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Reviews
01.05.2011
A review of 'WTO Negotiations on Agriculture and Developing Countries' by A. Hoda and A. Gulati. The books are recommended for entrepreneurs entering food processing, for all those supporting entrepreneurs and for all students to ensure they understand what’s involved in the use of the science and technology they learn! -
Waste in the food value chain: Issues and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa
01.11.2011
Waste in the processed food sector has recently been brought to the fore as a critical factor as the world looks forward to the demands of a growing population and the threat of climate change. The fact that we only consume about a half of what we produce identifies an opportunity for saving and demands more attention. Waste is discussed in seven stages of a food value chain, with a focus on the differences between the losses in the developed and developing worlds. This reveals that first of all there is a growing blurring of the difference between the developed and developing world, as consumers grow richer and industrialization develops. This is less evident in sub-Saharan Africa than in, for example, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). In wealthier countries wastage tends to be concentrated in the consumption areas while in the poorer countries more wastage arises in the production end of the food chain. The paper argues that food processors and food scientists in sub-Saharan Africa have the advantage of being able to learn what has and is happening in the developed world environment and therefore being able to address issues efficiently that will benefit both the community and their businesses.