WHEN STAKEHOLDERS GATHERED AT ACU TO ADDRESS NIGERIA’S $9B FOOD WASTE CRISIS
When hundreds of farmers, agricultural experts, researchers and officials of government agencies convened at Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), between April 8th and 11th, their mission was clear: to tackle challenges of food waste and poor storage practices that are pushing Nigeria toward food insecurity and increasing reliance on smaller nations to feed its ever growing population.
The gathering, being the 9th edition of Sustainable Livelihoods and Development Network for Africa (SLIDEN AFRICA) which held in collaboration with ACU, had, among others, the objective of offering practical solutions to the inefficiencies in agricultural practices that have long denied farmers the full rewards of their harvests, with ACU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Timothy Adebayo as the chief host.
Every second, vast quantities of food, ranging from grains and vegetables to dairy products and tubers, are wasted across all regions of Nigeria. Annually, this staggering loss amounts to over $9 billion, representing 40 per cent of food grown by Nigerian farmers.
What makes this even more troubling is that, despite this abundance, Nigeria spends approximately $1.8 billion each year on food imports. Yet, the true cost of this waste extends beyond economics; it carries serious environmental consequences as well. This is because food that rots in landfills can leak harmful substances into the soil and water which is consumed directly or indirectly by humans.
This huge loss has been linked to the use of outdated preservation methods and lack or inefficient storage facilities. However, the causes go far deeper.
ACU Vice Chancellor, Prof Adebayo, was specific in his definition of the gathering, describing it as assemblage of experts, researchers, policy makers and practitioners to consider and explore the indices of food sustainability as ingredients of food security.
The seasoned scholar and authority in agricultural science said the University has been proactive in enhancing food security by playing its role as research and learning institution.
“We have our own Seeds Company, piggery, fishery, and we engage in cattle rearing just as we plant both food crops and cash crops. It is just appropriate that SLIDEN Africa has chosen Ajayi Crowther University as the rightful host of this 9th conference,” he said.
SLIDEN Africa, according to him, focuses on finding solutions to basic and essential needs of life, including hunger, malnutrition, environmental degradation that results in unsustainable food production and consumption practices as well as poor livelihood.
Justifying the relevance of the event further, Adebayo added that, “It is in tandem with the global development ambitions, in terms of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some of these goals are closely aligned with the theme of this conference; Food Waste, Zero Hunger, and Sustainable Food Systems.”
Senior Director of Breeding and Pre-Breeding at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Professor John Derera, was emphatic in the keynote address he delivered at the event, pointing out that already, 33 million Nigerians are directly affected by food insecurity, with 18 per cent of Nigeria’s 235 million population suffering from undernourishment.
Derera, who was represented by Global Head, Breeding Consultative Group, IITA, Dr Hogson Mushoruwa, added that with the annual population percentage growth of 2.08 to double by 2050, food insecurity situation could grow worse unless genuine effort is put in place to tackle food waste.
He said, “Nigeria spends more than US$1.87 Billion on food imports per year. Food losses and waste is estimated to be 40 per cent of its total food production annually, equivalent to 37.9 million tones. Food losses and waste are valued at US$9 Billion.“Amidst these challenges lie opportunities for intervention through implementing a holistic approach that encompasses infrastructure development, sustainable agricultural practices, and supportive policies.’
Some of the obvious challenges facing food availability today in Nigeria are poverty, climate change, food price crisis, waste management challenges and so on.
While also acknowledging these challenges, Derera examines food wastes encouraged by poor farm practices, stating that there are tested and trusted approaches that can be employed to tackle food insecurity in Nigeria. He said this will help government to spend less on food importation and hit a new height in food exportation and foreign income earnings.
He said farmers must be exposed to high yielding, climate resilient and nutrient dense varieties that are preferred by modern farmers.
According to him, Nigeria must stop paying lip service to investment in application of best farming practices that target to optimise yield per hectare. This according to him will boost yield and ensure that more food is available for both local consumption and export.
To strengthening food supply chain infrastructure the IITA breeding strategist said Nigeria must improve on storage system, food transportation from source to destination and distribution systems in order to reduce food wastage that is being experienced in Nigeria today.
“We need to build better roads, cold storage facilities and market linkages that would help ensure that food reaches consumers in good condition. We must also promote sustainable practices such as agro-ecology, crop rotation and the use of organic fertilisers to ensure that farming does not deplete the land or cause long-term environmental damage,” he said.
Flexible government policy on food processing industry is another solution proffered by Derera. He said government has the responsibility of investing in food processing equipment, creating a favourable policy environment and providing training to local entrepreneurs.
In his address, Dean of Agriculture faculty at ACU, Dr Adebayo stated that the problems of food wastes and hunger stemmed from loss of crops as a result of poor seed planting, adding that ACU has been in the forefront of the fight against this challenge through the establishment of a seed company.
He said the University’s cheap and flexible tuition payments are in place to encourage youth to study agriculture.
He said, “Towards achieving sustainable food production systems ACU has established strong links and collaboration with institutions like IITA, OYSADA and privately owned agricultural businesses for the purpose of motivating and inspiring our students by exposing them to cutting-edge technologies and innovations.”
Part of the highlight of the four-day event was farmer’s forum, where about 500 farmers pooled from across Nigeria shared their challenges and implored government to work with genuine and qualified agriculture experts to ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria.
According to them it would be a waste of energy and fund to hold such an elaborate event with resolution coming from it not considered by government.