Mitigating Post-Harvest Losses in Fruits and Vegetables: A Critical Analysis of Global Challenges and Sustainable Solutions for Food Security

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are indispensable components of a healthy, diversified diet, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, their journey from farm to fork is marked by significant inefficiencies, resulting in staggering post-harvest losses (PHL) that undermine global food and nutritional security. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that between 30% and 50% of all fruits and vegetables produced in developing countries are lost before they can be consumed, a sharp contrast to the lower, yet still substantial, losses in developed nations. These losses are driven by a confluence of factors including perishable nature, inadequate storage facilities, poor transportation infrastructure, inefficient supply chain management, and limited processing capabilities. The socio-economic and environmental impacts are profound, encompassing reduced farmer incomes, higher consumer prices, and a massive waste of precious resources like water, land, and energy, which contribute unnecessarily to greenhouse gas emissions. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the causes and consequences of PHL in the fruit and vegetable sector. Through a review of global literature and case studies, it evaluates a range of existing and emerging solutions, from low-cost handling techniques and scalable cold chain innovations to digital technologies and policy reforms. The paper concludes that reducing PHL requires a multi-stakeholder, integrated approach that combines technological innovation, infrastructural investment, farmer empowerment, and supportive policies to build more resilient and sustainable food systems.