agricultural management: the art of loss-free agriculture

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: ssonka@illinois.eduEmail: ssonka@illinois.edu

Website: http://postharvestinstitute.illinois.eduWebsite: http://postharvestinstitute.illinois.edu