Food Waste and Food Loss a BIG Horticulture

Food Waste and Food Loss: a BIG Horticulture Concern in Africa Dr Stephen Mbithi CEO: FPEAK- Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya Coordinating CEO: HCA- Horticulture Council of Africa Chiefexecutive@fpeak. org www. fpeak. org +254722716956 CTA – Brussels Briefing on Food Waste and Food Loss – 26 June 2012

Food Waste and Food Loss: a BIG issue in fresh produce • Food waste and food insecurity…rarely go together – Hence …agreed – in Africa fresh produce, its more food loss (unintended) that food waste (intended) • In rural Africa with food security challenges and lack of refrigeration, fresh produce purchase is rationed into small units. • fresh produce waste in developed countries – A concern for Africa: • Factored into supermarket pricing mechanism…leading to poor prices for the farmer • A less waste would be good for farmers- higher price, less land farmed, less resources used

Fresh produce loss. . 3 scenarios • Some figures: Fresh Produce in Kenya: – Volumes- Production: – Domestic – 3. 8 mil MT- about 25% lost – Export: 430, 000 MT (2011) – about 5% lost • The tomato/leafy veg scenario – Succulent/perishable and domestically marketed • Limited to 50 -100 km marketing radius – Poor infrastructure, lack of cold preservation – Highest post harvest (40 -50) loss before reaching consumer. • Solutions: Infrastructure and Market efficiency

The bean. . export oriented veg • Organized production, transportation and grading systems • Export rejections –about 25% – Easily bulked and sold for alternative markets or use, including cattle fodder. • Export horticulture is supporting vibrant urban dairy keeping around Nairobi-Kenya • Limited actual loss – less than 10% • Policy considerations • Impact of market efficiency combined with logistics consolidation on food loss • Deliberate development of alternative markets for export oriented produce

Onion- shelf stable produce • Grown and marketed mainly locally • Loss limited – less than 5% – Main reason- shelf stable produce, requiring no refrigeration at rural households – Marketed over longer distances than many fresh produce • Policy consideration: • More emphasis on production of shelf stable produce in remote and resource challenged rural populations? Planned Trade?

The mango…recovering from loss • Rotting mangoes under trees in Kenya vanishing…. – High demand from processors • Impact of value addition into shelf –stable products • In the past. . Some 30% of the 600, 000 MT production was lost – Estimates in 2011 are 10% post harvest loss – Demand for mango juice domestic market high. . encouraging imports • Policy Consideration: – The SUSTAINABLE role of value addition/technology on post harvest loss

In conclusion… • Fresh produce…. – Make them more expensive to stem food waste? • Consumer. . ? Price some farmers out? – Define/limit production or trade distances/areas for highly perishables – Aggressively find alternatives for export fresh produce? • Split volumes – Process…value add? • And lose fresh? Thank You Dr Stephen Mbithi chiefexecutive@fpeak. org or stephen-mwikya@yahoo. com