Harnessing postharvest innovation for indigenous crops to advance nutrition and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: a review
1. School of Agriculture and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
2. Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, School of Agricultural Science, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa
Abstract
Postharvest losses represent a major constraint to food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for indigenous crops that contribute to climate adaptation, dietary diversity, and local livelihoods. Despite their nutritional richness and ecological resilience, these crops remain highly vulnerable to postharvest deterioration, leading to micronutrient degradation, food safety risks, and reduced availability within seasonal food systems. This review synthesises multidisciplinary evidence on postharvest management of indigenous crops and examines how crop physiology, preservation technologies, and systemic barriers interact to shape nutrition and food system outcomes. Drawing on a crop-differentiated analytical framework, the review identifies four dominant functional postharvest patterns across indigenous crop systems, including high-respiration leafy vegetables, tree-derived dry powder systems, nutraceutical leaf products, and storage-dependent indigenous legumes. Across these patterns, the analysis evaluates both emerging technologies, including bio-preservation, digital monitoring systems, and traceability tools, and indigenous low-cost preservation practices. Structural constraints limiting innovation and scaling are also examined, including infrastructural deficits, weak institutional coordination, market fragmentation, and gender inequalities across value chains. To address these challenges, the review proposes a four-pillar roadmap centred on policy realignment, inclusive and gender-responsive financing, locally co-designed technologies, and strengthened governance and monitoring systems. By integrating postharvest science with nutrition and food system perspectives, this study highlights how targeted investment in postharvest innovation can unlock the potential of indigenous crops to support climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Highlights
Indigenous crops offer climate resilience and high nutritional value but remain undervalued in policy and poorly served by postharvest systems.
Postharvest losses up to 50% undermine food security, degrade micronutrients, and disproportionately affect women and low-income consumers.
Existing postharvest technologies show promise but poorly suit the traits, perishability, affordability, and smallholder contexts of indigenous crops.
Emerging innovations offer scalable opportunities if tailored and validated.
A four-pillar roadmap was proposed to drive inclusive nutrition-sensitive postharvest innovations.
1 Introduction
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces intersecting challenges of climate volatility, food insecurity, and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly within food systems that depend heavily on indigenous crops (Stathers et al., 2020; Fanzo et al., 2021; Bechoff et al., 2022). These pressures are intensified by high postharvest losses (PHLs), which frequently range between 30% and 50% for perishable and nutrient-dense crops such as leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes (Affognon et al., 2015; Kaur and Watson, 2024). Beyond reducing food availability, these losses accelerate degradation of micronutrients essential for human health and dietary quality (Bechoff et al., 2022).
Climate change further destabilises agroecological systems in SSA through erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and shifting pest and disease dynamics (Omotoso et al., 2023). These stresses reduce crop productivity while accelerating postharvest deterioration under ambient tropical conditions through increased respiration, moisture loss, and microbial proliferation (Bisheko and Rejikumar, 2023). Within this context, indigenous crops such as African nightshade (Solanum scabrum), amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), baobab (Adansonia digitata), moringa (Moringa oleifera), and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) provide nutrient-dense foods adapted to drought, marginal soils, and heat stress (Mabhaudhi et al., 2022; Ndlovu et al., 2024; Mgwenya et al., 2025).
However, the postharvest physiology of many indigenous crops remains poorly aligned with existing storage, cooling, and handling systems. Leafy vegetables exhibit rapid moisture loss and nutrient degradation under ambient conditions, while traditional preservation practices such as open sun drying may accelerate losses of heat- and light-sensitive micronutrients (Gogo et al., 2017; Kirigia et al., 2017). Despite these vulnerabilities, postharvest systems and cold-chain investments in SSA continue to prioritise staple grains and export-oriented horticultural commodities (Stathers et al., 2020; Kaur and Watson, 2024).
Moreover, national food loss assessments rarely disaggregate losses by crop type or nutrient content, obscuring the micronutrient implications of postharvest inefficiencies in indigenous crops (Bechoff et al., 2022). The consequences extend beyond supply losses to include maternal and child nutrition risks, particularly where indigenous vegetables serve as seasonal dietary buffers for low-income households (Grabowski et al., 2024; Mdimi et al., 2024).
Although indigenous crops are increasingly recognised within climate-smart agriculture discourse, postharvest innovation tailored to their physiological traits and market realities remains limited (Mabhaudhi et al., 2022; Ndlovu et al., 2024). Existing technologies are often poorly adapted to smallholder contexts, while indigenous preservation practices remain insufficiently integrated into formal innovation systems (Bisheko and Rejikumar, 2023; Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024).
Postharvest systems represent a critical interface through which the agronomic resilience and nutritional value of indigenous crops are either preserved or irreversibly diminished. This review examines indigenous crop postharvest systems in SSA through a crop-differentiated and systems-oriented perspective. Specifically, this review (i) examines the nutritional and agronomic significance of indigenous crops, (ii) analyses postharvest loss pathways and physiological vulnerabilities, (iii) evaluates existing and emerging postharvest technologies, (iv) identifies systemic barriers limiting innovation and scaling, and (v) proposes strategic priorities for strengthening nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient postharvest systems in SSA.
2 Literature search and synthesis approach
This review adopted a narrative synthesis approach to examine the intersection of postharvest innovation, indigenous crops, nutrition, and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. Literature was identified through searches conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using combinations of keywords including “indigenous crops”, “underutilised crops”, “postharvest losses”, “African leafy vegetables”, “nutrition security”, “climate resilience”, “food systems”, and “sub-Saharan Africa”. Priority was given to peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025, with additional inclusion of foundational studies and policy-relevant reports where directly relevant to indigenous crop systems.
The review focused on literature addressing postharvest physiology, nutrient degradation, preservation technologies, food safety, value-chain constraints, and innovation systems associated with indigenous crops in SSA. Rather than applying formal systematic review protocols, the synthesis adopted a crop-differentiated analytical approach to compare postharvest vulnerabilities, preservation requirements, and innovation pathways across selected indigenous crop systems. This approach enabled integration of physiological, nutritional, technological, and socio-institutional perspectives within a unified food systems context.
3 Indigenous crops as climate-resilient nutrition assets
Indigenous crops play important roles in food and nutrition systems across SSA due to their adaptability to marginal environments, cultural relevance, and nutritional composition (Mabhaudhi et al., 2019; Fanzo et al., 2021). Compared with many conventional staples, several indigenous species demonstrate greater tolerance to drought, heat stress, and low-input conditions, making them increasingly important within climate-resilient agriculture strategies (Mabhaudhi et al., 2019; 2022; Ndlovu et al., 2024). However, agronomic resilience does not necessarily translate into postharvest stability, as many indigenous crops remain highly susceptible to physiological deterioration, moisture loss, microbial spoilage, and nutrient degradation after harvest.
