Postharvest quality and technology
About this expertise
In short- Product quality and shelf life
- Storage and cold chains
- Food loss reduction
- Sustainable interventions
- Evidence-based investment
Wageningen University & Research helps companies and public-sector partners protect food quality, reduce postharvest losses and build resilient food systems through practical, evidence-based solutions for products, storage, cold chains and investments worldwide.
Improve quality, reduce losses and make better investments across food supply chains. WUR supports food producers, storage and logistics operators, technology providers, governments, development agencies, international financial institutions and philanthropic organisations worldwide.
We combine product knowledge, measurements, modelling and supply-chain analysis to develop solutions that work in practice. Our expertise covers fresh produce and other food products, from quality assessment, storage and transport to sustainable packaging and alternatives to chemical pesticides.
In low- and middle-income countries, we help strengthen cold chains and design context-appropriate interventions that improve food security and resilience. The Postharvest Assessment Methodology (PHAM) identifies loss hotspots, underlying causes and effective interventions. The Sustainable Packaging Assessment Methodology (SusPAM) supports evidence-based packaging decisions by considering environmental, economic and practical feasibility. Depending on your challenge, we support research, implementation and evaluation, from laboratory and pilot studies to on-site measurements and international programmes.
Maintain quality for longer and make better decisions about handling, storage and marketability. We assess the composition, physiological condition and shelf life of fresh produce and other food products, diagnose diseases and disorders, and investigate attributes such as ripeness, firmness, moisture and sugar content. Where appropriate, we develop non-destructive measurement models using technologies such as visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIR).
Protect product quality, reduce energy use and improve access to safe, nutritious food with storage and cold-chain solutions suited to the local context. We develop and evaluate protocols for cooling, temperature, humidity and controlled atmospheres, assess cold stores and conditioned transport, and monitor performance during actual shipments. In low- and middle-income countries, we support the development of affordable, scalable cold chains that match available infrastructure, market conditions and operational capacity.
Turn loss-reduction ambitions into interventions that can be implemented and scaled. We identify where and why food is lost, evaluate technical and organisational options and help select measures that fit the product, chain and local conditions. This includes developing and assessing alternatives to chemical pesticides for postharvest quality management. The Postharvest Assessment Methodology (PHAM) provides a structured basis for designing, prioritising and evaluating interventions with food-security, resilience and adoption in mind.
Invest in solutions that deliver impact and work in practice. WUR supports companies, governments, development agencies, international financial institutions and philanthropic organisations in assessing technologies, infrastructure and programmes before and after implementation. We combine technical performance, supply-chain effects, sustainability, economic feasibility and local conditions. For packaging interventions, the Sustainable Packaging Assessment Methodology (SusPAM) helps assess environmental, economic and practical implications. Our analyses provide an independent evidence base for programme design, due diligence, funding decisions and impact evaluation.
Practical knowledge on storing fresh produce
Would you like to know how best to handle fresh produce? Our database provides information covering the entire supply chain, quality attributes and common diseases.
Product quality and diagnostics
Storage, cold chains and transport
Sustainable interventions and investments
Courses
Facilities
Get in touch with our expert
Discuss your product, storage, cold-chain or food-system challenge with our postharvest expert. Together, we determine which research, intervention, measurement or assessment approach can help you achieve practical and measurable results.
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