Post-harvest Food Quality and Safety in the Global South: Sustainable Management Perspectives

In contrast to the Global North, the Global South is characterised by mostly less developed societies or economies in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Post-harvest handling activities and technologies that maintain food quality and ensure food safety are critical in achieving food security and economic empowerment in the Global South. Vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, meat, fish and seafood, dairy and eggs are basic food categories. This chapter aims to furnish insights into the quality attributes and safety standards associated with fresh produce across these food groups. It specifically outlines post-harvest quality and safety standards, with a focus on the Global South, while underscoring sustainable management practices that can enhance the effective handling of fresh foods in this region. The information was sourced from digital scientific databases, electronic journals and relevant books, utilising pertinent key phrases. Concerns related to food safety within these food groups encompass microbial, chemical and physical contaminants on a broad scale. Investigative endeavours focused on post-harvest food quality and safety in the Global South highlight several critical issues influencing the integrity and safety of fresh produce. These issues encompass bacterial infections, specifically Escherichia coli and faecal coliforms, originating from contaminated irrigation water and suboptimal hygiene practices. Additionally, challenges include the incapacity of small and medium-scale farmers to adhere to requisite food safety and quality standards, insufficient proficiency in both pre-harvest and post-harvest practices and technologies, and inadequate infrastructure for the enhancement of overall food quality and safety. The challenges underscore the imperative for a comprehensive and contextually tailored strategy to tackle issues concerning infrastructure, resources and regulatory frameworks. Employing sustainable agricultural practices, adhering to good agricultural practices, implementing good management practices, ensuring suitable infrastructure and upholding quality and safety standards emerge as pivotal strategies for guaranteeing the production of high-quality and safe food in the Global South. The implementation of these strategies mandates a holistic approach that involves active participation from government regulatory bodies, collaboration within the industry and an ongoing commitment to education.