Indigenous crops provide diverse micronutrients and bioactive compounds including iron, zinc, calcium, carotenoids, dietary fibre, and polyphenols, although nutritional composition varies substantially across crop types and processing conditions (Mabhaudhi et al., 2019; Elolu et al., 2023). Leafy vegetables such as amaranth and African nightshade are particularly valued for micronutrient density and rapid growth cycles, whereas baobab and moringa contribute functional compounds associated with antioxidant and nutraceutical properties. Bambara groundnut provides protein-rich reserves important for household food security in semi-arid regions. Despite these nutritional advantages, poor handling, inadequate storage, and ineffective preservation practices frequently diminish nutrient quality before consumption (Bechoff et al., 2022).
For analytical clarity, the selected indigenous crops are grouped into four functional postharvest categories based on shared physiological behaviour, storage ecology, and value-chain characteristics. This crop-differentiated classification enables comparison of postharvest vulnerabilities and technology suitability across indigenous crop categories.
3.1 High-respiration leafy vegetables
High-respiration leafy vegetables such as amaranth (A. spp.) and African nightshade (S. scabrum) exhibit rapid moisture loss and metabolic deterioration after harvest. Thin cuticular structures, elevated respiration rates, and high transpiration accelerate wilting, chlorophyll degradation, and micronutrient loss under ambient tropical conditions (Gogo et al., 2017; Kirigia et al., 2017). These vegetables are highly sensitive to delays in cooling and handling, resulting in short shelf life and rapid declines in market quality. Vitamin C and provitamin A carotenoids are particularly vulnerable to degradation during storage and open-market exposure (Adebooye, 2011; Elolu et al., 2023).
3.2 Tree-derived dry products
Baobab (A. digitata) differs substantially from leafy vegetables because deterioration occurs primarily during drying and storage rather than through rapid postharvest respiration. Baobab pulp exhibits relatively low metabolic activity after processing but remains highly sensitive to moisture reabsorption under humid conditions, increasing risks of fungal contamination and nutrient degradation (Elolu et al., 2023; Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). Product quality therefore depends heavily on controlled drying, moisture-resistant packaging, and stable storage environments.
3.3 Nutraceutical leaf products
Moringa oleifera occupies an intermediate position between fresh leafy vegetables and processed nutraceutical products. Although fresh leaves deteriorate rapidly after harvest, much of the crop’s commercial value derives from dried leaf powder used in nutritional supplements (Masih et al., 2019; Azeem et al., 2023). Preservation challenges are therefore closely linked to drying temperature, oxidative degradation, and packaging integrity. Exposure to excessive heat, oxygen, and light can significantly reduce concentrations of carotenoids, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds during processing and storage (Ntsangani, 2018; Hajaji et al., 2024).
3.4 Legume storage crops
Bambara groundnut (V. subterranea) presents a distinct postharvest profile characterised by relatively stable storage reserves but elevated sensitivity to moisture fluctuations during prolonged storage. Once adequately dried, respiration rates decline substantially. However, poor moisture control may promote fungal growth, aflatoxin contamination, and loss of seed quality (Ezin et al., 2021; Kansanga et al., 2023). Storage stability therefore depends on maintaining safe moisture thresholds, adequate aeration, and protection against humidity ingress during aggregation and storage.
Table 1 summarises the nutritional attributes, postharvest vulnerabilities, and preservation priorities of the selected indigenous crops. The crops differ substantially in morphology, perishability, and storage ecology, resulting in distinct deterioration pathways and preservation requirements.
| Crop | Key traits | Nutritional value | Postharvest challenges | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth | Fast-growing, drought-tolerant; thrives in low-input soils, various adverse conditions such as salinity, alkalinity, acidic soil, and low-nutrient soil conditions; thrives well under high temperatures, low moisture, diseases and pests | Rich in β-carotene, iron, vitamin A, C and calcium | High perishability; rapid wilting | Arendt and Zannini (2013), Mabhaudhi et al. (2019), Elolu et al. (2023), Sharma et al. (2025) |
| African Nightshade | Adaptable to marginal areas; culturally accepted in East Africa | Iron, folate, calcium and antioxidants | Leaf tearing; rapid postharvest decay | Padulosi et al. (2013), Mabhaudhi et al. (2019) |
| Cowpea (Leaves and Beans) | Heat-tolerant; dual-purpose (leaf and pulse) | Protein, zinc, iron | Fungal susceptibility in humid storage | Frison et al. (2006), Elolu et al. (2023) |
| Moringa | Survives extreme climates; grows year-round; has moderate salt-tolerance; tolerates a variety of unfavourable environmental conditions such as droughts, light frosts, high temperatures and nutrient-poor soils | Vitamin A, calcium, and potassium | Nutrient loss in sun-drying | Kennedy et al. (2003), Ntsangani (2018), Mabhaudhi et al. (2019), Azeem et al. (2023) |
| Baobab (Fruit and Leaf) | Native to arid zones; resilient to droughts | Calcium, vitamin C, and antioxidants | Long drying time; powder spoilage risk | Frison et al. (2006), Elolu et al. (2023) |
Comparative agronomic traits, nutritional attributes, and postharvest vulnerabilities of selected indigenous crops in sub-Saharan Africa.
The selected crops differ in morphology, perishability, and storage ecology, resulting in distinct postharvest vulnerabilities and nutrient loss pathways.
These crop-differentiated postharvest characteristics demonstrate that indigenous crops cannot be managed through uniform preservation approaches. Understanding the physiological and storage behaviour of different indigenous crop categories is therefore essential for evaluating postharvest technologies and innovation priorities.
4 The postharvest challenge
Postharvest losses in indigenous crops arise from interacting physiological, environmental, infrastructural, and market-related factors that accelerate deterioration between harvest and consumption. Across SSA, these losses are intensified by high ambient temperatures, inadequate cooling infrastructure, poor handling practices, and fragmented market chains (Affognon et al., 2015; Sheahan and Barrett, 2017; Stathers et al., 2020). Unlike staple grains, many indigenous crops exhibit high perishability and limited storage stability, making them particularly vulnerable to nutrient degradation and market losses under informal trading conditions.
