Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
9
Table 1.2: Definitions of On-Farm Losses for this Analytical Study
Food Groups PEF/WFLO Definition of
“On-Farm Losses”
Support in the Literature
Cereals Production, harvesting, threshing,
cleaning, drying, bagging or bulking,
on-farm temporary storage, loading
Initial stage of the farm to the
completion of harvesting. Includes
losses due to mechanical damage
and/or spillage during harvest
operation (e.g. threshing or fruit
picking) and waste due to crops
sorted out post-harvest (SIK, 2013).
Losses during production or harvest
in the form of produce left behind by
poor harvesting equipment, and
fruits/vegetables not harvested or
discarded because they fail to meet
quality standards (Lipinski, et al.,
2013).
Roots and
Tubers
Production, harvesting, sorting,
cleaning, curing, packing or bulking,
on-farm temporary storage, loading
Oilseeds and
Pulses
Production, harvesting, threshing,
cleaning, drying, bagging or bulking,
on-farm temporary storage, loading
Fruits and
Vegetables
Production, harvesting, sorting,
grading, trimming, packing or bulking,
on-farm temporary storage, loading
Meat and Dairy
Products
Production, harvesting (selection of
live animals, collection of milk or eggs),
packaging (of milk or eggs), loading
Includes decreased milk production
due to dairy cow sickness (mastitis)
and animal death during breeding
(Gustavsson et al., 2011).
Fish and
Seafood
Production, harvesting or collecting,
sorting, grading, packing, loading
Losses during production or harvest
in the form of fish left behind by
poor harvesting equipment, and fish
not harvested or discarded because
they fail to meet quality standards
(Lipinski, et al., 2013). Includes
losses of mature fish stocks on farms
(Gustavsson et al., 2011).
Source: a collection of definitions from PEF and WFLO, Gustavsson et al., 2011, Lipinski, et al., 2013, SIK, 2013.
1.2 Methodology
The analytical study of on-farm losses in the OIC Member Countries was carried out using three
data collection methods: literature reviews, key informant surveys and interviews, and case
studies.
1.2.1 Literature Review and Syntheses
The analytical study draws upon research and programming that focuses on previous field
studies to assess food losses in the different commodity groups in the focus countries. While
preparing the study the consultants reviewed the written and visual literature, investigated the
information, documents and experience of relevant countries and international institutions, and
accessed the resources of relevant national institutions. The consultants reviewed the existing