Colombia: Is it important to look at the gender dimensions of post-harvest food loss and waste?

Dec 17, 2024 | Sebastian Sanchez Rincon, Manuel Moreno, Guillermo Peña Chipatecua, and Mónica Juliana Chavarro Rodríguez
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In low- and middle-income countries, inadequate and ineffective post-harvest management results in significant losses, thus reducing food availability, increasing prices and contributing to climate change. Although women operate at all stages of the food system, they play a leading role in post-harvest activities. These activities are often unpaid or carried out within the home, allowing them to also perform their household work. As in every other domain, women's contributions are frequently overlooked in efforts to mitigate post-harvest losses, leading to interventions that are ineffective and gender-blind. This oversight makes women more susceptible to post-harvest losses. There is also a very limited understanding of the gender dimensions of post harvest losses and waste, generally.