Stathers, Tanya ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-6186, Holcroft, Deirdre, Engelbert, Mark, Ravat, Zafeer and Marion, Pierre (2025) The evidence on crop postharvest loss reduction interventions for sub-Saharan African and South Asian food systems: a systematic scoping review update 2024. Journal of Stored Products Research, 114:102727. ISSN 0022-474X (Print), 1879-1212 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102727)

Preview

PDF (Open Access Article) 50759 STATHERS_The_Evidence_On_Crop_Postharvest_Loss_Reduction_Interventions_(OA)_2025.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (15MB) | Preview

Abstract

Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) is an integral part of sustainable and resilient food systems. This study updates a systematic scoping review of PHL reduction interventions from the 1970s to 2019, for 22 crops across 57 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. This 2024 update identified 123 studies which met the inclusion criteria bringing the total evidence-base to 457 studies and 2187 interventions studied. The interventions were predominantly tangible technologies (87.7 %) followed by handling practice changes (10.1 %). Storage technology interventions mainly targeting farmers continued to dominate the evidence-base (71.3 %). Cereal interventions dominated (42.4 %), particularly maize (26.3 %) mostly in SSA. For cereals and legumes, hermetic storage bags were widely studied, and mechanised threshing and solar drying evidence had expanded. New evidence on postharvest training bundled with various technologies particularly for aflatoxin management was reported. Fruits (20.8 %), particularly citrus and mango in India, were the second most studied group, with storage protectants, particularly waxes or coatings, structures for cooling and packaging being common. Root and tuber crops accounted for 17.0 % of interventions, principally potato in India, vegetables (11.4 %), mainly onion and tomato, and legumes (8.4 %). Geographically, India then Nigeria had the most studies while 23 countries had none. Socio-economic outcomes and uptake factors are examined. This analysis highlights the continued need for systematic assessment of interventions along value chains over multiple seasons and sites, targeting stakeholders beyond farmers, with more studies on training, finance, infrastructure, policy and market
interventions, and increased emphasis on social, economic and environmental outcomes of postharvest interventions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	food loss, storage, harvesting, Sustainable Development Goals, sustainable, equitable and productive food systems
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Systems & Nutrition Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Waste & Postharvest Technology
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2025 11:18
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50759

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads