PHL INTELLIGENCE HUB
Understand the crisis. Know the solution.
The PHL Intelligence Hub is the definitive evidence base for post-harvest loss interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. We aggregate peer-reviewed research, field trial data, and World Bank estimates to provide a clear path forward for food security.
📄 457 studies reviewed — hermetic storage evidence base
📅 Updated 2025–2026 — latest peer-reviewed data only
🌍 4 countries covered — Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda
THE BASICS
The 37% that never reaches a table.
Post-harvest loss (PHL) is the measurable qualitative and quantitative decline in a crop from the moment of harvest to the point of consumption. In sub-Saharan Africa, this systemic leak undermines food security, farmer income, and climate resilience.
1.
Harvesting — Mechanical damage or poor timing.
2.
Handling — Bruising during loading and transport.
Storage — Pests, mold, and moisture in traditional granaries.
3.
Processing — Inefficient threshing or milling.
4.
Transport — Spoilage due to heat and lack of cold chains.
5.
Marketing — Losses at wholesale and retail points.
6.
37%
$27 billion lost annually across Africa (World Bank — updated 2024 estimate)
40 million people could be fed with recovered losses (World Bank / FAO / NRI — "Missing Food" report)
RESEARCH LIBRARY
Verified data. Crop by crop. Country by country.
Post-harvest loss (PHL) is not a single problem; it is a series of specific failures across the supply chain. Our research hub maps these failures to proven storage and logistics interventions.
Maize (Kenya & Nigeria)
15–25%
<1%
Avg. Seasonal Loss
Most maize loss occurs during on-farm storage due to the Larger Grain Borer and maize weevils. Moisture mismanagement leads to aflatoxin contamination, rendering the remaining grain toxic.
Loss with Hermetic Storage
SOURCE: World Bank / FAO "Missing Food" Report & WFP PHL Working Group data.
Cowpea (Nigeria & Ghana)
40–100%
0%
Loss if untreated (3 months)
Cowpea is highly vulnerable to bruchid beetles. Without chemical or hermetic intervention, a farmer can lose an entire annual harvest within 90 days of storage.
Loss in PICS / Hermetic Bags
What the cowpea result proves: That the barrier to food security isn't just yield—it's the biological clock of pests that hermetic technology stops entirely.
SOURCE: Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) Multi-Country Field Trials.
Horticulture (Tomatoes, leafy greens)
40–50%
10–15%
Loss in Traditional Logistics
The issue for fresh produce is the 'broken middle'—the time between harvest and market where heat accelerates rot. Evaporative cooling and solar-refrigeration are the critical solutions here.
Loss with Cold-Chain Aggregation
SOURCE: Rockefeller Foundation YieldWise Program Findings.
Paddy Rice (Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda)
10–18%
<3%
Loss in Traditional Milling
Rice loss is largely 'hidden'—it happens during thrashing and drying, resulting in low head-rice recovery. Targeted logistics interventions can recover thousands of tons for domestic consumption.
Loss with Modern Parboiling
SOURCE: African Post-Harvest Losses Information System (APHLIS).
Data aggregated from APHLIS, Purdue University, WFP, and the World Bank. All peer-reviewed studies used for internal modeling are available for review by EMBA partners and investors.