Food loss and waste (FLW) remain a critical challenge to achieving food and nutrition security across sustainable food systems particularly in Africa, where agriculture plays a vital role in livelihoods and national economies. FLW not only reduces the availability of food and drives up prices, but also wastes valuable resources. Furthermore, it undermines farmers’ incomes, especially smallholders, and limits progress toward poverty reduction and rural development.
Addressing FLW is not only essential for building resilient and inclusive food systems, but also for meeting broader continental goals. In support of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous and sustainable continent, the All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition (AAPHCE) serves as a key platform for advancing dialogue and coordinated action on FLW. Within this framework, the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, through its agricultural team at the Embassy in Addis Ababa, actively contributes to fostering engagement, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration aimed at reducing FLW across Africa.
The Government of the Netherlands was a key sponsor of the 4th All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition (AAPHCE), hosted by the African Union Commission under the theme “Sustainable Postharvest Management: Boosting Intra-African Agricultural Trade and Enhancing Food and Nutrition Security.” The Netherlands played a pivotal role in facilitating broad participation from African nations through its agricultural attachés and embassy networks, enabling a rich exchange of expertise and collaboration.
Commitment to reducing food loss and waste in Africa
Beyond sponsorship, the Netherlands has committed to ongoing collaboration with African countries including Ethiopia, concentrating on critical areas to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) and strengthen food and nutrition security. Key contributions included:
- Supporting the development of integrated cold chain logistics and agro-logistical corridors to minimize postharvest losses and enhance export capacity.
- Promoting innovative business models and local capacity building through consortium-led initiatives, knowledge exchange, and private sector engagement.
- Conducting targeted studies, such as cold chain feasibility assessments and private sector opportunity mappings, to identify scalable solutions and investment opportunities.
- Advancing food safety, quality, and standards within the Dairy and Horticulture sectors in Ethiopia through direct collaboration with the Ethiopian Agriculture Authorities on capacity building but also through the different development cooperation programs. Efforts also include private sector engagement on pest and disease control and organization of regional knowledge-sharing platforms to disseminate knowledge on improved quality and reduced losses.
- Diagnosing systemic bottlenecks in Ethiopia’s domestic fresh fruit and vegetable logistics, exemplified by the PADEO initiative in Ethiopia, which mapped key challenges and identified leverage points for effective interventions.
Through these efforts, the Netherlands significantly contributed to fostering sustainable postharvest management practices and advancing Africa’s agenda for food security and resilient agricultural trade.
The Netherlands takes leading sponsorship role at the 5th AAPHCE
For the second consecutive time, the Netherlands will serve as a key sponsor of the 5th All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition (AAPHCE), hosted by the African Union Commission. The event, themed “Securing the Harvest: Postharvest Management Solutions for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems,” will take place from 16–19 September 2025.
The four-day program will feature plenary and breakout sessions across various thematic areas. Dutch experts in postharvest management will deliver presentations and participate in panel discussions, aligning their contributions with progress made toward global and regional food loss and waste (FLW) reduction targets.
A key focus will be showcasing impactful Dutch-supported initiatives across Africa, highlighting innovative technologies, tools, and practices that have contributed to reducing postharvest losses. Dedicated sessions will also provide a platform to share knowledge, monitor progress, and strengthen collaboration.
More information
You can find more information about the congress here.