Challenges and initiatives in reducing postharvest food losses and food waste: sub-Saharan Africa

Publication date: 13/01/2020
Extent: 58 pages

Contributions by: Tanya Stathers, Natural Resources Institute (NRI) – University of Greenwich, UK; and Brighton Mvumi, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Chapter synopsis: This chapter reviews food losses and waste in sub-Saharan Africa. It gives a general introduction to the terms ‘food loss’ and ‘food waste’ and how they differ. It focuses on the postharvest food losses occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and compares ‘objective measurements’ with ‘perceptions’ of food losses occurring during and after harvest. It also provides an overview of what information is already available regarding food losses and waste in sub-Saharan Africa. The chapter goes on to discusses various challenges and initiatives in reducing food losses and waste and concludes by providing a general summary and several resources for further information.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0053.31