To improve local food systems, and more broadly enhance national food and nutrition security, the current Solomon Islands Agriculture Strategy has highlighted the need to reduce food loss and waste (sub-program 2.1.2). To help tackle food loss and waste, the Solomon Islands government has prioritised investment in capacity building, training in postharvest management and waste reduction, as well as improved market infrastructure, and food waste reuse initiatives.
In 2022, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded a four-year project aimed at reducing Pacific food loss and waste (in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa). In support of this project, researchers from the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, University of the Sunshine Coast, and from the Solomon Islands National University co-prepared this postharvest training manual. Information presented in the manual has been sourced from extensive farmer and vendor postharvest value chain assessments undertaken across the Pacific (including in the Solomon Islands).
This technical training manual seeks to provide highly practical and locally sourced examples of best postharvest practice to assist local extension staff, students, NGOs, smallholder farmers and market vendors to reduce horticulture food loss.