Addressing food waste in South Africa: insights from Dr Ikechukwu Opara's research
Dr Ikechukwu Opara
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In South Africa, where over 63% of households grapple with food insecurity, a startling paradox persists: between 9,124 and 17,969 tonnes of fruits and vegetables—equivalent to approximately 450 to 900 fully loaded large trucks—are wasted annually at the wholesale level. This alarming statistic speaks volumes about the need for improved postharvest practices, infrastructure, and policies aimed at minimising food waste and enhancing food security.
This insight comes from Dr Ikechukwu Opara, a recent PhD graduate in Food Science from Stellenbosch University, whose groundbreaking research shines a light on the rampant postharvest losses plaguing the South African fresh produce market.
Dr Opara's study delves deep into this critical area, measuring food waste at the country's largest fresh produce market, identifying financial losses, and employing machine learning models to predict waste. His focus on the later stages of the food value chain exposes an often-overlooked information gap critical to addressing food waste issues effectively.
The severe lack of comprehensive data on postharvest waste at wholesale markets presents significant hurdles. “The scarcity of accurate data makes it difficult to pinpoint waste hotspots and stifles the development of targeted interventions to tackle waste throughout the food supply chain,” Dr Opara explains.
His detailed monitoring of operational processes at the fresh produce market revealed the complexities behind the issue of food waste. Chief among these challenges is the disruption of the cold chain process, crucial for maintaining the quality and safety of perishable goods.
“Operational delays between the receipt of produce and its placement in optimal storage conditions often result in significant waste. The shortage of adequate cold storage infrastructure, particularly during summer when more produce is available, exacerbates this issue,” he notes.
Moreover, Opara highlights that the transportation conditions leading to and within the market play a significant role in waste generation. “When fresh produce is transported in unrefrigerated vehicles, unfavourable temperature and humidity conditions accelerate deterioration, causing weight loss and downgrading,” he warns. This mishandling ultimately leads to heightened postharvest losses.
Dr Opara posits a solution through the integration of machine learning to mitigate this crisis. By refining temperature control systems at fresh produce markets, machine learning tools could continually monitor conditions and alert staff to deviations that may lead to spoilage. Forecasting demand and optimising ordering processes through machine learning can also significantly reduce waste.
“Dynamic pricing models can further help,” he adds. “By tracking supply dates and shelf life, these systems can recommend competitive pricing, encouraging faster sales and reducing potential waste.”
Addressing postharvest losses is not merely a logistical concern; it also has profound implications for food insecurity, malnutrition, and various related health issues such as obesity and diabetes. As Opara underscores, postharvest waste directly inflates food costs, magnifying the burden on low-income households and perpetuating cycles of poverty. “The higher prices from food shortages force these households to compromise on other essentials, thus widening the inequality gap in one of the world’s most unequal societies,” he explains.
Dr Opara’s hope is that his research can pave the way for effective solutions, using machine learning insights to guide evidence-based interventions aimed at lessening the damaging consequences of food waste. By tackling these systemic issues, he envisions a future where food security can be enhanced and lives improved across the nation.