Physiological deterioration begins immediately after harvest and progresses differently across indigenous crop categories. In high-respiration leafy vegetables such as amaranth and African nightshade, elevated transpiration and metabolic activity rapidly reduce freshness, visual quality, and marketability under ambient conditions (Gogo et al., 2017; Kirigia et al., 2017). Delays in cooling and transport accelerate wilting and chlorophyll degradation, particularly within open-market distribution channels where refrigeration is absent. By contrast, baobab pulp products exhibit relatively low metabolic deterioration after processing but remain highly sensitive to moisture reabsorption during storage, increasing risks of fungal contamination and product instability (Elolu et al., 2023; Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). Bambara groundnut losses are less associated with rapid respiration than with prolonged storage instability, fungal proliferation, and moisture-driven quality decline (Ezin et al., 2021; Kansanga et al., 2023).
Environmental exposure further intensifies postharvest deterioration across indigenous crop categories. High temperatures and fluctuating humidity accelerate microbial growth, oxidative reactions, and moisture migration during storage and marketing (Bisheko and Rejikumar, 2023). In leafy vegetables, repeated wetting and drying cycles during transport and open-air marketing increase tissue damage and shorten shelf life. In dried products such as moringa leaf powder and baobab pulp, unstable humidity conditions promote caking, nutrient degradation, and microbial contamination where moisture barriers are inadequate (Ntsangani, 2018; Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). These challenges are compounded by unreliable electricity supply, weak rural transport infrastructure, and limited access to climate-controlled storage facilities across many production regions in SSA (Affognon et al., 2015; Kansanga et al., 2023).
Handling and market practices also contribute substantially to postharvest losses. Indigenous crops are frequently marketed through informal value chains characterised by poor packaging, limited aggregation infrastructure, and prolonged exposure to ambient conditions (Stathers et al., 2020; Vilakazi et al., 2025). Leafy vegetables are commonly transported in sacks or open baskets that provide limited protection against compression and moisture loss, while drying practices for moringa and baobab often rely on uncontrolled environmental exposure that reduces product consistency and storage quality (Adebooye, 2011; Elolu et al., 2023). In Bambara groundnut, inadequate moisture monitoring and poor storage hygiene increase susceptibility to fungal contamination during prolonged storage periods (Kansanga et al., 2023).
The postharvest challenge extends beyond physical losses to include deterioration of nutritional and functional quality. Heat, oxygen exposure, and prolonged storage reduce concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds across several indigenous crops (Adebooye, 2011; Elolu et al., 2023). These quality declines are particularly important in low-income communities where indigenous crops contribute significantly to dietary diversity and seasonal micronutrient intake (Bechoff et al., 2022; Grabowski et al., 2024). Compared with leafy vegetables, where deterioration occurs rapidly after harvest, losses in baobab and Bambara groundnut are more strongly associated with storage ecology and moisture management during aggregation and storage. Figure 1 illustrates the progressive pathways through which physiological deterioration, environmental exposure, handling inefficiencies, and microbial spoilage interact across the supply chain to generate nutritional, physical, and economic losses in indigenous crops.
The diversity of deterioration pathways across indigenous crop categories demonstrates that postharvest losses in SSA cannot be addressed through uniform preservation strategies. Technologies effective for highly perishable leafy vegetables may be unsuitable for dry-storage crops such as baobab and Bambara groundnut, where moisture regulation and storage stability are more critical than rapid cooling. Understanding these differentiated deterioration patterns is therefore essential for evaluating the suitability and limitations of existing postharvest technologies.
5 Appraisal of existing postharvest technologies
Existing postharvest technologies vary substantially in their suitability for indigenous crops because deterioration pathways differ across crop categories. Technologies effective for highly perishable leafy vegetables may be ineffective or economically impractical for dry-storage crops such as baobab and Bambara groundnut. Evaluating postharvest technologies therefore requires consideration of physiological behaviour, storage ecology, infrastructure availability, and market conditions rather than uniform technology deployment. Table 2 provides a comparative appraisal of technology suitability across the selected indigenous crop categories.
| Functional pattern | Dominant postharvest risk | Priority technologies | Nutrient/Quality sensitivity | Scalability constraints | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leafy perishable plants (Amaranthus spp., Solanum scabrum) | High respiration, rapid wilting, moisture loss, carotenoid and vitamin C degradation | ZECC, evaporative cooling, rapid pre-cooling, solar tent dryers, breathable crates, and low-cost monitoring tools | Vitamin C and provitamin A are highly temperature and light-sensitive | Water dependency, capital cost, informal market dynamics, and limited cold-chain access | Gogo et al. (2017), Kirigia et al. (2017), Makule et al. (2022), Elolu et al. (2023) |
| Tree-derived dry powder systems (Baobab) | Inadequate drying, moisture reabsorption, and fungal contamination | Controlled drying, humidity-resistant packaging, quality monitoring, and traceability systems | Vitamin C degradation under humidity; microbial contamination risk | Aggregation variability, lack of standardised drying protocols, and digital infrastructure gaps | Van den Bilcke et al. (2013), Owusu-Kwarteng et al. (2024), Quayson et al. (2024) |
| Perennial leaf nutraceutical Systems (Moringa oleifera) | Oxidative degradation during drying, inconsistent processing standards | Low-temperature dehydration, oxygen- and light-barrier packaging, standardisation protocols | Bioactive compound sensitivity to heat and oxygen | Informal processing variability, limited quality certification systems | Masih et al. (2019), Onomu et al. (2023), Hajaji et al. (2024) |
| Legume storage and aggregation systems (Bambara groundnut) | Fungal growth during storage, aflatoxin risk, and moisture fluctuations | Hermetic storage bags, moisture meters, improved storage facilities, and aggregation support | Mycotoxin contamination risk under elevated moisture | Credit constraints, fragmented value chains, and weak grading systems | Mvumi and Stathers (2015), Ezin et al. (2021), Vilakazi et al. (2025) |
Crop differentiated assessment of postharvest technologies for indigenous crop systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
5.1 Preservation technologies for leafy perishables
Cooling interventions remain central to preserving leafy vegetables because deterioration progresses rapidly under ambient market conditions. Zero-energy cool chambers (ZECCs) and evaporative cooling technologies can reduce storage temperatures sufficiently to delay wilting and extend shelf life under low-resource conditions (Kitinoja and Kader, 2002; Affognon et al., 2015; Makule et al., 2022). Compared with ambient storage, these approaches improve freshness retention and reduce visible quality deterioration, although performance remains highly dependent on water availability and relative humidity. In semi-arid environments, inconsistent water access may substantially reduce cooling efficiency.
Rapid precooling immediately after harvest is particularly important for leafy vegetables because delays accelerate metabolic deterioration and visual quality decline. Forced-air and vacuum cooling technologies are highly effective under commercial conditions (Al-Amin et al., 2021), but their adoption remains limited in many SSA contexts due to infrastructure costs, energy dependence, and maintenance requirements. Compared with baobab and Bambara groundnut, where storage stability depends more heavily on moisture regulation, leafy vegetables require rapid temperature reduction within short postharvest windows.
