1. The Postharvest Network:
Empowering Food Value
Wageningen UR
P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen
Contact: nina.waldhauer@wur.nl
T + 31 (0)317 48 09 77
www.wageningenUR.nl
Postharvest Network
P.O. Box 82327, 2508 EH Den Haag (c/o Food & Business Knowledge Platform)
Contact: info@postharvestnetwork.com
T + 31 (0)70 30 43 754
www.postharvestnetwork.com
Background and objectives
The Postharvest Network is an initiative of the Dutch Ministries of
Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs creating a community of
companies, knowledge institutes, NGO’s and government
organizations with expertise and experience in postharvest supply
chain management. The aim is to reduce postharvest food losses and
enhance food security in developing and emerging countries by
stimulating Dutch stakeholders in co-operation with local experts to
provide their experience and expertise on a basis of mutual benefit.
The Dutch-Egyptian agri-partnership aims at enhancing food security
by identifying bottlenecks, using Dutch expertise to solve bottlenecks
and linking Dutch and Egyptian companies to create business
opportunities. A concrete activity in the partnership is the set-up of
the Egyptian Agrologistics Forum, officially launched in November
2014. The Forum has the following goals:
1. Exchange knowledge and good practice between various players in
the agrologistics field;
2. Identify cooperation potential between Egyptian and Dutch parties;
3. Facilitate in finding funding for identified pilots and projects.
Currently, pilots within the Agrologistics Forum are being prepared.
Approach
Our offer
Project examples
Figure 3. Project team with members from the
Postharvest Network and local stakeholders.
The Postharvest Network is an initiative of the Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs and Foreign
Affairs. The Postharvest Network wishes to express their gratitude for support, sharing of ideas
and feedback on approach, network model and organization, business leads and operational
aspects of setting up this network.
Acknowledgements
The Postharvest Network provides access to a network of specialists
and their knowledge in postharvest technology and supply chain
efficiency. Stakeholders in developing and emerging countries have
the opportunity to address their specific challenge on postharvest
losses in the chain to the Network which will develop practical
solutions in co-operation with the local stakeholders, so that they are
tailored to the situation and demand. In some cases this concerns
generating innovative solutions that apply to a single postharvest
supply chain issue. In other situations the issue may be more
complex, involving several stakeholders.
Postharvest optimization in India
In joint workshops with local Indian farmers the banana as well as the
tomato value chain were analysed in order to identify major
bottlenecks leading to postharvest losses. Based on this information
designs for pilot projects are currently being prepared in order to
improve the chosen value chains, reduce food losses, improve the
quality of the products, increase the efficiency of the chain and thus
ultimately contribute to improved food security. After successful
implementation of these pilots the concepts can be rolled out further
in India as well as – in adjusted forms – in other countries.
• For stakeholders in developing and emerging countries:
The Postharvest Network is the ideal partner for stakeholders in
developing and emerging countries seeking professional
assistance in reducing postharvest losses in the chain. Approach
us with your question and we will support you in developing the
rightsolution for your specific demand and situation as well as the
right partners to execute it.
• For experts and stakeholders from industrialized countries:
By becoming a partner or a friend of the Postharvest Network you
can work with us on identifying food losses in the chain that need
to be reduced. We will help you to transform these leads into
promising business opportunities.
Figure 2. Workshop with local farmers.
Dutch-Egyptian agri-partnership
Figure 1. Process of the Postharvest Network