agricultural management: the art of loss-free agriculture
DESCRIPTION
Agricultural Management: the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture. Steve Sonka, Research Professor May 7, 2014. Why Reduce Post-harvest Loss? Some Hypotheses. Estimates suggest 1/3 of agricultural production is “wasted” and doesn’t reach food consumer Investment required to reduce PHL could be modest - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Agricultural Management:Agricultural Management:the Art of Loss-Free Agriculturethe Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Steve Sonka, Research ProfessorSteve Sonka, Research ProfessorMay 7, 2014May 7, 2014
Why Reduce Post-harvest Loss?Why Reduce Post-harvest Loss?Some HypothesesSome Hypotheses
• Estimates suggest 1/3 of agricultural production is “wasted” and doesn’t reach food consumer
• Investment required to reduce PHL could be modest
• Technology advances should make reduction more feasible and less expensive
• Arable land, water, energy are in limited supply – reducing PHL can lessen pressure on scarce resources
Agricultural ManagementAgricultural Managementand the Art of Loss-Free Agricultureand the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Agricultural ManagementAgricultural Managementand the Art of Loss-Free Agricultureand the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Iowa
Agricultural ManagementAgricultural Managementand the Art of Loss-Free Agricultureand the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Started work young Not really that young !
Agricultural ManagementAgricultural Managementand the Art of Loss-Free Agricultureand the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Actually rode pony
to herd cattle
Agricultural ManagementAgricultural Managementand the Art of Loss-Free Agricultureand the Art of Loss-Free Agriculture
Hammermill
ReducedLoss (%)
$s
D
SCost of Reduction
Econ 101Econ 101
100 % Reduction
1/3rd of production
is lost
OriginalSetting
ReducedLoss (%)
$s
OriginalSetting
SCost of Reduction
Econ 101: From Loss to GainEcon 101: From Loss to Gain
100 % Reduction
DD1Enhanced Quality
S1Cost of
Doing Business
Loss to beCaptured
Gain
ReducedLoss (%)
$s SCost of Reduction
Econ 101: Converting Econ 101: Converting MoreMore Loss to Gain Loss to Gain
100 % Reduction
DD1
S1Cost of
Doing Business
Loss to beCaptured
Gain
S2
D2Enhanced Quality
Setting1
OriginalSetting
Change did occur (cont’d)Change did occur (cont’d)
But not all technologies adopted
http://richardnilsen.com/2013/11/24/central-appalachians/
Changes Which Could Reduce LossChanges Which Could Reduce Loss
(IRRI, 2013)
MoreMore Changes Which Could Reduce Loss Changes Which Could Reduce Loss
(IRRI, 2013)
??How?? Did Change Occur???How?? Did Change Occur?
• Parents never took the Econ 101 class
• But changes to reduce loss did occur
– Availability of effective technologies/Financial capability --- necessary, not sufficient
– Local experience w/ adaptation– Multiple, credible, confirming sources of info– Assurance of technical support – Organizational innovation
SoftInfrastructure
Summary ThoughtsSummary Thoughts
• The art of loss-free agriculture begins with understanding the farmer’s & manager’s perspective
• of “loss” that can be converted to gain
versus
• “loss” which is a cost of doing business.
• Urgent need is research & engagement focused on:
Why farmers don’t employ the proven and relatively simple technologies and practices that are known to reduce loss?
Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
Website: http://postharvestinstitute.illinois.eduWebsite: http://postharvestinstitute.illinois.edu