Agriculture in the Global South faces a dual pressure: the need to increase food production amid climate change and resource limitations. Although policy often focuses on boosting production volumes, the issue of post-harvest losses remains unresolved. Estimates suggest that approximately one-third of all food intended for human consumption is lost or discarded. A recent study conducted by scientists specializing in agriculture, indigenous knowledge, and food security examined this problem.
The research was based on an analysis of 324 scientific papers concerning the scale, causes, and factors of post-harvest losses across various food products and regions of the Global South. It was found that existing data are fragmented and uneven. Furthermore, accurately assessing the true scale of losses is difficult due to variations in measurement methods, studied commodities, and stages of the value chain. Studies primarily focused on storage losses of staple grains such as corn, rice, and beans, creating gaps in data regarding fruits, vegetables, root crops, animal products, and other commodities.
Nevertheless, certain patterns were identified. Firstly, post-harvest losses occur throughout the entire supply chain—from harvesting and processing to transportation, storage, processing, and sales. Secondly, there is a significant difference between product groups. Without interventions, estimated losses were around 27.7% for cereals, 35.1% for vegetables, 25.8% for fruits, and 42.9% for root crops. The application of appropriate mitigation measures, such as improved harvesting and processing techniques, airtight storage, cold chain infrastructure, better packaging, and improvements in processing and transportation systems, allowed these figures to be reduced to approximately 8.2%, 7.3%, 6.2%, and 11.5% respectively. These figures demonstrate both the scale of variation and the potential for loss reduction.
Thirdly, rarely is the cause of losses a single factor. The study revealed interconnected constraints related to infrastructure, technology, environment, finance, and market. Poor roads, inadequate warehouses, limited cold storage, and inefficient transport subject products to physical damage and spoilage. Insufficient drying, packaging, and processing exacerbate these losses. Climate variability also increases the risk: high temperatures, excessive humidity, floods, and droughts can accelerate quality deterioration.
The first problem is the accurate measurement of losses. Before governments can make investment decisions, they need reliable information on where and in what volume losses are occurring. Standardized post-harvest loss measurement methods, specific to regions and commodities, would make data more comparable and help governments direct resources more effectively. Researchers, national statistical agencies, governments, international organizations, and industry stakeholders must collaborate to develop these methods. National statistical services, agricultural research institutes, universities, extension services, and value chain organizations can collect data through farm surveys, field measurements, storage and market assessments, and monitoring at different stages of the supply chain.
The second problem relates to infrastructure, which ensures the movement and preservation of products. Warehouses, rural roads, processing plants, and cold chain systems are integral parts of the food production system, not secondary agricultural infrastructure. Data shows that improving storage, drying, packaging, and cold chain systems significantly reduces losses, increases farmers' incomes, and enhances access to higher value-added markets.
The third task is ensuring the availability of suitable technologies and integrating them with local knowledge. Not all solutions need to be high-tech. Airtight storage, solar drying, improved packaging, and low-cost cooling can complement practices such as drying, smoking, salting, and fermentation. These approaches become more accessible to smallholder farmers when adapted to local conditions. They can be promoted through practical demonstrations and locally tailored training. Training channels include farmer extension services, demonstration farms, farmer organizations and cooperatives, local processors, NGOs, private sector suppliers, and digital platforms.
The fourth area is financing, knowledge dissemination, and inclusive innovation. Many smallholder farmers lack the funding and technical support needed to invest in improved storage and processing technologies. Price fluctuations and crop surpluses result in farmers having more produce than markets can absorb, increasing the loss of perishable goods before sale. Credit constraints can hinder the adoption of post-harvest technologies. Governments and financial institutions can lower barriers through targeted subsidies, accessible loans, grants, and risk-sharing mechanisms. Extension services must also help farmers select, use, and maintain appropriate technologies. Women play a vital role in harvesting and must be explicitly included in technology development, training, and financing. This can be achieved through agricultural and financial policies requiring women's representation in technology development and extension programs, improving their access to credit, subsidies, and training, and mandating monitoring of how men and women adopt and utilize technologies.
How to finance priorities? Data indicates that financing should not be limited only to technology procurement. Government investments can support rural infrastructure, research, knowledge dissemination, and favorable policies. Financial development can provide grants, soft loans, and guarantees for investments in post-harvest handling. Partnerships with the private sector can assist in storage, processing, logistics, and cold chain services where viable markets exist. Financing must go beyond isolated technology projects, such as one-off equipment schemes for storage or processing. It must support integrated programs combining technology, farmer training, financing, market access, and maintenance services. Investments must cover entire value chains, linking farmers to storage, processing, transportation, and reliable markets. This allows reducing post-harvest losses to become part of broader strategies for food security, climate resilience, and rural development.
The main takeaway from our study is simple: feeding a growing population depends not only on producing more food but also on minimizing losses from what farmers already produce.