Drying technologies provide alternative preservation pathways where cooling infrastructure is unavailable. Open sun drying remains widely practiced because of low cost and simplicity, but prolonged exposure to heat and solar radiation accelerates degradation of carotenoids, vitamin C, and chlorophyll (Adebooye, 2011; Elolu et al., 2023). Compared with open sun drying, solar tent and cabinet dryers provide greater protection against nutrient degradation and environmental contamination (Gogo et al., 2017). However, adoption remains constrained by fabrication costs, airflow management challenges, and limited technical support in rural communities.
Packaging performance also differs substantially across leafy vegetable supply chains. Ventilated plastic crates improve airflow and reduce mechanical damage relative to woven sacks and baskets commonly used in informal markets (Stathers et al., 2020). Banana leaf wrapping may reduce direct sunlight exposure and moisture loss during short-distance transport (Enyiukwu et al., 2020), although excessive enclosure can increase condensation and microbial growth where ventilation is inadequate. Packaging effectiveness therefore depends strongly on compatibility with prevailing storage and transport conditions.
Digital monitoring technologies have emerged as potential tools for reducing spoilage in highly perishable vegetables. Sensors capable of monitoring temperature, humidity, and gaseous changes may improve early detection of deterioration and support quality management during distribution (Sonwani et al., 2022; Parra-López et al., 2024). However, deployment across informal indigenous vegetable markets remains constrained by infrastructure costs, connectivity limitations, and low digital integration within smallholder value chains.
5.2 Preservation technologies for baobab products
Postharvest preservation of baobab products depends less on rapid cooling than on moisture regulation and storage stability. Controlled drying remains essential because inadequate dehydration increases water activity and elevates risks of fungal contamination and quality deterioration during storage (Elolu et al., 2023). Compared with leafy vegetables, where metabolic deterioration dominates, baobab quality decline is more strongly associated with humidity fluctuations and moisture reabsorption during aggregation and storage.
Storage performance is highly influenced by packaging integrity. Permeable packaging materials increase susceptibility to moisture ingress, caking, microbial contamination, and nutrient degradation under humid conditions. Moisture-resistant packaging therefore plays a central role in maintaining vitamin C stability and antioxidant quality in baobab products (Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). However, packaging improvements may remain economically inaccessible to many small-scale processors operating within fragmented informal markets.
Traceability technologies have been proposed to strengthen transparency and quality assurance within baobab value chains entering export and nutraceutical markets. Blockchain-enabled traceability systems and digital product identity tools may improve monitoring of handling conditions and quality verification (Casino et al., 2019; Quayson et al., 2024). Nevertheless, operational scalability remains uncertain within low-resource indigenous crop markets characterised by limited digital infrastructure and fragmented supply chains.
5.3 Preservation technologies for moringa products
Preservation of moringa products depends heavily on maintaining the stability of heat-sensitive and oxidative bioactive compounds during drying and storage. Although fresh leaves deteriorate rapidly after harvest, much of moringa’s commercial value derives from dried leaf powder used in nutritional and nutraceutical applications (Masih et al., 2019; Azeem et al., 2023). Therefore, drying functions not only as a preservation process but also as a determinant of long-term product quality.
Traditional sun drying remains common because of low operational costs, but uncontrolled exposure to heat, oxygen, and solar radiation accelerates degradation of carotenoids, chlorophyll, and antioxidant compounds (Ntsangani, 2018; Hajaji et al., 2024). Compared with open drying methods, controlled solar dryers improve nutrient retention and reduce contamination risks, although preservation outcomes remain sensitive to airflow regulation and drying duration (Elolu et al., 2023).
Packaging integrity becomes increasingly important after milling because powdered moringa products exhibit elevated susceptibility to oxidative deterioration during storage. Exposure to oxygen, light, and fluctuating humidity may substantially reduce concentrations of carotenoids and polyphenols, weakening functional quality and shelf stability (Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). Packaging technologies that reduce oxygen and light exposure therefore offer greater preservation benefits than conventional storage containers commonly used in informal processing environments.
Quality standardisation remains inconsistent across many moringa markets. Variability in drying temperatures, processing conditions, and storage duration contributes to uneven product quality and reduced consumer confidence (Onomu et al., 2023; Munialo et al., 2025). Compared with leafy vegetables, where rapid cooling is the dominant preservation priority, moringa preservation depends more strongly on optimisation of drying conditions and long-term oxidative stability.
5.4 Preservation technologies for legume storage
Bambara groundnut preservation depends primarily on moisture control and storage stability during prolonged storage periods. Once adequately dried, respiration rates decline substantially; however, inadequate moisture regulation may promote fungal proliferation, aflatoxin contamination, and declining seed quality during storage (Ezin et al., 2021; Kansanga et al., 2023). Compared with leafy vegetables, where deterioration occurs rapidly after harvest, Bambara groundnut losses emerge progressively during storage and aggregation.
Hermetic storage technologies and improved storage bags provide promising approaches for reducing oxygen availability and limiting fungal development under smallholder conditions (Li and Baributsa, 2025). These technologies have demonstrated effectiveness in grain storage and may be adaptable to Bambara groundnut where adequate drying is achieved prior to storage (Mvumi and Stathers, 2015; Stathers et al., 2020). Moisture meters further support risk reduction by enabling verification of safe storage conditions before aggregation and marketing.
Despite their technical potential, adoption of improved storage technologies remains constrained by economic and market conditions. Bambara groundnut is frequently marketed through fragmented informal channels lacking structured procurement systems, quality grading mechanisms, and reliable storage incentives (Vilakazi et al., 2025). Without aggregation infrastructure and market coordination, producers have limited incentive to invest in enhanced storage and moisture-control practices.
As summarised in Table 2, the suitability of postharvest technologies differs substantially across indigenous crop categories because deterioration pathways, storage ecology, and market conditions are not uniform. Rapid cooling is substantially more relevant for highly perishable leafy vegetables, whereas storage stability and humidity regulation dominate preservation priorities for baobab and Bambara groundnut. Similarly, preservation of moringa products depends strongly on optimisation of drying conditions and protection against oxidative degradation during storage.
The comparative performance of these technologies demonstrates that effective postharvest innovation in SSA depends not only on preservation efficiency but also on affordability, infrastructure compatibility, and alignment with local market conditions. Figure 2 illustrates how effective postharvest innovation increasingly depends on integrating advanced preservation technologies with context-adapted indigenous practices rather than relying on isolated technological interventions.
