Storage Solutions to

Improve Food Security for

Small Farmers

Floyd Dowell, Ph.D.USDA ARS

Center for Grain and Animal Health Research

Manhattan, Kansas

Post-Harvest Losses

• 10-33% of grain is lost to insects after harvest in developing countries

Post-Harvest Losses

• 10-33% of grain is lost to insects after harvest in developing countries.

• Most grain storage research addresses large commercial storage structures, where losses are usually very low.

Post-Harvest Losses

• 10-33% of grain is lost to insects after harvest in developing countries.• Most grain storage research addresses large commercial storage structures where losses are low.• HOWEVER, many small farmers store grain at home in India and Africa, where losses are much higher

Post-Harvest Losses

• 10-33% of grain is lost to insects after harvest in developing countries.• Most grain storage research addresses large commercial storage structures.• HOWEVER, many small farmers store grain at home in India and Africa.• Most funding agencies overlook on-farm storage needs.

• But is there really anything wrong with a little insect damage? Aren’t insects just “protein”?

Effect of Insect Damage on Grain Quality

• Total protein increases as starch decreases• Thus insects are likely converting starch to protein• But . . . .

Effect of Insect Damage on Grain Quality

• Jood et al (Jaryana Ag. University) showed that although Total PC increase, the True PC decreases!

Effect of Insect Damage on Grain Quality

• Jood et al also showed that digestibility and weight gain decrease significantly with infestation.

Effect of Insect Damage on Grain Quality

• Besides a loss in nutrients, there is an obvious loss in grain weight.

Current Types of Insect Control

Chemical dusts (Actellic Super, Actellic Golden Dust, Shumba Super, Stocal Super, Spinosad)

Chemical gas (Phostoxin, Methyl Bromide)

Diatomacious earths (Protect-It, PyriSec, and DEA-P, Dryacide )

Oxygen-free storage using bags such as those provided by GrainPro, or triple bagging promoted in West Africa.

Problems with some available methods:

• Counterfeits!

Problems with some available methods:

• Rodents and insects chewing through commercial oxygen-free bags.

Rats!

What Alternatives are Available for Small Farmers with Few Resources?

Treated bednets Repellents Controlled atmosphere

What Alternatives are Available for Small Farmers with Few Resources?

Treated bednets

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Insecticide Treated Seed Bags -

• Similar technology as used in insecticide-treated bednets for malaria control.• After 3 weeks, there were no live insects in treated bags.• Untreated bags had significant damage.

Control (left) and Treated Bag (right)

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Insecticide Treated Seed Bags -

• Vestergaard-Frandsen is working on a treated seed bag appropriate for developing countries.• May possibly provide stored grain pest and mosquito control with one bag?

Potential Test Site

What Alternatives are Available for Small Farmers with Few Resources?

Treated bednets Repellents

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Food-Safe Repellent -

• Same technology as used for repelling flies, mosquitoes, and other disease vectors.

• No insect damage at a 1% w/w application rate.

Test Cage

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Food-Safe Repellent -

• We are working with the CDC and Stratacor to field test this repellent in grain in Kenya.

What Alternatives are Available for Small Farmers with Few Resources?

Treated bednets Repellents Controlled atmosphere

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Controlled Atmosphere Storage -

• Composting material can be used to produce carbon dioxide that can then be used to control insects in storage.

CO2CO2

Appropriate Technologies to Control Insects

- Controlled Atmosphere Storage -

• Composting material can be used to produce carbon dioxide that can then be used to control insects in storage.

Extracted CO2 from Composting Material

Controlled Atmosphere Storage

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Controlled Atmosphere Storage -

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects - Controlled Atmosphere Storage -

• We showed that as oxygen content decreases and carbon dioxide content increases, damage by insects decreases.

Appropriate Alternatives to Control Insects

In summary, the following low-cost solutions may soon be available to help improve food security for small farmers.

• Treated seed bags• Repellents• Controlled atmosphere storage

All have a very low cost