Solution roadmap to reduce food loss along your postharvest supply chain from farm to retail

Fresh fruits and vegetables typically have a limited shelf life due to their high moisture content perishable nature. Notably, long global import export supply chains can lead an increased risk of food loss. The main underlying drivers for such loss are air temperature, relative humidity, but also ripening gases influenced by the product's postharvest physiology. These factors quality variation, over-ripening, or microbial decay. Other that cause include chain procedures, as lack transparency (i.e., no cold monitoring) unfavorable product inventory management. Optimizing minimize is challenging, multitude individual measures be taken. A reason available strategies work on different drivers, which vary between products chains. Stakeholders, therefore, often do not know where start need invest time get acquainted with possible measures. Here we synthesized comprehensive collection 30 + shelf-life prolongation fresh fruit across chain. This experience-based roadmap was constructed based our close collaboration stakeholders. presented solutions address inefficiencies during storage, packaging, transport processes distinguishing hygrothermal drivers. Examples (1) adaption optimal storage temperature prevent decay chilling injuries; (2) improved packaging ventilation ensure cooling efficiency appropriate humidity conditions around products; (3) product-related solutions, instance, maintaining specific gas composition, acting commodities' unique physiology prolong its life. Furthermore, included monitoring. easy-to-use solution used produce suppliers, distributors, retailers, supply-chain engineers researchers grasp measures, thereby accelerating these stakeholders' decision-making actions eventually combat losses.