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Uganda's fruit crisis: Can science slow spoilage?

07:03

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April 27, 2026

Huge amounts of fruit and vegetables in Uganda rot before reaching buyers. Can innovations such as a sachet that extends shelf life slow down food loss?

Uganda wastes staggering amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Such losses are a big food security issue here and elsewhere in Africa. The waste is not just heartbreaking for producers and consumers. It is also creates methane gas, a big driver of climate change, and poses a danger to public health. To help prevent food loss, Makerere University in the capital Kampala is training students in food processing and preservation. And a tiny innovation, also spawned at the university, might have an even bigger impact.  Inventor Gift Arnold Mugisha's nano-sachets could help extend the shelf life of fresh, perishable produce by weeks. He is hoping to scale up find distribution across the country's food industry. 

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