Addressing Postharvest Loss in the Congo

ADMI Associate Director Anna Snider met earlier this fall with representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, representatives of Congolese expat communities, and local community leaders interested in learning more about low-resource farming techniques. Dr. Snider gave a participatory training about low-cost technologies and practices to reduce food loss and waste. Participants were particularly interested in locally-produced technologies, small machines such as multi-grain threshers that could be produced by local artisans, and low cost hermetic technologies. Participants felt that these are the most appropriate ways to sustainably reduce postharvest loss.

While many countries like the U.S. waste large amounts of food at the consumer, restaurant, and retail level, most losses in sub-Saharan Africa occur before products reach consumers. Improved technologies and practices during harvest, threshing, storage and transport are key to reducing postharvest loss and increasing food security.