Introduction
Food loss and waste (FLW) represent one of the most critical yet solvable challenges in global food systems. Nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted each year, resulting in significant economic losses, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and persistent food insecurity. In developing regions, a large share of food loss occurs post-harvest, particularly among smallholder farmers due to inadequate storage, processing, transportation, and market access.
Post-harvest innovation offers a powerful pathway to improve food availability, farmer incomes, and climate outcomes without increasing production pressure on natural resources. This proposal presents an integrated, innovation-driven approach to reduce post-harvest food loss and waste through improved technologies, infrastructure, skills, and market systems.
Problem Statement
Post-harvest food loss and waste are driven by:
- Inadequate on-farm and community-level storage facilities
- Limited access to affordable cold storage and cooling solutions
- Poor post-harvest handling, grading, and packaging practices
- Lack of processing and value addition at the local level
- Weak market linkages and price volatility
- Limited awareness of food loss prevention techniques
Smallholder farmers—especially women farmers—are disproportionately affected, losing income and food while consumers face higher prices and reduced availability. Reducing post-harvest losses is essential for food security, climate mitigation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To reduce food loss and waste and strengthen food security, farmer incomes, and climate resilience through innovative post-harvest solutions.
Specific Objectives
- Reduce post-harvest losses across key crops and value chains
- Improve access to affordable, low-carbon storage and cooling technologies
- Promote local processing and value addition to extend shelf life
- Strengthen farmer skills and enterprises in post-harvest management
- Enhance market access and efficient food distribution systems
Target Areas and Beneficiaries
Geographic Focus
- Rural and peri-urban agricultural regions
- Horticulture- and grain-producing clusters
- Climate-vulnerable and high-loss food systems
Primary Beneficiaries
- Smallholder and marginal farmers
- Women farmers and women-led agri-enterprises
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
- Informal food system actors
Secondary Beneficiaries
- Local consumers and markets
- Food processors and retailers
- Local governments and food system institutions
Project Approach and Methodology
The project adopts an Integrated Post-Harvest Innovation Framework that combines technology, skills, infrastructure, and market systems.
Guiding Principles
- Food systems efficiency and circularity
- Climate-smart and low-carbon solutions
- Gender equity and youth inclusion
- Market-driven and farmer-centered approaches
- Scalability and sustainability
Key Components and Activities
- Improved Post-Harvest Handling and Storage
- Training on harvesting, sorting, grading, and packaging
- Introduction of improved storage structures (metal silos, hermetic bags)
- Community-level warehouses and aggregation centers
- Quality control and food safety practices
- Cold Chain and Low-Carbon Cooling Solutions
- Solar-powered cold storage units
- Evaporative cooling chambers for fruits and vegetables
- Cold storage hubs linked to producer organizations
- Energy-efficient transport and cold boxes
- Local Processing and Value Addition
- Digital and Data-Driven Innovations
- Digital platforms for demand forecasting and price information
- Inventory management and traceability tools
- Mobile advisories on post-harvest best practices
- Market matching and logistics coordination
- Market Access and Food Redistribution
- Strengthening linkages between farmers, buyers, and processors
- Support for collective marketing through FPOs
- Food redistribution mechanisms for surplus produce
- Partnerships with retailers and institutional buyers
- Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship
Expected Results and Outcomes
Food System Outcomes
- Significant reduction in post-harvest food loss and waste
- Improved food availability and quality
- Enhanced efficiency of local food value chains
Social Outcomes
- Increased incomes for smallholder farmers
- Empowerment of women and youth entrepreneurs
- Improved food access for local consumers
Environmental Outcomes
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from food loss
- Lower pressure on land and water resources
- Increased circularity in food systems
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Baseline assessment of post-harvest losses
- Regular monitoring of loss reduction and income changes
- Tracking adoption of technologies and practices
- Learning reviews and adaptive management
Key Indicators
- Percentage reduction in post-harvest losses
- Volume of food preserved or value-added
- Increase in farmer incomes
- Number of women-led enterprises supported
Sustainability Strategy
- Financial sustainability through value addition and service fees
- Ownership by FPOs and local enterprises
- Integration with government food security programs
- Private-sector partnerships for scale-up
The project is designed to deliver lasting impact beyond donor funding.
Gender and Social Inclusion
The project ensures:
- Priority support for women-led post-harvest enterprises
- Inclusive access to storage and processing facilities
- Youth engagement in logistics and agri-tech solutions
- Equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms
Alignment with Global Frameworks
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): X, X,XX, XX
- FAO Save Food Initiative
- UN Food Systems Summit Action Tracks
- National food security and nutrition strategies
Conclusion
Post-Harvest Innovation to Reduce Food Loss and Waste offers a cost-effective, climate-smart, and inclusive pathway to strengthen food systems. By preserving what is already produced, the project improves food security, farmer incomes, and environmental sustainability.
This initiative provides donors and partners with a high-impact opportunity to address food loss and waste while advancing climate resilience and inclusive economic development.
