIST and UC ISAR, PTRIC,on for Amity postharvest their assistanceundertaken losses with data and during collection Postharvest commodity 2009 Technology Planning Project. systems for assessments the BMGF-funded Appropriate REFERENCES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS www.soci.org L Kitinoja 2011 Society of Chemical Industry c Giventhesmallunit 52 as well as serve to become a 52 51 An integrated approach for postharvest science andfrom education grade school throughhelp trade to reduce school global or foodinformation university losses, into by could the integrating postharvest generalcountry agricultural or curriculum in statemore each emphasis and on preventing their losses, maintainingnutritional value quality extension after and harvest services, and ensuringEstablishing food with safety. a much Postharvestcould Working be very Group useful in in providingamong a each forum all for country communications thosetechnology concerned research and with outreach.Postharvest A postharvest link Working biology among the Groups and facilitate various in exchange of each information region and regional would collaboration further The entry of modern retail players, both international and Four general recommendations are provided for meeting future Marketing cooperatives should be encouraged among produc- domestic, into developingis countries bound and to transition continueagri-food having systems, economies as major large-scale supermarket impacts retail and onoperations wholesale these demand countries’ large-volumemeetsstringentqualityandsafetystandards. and low-price produce that wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa • CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Increasing investments inR&E postharvest is horticultural long technology ing overdue, waste and and can increasingincomes have the without a food increasing supply, major production leadingditures and impact to on wasting on improved the all reduc- expen- thepesticides, inputs labor, required (land, etc.).in water, The production, seeds, most harvesting, fertilizers, and usefulhorticultural postharvest perishables technological handling have resulted systems changes from interdisciplinary for team approachesinresearchandextensionprograms.Maintaining qual- ity, especially flavor and nutritional(avoiding content, chemical and ensuring and safety focus microbial of future contamination) research and must extension activities be in all the countries. challenges in postharvest R&E: • their collective interests in promotingand their international products markets, in supporting domestic high-priorityextension research efforts, and and representing theirgovernmental interests agencies, in such dealing as those with responsible for foodand safety quality regulations. Traders, including the many intermediaries who are currently ignored by traditional extension systems, should be invited to join these trade associations. ers of major commoditiesorganizations are in especially important needed production incause areas. developing of countries the Such be- relativelycooperatives small farm include: size. providing Advantages centralthe of accumulation harvested marketing commodity, points reducing for costs bying purchasing and harvest- packing supplies andproper materials in preparation quantity, for providing market for itating and transportation storage to when theselling needed, unit markets, for facil- the and members, coordinating acting thenication marketing as and commu- advertising a program, common and distributingmembers. profits among sizeofmanyproducersindeveloping andtransitioneconomiesthe ability to ensure timely delivery of products of thequantity right to quality intermediaries and and processors is paramount. Grouping small-scale farmers into cooperatives,business units farmers’ can organizations help or with this, focal point for postharvest training efforts.

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