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 www.fpeak.org 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 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 600,000MT 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 You Dr Stephen Mbithi or