Nearly half of fresh produce goes to waste

SOME 45% of the fruit and vegetables produced globally go to waste, according to statistics provided by Save Food.  Being delicate, they can easily rot or they are discarded because they fail to meet the retail market’s criteria. Bad weather conditions during growing, delayed harvesting, storage and transport can affect quality. But just how much is 45%? The FAO says it is about equivalent to 3.7 trillion apples.¹ By comparison, the annual apple consumption of all German inhabitants amounts to some 11.5 billion.² On a global scale the proportion of food turning unfit for human consumption during transport and distribution is as high as one fifth.³

There are solutions

More effective packaging and transport may reduce produce losses significantly. The use of special transport containers with air control systems may extend the shelf life to 45 days through artificial “hibernation.” The air control systems reduce oxygen content in the air, which delays maturing process similar with a sophisticated room temperature management.⁴

Better processing technology

In Kenya, the lack of processing or packaging technologies results in the loss of one-third of mangoes produced.  It is truly a waste because demand for mangoes is high globally. To help farmers, XCOM Africa, the business consultants specialising in Africa and a partner of the Safe Food Initiative, offers an option.

XCOM Africa has worked out a programme for local mango processing that enables producers to benefit from higher added value. This programme is now to be implemented shortly with various project partners in Kenya. It contributes to reducing losses since more fruit can be processed with the help of the appropriate processing technology – especially the fruits no longer fit for immediate consumption or those which would not survive a longer transport.

“Even small steps against food losses can produce a major impact on the food supply chains of African states,” says Marc Zander, CEO of XCOM Africa.” So far products often do not even get to the people due to a number of problems. What we need is local tailor-made solutions such as packaging and transport solutions. Here, SAVE FOOD can provide key impulses and support with its expertise.”

The mango project as well as the overall problem of food loss and waste is on the agenda of the second international Save Food Congress in Düsseldorf from 7 to 8 May. interpack – the leading international trade fair for the packaging industry and related process industries – serves as an ideal platform here to get industry experts from business and associations together with representatives from political and societal circles.