2nd All Africa Postharvest Congress

17 September 2019. Addis Ababa. 2nd All Africa Postharvest Congress. This four day Congress was organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, Stellenbosch University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Specific objectives:

• to raise awareness on food losses and waste through data and information sharing; 
• Showcase effective strategies, technologies, practices, initiatives for postharvest loss reduction; 
• Monitor and review progress on postharvest loss reduction initiatives against set targets; 
• and build and strengthen linkages and partnerships for resource mobilization and other activities geared towards postharvest loss reduction. 

In recognition of the devastating effects of Post-Harvest Loss and food waste, the African Union Heads of State and Government included in their 2014 Malabo Declaration, a call to reduce postharvest losses in Africa by 50 percent by the year 2025.

In addition, African Union Commission, with support from partners Rockefeller Foundation and FAO developed the African Union Post-Harvest Loss Management Strategy.

“This strategy will support our 55 member states in implementing actions at all levels in agricultural and food value chains to reduce post-harvest losses on our continent. It is the first-ever post-harvest loss strategy for the continent and a clear demonstration of the African Union’s commitment to continue to provide the right strategies and frameworks to guide our member states to increase agricultural productivity, create jobs, and improve incomes through strengthening our value chains and by reducing post-harvest losses,” H.E Prof. Victor Harrison representing Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Amb. Josefa Sacko

Further given the scale of the greenhouse gas impact of food loss and waste, the AU’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture is working with AU member states to include measures to reduce food loss and waste in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. These measures include policies, programs, practices, and technologies that reduce food losses on the farm, during storage and distribution, at market, and in the home.

Resources:
August 2018. Post-Harvest Loss Management Strategy August 2018