Structural reduction of food losses and improvement of food quality in Kenya's avocado and dairy chains.
Online Open Day
19 March
Online Open Day
4 June
Online Open Day
19 March
Online Open Day
4 June
Structural reduction of food losses and improvement of food quality in Kenya's avocado and dairy chains.
In Kenya, large amounts of agricultural production are lost before they reach the market or consumers. This has a negative impact from both an environmental and economic point of view.
The losses affect both small-scale and commercial producers in all links of the chain, such as suppliers, distributors, exporters, market traders, middlemen and wholesalers. However, small-scale farmers experience the biggest losses relatively speaking. These losses greatly affect local and national food security. This is not only because farmers lose potential income and do not recover investments made, but also because the losses affect the local availability and affordability of food products.
The consortium contributes to structural reduction of food losses and improvement of food quality in Kenya's avocado and dairy chains. The project links producers in Kenya with Dutch importers (avocado) or local businesses (dairy). The research takes place in two areas in Kenya for both avocado and dairy; a relatively well-developed chain in the central highlands and a less developed chain in western Kenya. The applied research will be carried out by students from the six universities involved. The results will be shared in living labs in the 4 research areas with the local cooperatives as central partners for knowledge transfer.
Expected outcomes: two knowledge-sharing platforms supported with hands-on implementation plans; overview and proposals for off-the-shelf ICT and other technical solutions; communication and teaching materials for universities and TVETs; action perspectives for producers and chain partners; and knowledge transfer and uptake.
Professor: Robert Baars
Lecturer-researchers: Marco Verschuur (projectleider), Esther Kapsoot, Peter Smit
Project duration: 2022-2024
Project partners: VHL (penciller), Aeres Hogeschool, HAS University of Applied Science, Inholland, Meru University of Science and Technology, Egerton University, Greenport West Holland, Kaptama Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd., Kitinda Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd., Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd., Abogeta West Avocado Growers Cooperative Society Ltd., Nandi Avocado Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd., Airflo limited Kenya, Satori, Fairtrasa, Special Fruit (België), Ante BV, Q-point, Netherlands Food Partnership, Agrikom, KALRO, TVET-Authority.