Nutritional losses

APHLIS postharvest loss figures have been combined with food composition data to determine the quantities of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), calories and micronutrients (including iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A and C) lost annually due to postharvest losses of the different crops in each sub-Saharan African country.

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Available metrics

Absolute value this shows the ‘absolute value' of the amount of the selected crop lost annually postharvest in either kcals (for energy value) or tonnes (for each of the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) or micronutrients (including iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A and C)).

Percentage loss (%) when 'Nutrients Lost %' dataview and 'Percentage loss (%)' metric are selected, this shows the cumulative % loss in weight of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), calories and micronutrients (including iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A and C) lost annually due to postharvest losses in the selected country, crop and year combination. This figure is the same as the 'Percentage loss (%)' shown in the Losses table tab.

When any of the population group dataviews (for example, 'National Weighted Average Persons', 'Women of Reproductive Age', 'Children (7 months - 4 years)' and 'Percentage loss (%)' metric are selected, this shows what percentage of that population group's annual nutrient intake requirements of the selected nutrient/s was lost postharvest in the selected country, crop and year combination.

Data views

Nutrients Lost (quantity) when the 'Absolute value' metric is selected, this dataview shows the quantity of selected nutrients lost postharvest (in kcal or t) for selected crop, country and year combination.

When the 'Percentage loss (%)' metric is selected, this dataview shows the percentage of nutrients lost postharvest for selected crop, country and year combination.

National Weighted Average (number of national weighted average persons) when the 'Absolute value' metric is selected, this dataview shows what the postharvest losses for the selected crop, country and year combination equate to in terms of annual nutrient intake requirements for how many average people from the selected country calculated based on the proportion of the population in each life-stage group in the selected country and their nutritional requirements. The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients' [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015].

When the 'Percentage loss (%)' metric is selected, this dataview shows the percentage of national populations annual nutrient intake requirements lost postharvest (using weighted average person per country calculations). The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients'.  [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015]

Women of reproductive age (number of women 14-50 years) when the 'Absolute value' metric is selected, this dataview shows what the postharvest losses for the selected crop, country and year combination equate to in terms of annual nutrient intake requirements for how many average women of reproductive age (14-50 years) from the selected country calculated based on the nutritional requirements of women in this age range and the proportion of non-pregnant, pregnant and breastfeeding women in these life-stage groups per country. The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients' [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015].

When the 'Percentage loss (%)' metric is selected, this dataview shows the percentage of national population of women 14-50 years olds’ annual nutrient intake requirements lost postharvest (using weighted average woman 14-50 years old, nutrient requirement per country calculations, which use the proportion of non-pregnant, pregnant and breastfeeding women in this age group). The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients'. [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015]

Children (number of children 7 months - 4 years) when the 'Absolute value' metric is selected, this dataview shows what the postharvest losses for the selected crop, country and year combination equate to in terms of annual nutrient intake requirements for how many average children between 7 months and 5 years old from the selected country calculated based on the nutritional requirements of children in these age ranges and their demographic proportions in the selected country. The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients' [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015].

When the 'Percentage loss (%)' metric is selected, this dataview shows the percentage of national population of 7 month to <5 years old annual nutrient intake requirements lost postharvest (using weighted average 7 month to <5 years nutrient requirement per country calculations, which depend on demographic structure of the population). The data used for nutritional requirements of each nutrient is described in the section below 'About the nutrients'. [Data for calculations sourced from: UNDESA, 2017; USAID, undated; IoM, 2005; 2011; FAO/WHO, 2007; FAO, 2011; NDC, 2015]

About the nutrients

When a country and a crop have been selected, the user can in the 'Nutrient' field select to view postharvest losses in terms of a specific nutrient (for example, Carbohydrate, or Zinc, or Vitamin A) by selecting the specific nutrient, or for all the nutrients simultaneously by selecting 'All items'.

All items selection of the 'All items' option in the Nutrient field produces a dataview with a table showing data for each of the nutrients listed below. Alternatively, by selecting a specific nutrient, for example, 'Carbohydrate', the Carbohydrate loss data for the selected crop for each province of the selected country is shown. 

