Can Post-Harvest Seed Storage Losses Be Reduced By Inspiring From Nature?

Hi,

As you know, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Program (WFP) in 2020 and underlined that humanity lacks food security in changing climate conditions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, developing sustainable agricultural practices for nutrition is considered the most critical topic in feeding approximately 10 billion people in 2050 .

In addition, the annual food production worldwide is expected to increase by 70% in parallel with the population, and the production of cereal crops such as cereals, oilseeds and pulses, which form the basis of global food security, is expected to grow by 33% to reach approximately 2 billion tons/year . However, due to climate change, groundwater depletion and pollution, limited energy resources, increasing crop yields beyond current levels is our top priority. In the emerging scenario, food safety necessitates a highly efficient farm-to-consumer supply chain.

Currently, post-harvest losses, which include quantitative and qualitative losses from harvest to storage, processing, marketing and consumption, account for 25-33% of all grains produced globally. In developed countries, grain losses during storage can be as low as 1-2% due to the application of modern technologies. In developing countries, close to 40% of grains are lost during storage due to poor storage infrastructure. Slower adoption of modern technologies, information pollution, biotic (insects, rodents and fungi) or abiotic (temperature, air, humidity) factors can cause post-harvest seed losses, fungal infections and mycotoxin contamination can pose a significant health risk.