Initiatives are being launched in Morocco, Colombia and West Africa with the common goal of facilitating the production or processing of quality food, even in isolated areas. facilitate the production or transformation of quality food products, even in isolated areas. The method is also important: innovations are developed in consultation with local stakeholders; They are designed to be manufactured, used and even repaired with the resources available on the site.
In Colombia, cutting-edge technologies for fruit processing
Andean blackberry, acai, coconut… Colombia is full of fruits, but many have difficulties transporting them to big cities. “In defaults, after eight hours by truck to Medellín, we are approaching 40% loss”describes Fabrice Vaillant, researcher at the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).
In collaboration with Agrosavia, the National Research Institute on Agriculture, Food and Environment (Inrae), the French organization is implementing three innovative processing technologies: microfiltration for cold sanitized juices, “instant relaxation” for pasteurized fruit purees and “ vacuum drying. “fry” to obtain French fries with less fat than usual.
“Offering quality products on a small scale is essential, insists Fabrice Vaillant. These 100,000 euro production lines can be operated by two or three people, without special training. » This rural agribusiness, although technological, is being tested in four producer associations, which monitor in particular the interest of customers, both individuals and canteens, restaurants or hotels. If the experience is conclusive, other groups should equip themselves.
In Moroccan oases, water with less contaminated water
Hotels are multiplying in the oases of Morocco, but they cannot connect to health networks. “Their wastewater contaminates watercourses and groundwater, which has an impact on irrigated agriculture in these areas”explains researcher Ehssan El-Meknassi. To identify relevant solutions, the Massire project, supported by CIRAD and several institutions in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, launched a consultation among local stakeholders.
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