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Food Loss in the Catfish Value Chain in MRB
To improve awareness of food loss and waste and facilitate private sector investment in reducing food loss and waste in the catfish industry
Project Aim
To help tackle food loss, the project aims to improve awareness of food loss and waste and facilitate private sector investment in reducing food loss and waste in the Pangasius Catfish industry in the Mekong River Basin.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The Food Loss Research Program is a co-funded partnership between the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The Food Loss Research Program is looking to find forward-thinking solutions to development challenges to support future food security.
The "Food loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain of the Mekong River Basin Project" project is led by Dr Van Kien Nguyen, Senior Research Associate at HAPRI, University of Economics HCM City, Vietnam, with key project partners including:
Vietnam: IPSARD in HCM City, An Giang University and Vietnam National University, HCM city.
Cambodia: Agriculture and Food Business Incubation Center (AFBIC) at Division of Research and Extension (DRE) of Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Cambodia,
Lao PDR: Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR, National University of Laos (NUoL), National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF),
Australia: University of New England, Australian National University, Swinburne University and University of Adelaide and University of Sunshine Coast.
Why Food Loss?
From the time that agricultural produce leaves the farm, there are multiple points in the value chain, from distribution to storage and processing, where valuable food is lost. Whilst it is important to understand how smallholder farmers can increase yields and production levels overall, addressing areas of food loss outside the farm can also lead to more resilient food systems. As value chains in developing countries may become longer, with a greater number of intermediaries, the amount of food lost before reaching consumers is likely to increase. This is especially relevant for countries with inadequate or absent storage facilities, poor road and rail infrastructure, and limited access to post-harvest technologies to protect produce from pests, disease, and decomposition. In this context, food loss not only incorporates the real loss of production output before it reaches a consumer but also encompasses a loss in value resulting from decreased quality during transit and storage or the inability to handle and store produce properly. Whilst there has been a large amount of research documenting post-harvest losses, interventions that work in a developing country context are rare.
Key Outcomes
The main outcome of this project will be to use the research findings to improve understanding of and develop solutions for reducing food loss and waste for key stakeholders in the Pangasius value chain in 3 countries: Vietnam, Cambodia ands.
The primary research outcomes will be:
Industry, farmers, associations and government agencies in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos will benefit from efficiencies and best practices arising from an understanding of current food loss and waste in the Pangasius chains. Reducing food loss and waste and improving efficiencies are, in the longer term, expected to increase livelihoods/profits/benefits for stakeholders in the value chain, particularly with government, association and industry support.
Farmers and industry participants will be able to prioritise food loss and waste interventions, and design, trial and assess mutually agreed high impact options in targeted Pangasius chains in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Industry participation underpins adoption of high impact solutions leading to successful solutions for smallholder farmers and commercial enterprises, and increased livelihoods/profits/benefits for participants.
Active participation of women, girls and minority groups in Pangasius chains research projects in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos will enable greater inclusivity in the industry in a broader scope of activities.
Private firms throughout Pangasius chains in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, will support and facilitate ongoing food loss and waste reduction methods and processes for both farmers and value chain partners.
Adoption of research findings, following best practices and increased collaboration between farmers, industry, enabling organisations, colleagues and participants; will decrease food loss and waste in Pangasius value chains.
The nucleus of a community of foresight practice will have been created across Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, which has understanding, skills and experience for identifying signs change, anticipating the need for interventions and recommending evidence-based action to decision-makers.
The selection of pilot solution strategies/methods will be guided by a project advisory group inclusive of researchers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Australia. Selection will also be based on need, expected benefit-cost ratio, time to impact, feasibility and the potential for scaling-out. Four broad stakeholder groups have been identified: (a) project partners; (b) other research practitioners and advisors; (c) public/private institutions and organisations and (d) communities.
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