Ghana and Zambia to Combat Food Waste

The agricultural research institutes of Ghana and Zambia have joined hands to implement the Smart Food Project. This collaboration aims to enhance food quality, increase sustainability, and reduce waste in the pineapple, mango, and tomato value chains.

The perishable nature of these fruits leads to significant wastage, with 30% to 50% of these fruits being lost, especially during peak seasons.

Speaking at the launch of the Smart Foods Project, Paul Mumba, Acting Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry, explained the project's role in guiding both countries towards developing sustainable agriculture sectors. He outlined the project's objectives, which include improving food and nutrition security, increasing incomes, creating jobs, and mitigating the effects of climate change.

The Smart Food Project will also focus on training farmers in good agricultural practices as well as developing technologies to extend the shelf life of these fruits without compromising quality.

Dr. Emelin Mwenda, Principal Agricultural Research Officer, highlighted the project's commitment to environmental sustainability, stating, "This project hopes to enhance environmental sustainability, which is one of the pillars of the Zambia National Development Plan, through the usage of waste from these fruits.”

Firibu Saalia, the Oliver Tambo Africa Research Chair for Food Science and Technology, noted "As scientists, we should be able to develop smart technologies that will be able to extend the shelf life of these fruits.”

The implementation of the Smart Food Project is expected to enhance value addition in the pineapple, mango, and tomato value chains in Ghana and Zambia, benefiting both domestic and international markets.