SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has launched a system for online certificates developed in partnership with the government of the Netherlands, a game-changer for local and foreign inspectors who have to process fruit and vegetable exports. South Africa now counts among the first nations in the world with an electronic certification system for the import and export of agricultural products.…
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Ocado to scrap ‘best before’ labels on fresh produce to reduce food waste
UK – Ocado, an online grocer headquartered in the UK, is to scrap ‘best before’ labels on some fruit and vegetables as a way of eradicating food waste. Ocado will launch the initiative on Tuesday for items in its fresh produce range, including apples, pears and citrus fruits. The move is expected to save thousands of tons of edible food…
READ MOREKALRO implores farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices to ensure produce safety
KENYA – Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has implored farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for tomato production in order to ensure quality and safe produce for the consumers and also safeguard the environment. This was during a farmers’ field day at Rombo in Kajiado County under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) programme, which is the…
READ MORERussian authorities seize Egyptian oranges at port claiming they don’t meet specifications
EGYPT – Over 40,000 tons of Egyptian oranges in 150 shipments are currently being held at Russian ports as the Russian officials claim the shipments do not meet its import specifications. Egyptian exporters laid the blame on Russia for changing its standards without coordinating with the Egyptian side. According to Ahmed al-Bishbishy, the Chair of Gouda for Agricultural Products, a…
READ MOREPeru approves sale of Save Foods treatment solutions for fresh produce in country
PERU – Peru’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation has approved the sale of Save Foods, an agri-food tech company, agricultural solutions in the country. Using its proprietary eco products, Save Foods cuts waste by protecting fresh produce from decay and microbial contamination. Its treatment has proven to be effective at reducing produce loss for dozens of partners and is…
READ MOREAustralia launches surveillance program to shield citrus industry from pathogens
AUSTRALIA – The Australian government through a collaborative effort has launched a program called CitrusWatch to protect the Australian citrus industry against pathogens and pests. The program aims to provide expanded surveillance, industry training, new risk assessment and modelling, and higher levels of governance and collaboration. Funded by Hort Innovation through various levies and with contributions from the Australian government,…
READ MOREKenya’s Horticultural Crops Directorate indefinitely extends avocado export ban
KENYA – Kenya’s Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) has extended the ban on the export of Kenya’s popular avocado varieties to overseas markets to curb the harvesting of immature crop. HCD is in charge of regulating, promoting, coordinating, developing and facilitating operations of the horticultural sub-sector to ensure smooth production and marketing environment and to advocate for policies that favor investment…
READ MOREGalilee Export employs Save Foods product treatment after successful trials
ISRAEL – Save Foods, an Agri-Food Tech company specializing in eco crop protection- designed to reduce food waste and ensure food safety, has announced that following a series of successful trials, Galilee Export, the second largest exporter of fresh produce in Israel, will require all their bell pepper suppliers to apply Save Foods’ treatment. Galilee Export is the second largest…
READ MOREZimbabwe to export fresh citrus fruits to China
ZIMBABWE – Following the penning of the citrus phytosanitary protocol, Zimbabwe can now export fruits to China, in a development expected to broaden export destinations for the fruits and remove overdependence on South Africa and the European market. The phytosanitary protocol requires that a cold chain system for the export of fresh citrus fruits to China be put in place…
READ MOREAgriResources Congo sets up cold storage facility to extend products’ shelf life
CONGO – Agri Resources Congo, an expert in the industrial cultivation of cereals and other crops with high economic value, in an effort to make goods safe and of quality for consumers, have put up a cold storage facility for green onions and fresh vegetables. The installation of the new cooling system has begun within the company’s concession in Moulende.…
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