United Nations Radio

According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, food which is lost due to poor harvests contributes to world hunger and increased food prices - especially in the developing world.

metal silos for grain storage

To help address the problem, FAO has called for improved technology and training. The agency says between 15 and 50% of what is produced can be lost due to poor weather, contamination by micro-organisms, damage from inappropriate tools and poor handling of harvested food. FAO, working with the World Bank and other agencies, has helped to establish storage facilities such as metal silos in developing countries. FAO says because many farmers can't afford the materials to build the silos, they've established revolving funds and loans to help provide storage solutions.

The sealed silos protect stored food from pests, rodents, birds and fungi. The silos also allow produce to be kept for longer periods with no loss of quality.

FAO says with the world population expected to near its peak in 2050, storage infrastructure and processing equipment are important.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
duration: 1'06"