Postharvest technology and products to prevent food waste

The fruit and vegetable industry has undergone significant changes in the last few years. Market companies are now more concerned about food waste. A concern that has been at the heart of DECCO IBÉRICA's mission for more than 50 years. In recent years, food waste and food loss have become two issues that have had a major impact on public opinion. Two similar realities, but with different nuances. Differences between food loss and food waste?The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) makes a clear distinction between these two realities. It states that food loss refers to "any food that is discarded, incinerated or otherwise disposed of along the food supply chain from harvesting/slaughtering/harvesting. But excluding the retail level and does not re-enter any other productive use, such as food or seed". Food waste, on the other hand, refers to "the decrease in quantity or quality of food as a result of the decisions and actions of retailers, food service providers and consumers". As we can see from these two definitions, food waste would put the focus on the behaviour of the retail market and consumers and food loss would focus on the post-harvest behaviour of retailers and agricultural producers. A behaviour that, in general terms, is causing that, according to the FAO's Food Loss Index (FLI), approximately 14% of the world's food is lost after harvest. This does not include waste at the retail level. The solution to food lossThe industry is aware that current food loss rates cannot be sustained and is working on innovative solutions to increase the sustainability and utilisation of postharvest food. Decco Ibérica offers fruit warehouses and distributors postharvest technology and products to prevent food waste and food loss and also to increase the sustainability of the process. We provide our customers with fungicide treatments, waxes to guarantee the appearance and avoid damage to the products during transport, coadjuvants, advanced postharvest machinery with exclusive technology, etc. - Liquid Deccopyr: This is a fungicide treatment used to combat the harmful effects of the fungi that cause citrus rot. It is highly effective and particularly suitable for controlling strains resistant to other fungicides. It is also very effective against Penicillium spp. with a direct effect against rots caused by P. italicum. - Deccopyr POT: This is a fumigant fungicide for persimmon, stone and pome fruit. It is the fumigant formulation of Pyrimethanil, an advanced broad spectrum fungicide that is highly effective against Monilia, Penicillium, Botrytis, Gloesporium and Alternaria. It has a low toxicological profile. - Citrashine Long Life and Citrashine Gold 152 from the Citrashine range: These are waxes which, in the case of Citrahine Long Life, are specific for long distance shipments. Both this product and Citrashine Gold 152 are characterised by maintaining the firmness and shine of the fruit, as well as reducing weight loss and chilling damage.