By Robyn Joubert
Tackling food waste in South Africa’s supply chain is emerging as one of the most impactful ways to improve food security without increasing food production.
South Africa wastes about 30% of the 31 million tons of nutritious food it produces each year. The value is counted not only in the loss of R61.5 billion or 2.1% of national GDP, but in the loss of meals in a country where millions go hungry.
Improving efficiencies in food distribution – particularly in storage and transportation infrastructure – is vital for ensuring long-term food security for South Africa as well as sub-Sarahan Africa.
In short
- Sub-Saharan Africa leads in global post-harvest losses, with roughly 37% of grains and up to 50% of fruits and vegetables wasted.
- Africa experiences the world’s highest hunger levels. Hunger will become more acute as the population grows to a projected 1.7 billion by 2030.
- Better agricultural practices and supply chain management are needed to cut food wastage, particularly in rural areas where effective food distribution is plagued by inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure.
“Considerable attention is given to increasing food production, but there’s less focus on reducing food loss and waste so more people could be fed using the same resources. The focus on boosting production alone will not meet the needs of a growing population if supply chains remain inefficient,” said Ben Leyka, CEO of the African Agri Council.
The African Agri Council is hosting The African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) in Cape Town from 18 – 20 November 2024, to address the pressing issue of food insecurity.
Susan Payne, CEO of Holistic Agricultural Investments Group, said the fight against food waste required a multifaceted approach.
“At least 20% of food is wasted today, equating to 1 billion meals, with 60% of that from households.
By investing in proper storage and transportation facilities, we can cut losses by up to 50%,” said Payne.
Food losses occur at key points in the value chain, with an estimated 13% of food lost between harvest and retail, and 17% wasted in households, food service and retail combined, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation.
“Identifying the key points in the value chain where these losses occur is essential for crafting effective interventions,” says Leyka.
Payne highlighted the need for stronger public-private partnerships in rural food distribution.
“Public-private sector collaboration in food distribution is inefficient and, in many cases, it’s impossible for the private sector to alone tackle food distribution in rural areas and underserved communities,” said Payne.
Government could assist by cutting red tape, providing incentives, supporting input schemes to support rural farmers to grow base crops, and providing backing to innovative technology through grants and other funding.
“Innovative technology provides the booster for the rockets addressing food waste. We need partnerships between the innovators and governments that function well, from providing (or dispensing with) visas easily to moving money across borders freely to receiving tax breaks to creating tax-free economic zones,” Payne said.
The prospects for achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 are grim, and progress on reducing hunger in Africa has virtually stalled since 2016, according to the Global Hunger Index.
Leyka said the fight against food insecurity was a collective responsibility. “We must prioritise investments in education and technology that empower farmers to reduce losses at every stage of the supply chain. By fostering collaboration, embracing innovation, and prioritising education, we can turn the aspiration for food security into a reality for all,” Leyka said.
