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Dear all,

Welcome to the spring edition of the Agromisa bulletin. In this bulletin we discuss food losses and waste reduction along the whole production chain and we offer a package deal for three related Agrodok titles. More information about these publications can be read below.

Two other Agrodok titles related to the subject of food losses and waste reduction are Agrodok number 3: Preservation of fruit and vegetables and Agrodok number 12: Preservation of fish and meat. These two titles are currently being updated and will be re-published in the coming year. If you have input or suggestions for these updates or like to collaborate on this, please feel free to contact us via agromisa@wur.nl.

To continue our work, your donation to Agromisa is welcome. It helps us to develop and distribute new practical publications to farmers and their organisations and schools in developing countries.

Warm regards,
Agromisa

Food loss and waste reduction

Given the predicted increase in global population and the threat of increasing food insecurity in many parts of the world, recent studies by FAO and World Resources Institute (WRI) have focused on where food losses occur and how this wastage can be brought under control. In 2011, FAO estimated that – measured in terms of calories - 24% of global food production was lost 'between farm and fork'. When this is defined in terms of losses that occur along the global food value chain the following figures emerge:

Food losses along food chain: global estimates

In contrast to the industrialized countries of North America, Europe and South and South East Asia where 61% of food is lost at the consumer level, the most significant food loss among the small-scale farming communities of Sub-Saharan Africa occurs during handling and storage. 76% of grains, pulses and vegetable products are lost in this way, in contrast to just 5% at the consumer level. On the basis of these figures WRI has suggested how small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa can minimize post-harvest losses and increase food security and farm income.

In addition to highlighting the need for more post-harvest loss research on the handling and storage of food products, WRI highlighted the need for an improved and well-informed extension service. Small-scale farmers need advice, not only on productive and sustainable crop cultivation, but also on such aspects of storage as the avoidance of ethylene and microbiological damage when grains, roots and tubers are stored for household consumption or being carried to market. Agrodok 31 Storage of agricultural products and Agrodok 50 Packaging of agricultural products deal specifically with these issues.

Reducing the amount of post-harvest waste is also important. The productive use of straw and other vegetable material leftover after harvesting and processing the main crop, is an issue currently receiving an increasing amount of attention. Small-scale mixed crop and livestock farmers, for example, can use these wastes not only to protect their soil from wind and water erosion and increase soil fertility, but also to feed their animals. Agrodok 53 Crop residues for animal feed deals with this issue and contributes important insights into how post-harvest wastage can be reduced.

Marilyn Minderhoud

Package deal:
3 Agromisa publications related to food losses along the value chain

Order these Agrodoks together before August 1st and receive a 25% discount!

You can order your package on our website: www.agromisa.org in E nglish or French

Storage of agricultural products

Piet Scheepens, Rik Hoevers, Francis Arulappan, Gerard Pesch

Preventing post-harvest losses of crops is a challenge for small-scale farmers in the tropics. Agrodok 31 provides information on how to improve storage methods for grains, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables.

This Agrodok contains background information on how and why products deteriorate, and how this can be delayed or reduced. It places less emphasis on the technical facilities available for storing agricultural products. In addition to information on storage of the most important staple foods (grains, pulses, roots and tubers), one chapter in this Agrodok is devoted to fruits and vegetables. These products are not only important in the diet of a farmer's family; they can also contribute to the farmer's income when brought to the market in good condition.

Agrodok 31 Storage of agricultural products is available in English and French.

Packaging of agricultural products

Peter Fellows

This Agrodok is a practical manual that describes the methods and materials that can be used by small-scale producers and traders in developing countries to package agricultural products either for storage or sale. Good packaging prevents food stuffs, for example, becoming damaged through crushing or being contaminated by insects, micro-organisms or odours. Appropriate packaging also preserves the quality, value and marketability of foods by preventing leakage and spillage.

This booklet deals with the protective packaging of cereals, legumes, cooking oils, horticultural commodities as well as animal products such as meat, fish, milk and eggs. The types of containers most suitable for these products are described and there is a special section on the use of cartons, jars and bottles that can be used for retail products. The importance of labeling is also stressed as well as the precautions that need to be taken to make sure packaged products are not tampered with.

Agrodok 50 Packaging of agricultural products can be ordered in English or in French

Crop residues for animal feed

Adri Vink, Hans Schiere

Straw has been used for feed and other purposes around the world for as long as humans have kept animals and grown crops. Straw is still important for many farmers, especially those who have few resources. At the same time, growing urban demand for raw materials and fuel is putting pressure on the demand for straw and the various ways it is used in rural areas.

This Agrodok is intended for extension workers, advisors and farmers who want to know more about the different ways in which straw can be used for sustainable farming and rural development, and especially as feed for ruminants. It reviews experiences from around the world and discusses in depth how straws can continue to play an important role in livestock feeding and sustainable farming. No specific knowledge of animal nutrition is assumed. Scientific terminology on nutritive value is condensed into terms that farmers use, such as 'sweetness' and 'greenness'. For readers wanting further information some technical background has been included in separate text boxes.

Agrodok 53 Crop residues for animal feed is available in English and French.

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