6 Innovations on the horizon
Emerging postharvest innovations are increasingly being explored to address deterioration, nutrient loss, and quality instability in indigenous crops across SSA. However, the effectiveness of these technologies depends strongly on crop characteristics, infrastructure compatibility, affordability, and integration within informal market environments. While advanced digital and bio-based technologies offer new preservation opportunities, many remain difficult to scale under low-resource conditions. Consequently, innovation pathways for indigenous crops increasingly require integration of modern preservation approaches with context-adapted indigenous practices rather than reliance on stand-alone technological solutions. Figure 2 illustrates these complementary innovation pathways across indigenous crop categories.
6.1 Bio-preservation and edible coatings
Bio-preservation approaches using plant-derived antimicrobial compounds are increasingly being investigated as low-input preservation options for indigenous crops. Extracts from moringa, neem, and baobab exhibit antimicrobial activity that may reduce microbial deterioration and extend shelf life under selected storage conditions (Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). Similarly, edible coatings formulated from cassava starch, aloe vera gel, and pectin have shown potential for reducing moisture loss and oxidative deterioration in leafy vegetables and indigenous fruits (Raghav et al., 2016).
Compared with cooling-dependent leafy vegetables, edible coatings may offer greater preservation flexibility where cold-chain infrastructure is unavailable. However, preservation performance varies substantially across crop categories because coating effectiveness depends on respiration behaviour, surface characteristics, storage humidity, and product handling conditions. In leafy vegetables, excessive coating barriers may increase condensation and microbial risk under humid storage environments.
Despite their potential, most bio-preservation studies remain concentrated under controlled experimental conditions, with relatively limited field validation across informal indigenous crop markets in SSA. Questions regarding formulation stability, consumer acceptance, coating uniformity, and scalability under smallholder conditions remain insufficiently resolved. Consequently, wider adoption will likely depend on development of low-cost formulations compatible with local storage and marketing environments.
6.2 IoT and AI-powered spoilage monitoring
Digital monitoring technologies are increasingly being explored to improve postharvest quality management in highly perishable crops. IoT-enabled sensors capable of monitoring temperature, humidity, ethylene accumulation, and gaseous changes may support earlier detection of deterioration during storage and transport (Omotayo and Aremu, 2020). Such technologies may be particularly relevant for high-respiration leafy vegetables such as amaranth and African nightshade, where deterioration progresses rapidly under ambient conditions.
AI-assisted image analysis and pattern-recognition approaches have demonstrated high accuracy in detecting spoilage symptoms under controlled environments (Sonwani et al., 2022). Compared with baobab and Bambara groundnut, where quality decline is often associated with storage ecology and moisture instability, leafy vegetables may benefit more directly from rapid deterioration detection and short-cycle monitoring systems.
However, most AI-enabled preservation studies remain concentrated in controlled experimental settings, with limited validation across informal indigenous crop value chains in SSA. Deployment remains constrained by infrastructure costs, unreliable connectivity, limited technical support, and low digital integration within smallholder markets (Parra-López et al., 2024; Munialo et al., 2025). In addition, AI models trained on conventional horticultural commodities may not transfer reliably to indigenous crops because of limited image datasets, variable morphology, and inconsistent postharvest handling conditions. Consequently, practical deployment will likely require simplified, low-cost monitoring systems adapted to local trading environments.
6.3 Blockchain traceability and digital transparency
Blockchain-based traceability systems are increasingly proposed as mechanisms for improving transparency, quality assurance, and market coordination within agricultural supply chains. In indigenous crop value chains, blockchain technologies may support traceability of product origin, handling conditions, storage environments, and quality attributes through decentralised digital records (Casino et al., 2019; Quayson et al., 2024).
Potential applications include QR-linked product verification, digital transaction histories, and smart-contract systems supporting quality-based transactions (Swan, 2015; Dorri et al., 2017; Toyoda et al., 2017). Such approaches may be particularly relevant for baobab and moringa products entering export and nutraceutical markets where traceability and quality consistency are increasingly important.
Nevertheless, blockchain applicability is likely to remain more feasible in higher-value export and nutraceutical chains than in rapid-turnover leafy vegetable markets characterised by limited digital integration and fragmented informal trade. Reliable implementation requires stable digital infrastructure, coordinated data governance, and sustained participation across supply chains, conditions that remain inconsistent across many indigenous crop markets in SSA. Consequently, blockchain technologies may provide selective value within formalising indigenous crop sectors but are unlikely to function as stand-alone solutions across informal markets.
6.4 Indigenous knowledge and low-tech innovations
Long-standing preservation practices developed across SSA continue to play important roles in indigenous crop handling and storage. Practices such as ash drying, smoking, clay pot cooling, and leaf-based wrapping remain widely used because they are accessible, low-cost, and adapted to local environmental conditions (Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). These approaches may provide practical preservation advantages where refrigeration, mechanised drying, and advanced packaging systems remain inaccessible.
Compared with highly standardised industrial preservation technologies, indigenous preservation practices often exhibit greater flexibility under low-reially depending on environmental exposure, hygiene conditions, and processing consistency. For example, uncontrolled smoking and open drying may reduce microbial deterioration while simultaneously increasing contamination risks and nutrient degradation
When combined with improved hygiene, airflow management, packaging integrity, and drying control, several indigenous preservation approaches may provide scalable low-input alternatives for selected indigenous crop categories. Clay pot cooling may remain relevant for short-term preservation of leafy vegetables, whereas improved ash drying and solar-assisted drying may support moisture management in baobab and moringa products.
While numerous preservation technologies have been proposed for indigenous crops, their effectiveness ultimately depends on alignment with crop-specific physiological behaviour and local value-chain realities. Technologies that fail to account for respiration dynamics, moisture sensitivity, or storage ecology may preserve appearance but compromise nutritional integrity or microbial safety.
The emerging innovation landscape demonstrates that postharvest technologies cannot be evaluated independently of crop physiology, infrastructure conditions, and market realities in SSA. Technologies requiring stable electricity, advanced logistics, or high digital integration may remain difficult to scale across informal indigenous crop markets, whereas low-cost preservation approaches adapted to local handling environments may offer greater near-term applicability. Figure 2 illustrates how effective postharvest innovation increasingly depends on integrating advanced preservation technologies with context-adapted indigenous practices rather than relying on isolated technological interventions.
7 Health and nutrition outcomes of postharvest losses
Postharvest losses affect indigenous crops not only by reducing marketable yield but also by weakening their contribution to diet quality, food safety, and public health in SSA. Across high-respiration leafy vegetables, tree-derived dry products, nutraceutical leaf products, and storage-dependent legumes, deterioration during handling, drying, storage, and marketing reduces micronutrient availability and contributes to seasonal food gaps (Fanzo et al., 2021; Bechoff et al., 2022). These effects operate through direct pathways, including biochemical degradation of vitamins, antioxidants, and proteins, and indirect pathways, including reduced availability, affordability, and dietary diversity (Figure 3).
