Why So Much Food Is Lost In The Supply Chain | Food, Wasted 2/3

Summary

This script highlights the significant issue of food waste in the supply chain, particularly in Asia, where up to 40% of food is lost post-harvest due to poor handling and storage. Innovative solutions like solar dehydrators and edible coatings are presented to combat spoilage. Social enterprises and businesses like S4S and Tanihab Group are working to streamline the supply chain, reduce waste, and connect farmers directly with consumers, ensuring fresher produce and better market alignment.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Fresh produce from around the world faces significant challenges in the supply chain, with up to 40% of food in Asia lost after harvest due to poor handling and storage.
• 🇮🇳 In India, 30-40% of food waste occurs in the supply chain, which could equate to providing every family with 5 kg of fruits and vegetables weekly if saved.
• 🍠 Farmers often lack proper storage facilities, leading to the rotting of produce like potatoes and onions when exposed to moisture.
• 🌞 Refrigeration in rural India is rare due to the high cost of electricity, making it difficult to prevent spoilage in hot and humid weather.
• 🌡️ Signs for Society, a social enterprise, has developed solar-powered dehydrators to extend the shelf life of produce like onions, turmeric, and potatoes.
• 🛒 S4S, another innovative model, sorts, grades, and packs produce using special polymer packaging to maintain freshness and nutrients, serving over 700 customers including major brands.
• 🏭 Tanihab, founded by Ekkas, shortens the supply chain by establishing warehouses to receive goods directly from farms, reducing damage and spoilage.
• 🛠️ Honey Heart built a processing and packing plant to minimize human handling and reduce damage, using sorting machines to assess and categorize produce.
• 🔬 Scientists are exploring edible food coatings made from silk cocoons and low-cost aerogels from pineapple leaves to prevent food from rotting.
• 📈 To reduce food loss, it's crucial to use innovative technology for preservation and streamline the supply chain by minimizing intermediaries.
• 🛒 Consumers and businesses can contribute to reducing food waste by buying local, directly from farmers, and supporting businesses that practice efficient supply chain management.

Q & A

What is the main issue addressed in the video script?

The main issue addressed in the video script is the significant food waste that occurs in the supply chain before food reaches consumers, particularly in Asia.

What percentage of food is reported to be lost after harvest in Asia?

In Asia, up to 40% of food is reported to be lost after harvest during handling and storage.

What is the potential impact of reducing food waste in India's supply chain?

Reducing food waste in India's supply chain could potentially provide every family with 5 kg of fruit and vegetable packet free of cost every week.

What is the problem with storing onions and potatoes in the traditional way?

Onions and potatoes, when stored traditionally, can absorb moisture and spoil quickly, especially in hot and humid conditions, leading to significant waste.

How does the use of solar dehydrators by the social enterprise 'Signs for Society' help reduce food waste?

Solar dehydrators help reduce food waste by drying produce like onions, turmeric, ginger, and potatoes using solar energy, which extends their shelf life and maintains their nutritional value.

What is the innovative packaging material used by S4S to maintain the freshness and nutrients of their products?

S4S uses a special type of polymer packaging material that is oxygen and moisture proof, helping to maintain the freshness and nutrients of the dehydrated onions.

What is the role of Tanihab in the supply chain in Indonesia?

Tanihab plays a role in shortening the supply chain in Indonesia by setting up warehouses that allow goods to go straight from farms to customers, reducing spoilage and improving the freshness of produce.

What is the significance of the processing and packing plant built by Tanihab in Malang city?

The processing and packing plant in Malang city helps reduce poor handling of fruits by washing, waxing, and sorting them with minimal human touch, which can damage the quality of the produce.

What is the innovative approach taken by scientists at a research institute in Singapore to prevent food from rotting?

Scientists at a research institute in Singapore are developing an edible food coating made from silk cocoons that is water-resistant and creates a barrier to keep water, oxygen, and microorganisms out, thus preventing food from rotting.

How can the use of pineapple leaves by scientists at the National University of Singapore help in reducing food spoilage?

Scientists at the National University of Singapore have turned pineapple leaves into a low-cost aerogel that, when mixed with activated carbon, can prevent food from rotting for up to two weeks.

What is the importance of minimizing the number of stages in the supply chain to reduce food loss?

Minimizing the number of stages in the supply chain reduces the time and distance food travels, which can significantly decrease spoilage and waste, as well as improve the quality of food that reaches consumers.

How can consumers and businesses help in reducing food loss in the supply chain?

Consumers can help by buying local or directly from farmers, and businesses can support good practices by sourcing directly from farmers or supporting businesses like S4S and Tanihab, which can contribute to a more sustainable food industry.