Crop storage research - the poor relation?

A recent study by IFPRI, on the impact of post-harvest research by the CGIAR on food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable agriculture in developing countries, has identified trends within the global food system which make post-harvest activities increasingly important in terms of economic returns and nutrition. Production technology has received the larger share of resources devoted to agricultural research but post production systems, including storage, are a crucial aspect of the agricultural economy. Furthermore, it is better to minimize losses in store than rely on over production to make good excessive storage losses. The report highlights the following major trends:

1. Changes in the agricultural sector - measured both by the declining agricultural labour force and the decreasing contribution of agriculture to GDP. Alternative rural livelihoods are essential to limit rural-urban migration. Postharvest activities (processing and marketing) tend to be labour intensive and provide added value and they depend upon effective crop storage. Policies, institutions, and technologies to develop rural agro-enterprise would directly strengthen the rural economy and promote increased agricultural production to provide raw materials for processing.
2. Urbanization - Rapid increase in urbanization is resulting in a greater number of people who rely on rapid, reliable transport of food products, storage, processing, and marketing systems to give them access to a secure food supply. Urban people spend less time preparing food and demand more processed food. This increases the need for safe crop storage.
3. Market liberalization and new market opportunities - Whether for export or internal markets, crop storage is an essential element in the post production marketing chain.
4. Consumer pressure - Consumers are exerting increased pressure for the development of environmentally safer technologies for pest and disease control in stored crops and, by association, improved food safety.

There is known to be a high rate of return on agricultural R&D in general and, the report argues, there is no reason to suppose that returns on postharvest research would not be equally high. This, the report claims, coupled with the trends identified above, clearly justifies increased funding for post-harvest research and development.

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