Food Waste and Food Loss:

a BIG Horticulture Concern in Africa

Dr Stephen MbithiCEO:

FPEAK- Fresh Produce Exporters Association of KenyaCoordinating CEO:

HCA- Horticulture Council of AfricaChiefexecutive@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 – 3.8mil MT- about 25% lost– Export: 430,000MT (2011) – about 5% lost

• The tomato/leafy veg scenario– Succulent/perishable and domestically

marketed• Limited to 50-100km 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 600,000MT 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 YouDr Stephen Mbithi

chiefexecutive@fpeak.org or stephen-mwikya@yahoo.com