Postharvest losses and food waste reduction has become a global issue, not only because food loss affects food security and income of smallholder farmers, but also because losses of food are a loss of nutrition for growers and consumers. Food loss can be due to quality changes and lower nutritional status, for example when the loss of vitamins occurs during handling without any visual appearance changes. Food loss can be related to food safety issues, for example, due to attack by pests and pathogens that are associated with aflatoxins, anti-nutritive agents or dangerous human pathogens. Agricultural education curricula should include topics on how to 1) protect foods from damage and deterioration after the harvest, 2) prevent physical loss, loss of quality and nutritional value, and 3) protect foods from contamination and pests during the postharvest period (handling, storage, processing, marketing).
Dr. Lisa Kitinoja
The Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF)
USA
Lisa Kitinoja