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Missing Food: The Case of Postharvest Grain Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa







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    Technical study
    Post-harvest losses in small-scale fisheries. Case studies in five sub-Saharan African countries 2010
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    Field work recently carried out in five sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania and Uganda) indicates that post-harvest fish losses in small-scale fisheries occur at all stages in the fish supply chain from capture to consumer. Huge physical and quality losses were found to occur in some supply chains assessed in all the countries, with quality losses reported to account for more than 70 percent of total losses. This technical paper, as support to the framework of the regional post-harv est loss assessment (PHLA) programme in small-scale fisheries in Africa aimed at improving the utilization, safety and quality of fishery products, presents the findings, lessons learned and key achievements of the field studies. The paper underlines the need for governments and development agencies to ensure that changes in post-harvest fisheries-related policy and practices take stock of the loss assessment tools, information generated and experience of the programme and recommends that fish l oss assessments should be incorporated into national data collection systems and used to regularly inform policy.
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    Improving food security in Sub-saharan Africa by reducing food loss- GCP/RAF/488/NOR 2017
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    The magnitude of food losses remains unacceptably high around the world. In 2011, FAO estimated yearly global quantitative food losses in sub-Saharan Africa at around 20 percent for cereals, 40-50 percent for root crops, fruits and vegetables and 33 percent for fish. Food losses are brought about by wide-ranging managerial and technical limitations in areas such as harvesting storage and transportation. This is a particular problem for small and medium-sized fisheries and agricultural producers. If markets are not accessible or market prices are too low, farmers and fishers may let good products go to waste, with devastating results for producers and consumers alike. Given the emerging consensus among African leaders that investment in agriculture should address the post-harvest sector, it was agreed that food loss reduction interventions should be strengthened and incorporated in national agricultural strategies.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Potential Impacts on Sub-Saharan Africa of Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the European Union
    A focus on food prices and price transmission effects
    2015
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    This paper uses scenario analyses to investigate how reductions in food loss and waste (FLW) in the European Union (EU) could influence prices in sub-Saharan Africa – as a source and destination of traded agricultural and food products. In addition to a baseline “business as usual” (BaU) scenario, four scenarios with 50-percent reductions are enacted using the Modular Applied GeNeral Equilibrium Tool (MAGNET). The analysis provides insights on potential impacts in terms of medium- to long-term g lobal and local price changes in sub- Saharan Africa and the mechanisms behind them – changes in production, consumption and trade patterns. It also provides insights into the potential welfare impacts. The research shows that loss or waste of safe and nutritious food for human consumption is being prevented and reduced in the EU concurrent to actions in other regions. The potential intra- and inter-regional impacts on food prices and welfare therefore need to be further researched and projected . The research also shows that high-level considerations of the socio-economic impacts of FLW need to be balanced with value chain analyses that include data on costs related to the prevention and reduction measures to be implemented for short-, mediumand long-term returns on investments along food supply chains, including at the end consumption level.

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    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023
    Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum
    2023
    This report provides an update on global progress towards the targets of ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) and estimates on the number of people who are unable to afford a healthy diet. Since its 2017 edition, this report has repeatedly highlighted that the intensification and interaction of conflict, climate extremes and economic slowdowns and downturns, combined with highly unaffordable nutritious foods and growing inequality, are pushing us off track to meet the SDG 2 targets. However, other important megatrends must also be factored into the analysis to fully understand the challenges and opportunities for meeting the SDG 2 targets. One such megatrend, and the focus of this year’s report, is urbanization. New evidence shows that food purchases in some countries are no longer high only among urban households but also among rural households. Consumption of highly processed foods is also increasing in peri-urban and rural areas of some countries. These changes are affecting people’s food security and nutrition in ways that differ depending on where they live across the rural–urban continuum. This timely and relevant theme is aligned with the United Nations General Assembly-endorsed New Urban Agenda, and the report provides recommendations on the policies, investments and actions needed to address the challenges of agrifood systems transformation under urbanization and to enable opportunities for ensuring access to affordable healthy diets for everyone.
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    Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition
    A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition
    2023
    The report “Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition” has been developed by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) following the request by the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) as included in its Programme of Work (MYPoW 2020-2023). In particular, the CFS requested the HLPE-FSN to develop a report to: (i) analyse evidence relating to how inequalities in access to assets (particularly land, other natural resources and finance) and in incomes within food systems impede opportunities for many actors to overcome food insecurity and malnutrition; (ii) analyse the drivers of inequalities and provide recommendations on entry points to address these; and (iii) identify areas requiring further research and data collection. This report will inform the ensuing CFS thematic workstream on inequalities, aiming at addressing the root causes of food insecurity with a focus on those “most affected by hunger and malnutrition”.
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    Technical book
    Climate change and food security: risks and responses 2015
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    End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition are at the heart of the sustainable development goals. The World has committed to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. But climate change is undermining the livelihoods and food security of the rural poor, who constitute almost 80 percent of the world’s poor. The effects of climate change on our ecosystems are already severe and widespread. Climate change brings a cascade of impacts from agroecosystems to livelihoods. Climate change impacts directly agroecosystems, which in turn has a potential impact on agricultural production, which drives economic and social impacts, which impact livelihoods. In other words, impacts translate from climate to the environment, to the productive sphere, to economic and social dimensions. Therefore, ensuring food security in the face of climate change is among the most daunting challenges facing humankind. Action is urgently needed now to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience of food systems to ensure food security and good nutrition for all.