A professor specializing in Postharvest Engineering, Energy Studies, and Environmental Management at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ademola Aremu, has urged greater funding for postharvest engineering, calling it an economical approach to minimizing food waste, boosting food supply, and enhancing food security in Nigeria.
He placed the call during the delivery of the 618th inauguration speech for the University of Ibadan on behalf of the Faculty of Technology.
The seminar was entitled, "Yet another issue: crops, crops all around, yet minimal food available at the table: The challenges faced by a postharvest engineer."
He further emphasized the importance of renewable energy, notably solar power, in minimizing post-harvest losses via methods such as solar cooking, solar dehydration, and solar-run storage solutions designed to maintain agricultural products, mainly in remote areas where access to electrical power is restricted.
The Don emphasized that decreasing post-harvest losses could enhance food accessibility, boost farmers' earnings, lower food costs, cut down on ecological waste, and play a major role in reaching sustainable development goals and ensuring national food safety.
He supported greater governmental funding for rural development, such as roads, refrigerated supply chains, storage solutions, and clean energy innovations, along with strategies that encourage agricultural processing, enhancing product worth, and digital tools offering farmers up-to-date marketplace data.
The professor urged increased cooperation between governments, global development allies, academic institutions, research centers, farmers, and the business community to create and market innovations aimed at minimizing food waste throughout the farming supply network.
He further suggested implementing mandatory classes about postharvest food waste in universities, setting up specialized centers focused on postharvest research, and increasing outreach programs to make sure scientific discoveries lead to real-world benefits for agricultural producers.
Professor Aremu emphasized once again that funding for postharvest engineering continues to be among the most efficient methods to address starvation, enhance family food safety, and guarantee that agricultural output arrives at consumers instead of being wasted throughout the supply process.
This lecture marked the 15th event in the lineup for the 2025-2026 academic year.