Sustainability

What if we told you that 30 percent of all harvested fruits and vegetables are “lost” during shipping to your local supermarket? This “lost” produce could be a result of spoilage, bacterial or mold growth, or bruising and lacerations during transport. 30 percent losses mean that for every two tomatoes that make it to supermarket shelves, one is thrown out. Or, since experts calculate that it takes about 3 gallons of water to grow a single tomato, it’s akin to pouring a gallon of water directly down the drain for every tomato that survives from farm to fork.  

By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 9 billion, doubling the global demand for food. Yet, in 2010, this 30% loss equated to 133 billion pounds, or $161 billion worth of food, according to the USDA. These losses represent not only lost nutrition but also squandered resources in the form of water, energy, and labor spent growing, harvesting, and transporting this produce. Losing 1/3 of all produce between the farm and kitchen table is an incredibly large, yet solvable problem. Reducing this food loss would have an outsized global impact, including reduced food prices, increased food security, a smaller carbon footprint, and more resilient community supply chains.  

Increasing Pressure of Food Scarcity on the Environment  

Post-harvest food waste is a critical concern, especially as the agricultural industry struggles to meet increasing demands. As the population grows, the United Nations estimates that food production will need to increase by 60-70 percent by 2050 to support the world. However, with limited arable land, the agricultural industry must produce more from the same plots, leading to soil degradation and biodiversity loss. Expanding farmland could worsen these issues, resulting in deforestation and further environmental harm.

The increasing demand for produce also strains other natural resources, such as water and energy. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), agriculture accounts for roughly 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, making it the largest consumer of freshwater worldwide. When 30 percent of fresh produce is lost in transit, the water used to grow that produce is wasted, while even more water is required to meet the rising demand.   

Returning to our original example, it takes approximately three gallons of water to grow a single tomato and a staggering 449 gallons to produce a pound of rice. When food loss is examined at global production scales, the resulting water waste is staggering. In regions already facing water scarcity, such as parts of the Middle East, this waste exacerbates local shortages. The United Nations reports that four billion people experience severe water shortages for at least one month each year. Reducing water usage in agriculture and minimizing food waste is critical to sustaining global water supplies.  

Additionally, the energy expended in planting, fertilizing, harvesting, transporting, and storing produce is significant. In the U.S. alone, the energy embedded in food loss is equivalent to approximately 300 million barrels of oil annually. Every step of food production and distribution contributes to global emissions, making food waste a contributor to climate change. Preventing post-harvest food loss would mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture by reducing unnecessary consumption energy and other resources.  

Mitigating food loss will not only alleviate stress on resources but also directly benefit farmers by allowing them to sell more of their harvest, leading to increased income and reduced inefficiencies in the supply chain. With higher income, farmers can more easily adopt advanced technologies to further boost yields and improve farming efficiency. Additionally, reducing food loss benefits consumers by helping to stabilize or lower food prices, which is critical for low-income communities disproportionately affected by rising costs. By making food more affordable and accessible, particularly for vulnerable populations, these efforts contribute to enhancing food security and reducing economic inequality. 

Climate Change and Post-Harvest Spoilage  

Climate change is already significantly affecting food security through its impact on agriculture. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, devastate crop yields, while unpredictable temperatures disrupt growing seasons. Climate change also exacerbates post-harvest food loss through infrastructure damage. Severe weather events can delay shipments, damage roads, or disrupt ports, causing food to spoil before it reaches consumers.  

As climate change intensifies, the frequency of these natural disasters will increase. Preventing food spoilage during transit by slowing the ripening process or protecting produce from environmental damage can help minimize the additional losses caused by delays.  

How to Prevent Post-Harvest Food Loss  

Post-harvest food loss is caused by various factors, including improper storage conditions, temperature fluctuations, and mishandling during transport. Current methods for preserving fresh produce rely primarily on refrigerated containers, known as reefers, which slow the ripening process by lowering temperatures. While effective for some crops, temperature control alone cannot stop the rapid ripening of climacteric fruits like bananas, avocados, and tomatoes. These fruits continue to ripen after harvest, producing ethylene gas that accelerates the process.  

Oceanit’s RipeWrap  

Oceanit’s RipeWrap offers a groundbreaking advancement over current preservation methods, providing an affordable and effective solution for preventing post-harvest food loss. Unlike traditional technologies, RipeWrap specifically targets climacteric fruits by capturing the ethylene gas responsible for ripening. This innovative packaging material works in real time to absorb or release inhibitors that regulate ripening. By controlling the ripening speed, RipeGuard helps extend the shelf life of produce, ensuring that fruits and vegetables arrive fresh and ready for consumption.  

RipeWrap significantly reduces food spoilage and minimizes the waste of water, energy, and other resources used in food production. By slowing the ripening process, RipeWrap provides critical time to accommodate shipment delays or infrastructure disruptions caused by climate change, making it an ideal solution for regions prone to extreme weather events.  

RipeWrap is a collaboration with Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This partnership aims to scale the technology and integrate it into global food distribution networks. The potential impact of RipeWrap on food security is substantial and promising, as it could reduce the 30 percent of produce lost post-harvest and help address the growing challenge of feeding the world’s expanding population.  

As climate change intensifies and the global population continues to grow, ensuring food security has become one of the most critical challenges of our time. Inefficiencies in current food production and distribution systems have resulted in the unnecessary waste of resources such as water and energy, placing tremendous strain on the environment. By addressing post-harvest food loss through innovations like Oceanit’s RipeWrap, we can take a significant step toward reducing food waste, conserving resources, and meeting the increasing global demand for food.