Postharvest in Developing Countries

The Working Group Postharvest in Developing Countries brings together people engaged in postharvest research and practice, particularly in regions facing postharvest challenges. It focuses on postharvest technology, quality management, and value chain optimization for horticultural and agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.

Reducing food losses along the supply chain, including fresh produce, is a key objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. In response to this global challenge, the Working Group addresses postharvest losses, quality preservation, food safety, and sustainable postharvest practices under diverse climatic, economic, and infrastructural conditions. Emphasis is placed on advances in postharvest physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and distribution systems, leading to practical technologies for quality enhancement, long-term storage, transportation, and growth regulator-based quality control. Recent research also considers the impacts of global warming on postharvest performance and the development of crop varieties with improved storability, disease resistance, and functional quality, supporting loss reduction and quality preservation along the supply chain.

The Working Group organizes the series “International Conference on Postharvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions” and “Asia Symposium on Quality Management in Postharvest Systems”.