7.1 Nutrient degradation and functional value
Indigenous crops provide essential micronutrients and bioactive compounds, but their nutritional contribution depends on how effectively these compounds are preserved after harvest. In leafy vegetables such as amaranth and African nightshade, vitamin C and provitamin A carotenoids are highly sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen exposure, resulting in rapid nutrient decline during ambient storage, sun drying, and open-market display (Adebooye, 2011; Gogo et al., 2017; Elolu et al., 2023). Under uncontrolled storage conditions, vitamin A and other essential micronutrients may decline substantially, depending on temperature, light exposure, and handling duration (Adebooye, 2011; Tapsoba, 2023).
Functional compounds are also vulnerable to postharvest degradation. Amaranth grain contains squalene, a triterpene associated with antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering properties (Lozano-Grande et al., 2018). In Moringa oleifera, carotenoids, polyphenols, and other antioxidant compounds degrade under uncontrolled drying and storage conditions, reducing the functional value of leaf powder products (Ntsangani, 2018; Azeem et al., 2023; Hajaji et al., 2024). In storage-dependent legumes, protein quality and micronutrient stability are influenced by moisture control and protection against fungal contamination (Ezin et al., 2021).
These losses are especially important during lean seasons, when low-income households rely more heavily on preserved vegetables, powders, and legumes to supplement staple-based diets (Grabowski et al., 2024). Thus, postharvest degradation silently erodes the dietary functionality of indigenous crops, limiting their ability to contribute to anaemia prevention, immune function, child growth, and diet diversification (Bechoff et al., 2022; Mdimi et al., 2024).
7.2 Food safety risks and public health implications
Postharvest deterioration also creates food safety risks that can undermine the health benefits of indigenous crops. In high-respiration leafy vegetables, microbial contamination is a major concern because produce is often exposed to contaminated irrigation water, unhygienic handling, open-air markets, and limited washing infrastructure. African leafy vegetables, including Amaranthus spp. and Solanum scabrum, have been reported to exceed microbial safety thresholds along informal supply chains (Elolu et al., 2023; 2025). Lack of cooling and protective packaging further increases contamination risks during transport and retail display (Kitinoja et al., 2011).
In tree-derived dry products such as baobab pulp, food safety risks are primarily linked to inadequate drying and moisture reabsorption during storage. Elevated water activity may create favourable conditions for fungal growth and mycotoxin development, particularly where packaging barriers are weak or storage environments are humid (Elolu et al., 2023; Owusu-Kwarteng et al., 2024). Similar risks occur in storage-dependent legumes such as Bambara groundnut, where poor moisture control can promote fungal contamination and aflatoxin exposure during prolonged storage (Ezin et al., 2021; Kansanga et al., 2023; Kayanda et al., 2024).
These risks are amplified in marginal production and marketing environments characterised by limited water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, inadequate storage facilities, and restricted access to energy-efficient preservation technologies (Kumar et al., 2024; Munialo et al., 2025). Consequently, postharvest food safety should be treated as a public health issue, not merely a quality-control concern.
7.3 Gendered nutrition consequences
The health consequences of postharvest losses are not evenly distributed. In many SSA contexts, women are primary producers, processors, traders, and household food managers for indigenous crops. High postharvest losses therefore reduce both women’s income opportunities and the availability of nutrient-rich foods for household consumption (Tigchelaar et al., 2022). Where preserved leafy vegetables, moringa powder, and legumes are lost or degraded, dietary diversity may decline for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and older adults.
Maternal nutrition is particularly sensitive to micronutrient availability. Losses from folate-rich crops such as Moringa oleifera and iron-rich leafy vegetables such as Amaranthus spp. may increase vulnerability to anaemia and associated adverse birth outcomes (Kayanda et al., 2024; Mdimi et al., 2024). However, women’s participation in indigenous crop production does not automatically translate into improved nutrition unless they also have access to postharvest technologies, decision-making authority, and income control (Jarman et al., 2023; Mkupete and Davalos, 2025). Gender-responsive postharvest innovation is therefore necessary to translate crop production into household nutrition gains.
7.4 Gendered nutrition dynamics
Nutrition-sensitive school feeding programmes increasingly incorporate African leafy vegetables and other indigenous crops because of their micronutrient density and local availability (Ojwang et al., 2021). However, inadequate postharvest handling can weaken these programmes by increasing spoilage, reducing nutrient retention, and elevating food safety risks. In high-moisture leafy vegetables, rapid nutrient loss during transport and storage may reduce dietary impact before consumption. In tree-derived dry products and storage-dependent legumes, inconsistent drying and storage conditions may compromise both functional quality and safety.
Integrating postharvest management into nutrition programme design is therefore essential. Without preservation strategies that protect nutrient density and microbial safety, the agronomic adaptability of indigenous crops cannot reliably translate into sustained public health gains. Figure 3 summarises these crop-differentiated pathways linking postharvest deterioration to nutrition and health outcomes in SSA.
8 Barriers to innovation and scaling
Adoption and scaling of postharvest innovations for indigenous crops in SSA remain constrained by interacting technical, institutional, economic, and social barriers. These constraints are especially important in rural and peri-urban value chains where indigenous crops are produced, processed, and marketed through informal channels. Figure 4 summarises how these barriers reinforce one another, while Table 3 links each barrier category to affected stakeholders and scaling implications.
| Barrier type | Structural description | Primary stakeholders affected | Implications for adoption and scaling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Marginalisation | Limited integration of indigenous crops within national postharvest policies, research agendas, and funding priorities, resulting in weak strategic visibility and fragmented support structures | Policymakers, research institutions, extension systems | Low innovation prioritisation, fragmented investment, weak coordination across value chains |
| Technical and Infrastructure Gaps | Inadequate access to reliable energy, crop-specific drying and storage infrastructure, and preservation technologies adapted to indigenous crop physiology | Smallholder farmers, processors, aggregators | High spoilage risk, nutrient degradation, limited technology effectiveness |
| Market Fragmentation | Predominance of informal and volatile markets characterised by weak aggregation, limited grading standards, and unstable buyer commitments | Farmers, SMEs, aggregators, traders | Price instability, weak incentives for quality investment, constrained commercial scalability |
| Gendered and Social Constraints | Unequal access to land, finance, training, and decision-making platforms; cultural stigmatisation reducing demand and youth engagement | Women farmers, women-led enterprises, informal actors, youth entrepreneurs | Reduced adoption rates, inequitable benefit distribution, limited innovation diffusion |
| Extension and Knowledge Gaps | Insufficient crop-specific postharvest training, limited nutrition-sensitive handling protocols, and weak dissemination of preservation innovations | Farmers, extension agents, local institutions | Persistent handling inefficiencies, slow uptake of innovations, sustained postharvest losses |
Systemic barriers, affected stakeholders, and scaling implications for postharvest innovation across indigenous crop systems in SSA.
