FOOD PRESERVATION : HOW TO PREVENT POST HARVEST LOSSES AND ENSURE FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY.

  Nigerian entrepreneur offers solution to post harvest losses. As a vegetable farmer himself, Ikegwuonu has first-hand experience of the huge post-harvest losses incurred because of a lack of cold storage.

In Nigeria, it is estimated about 60% of smallholder farmers’ fruits and vegetables spoil due to inadequate storage and agro-processing facilities. This idea can be extended by having a mobile cooling truck,from farm to markets.

The post harvest losses can be curbed by using solar dryers   a form of preservation and also extend shelf-life of produce.

 These cold hubs can also come in handy in the meat industry. Butchers that have left over beef  use cold rooms, but introducing a solar store  will save cost and ensure the cold chain is maintained.
 

Preservation and processing is a bullet proof method to curb waste and extend shelf-life of produce.

 Thinking of investing in the agricultural sector? then think along these lines, cold hub chains, cooling trucks, vans. The profitability will  increase if this venture is mobile, trucks collecting from designated points for onward delivery to the cold box or store.

Ikegwuonu is addressing this challenge with Cold Hubs – a solar-powered walk-in cold-room solution aimed at farmers, retailers, and wholesalers.

The cold rooms are installed at major food production and consumption centers, such as markets and farms.

Vegetables irrigated with treated waste water expose consumers to drugs.

A new study by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center shows that eating vegetables and fruits grown in soils irrigated with reclaimed waste water exposes consumers to minute quantities of carbamazepine, an anti-epileptic drug commonly detected in waste water effluents. Fresh water scarcity worldwide has led to increased use of reclaimed waste water, as an alternative source for crop irrigation. But the abundance of pharmaceuticals in treated effluents has raised concerns over the potential exposure for consumers to drug contaminants via treated waste water. The study is the first to directly address exposure to such pharmaceutical contaminants in healthy humans. It was recently published in Environmental Science and Technology. "In a randomized controlled trial we have demonstrated that healthy individuals consuming reclaimed wastewater-irrigated produce excreted carbamazepine and its metabolites in their urine, while subjects consuming fresh water-irrigated produce excreted undetectable or significantly lower levels of carbamazepine," said Prof. Ora Paltiel, Director of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, who led the research. The study followed 34 men and women divided into two groups. The first group was given reclaimed wastewater-irrigated produce for the first week, and freshwater-irrigated vegetables in the following week. The second group consumed the produce in reverse order. The volunteers consumed the produce, which included tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce, according to their normal diet and drank bottled water throughout the study to neutralize water contamination. The researchers measured carbamazepine levels in the fresh produce and in the participants' urine. To begin with, the urinary levels of carbamazepine differed in their quantifiable concentration, with some participants having undetectable levels. Following seven days of consuming reclaimed water-irrigated produce, all members of the first group exhibited quantifiable levels of carbamazepine, while in the second group the distribution remained unchanged from baseline. Levels of carbamazepine excretion were markedly higher in the first group versus the second. It is evident that those who consume produce grown in soil irrigated with treated waste water increase their exposure to the drug. Though the levels detected were much lower than in patients who consume the drug, it is important to assess the exposure in commercially available produce. Materials from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

VETERINARY MEDICINE: GARDEN RICE'ODLES WITH FISH

VETERINARY MEDICINE: GARDEN RICE'ODLES WITH FISH . The recent rise in contamination of dog food has led to numerous recalls causing many dog owners to look for alternatives.The recalls include wet foods,kibble and even certain treats.The alternative now is home cooking,and the use of fruits ,vegetables as treats. Home cooking involves the use of wholesome food stuff,mixed in adequate proportions to produce a balanced meal.When the nutritional requirements are met ,there is no need for supplements. VETERINARY MEDICINE: GARDEN RICE'ODLES WITH FISH. Home cooking can actually save you money because of the method of preparation,it adds a long of variety to the diet,adding color and increasing the nutrient value.The use of preservatives are restricted in home cooking which is a major advantage,as the dogs are exposed to natural food stuff. The various feed stuff has been highlighted in previous post, today we are discussing GARDEN RICE'ODLES WITH fish. This meal can be made with meat,chicken or liver depending on your preference.When giving dogs fish, its worthy to note that it must be deboned thoroughly. Fish usually of benefit are those high in omega H3,which are of great advantage for the coat,making it glossy. GARDEN RICE'ODLES WITH FISH. INGREDIENTS RICE. NOODLES. VEGETABLES. FISH. VETERINARY MEDICINE: DOG FOOD RECIPE. PREPARATION. Wash rice and cook in fish broth or cook normally. wash and dice vegetable,then boil until tender or you can steam it. cook the noodle. debone fish,wash and set aside.fish could be boiled or roasted. Add the noodles to rice then mix with diced vegetables then finish off by pouring the fish in the mixture and stiring all together.