UK university coordinates new sustainable horticulture initiative in India
An international group of experts is working with the state government of Haryana in India to establish a new Centre of Excellence that will create a blueprint to help Indian horticulture farmers get more of their produce to market.
Perishability, short marketable life, and the need to acquire advanced skills and best in class equipment – including cold-chain facilities – by which farmers face difficulty in ensuring the safety and quality of marketable produce, as well as reducing quantity losses throughout the supply chain. Backed by state government funding, the new Haryana-UK Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management & Cold-Chain (CoE-SPMCC) will create a comprehensive national framework focused on sustainable practices.
A Haryana government spokesperson noted: "The government of Haryana is pleased to collaborate with the University of Birmingham led consortium of universities, UK in providing technical support in establishing the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management & Cold-Chain.
“This partnership will enhance our agricultural infrastructure, promote sustainable practices, and ensure that our farmers benefit from the latest innovations in post-harvest technology and cold-chain management, especially in crops related to horticulture."
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The UK technical assistance is funded by the government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and University of Birmingham experts are leading a consortium of British and international universities – including Heriot-Watt University, Cranfield University and London South Bank University, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help develop the Centre in Panchkula, Haryana.
Consortium leader Toby Peters, Professor of Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham, said: “Food loss is significant to the state and directly impacts farmers, as horticultural produce serves as their primary source of income - every year some 156 million USD (Rs. 13 billion) income is lost to both farmers and the state.
“Sustainable cold-chains are, therefore, critical infrastructure, vital for a well-functioning society and economy. They underpin access to safe and nutritious food and health, as well as the ability to drive economic growth, and deliver socioeconomic development.
"Our consortium brings together a wealth of expertise from various university partners, each contributing a unique set of skills and knowledge. Together we form a robust and interdisciplinary team poised to address the challenges ahead and lead the way in developing sustainable PHM and cold-chain solutions.”
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The Centre will develop a comprehensive national framework focused on sustainable cold-chain and PHM practices, guidelines, and protocols. The framework will focus on curbing horticultural produce wastage and assessing present and future needs for a sustainable cold-chain by:
Delivering innovative research and cold-chain design, including energy transition;
Developing successful business models;
Incubating tech start-ups and supporting the development of cold-chain;
Demonstrating the best available technology; and
Raising awareness of sustainable PHM among Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
The consortium will lead the design and establishment of the CoE-SPMCC, with the University of Birmingham leading on resilient systems of system approaches to energy and cooling, energy transitions and energy storage, and understanding the social impacts.