African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

The where and why food loss and waste happens

The where and why food loss and waste happens at the farm, in storage, and in transit.

Hungry people and policymakers worldwide want to reduce food loss and waste; therefore, people need to know where it occurs and where interventions will be the most impactful. Food loss is the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain. Food loss refers to any food that is discarded, incinerated or otherwise disposed of along the food supply chain from harvest. However, food waste refers to the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers.

At the farm

Important causes of on-farm losses include inadequate harvesting time, climatic conditions, practices applied at harvest and handling, and challenges in marketing produce. Food loss and waste entails poor use of resources and negative environmental impacts. 
The where and why food loss and waste happens

A growing population and rising incomes are forecast to increase demand for agricultural products, putting more pressure on natural resources. This is why reducing food loss and waste is crucial. It will improve our use of natural resources and directly contribute to lower GHG emissions per unit of food consumed. 

This is because more food reaches the consumer for a given level of resources used. Excessive water use at the farm level, any reduction of losses or waste after the farm level (transportation, processing, storage etc.) can positively affect water demand. Less food loss and waste would lead to more efficient land use and better water resource management, positively impacting climate change and livelihoods.

In storage


Harvesting cassava in Nigeria where tons food loss and waste happens
Significant losses are caused by inadequate storage and decisions made at earlier stages of the supply chain that cause products to have a shorter shelf life. Total losses are mainly because of physical, pathological, and entomological damage. Post-harvest losses cause food quality and quantity to be severely reduced, thereby affecting incomes and impacting on the urban and rural poor and hungry.

In transit

Good infrastructure and efficient trade logistics are key to preventing food loss. Processing and packaging play a role in preserving foods, and losses are often caused by inadequate facilities, technical malfunction or human error. 

Many food crops are lost before they reach consumers and suggested that improving logistics systems and management would efficiently reduce losses across the supply chain. 

They found that failure in logistics operations, including product handling, precooling, packaging, storage, transportation, and inappropriate infrastructure, are among the most common reasons for the high quantities of food losses. Transporting food in Nigeria

These estimates do not include loss of quality, nutritional value and the health burden associated with consuming contaminated food products.

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Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition

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Dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia: the newly chosen Fine Boy is temporarily celebrated with fanfare and pleasure. Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition Fascinating stories emerged during the Pepper Coast's glory days. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders established outposts along the Liberian coastline, drawn by its wealth of humans, spices, and other commodities.  Centuries later, in the 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS) founded settlements in Liberia and began journalling native stories.  Among these tales is a dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia, a story so intriguing it almost seems too good to be true because, in some ways, it is.   The Kru women periodically held elections to select a young, handsome man as their “Fine Boy.” The announcement of his selection was celebrated with a vibrant procession featuring music, singing, and dancing.  The newly chosen Fine Boy was placed at the front of the para...
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Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

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Keto Moroccan Dinner Cooked Slowly

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Slow Cooked Moroccan Kefta Lamb Meatballs   Keto Tagine Morocco is at the geographic and cultural crossroads between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.   In Morocco, the term tagine refers to a slow cooked stew as well as the pot the stew is made in. Kefta Tagine Kefta Tagine is a keto-friendly Moroccan lamb meatball food dish fitted for your low-carb lifestyle. The slow cooking of the meatballs allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a fragrant, hearty keto meal. The star of the Kefta Tagine dish is lamb, symbolizing the richness of Moroccan hospitality. Lamb meat has been a staple in North African cuisine for centuries, with lamb being central to celebrations and religious festivals.  Ground lamb meat is spiced and shaped into small balls, known as kefta, a preparation that dates back to ancient Berber traditions.  The kefta are seasoned with cumin, paprika, and coriander, spices that have shaped Morocco’s history in the global trading of spices whi...
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