Post harvest Connect

22 - 23 April 2026. Abuja. Post harvest Connect

Organized by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, it brought together researchers, policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners to address the critical issue of food losses after harvest. The event emphasized the need to strengthen systems that handle storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural products.

Partners: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) World Bank Group Sasakawa Africa Association HarvestPlus Helen Keller Intl Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

The main objective of the conference was to promote technologies and innovations that reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the competitiveness of agrifood value chains. Key topics included storage and preservation technologies, cold chain systems, food safety (including aflatoxin control), value addition, and market linkages. The discussions highlighted that increasing agricultural production alone is not sufficient—equal attention must be given to preserving and efficiently moving food along the value chain.

The event underscored the significant impact of post-harvest losses in Africa, where up to 30–50% of food can be lost before reaching consumers. Addressing these inefficiencies can improve food availability, increase farmer incomes, and strengthen food and nutrition security. Overall, Postharvest Connect 2026 served as a platform to connect innovation, policy, and investment, with the goal of building more resilient and efficient agrifood systems.

Post-Harvest Connect 2026 in Abuja Posted by Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute on Wednesday 22 April 2026