Improving food security by reducing food loss and waste

Upscaling the delivery of pest resistant potatoes to East Africa

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are microscopic pests that feed on roots. PCN has been discovered in potato fields in at least three African countries. Infestations lead to wastage, poor yields and crop failure.

A collaboration between Prof John Jones from the James Hutton Institute and Danny Coyne from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) explored how to scale-up seed production systems for newly developed PCN-resistant potato varieties in Kenyan agricultural systems.

It allowed seed production systems to be established in Kenya in preparation for the novel varieties to enter national performance trials. Ultimately, working with industrial partners will enable farmers to access the seed of these improved varieties.

Future opportunities:

• Expanding the production of PCN resistant varieties into Uganda, and other countries.
• Establishing routes to market for new varieties to scale further.
• Developing new biological control strategies for PCN to further support farmers will further support in addressing this issue. In a follow-on project the team are exploring natural compounds with nematocidal properties.

Optimisation for commercialisation of off-grid mobile solar cooling system for the Nigerian agri-food market ‘SolTech2’ – Reducing post-harvest loss

Improving access to sustainable cold chain solutions within food systems could significantly reduce post-harvest food loss as well as maintaining product quality and safety.

Collaborating with Brunel University, Netune Atlantic Ltd developed ‘SolTech2‘, a pioneering refrigeration solution. This mobile, solar-powered cooling system, housed in a trailer box, offers an economical refrigeration option for agricultural and supply chain stakeholders.

Harnessing solar energy makes the product accessible and cost-effective. Market traders in Abuja, Nigeria using the SolTech2 system reported prolonged produce freshness, substantially reduced wastage and income boosts ranging from 10-23%.

The extended shelf life of produce led to fewer trips for stock replenishment, cutting visits to their suppliers two to three-fold.

Future opportunities:

• Optimisation of the system for the different temperature requirements of different products.

Testing bi-modal trap efficiency for controlling the fruit and shoot borer complex associated with African eggplant in Ghana

The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) causes crop losses in Africa. The moth lays its eggs on the plant and the larvae bury inside, ultimately reducing the yield. Effective, affordable, and environmentally friendly approaches to control this pest are needed.

Dr Francis Wamonje, NIAB and Dr Ken Fening, University of Ghana began this project by identifying the EFSB species attacking the eggplants using DNA testing. Surprisingly, they identified a different moth species to what they expected. Understanding what species are present in Ghana and sharing this genetic data openly will allow future work on controlling EFSB to be more targeted.

Following this, the team found that using lights of a specific wavelength alongside existing pheromone traps could increase the capture of EFSB. This bi-modal approach could be applied in different locations and potentially with different crop pests.

Future opportunities:

• Using solar energy to power pheromone and light traps which could make them more portable and usable on farms.
• Identifying more specific pheromone lures to improve control of the moth.