Assessing land, nutrients and monetary value associated with postharvest loss of persimmon in Brazil: pathways toward sustainability in agri-food systems
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 3 August 2023
Issue publication date: 14 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study estimates the land footprint, nutrients and monetary value of persimmon loss in Brazil, and also consolidated the methodological approach for assessing resources related to food loss.
Design/methodology/approach
It uses data on the harvested area, production, production loss and production value of persimmon in Brazil from 2014 to 2019. The persimmon loss in Brazil was converted into macro- and micronutrients, land use and monetary value.
Findings
The average annual production loss, loss production value and land footprint of persimmon are 35,100 tons, US$12m and 1,673 hectares, respectively. Persimmon loss represents the average loss per year of 6.6bn grams of carbohydrates, 1.6bn grams of food fibers, 7.2bn milligrams of vitamin C, 41.8bn micrograms of vitamin A, 4.5bn milligrams of calcium and 54.8bn milligrams of potassium. These nutrients have the potential to meet the nutritional daily needs of approximately 135,000, 176,000 people, 270,000, 164,000, 12,000 and 32m, respectively.
Practical implications
Through (1) research and innovation; (2) infrastructure development; (3) training and education; (4) collaboration and networking; and (5) market diversification and value addition, people can increase persimmon shelf life, reduce postharvest losses and create a resilient environment for small persimmon farmers. This approach promotes sustainability in the agri-food system and empowers stakeholders.
Originality/value
This investigation helps to understand the value of food loss, considering the use of natural resources, as well as the loss of nutrients and monetary value.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Promoting Sustainable Food Production: Challenges, Practices, Impacts, and Solutions”, guest edited by Wanglin Ma, Hung-Hao Chang, Victor Owusu, Puneet Vatsa and Hery Toiba.
This research was funded by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) (code 001), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) (code E-26/010/002738/2019; code E-26/211.985/2021; code E-26/201.428/2022). The authors would like to thank the research funding agencies for the financial support granted.
Citation
Santos, C.M., Abbade, E.B. and Fai, A.E.C. (2023), "Assessing land, nutrients and monetary value associated with postharvest loss of persimmon in Brazil: pathways toward sustainability in agri-food systems", British Food Journal, Vol. 125 No. 12, pp. 4357-4371. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-10-2022-0895
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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