Marketing, processing, storage
Processing, storage
Research reports for "food quality"
Processing, storage
Research reports for "food quality"
- Combating food poisoning from seafood
A rapid and highly sensitive DNA test is now available to screen seafood for bacteria. Infected seafood, particularly shellfish, can cause food poisoning. Outbreaks damage consumer confidence and producers suffer, especially the poorest. Previously, screening for bacteria was slow, taking up to 7 days, and was not always accurate. These diagnostic techniques have been extensively tested on coastal and estuarine seafood in India, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Japan. They’ve been used not only for detecting bacteria in seafood but also for food safety tests and for monitoring bacteria in coastal areas popular for water sports. Hundreds of laboratories have adopted these methods and they are widely accepted by international food safety authorities. They will probably become routine for ensuring that fish exports meet EU, US and Japanese import standards. (Ref: PHF10) - A well-known lifesaver finds new promise
Consumers and farmers in Africa will soon be able to benefit from the huge untapped potential of sweet potato thanks to a series of new findings. They include improved selection methods, guidelines for consumer tests, new breeding strategies, and knowledge of the factors that cause damage during handling and storage, among others. Sweet potato is considered the most under-exploited of the developing world’s major crops. The new knowledge can be used in programmes across Africa to ensure that this crop will fulfil its promise in fighting hunger, contributing to livelihoods and combating vitamin A deficiencies among the poorest of the poor. (Ref: CPH34) - Better organisation helps farmers to access markets
Smallholders can find a way out of poverty by increasing the competitiveness of their produce and strengthening public–private sector partnerships. In Uganda, although liberalisation of grain marketing systems empowered maize farmers to sell their produce at competitive prices, they were not prepared to reap the benefits of this reform. Their heavy reliance on traditional practices of handling and storage meant that their produce was poor in quality and their output was low. Today, farmers have improved market access by using appropriate post-harvest technologies and they are producing large volumes and sustainable supplies of high-quality produce. The public sector has helped to catalyse linkages between the private sector, smallholders, agricultural advisors and NGOs to create strategic coalition partnerships. Furthermore, in the 63 pilot districts where the strategy was tested with maize, farmers have been able to apply it to many other crops. (Ref: CPH10) - Better rice for higher incomes
A set of practical post-harvest technologies has helped the government of Ghana to improve the quality of locally grown rice, reducing imports by 30%. A range of actors along the production chain have improved their incomes while ensuring safety and boosting product quality. Although the use of this knowledge initially focused on the townships where it was developed, training manuals summarizing the fully tested and validated practices are now available. Agricultural extension agents are using the training manuals to transfer the knowledge to more farmers and processors. It could benefit an estimated 400,000 small-scale farmers and 125,000 women parboilers in Ghana alone. New partners from Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo are finding the outputs relevant to their countries. (Ref: CPH03) - Cassava processors reap the benefits of new techniques
New processing technologies are enabling resource-poor cassava growers in sub-Saharan Africa to produce popular products for the market. They are selling high quality cassava flour and chips at a range of outlets in Tanzania, Madagascar, Zambia, Uganda and Mozambique. Processing equipment, produced locally at low cost, is reducing drudgery and credit schemes are allowing the cassava processors to get their businesses off the ground. Manuals and participatory methods are helping to spread the use of the new technology, monitor adoption and link cassava processors to markets. (Ref: CPH30) - Protecting consumer health in cities
New knowledge about the policy linkages between food safety, poverty and environmental pollution has had a major impact in guaranteeing consumer health India. A key factor in the formula for success was the creation of a food-safety forum involving representatives from government, the private sector, and non-government and community organizations. They worked together on policy advocacy and developed and tested food-safety strategies. Environmental pollution can lead to contamination of fresh produce, endangering the health and livelihoods of people living in and around cities. The valuable institutional lessons, policy perspectives and processes that emerged from the Indian experience can help to promote pro-poor food-safety policy in other countries and contexts. (Ref: CPH06) - Starch production techniques help cassava processors protect their profits
Some 60% of the water used in producing starch from cassava can be recycled using a hydrocyclone (a device that separates particles in a liquid suspension). The savings from water extraction offset production costs, and the technology can prove especially useful in areas with growing water shortages. Low concentrations of acetic acid (2%) can also help cassava processors to protect their profits, preventing the growth of micro-organisms in stored starch and thereby helping to maintain its quality. This knowledge addresses two of the major constraints to the cassava starch industry in India, and can be applied in other cassava-producing countries. (Ref: CPH39) - Street food comes clean
Street vendors and consumers are benefiting from an innovative system for the systematic management and control of informal food vending. The system is designed to ensure food safety and quality through the involvement and participation of all key players. To make the approach practical and easy to implement, it was divided into a series of logical modules. Over 5000 vendors have also received training in improved food safety, hygiene and financial management. Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and India have systematically addressed specific issues affecting the informal sector. The new approaches have helped them to change the attitudes of food inspectors, from enforcement to providing sustainable support for vendor activities. The system is highly applicable to cities and towns across the globe. (Ref: CPH38) - Yam exporters cut losses and build profits
A series of recommendations are helping exporters and market agents in Ghana to realize the full income generation and market potential of yams. Previously, biological and economic losses took a high toll on crops destined for local and overseas markets. Now, thanks to improved yam quality and new training and promotional material, exports to Europe and the US are growing. The strengthening of links between yam producers and exporters has improved the quality and quantity of yams provided, eliminating the need for intermediaries and ensuring that advance orders and better market information are available to growers. (Ref: CPH47)
