Postharvest losses of perishables in Brazil: what do we know so far?

Abstract

Although difficult to pin down an exact figure, the idea that postharvest losses (PHL) of perishables in Brazil stand at 30-45% has been widely accepted. In spite of the modernization of production systems and the logistics and distribution of perishables in the last decades, postharvest losses continue to be a persistent and relevant problem. However, little is known about what has already been published on the subject. This work addresses precisely this issue, based on a comprehensive survey of publications on PHL of fruits and vegetables. Bibliographic searches were performed at the Embrapa's library system, Google Scholar and SciELO. Several publications on PHL of fruits and vegetables were reviewed and grouped according to their scope and objectives into three major categories: (1) PHL studies: estimates, measurements, research projects, reviews; (2) postharvest technologies: application of technologies, studies of postharvest physiology, diseases and/or mechanical damage; (3) economics: studies of economics, logistics and management. Results of this analysis are discussed in a historic perspective and mainly in what they reveal of the impact of social and technological development on the studies of PHL in horticultural crops.

Estimates and causes of fresh fruit post-harvest losses in the Chapadinha Microregion, Maranhão, Brazil

“…In Brazil, losses start in the field, continue in the packaging, transport and central supply marketing stages and continue at the level of secondary wholesalers, and finally, occur in the retail network, so impacting intermediate and final consumers (GUERRA et al, 2014). At all these stages, the intensity and types of post-harvest damage accelerates the rate of dehydration, respiratory activity and decrease of overall product freshness, with resulting increased susceptibility to phytopathological deterioration (HENZ et al, 2017).…”

“…No Brasil, as perdas começam no campo, prosseguem na embalagem, transporte e comercialização nas centrais de abastecimento e em outros atacadistas, e finalmente ocorrem na rede varejista e em consumidores intermediários e finais (GUERRA et al, 2014). Durante estas etapas, a intensidade e tipo dos danos pós-colheita, aceleram a taxa de desidratação, atividade respiratória e diminuição da matéria fresca dos produtos, com aumento na susceptibilidade a deterioração fitopatológica (HENZ et al, 2017).…”

Origin and post-harvest losses of vegetables in the microregion of Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil

“…A adoção de medidas que possam reduzir perdas de hortaliças no interior dos estabelecimentos comerciais é estratégica para garantir a competitividade do segmento, aumentar a rentabilidade e a sustentabilidade da atividade comercial. Entretanto, a deficiência na transferência de tecnologia pós-colheita para todos os segmentos pode ser limitante (HENZ, 2017).…”

Food losses and waste: how Brazil is facing this global challenge?

“…At the same time, we realized that most of them were practically unavailable for I n this paper, we resume the topic Food Losses initiated in the article "Postharvest losses of perishables in Brazil: what do we know so far?" published earlier this year in Horticultura Brasileira (Henz, 2017). This time, we shed some light on the Food Loss", broadening the FLW concept and drawing attention to the second part of the postharvest chain: food wastage in households.…”

“…Traditionally, there was a clear division in Brazil regarding postharvest losses and food waste. Since the 1970s, postharvest losses are studied primarily by agronomists and economists, focusing on the problems and additional costs occurring from harvest to the retail market (Péra et al, 2015;Henz, 2015Henz, , 2017. On contrary, FLW seemed to be more related to Health Sciences and Nutrition, and more recently to Environmental Sciences, because of organic residues.…”