8.1 Technical and infrastructure barriers
Inadequate postharvest infrastructure remains a central obstacle to preserving the quality and nutritional value of indigenous crops. Limited access to reliable energy, cold-chain facilities, and climate-resilient storage technologies accelerates spoilage and nutrient degradation, particularly in high-respiration leafy vegetables such as amaranth and African nightshade (Maseko et al., 2017). Although low-cost technologies such as zero-energy cool chambers and solar dryers have shown potential, broader adoption is constrained by limited fabrication capacity, inconsistent water availability, maintenance requirements, and weak technical support (Maseko et al., 2017; Kansanga et al., 2023).
Infrastructure gaps affect crops differently. Leafy vegetables require rapid cooling, hygienic handling, and breathable packaging soon after harvest, whereas baobab and Bambara groundnut require controlled drying, aggregation infrastructure, and moisture-stable storage. Technologies designed for staple grains or export-oriented horticultural commodities therefore often misalign with the physiological requirements of indigenous crops (Stathers et al., 2020; Kaur and Watson, 2024). The result is not only poor technology performance but also avoidable nutrient degradation, reduced marketability, and weak incentives for adoption.
8.2 Digital and institutional barriers
Digital tools can support quality monitoring, traceability, storage management, and market coordination, but indigenous crop value chains remain poorly integrated into digital agricultural infrastructure. Many smallholder producers and informal traders lack access to mobile applications, low-cost sensors, digital advisory platforms, and data systems that could support postharvest decision-making (Parra-López et al., 2024). These constraints are reinforced by low digital literacy, limited rural connectivity, and inadequate training infrastructure.
Institutional barriers further weaken digital and postharvest innovation. Agricultural policies in many SSA countries continue to prioritise production over postharvest management, particularly for underutilised crops. As a result, limited policy support exists for incorporating indigenous crops into climate-resilient value chains, traceability systems, and market intelligence platforms (Fertő and Bojnec, 2025; Vilakazi et al., 2025). Extension services also remain largely production-focused, reducing opportunities to train farmers and traders in crop-specific postharvest handling, hygiene, drying control, and nutrient preservation practices (Maseko et al., 2017; Kansanga et al., 2023). The usefulness of digital tools differs across crop categories. Leafy vegetable value chains may benefit most from rapid quality signalling and temperature coordination, whereas baobab and Bambara groundnut require stronger traceability, moisture compliance, and grading systems. Without institutional support and locally relevant data infrastructure, digital innovations risk remaining disconnected from the realities of indigenous crop markets.
8.3 Economic and market barriers
Economic constraints strongly limit adoption of postharvest innovations. Many smallholder farmers and processors cannot afford solar dryers, moisture meters, cold storage units, improved packaging, or quality monitoring tools. Financial exclusion is especially acute among women and youth, who often face restricted access to credit, collateral, savings mechanisms, and innovation grants (Kansanga et al., 2023; Fertő and Bojnec, 2025; Vilakazi et al., 2025).
Market informality further weakens incentives to invest in postharvest quality. Indigenous crops are commonly traded through fragmented channels without price guarantees, grading standards, structured procurement, or stable buyer commitments (Maseko et al., 2017; Kansanga et al., 2023; Parra-López et al., 2024). In leafy vegetable markets, daily perishability often forces rapid sales at low margins. For baobab and Bambara groundnut, seasonal aggregation creates different risks, including quality variability, weak grading, and uncertain price premiums for improved handling.
Economic fragility also interacts with climate stress. Heatwaves, delayed transport, and inadequate storage can intensify postharvest losses, while households experiencing high postharvest losses are more likely to face moderate or severe food insecurity (Kansanga et al., 2023). Scaling postharvest innovation therefore requires not only technology access but also value-chain formalisation, quality-based incentives, and finance models suited to smallholder conditions.
8.4 Social and gendered constraints
Social norms and gendered inequalities shape who can access, use, and benefit from postharvest innovations. Women are often primary cultivators, processors, traders, and household food managers for indigenous crops, yet they remain underrepresented in formal innovation platforms and decision-making structures (Fertő and Bojnec, 2025; Vilakazi et al., 2025). Unequal access to land, finance, training, and producer organisations limits their ability to invest in postharvest assets or influence technology design.
Time poverty also affects technology adoption. Responsibilities related to childcare, eldercare, food preparation, and informal trading reduce women’s availability for training, co-design activities, and cooperative participation. In addition, technologies that are labour-intensive, difficult to maintain, or poorly adapted to informal trading environments may reinforce rather than reduce women’s workload. Cultural perceptions also influence scaling. Indigenous crops are sometimes stigmatised as “poverty foods,” reducing youth interest, consumer demand, and private-sector investment despite their nutritional value (Maseko et al., 2017). These constraints are visible in leafy vegetable chains, where women dominate harvesting, bundling, and informal retail, and in moringa processing, where women-led drying and milling operations often lack packaging resources, certification, and market-recognised quality signals. Without gender-responsive design and inclusive governance, postharvest innovations may reproduce the inequalities they seek to address (Kansanga et al., 2023; Parra-López et al., 2024).
9 A roadmap for postharvest innovation in indigenous food value chains
Addressing postharvest losses in indigenous crops requires coordinated action across policy, finance, research, and governance. The preceding sections show that crop-specific physiological vulnerabilities interact with infrastructural, market, institutional, and gendered constraints. Effective innovation therefore cannot depend on isolated technologies alone. It must align preservation strategies with the realities of indigenous crop value chains in SSA, including informal markets, smallholder production, limited infrastructure, and gendered labour patterns. Figure 5 presents a four-pillar roadmap for strengthening postharvest innovation across these value chains.
9.1 Pillar 1: policy and institutional realignment
Strengthening indigenous crop postharvest management requires explicit recognition within national agricultural, nutrition, climate adaptation, and food loss reduction policies. Indigenous crops remain weakly represented in formal postharvest investment agendas, despite their relevance to climate resilience and nutrition-sensitive agriculture (Boadi, 2024; Lisa et al., 2024). This policy gap limits investment in storage, processing, quality assurance, and market infrastructure suited to crops such as amaranth, African nightshade, baobab, moringa, and Bambara groundnut.
