Motivation: food security & postharvest losses Fruits and vegetables supply chains in developing countries are characterised by relatively high losses between harvest and consumption. In general, the postharvest system includes all stages in the chain where the activity/service is intended to add value to the final product. Postharvest loss is often used to describe “losses between harvest and the onward supply of produce to markets and equates broadly with waste in the food supply chain”. In the Food Loss Reduction Strategy, FAO stated that losses for perishable crops, by their nature, are higher than those for cereals, and vary highly by region and commodity type. Losses over 50% are suggested. Intervention: Network of Excellence postharvest losses For a sustainable reduction of postharvest food losses, an intervention has to be planned within the context of the relevant value chains. The idea that a conglomerate of stakeholders, rather than a single party, would engage more effectively with the complexity of causes of postharvest losses is the basis for the establishment of a Network of Excellence (NoE). Such a network will also encourage co-operation between the private and public sector, as well as knowledge institutes. In the Netherlands, network experiences are already gained from the co-operation between government, research institutes and the private sector (the Golden Triangle). This may serve as an example for an international level, in order to disclose unique and viable knowledge which in past en present has been key in securing food and nutrition in the Netherlands. Analysis: causes of postharvest losses in the FSC of fruit and vegetables The research has the objective to gain insight into the causes of postharvest losses in fruit and vegetable supply chains in developing economies, and on which areas of expertise the network should focus. The report contains a qualitative survey of available literature and project documentation, reviewing references from scientific and project databases on the ...