53
clean energy, mitigate carbon emission, create new jobs and industries, and improve
incomes and food security, especially for small-scale producers.
2.8 Sustainable Agriculture Is Built on Productivity
Sustainable agriculture must satisfy human needs, enhance environmental quality
and the natural resource base, sustain the economic vitality of food and agriculture
systems, and improve the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, forest managers, fishers, agricultural workers, and society as a whole.
1
Improving agricultural sustainability requires multi-faceted, collaborative solutions involving producers,
agribusinesses, transporters, retailers, and policymakers.
1 Based on the definition in Toward Sustainable Agriculture Systems in the twenty-first Century,
National Research Council, USA, 2010.
But the tomato supply chain is poorly organized and underdeveloped, and
as a result half of the annual tomato harvest never reaches the market.
Meanwhile, Nigeria imported 150,000 metric tons of processed tomato products in 2014, valued at $160 million (Ugonna et al. 2015).
The Geneva-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has
convened a coalition to develop solutions for reducing tomato losses that are
market-based, nutritionally focused, locally adaptable, and financially sustainable. The Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) brings leaders
from government, finance, and academia together with representatives from
Nigeria’s tomato industry, including aggregators, processors, packagers, and
cold chain operators.
The Alliance is targeting specific elements in the supply chain for improvement: crating and cooling technologies to protect prevent spoilage; a larger
more reliable fleet of transport vehicles; new processing technologies and
financing models to increase capacity; and outgrower schemes to link processors with farmers. Growers, traders, and processors also need technical assistance in negotiating contracts, tracking inventories, re-tooling and maintaining
machinery, food safety protocols, and networking within the industry.
Businesses with the capacity to scale up and innovate are receiving technical
assistance and access to grants or affordable financing so that they can experiment with technologies and implement new approaches.
Strengthening the tomato value chain will not only give Nigerian producers access to a robust and growing market, but it will also provide low-income
consumers a safe, affordable source of nutritious food that will improve the
health of millions of children.
(continued)
2 Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future
clean energy, mitigate carbon emission, create new jobs and industries, and improve
incomes and food security, especially for small-scale producers.
2.8 Sustainable Agriculture Is Built on Productivity
Sustainable agriculture must satisfy human needs, enhance environmental quality
and the natural resource base, sustain the economic vitality of food and agriculture
systems, and improve the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, forest managers, fishers, agricultural workers, and society as a whole.
1
Improving agricultural sustainability requires multi-faceted, collaborative solutions involving producers,
agribusinesses, transporters, retailers, and policymakers.
1 Based on the definition in Toward Sustainable Agriculture Systems in the twenty-first Century,
National Research Council, USA, 2010.
But the tomato supply chain is poorly organized and underdeveloped, and
as a result half of the annual tomato harvest never reaches the market.
Meanwhile, Nigeria imported 150,000 metric tons of processed tomato products in 2014, valued at $160 million (Ugonna et al. 2015).
The Geneva-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has
convened a coalition to develop solutions for reducing tomato losses that are
market-based, nutritionally focused, locally adaptable, and financially sustainable. The Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) brings leaders
from government, finance, and academia together with representatives from
Nigeria’s tomato industry, including aggregators, processors, packagers, and
cold chain operators.
The Alliance is targeting specific elements in the supply chain for improvement: crating and cooling technologies to protect prevent spoilage; a larger
more reliable fleet of transport vehicles; new processing technologies and
financing models to increase capacity; and outgrower schemes to link processors with farmers. Growers, traders, and processors also need technical assistance in negotiating contracts, tracking inventories, re-tooling and maintaining
machinery, food safety protocols, and networking within the industry.
Businesses with the capacity to scale up and innovate are receiving technical
assistance and access to grants or affordable financing so that they can experiment with technologies and implement new approaches.
Strengthening the tomato value chain will not only give Nigerian producers access to a robust and growing market, but it will also provide low-income
consumers a safe, affordable source of nutritious food that will improve the
health of millions of children.
(continued)
2 Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future