Policy realignment should prioritise crop-specific postharvest needs rather than treating indigenous crops as a single category. High-respiration leafy vegetables require support for rapid cooling, hygienic handling, and short-chain distribution. Baobab and Bambara groundnut require standards for drying moisture control, aggregation, and storage. Moringa requires processing and packaging standards to protect bioactive compounds. Cross-sectoral coordination among agriculture, health, education, trade, and gender institutions can improve the integration of indigenous crops into school feeding programmes, maternal nutrition initiatives, climate adaptation plans, and food safety regulations (Maseko et al., 2017; Emilie et al., 2024). Multi-stakeholder platforms involving farmer organisations, research institutions, extension services, civil society, and private actors can further support coordinated investment and implementation (Domínguez-Rodríguez et al., 2021; Fertő and Bojnec, 2025).
9.2 Pillar 2: inclusive and gender-responsive financing
Finance is a major determinant of whether postharvest innovations move beyond pilot demonstrations into routine use. Women and youth play central roles in indigenous crop production, processing, and informal marketing, yet they often face limited access to credit, collateral, savings mechanisms, and innovation grants (Adegbite and Machethe, 2020; Fertő and Bojnec, 2025). This financial exclusion restricts adoption of basic preservation tools such as solar dryers, cooling facilities, moisture meters, improved packaging, and storage units.
Financing instruments should reflect the scale and risk profile of indigenous crop value chains. Microgrants, catalytic capital, cooperative-based lending, and risk-sharing mechanisms can support decentralised postharvest enterprises and reduce entry barriers for smallholders and processors (Kansanga et al., 2023; Onomu et al., 2023). Blended finance models involving public agencies, donors, and private actors may also support local fabrication, maintenance, and distribution of postharvest technologies (Hezekiah et al., 2024). To avoid reinforcing existing inequalities, financing should be paired with technical training, flexible repayment structures, and gender-disaggregated monitoring. In practical terms, finance should not only fund technologies but also strengthen the conditions that make adoption viable.
9.3 Pillar 3: localised research and technology co-design
Postharvest technologies designed for export horticulture or staple grains often misalign with the physiological behaviour and market realities of indigenous crops. Localised research and co-design are therefore necessary to improve usability, affordability, and adoption. High-respiration leafy vegetables require low-cost cooling, breathable packaging, and hygienic handling solutions. Baobab and Bambara groundnut require drying protocols, moisture verification, and storage practices adapted to aggregation points. Moringa requires controlled drying and packaging approaches that protect bioactive compounds during storage.
Participatory research can integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific validation to produce preservation approaches that are technically sound and socially acceptable (Parra-López et al., 2024). Collaboration among research institutions, farmer cooperatives, small and medium-sized enterprises, processors, and extension services can support the development of nutrient-preserving handling protocols, low-cost preservation kits, locally adapted packaging, and decision-support tools tailored to specific agroecological conditions (Hezekiah et al., 2024). Such collaboration is particularly important because adoption depends not only on technical performance, but also on labour requirements, cultural acceptability, maintenance demands, and market incentives.
9.4 Pillar 4: governance, metrics, and accountability
Postharvest innovation for indigenous crops requires governance mechanisms that track whether interventions reduce losses, preserve nutrients, improve food safety, and benefit the actors most involved in production and handling. Many national strategies still lack indicators that connect postharvest performance with nutrition, gender equity, and climate adaptation outcomes (Boadi, 2024). Without such metrics, successful pilot interventions may remain isolated, while ineffective practices continue without correction.
Monitoring should include crop-specific loss estimates, nutrient retention indicators, gender-disaggregated access to technologies, food safety outcomes, and market-level measures such as grading, price premiums, and buyer reliability. Health ministries can align preservation practices with food-based dietary guidelines, while education institutions can apply quality standards in school feeding procurement (Siankwilimba et al., 2023; Fertő and Bojnec, 2025). Participatory monitoring tools, innovation dashboards, and real-time spoilage tracking may improve learning and accountability where data infrastructure is available (Nadia et al., 2025). However, these tools must remain proportionate to local capacity; simple paper-based, mobile, or cooperative-level monitoring may be more realistic than advanced digital platforms in many informal markets.
Together, these four pillars provide a coordinated pathway for strengthening postharvest innovation in indigenous crop value chains. Policy recognition creates legitimacy, finance enables adoption, localised research improves technical fit, and governance supports accountability. Fragmented implementation risks reproducing the barriers outlined in Figure 4, while coordinated action can help convert the agronomic resilience of indigenous crops into sustained gains in nutrition, food safety, income stability, and climate adaptation across SSA.
10 Conclusion
Indigenous crops in sub-Saharan Africa occupy a critical position at the intersection of climate resilience, nutrition security, and local food economies. However, their value is often diminished after harvest through physiological deterioration, nutrient degradation, microbial contamination, and weak market coordination. This review shows that postharvest losses in indigenous crops are not uniform. High-respiration leafy vegetables, tree-derived dry products, nutraceutical leaf products, and storage-dependent legumes each follow distinct deterioration pathways and therefore require differentiated preservation strategies.
A central insight of this review is that postharvest management determines whether the agronomic resilience and nutritional density of indigenous crops translate into measurable food and health benefits. Technologies that are effective for one crop category may be unsuitable for another unless they align with crop physiology, storage ecology, affordability, infrastructure, and local market conditions. Likewise, innovation cannot depend on technology alone. Policy recognition, inclusive financing, localised research, gender-responsive design, and accountable governance are necessary to support adoption and scaling.
Future research should prioritise quantitative measurement of nutrient retention, food safety risks, and postharvest loss reduction across indigenous crop categories under real handling and storage conditions. Greater attention is also needed to the economic feasibility, gender implications, and long-term adoption of low-cost preservation technologies in smallholder and informal market settings. The future contribution of indigenous crops to resilient African food systems will depend not only on their ability to withstand climatic stress in the field, but on how effectively postharvest systems preserve their nutritional value, protect food safety, and enable equitable participation across value chains.
Statements
OO: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. AM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. OF: Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing.
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The author(s) declared that financial support was not received for this work and/or its publication.
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Summary
bio-preservation, climate resilience, food system resilience, nutrition security, postharvest loss
Olarewaju OO, Mditshwa A and Fajinmi OO (2026) Harnessing postharvest innovation for indigenous crops to advance nutrition and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: a review. Front. Food Sci. Technol. 6:1745256. doi: 10.3389/frfst.2026.1745256
Nomali Ngobese, North-West University, South Africa
Julieta Domínguez-Soberanes, Julieta Domínguez Soberanes, Mexico
Jhon Hardy Purba, Universitas Panji Sakti, Indonesia
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