NEW REPORT PUBLISHED: The adoption and acceleration of post-harvest solutions and grain protection in smallholder sub-Saharan Africa to mitigate food security
03/02/2026
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New Nuffield Research Highlights Major Opportunity to Reduce Post-Harvest Grain Losses in sub-Saharan Africa
A new Nuffield Zimbabwe research report by Qakathekile Khumalo has found that post-harvest losses remain one of the most significant -- and addressable -- threats to food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
The study estimates that 30-40% of grain harvested by smallholder farmers is lost after harvest, equating to approximately US$4 billion annually. These losses occur largely due to inadequate storage, pest infestation, and limited access to effective grain protection technologies.
Drawing on field trials across multiple agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe, the research demonstrates that:
Traditional storage methods typically result in 20-40% losses
Modern hermetic storage systems can reduce losses to below 1%
Correctly applied grain protectants deliver 95-98% pest control efficacy
Regions with strong extension support and market access achieve 65-80% adoption rates
The findings highlight that reducing post-harvest losses by even 50% could dramatically improve food availability, farmer incomes and national food resilience -- without increasing production area or inputs.
The report calls for coordinated action between governments, the private sector, researchers and farming communities, with a focus on scaling proven technologies, strengthening training, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern solutions.
