Previous Page  57 / 101 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 57 / 101 Next Page
Page Background

COMCEC Agriculture Outlook 2016

46

The causes of food losses on-farm period vary according to agricultural commodities.

For instance, such losses in vegetable commodities and products are mainly caused by

diseases, insects, weeds, and rodents, severe weather during planting and inefficient seeding

36

.

Moreover, unavailability of harvest fleets or outdated harvest machineries can also bring about

delayed or deteriorated harvest. Regarding root and tuber losses, in low income countries, the

main reasons are outdated production technologies, disease and pest as well as high

temperatures during the harvest period and little or no access to pre-cooling facilities. On the

other hand, in high income countries, rigorous standards relating to the weight, size shape and

appearance may result to high losses at the farm-level

37

.

Regarding livestock and fisheries products, on-farm food losses mainly refer to death

and diseases before first-stage processing, such as animal death during breeding for bovine

and poultry meat, discards during fishing for fish, and decreased milk production due to dairy

cow diseases for milk

38

.

Figure 38. Share of Stages in Value Chain in Food Lost or Wasted by Region

Source: World Resources Institute analysis based on FAO, 2011

Reducing food loss and waste has significant potential benefits for ensuring food

security in the World. With comprehensive strategies for reducing food loss and waste,

countries can increase food availability and alleviate undernourishment and poverty. It has

also environmental benefits with reducing unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and wasted

water and land.

36

Liu G., 2014

37

FAO, 2014

38

Liu G., 2014

61%

46%

52%

34%

28%

13%

5%

7%

11%

9%

18%

17%

15%

13%

9%

2%

5%

4%

6%

4%

7%

6%

23%

12%

21%

22%

37%

37%

17%

17%

23%

23%

28%

32%

39%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

North America

and Oceania

Industrialized

Asia

Europe North Africa,

West and

Central Asia

Latin America South and

Southeast Asia

Sub-Saharan

Africa

Percent

Production Handling and Storage Processing Distribution and Market

Consumption