Energy annual Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) for Active Physical Activity Level used from 4 year old life-stage group onwards using reference body weights based on healthy body mass index. [Source: Institute of Medicine (IoM), 2005]

Carbohydrate figures based on 62.5% of energy from carbohydrates, using FAO/WHO (2007) scientific update on carbohydrates in human nutrition, which recommends 50-75%E from carbohydrates [Source: FAO/WHO, 2007]

Protein figures based on per kg Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and reference body weights [Source: IoM, 2005]

Fat figures for life-stages of >1 years old use FAO guidelines of 20-35% of energy from fat [Source: FAO (2010)]. Figures for 0-12 month olds from IoM (2005).

Fibre, total dietary based on an adequate intake (AI) values of (14g fibre/1,000kcal/d) [Source: IoM, 2005]

Calcium, Ca figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) for specified lifestage group [Source: IoM, 2011]

Iron, Fe figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) for specified lifestage group [Source: IoM, 2011], converted to reflect the assumption of 12% iron bioavailability in diets with some haem iron and vit C as per Nutrition for Developing Countries (NDC) (2015) assumptions.

Zinc, Zn figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) for specified lifestage group [Source: IoM, 2011], converted to reflect the assumption of low zinc bioavailability in heavily cereal-based diets [Source: NDC, 2015; Governments of Australia and New Zealand, 2019]

Folate, total figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) for specified lifestage group [Source: IoM, 2011]

Vitamin A (RAE) figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) of retinol activity equivalents (RAEs) for specified lifestage group. 1 RAE = 1mcg retinol, 12 mcg beta-carotene, 24 mcg alpha-carotene, or 24 mcg beta-cryptoxanthin [Source: IoM, 2011]

Vitamin C figures use EARs (>1 year olds) or AIs (0-12 months olds) for specified lifestage group [Source: IoM, 2011]

Food composition tables

Food composition tables provide data on the amounts of the nutritionally important components of different foods and crops. Food composition data include energy values, and nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, dietary fibre, calcium, iron, zinc, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C.

However, different varieties of a crop may differ in terms of the relative amounts of nutrients they contain, due to genetic differences, additionally the soil and climate conditions during crop production can significantly influence the nutrient content of crops. To date, detailed data sets of the nutrient composition of different varieties grown under different conditions or in different locations are not available. To try and help account for some of the varietal difference between regions, the APHLIS nutritional postharvest loss (NPHL) tool uses data from four food composition tables to provide representative nutrient composition data for the focal crops, these are the Tanzania, West Africa, Lesotho, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) datasets described below.  Depending on the country the user has selected, the food composition data from the Tanzania, West Africa or Lesotho dataset will be automatically selected based on geographical regions. If desired, the user can instead select one of the other food composition tables or the USDA table. Additional food composition tables or datasets can be added, please contact the APHLIS team regarding this. 

Tanzania, 2008 by selecting the Tanzania, 2008 food composition table the quantity of nutrients lost postharvest will be calculated based on the composition of the selected crop as shown in this food composition table. Muhimbili University of Health and Allie Sciences, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Harvard School of Public Health, (2008). Tanzania Food Composition Tables. 272 pp. Compiled by Lukmanji, Z., Hertzmark, E., Mlingi, N., Assey, V., Ndossi, G., Fawzi., W.

West Africa, 2012 by selecting the West Africa, 2012 food composition table the quantity of nutrients lost postharvest will be calculated based on the composition of the selected crop as shown in this food composition table. FAO, INFOODS, WAHO, Bioversity International, (2012). West African Food Composition Table (2012). pp 171. http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2698b/i2698b00.pdf.

Lesotho, 2006 by selecting the Lesotho, 2006 food composition table the quantity of nutrients lost postharvest will be calculated based on the composition of the selected crop as shown in this food composition table. Lephole, M.M., Khaketla, M.C., Monoto, M.E., (2006). Lesotho Food Composition Table. 1st edition. 127pp.

USDA, 2018 by selecting the USDA, 2018 food composition table the quantity of nutrients lost postharvest will be calculated based on the composition of the selected crop as shown in this food composition table. USDA, (2018). National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Legacy April 2018 Software v.3.9.4.4 2018-07-18