Target-Measure-Act: Less Food Loss and Waste in Dutch table grape supply chains

The growing recognition of the economic, social, and environmental consequences of Food Loss and Waste (FLW) has spurred a call to action among and in cooperation between stakeholders in the food system. The United Nations (through SDG 12.3) and the EU (through the Waste Framework Directive and the CSRD reporting directive) fully support reducing FLW. However, the question remains: Where should your company begin? This factsheet serves as a steppingstone in embracing the Target-Measure-Act approach. The information and statistics presented in this factsheet aim to empower you to target FLW in your food supply chain and formulate your objectives accordingly.

This factsheet presents the table grape supply chain, the FLW percentages in the main supply chain stages, its destinations and impacts, and the causes and possible interventions to support FLW reduction through the Target-Measure-Act approach.

Read the full grapes product factsheet

Table grape market

The Netherlands produces mainly wine grapes, with a total of 173 hectares of land allocated to their production. The production of table grapes is negligible. However, the Netherlands does import a large volume of table grapes every year (Figure 1). Imports of table grapes to the Netherlands come mainly from the continents of Africa (41% of total import volume), South-America (32%), Asia (15%) and Europe (13%).

Figure 1: Import and export of table grapes in the Netherlands (2021).

The main countries of origin include South Africa, India, Peru and Chile. A significant portion – 99% of the total imported volume – is exported to neighbouring countries, especially within the European Union. In comparison, the Netherlands imported 1.1 kilotons of other types of grapes, such as wine grapes, with a total value of 1.8 million euros, and exported 8.4 kilotons of such grapes with a total value of 23.7 million euros.

Table grapes are among the top 5 fruits and vegetables in terms of their import value in the Netherlands, accounting for around 9% of the total import value of fruits and vegetables. In the context of global trade, the Netherlands accounts for 8% of the total volume of imported table grapes worldwide and 9% of their total value. These substantial import and export volumes come with potentially significant Loss and Waste along the supply chain, underscoring the importance of addressing FLW.

FLW in the international grape supply chain

The table grape supply chain consists of multiple actors that all add value to the product, for example by producing the grapes, transporting, or providing storage. Every table grape supply chain link differs, as individual companies are involved, who conduct different activities at their entity. In general, actors in the international table grape supply chain include growers, exporters, importers and retailers. However, also different types of intermediaries can be active in the supply chain in the exporting countries, and actors can also perform multiple functions, such as being grower and exporter.

Table 1: Sample size, and FLW percentage + standard deviation for table grapes.

*This number includes default data, as provided by SIFAV.

The FLW data collection process consisted of an inventory with quantitative templates with questions on produced or processed volumes and losses, its causes and destinations of lost products. The templates were distributed among SIFAV members (importers and retailers), who in turn shared them with their upstream partners. Partners included were growers, exporters and importers. Data collected at the primary production stage include the activities production and harvesting of table grapes, and post-harvest activities on-farm such as, sorting and packing. Activities at the export stage include all activities performed after farm gate, prior to shipment, which can include for example washing, packing, storage and transport. The import stage include all activities from overseas transport, arrival until delivery to the retail distribution centre and can include sorting, re-packing and delivering. Activities in the retail stage include the storage, transport and sales at the distribution centres and retail outlets. Table 1 shows the average FLW percentages per supply chain stage collection by SIFAV members, and the average FLW percentages found in literature. The table grape production and export countries included in the sample of SIFAV were Spain, South Africa, and India.

The reported SIFAV data was not completely in line with the data reported in literature. Especially at the primary production stage, the reported FLW data in Table 1 (2.1%) was lower compared to literature (9.5%). This difference can probably be explained by the difficulty of estimating FLW in the primary production stage. Validating the data provided by the export stage was challenging, as the activities conducted are not set in stone. For its literature data, we selected reported data on packing houses, external cold storage facilities and the ‘between intake and export’ stage. The data reported in the literature was scattered, like the SIFAV data. Given the spread in the data, the SIFAV data was in line with the average data reported in literature (7.5%).

For import and retail, the reported data was in line with the data reported in the literature. In the import stage more reliable data is available, as these companies have data on purchasing and selling in their systems. The reported FLW data in literature was limited, as not many studies are available. Data on FLW for table grapes at the import stage could only be found in Blankenberg et al. (2021), who used simulations and reported 4.8% for 2017 and 1.9% for 2018, and Louw (2017), who reported 2.2% FLW between import and retail depots. The reported retail data for table grapes was compared with literature date from retail stage studies in Egypt, Sweden (2x), and the simulated data in South Africa. The average rate of FLW at the retail stage was estimated at 3.0%, in line with the reported data at the retail stage by SIFAV.

Destinations of FLW in the grape supply chain

Table grapes not suitable for human consumption are rejected, become part of the FLW side stream, and need a new destination other than human consumption. Figure 2 shows the destinations of rejected table grapes as reported in the SIFAV inventory. Table grapes side streams are not used as animal feed or for fine chemicals and material use, but discarded via anaerobic digestion, composting, land application, landfill or other. Although the primary production, export and import supply chain stages use the table grape side streams for anaerobic digestion and/or composting, the retail supply chain stage only discards the table grape side streams as landfill.

Figure 2: Destinations of discarded table grapes

Greenhouse gas impact of blueberries FLW

FLW does not only have a negative effect on economic factors, but also on social and environmental factors such as food security and climate change. As an example of environmental impact, the FLW associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the Dutch table grapes import and distribution are presented here, covering the activities primary production, transportation (from the country of origin to retail), and packaging. The primary production and transportation related emission factors are origin-dependent. Therefore, the FAO detailed trade matrix was used to determine the countries of origin, including a correction for re-export among European countries, for the table grape imports to the Netherlands. From this import profile, an average emission factor for the primary production, export and import stages result. For distribution towards retail the volume for domestic consumption and the export volumes to various countries are used as input for the average emission factor for the retail chain stage. The packaging emission factors were derived from literature.

The resulting FLW attributed GHG emission factors for the table grapes imported to the Netherlands based on SIFAV data are given in Table 2. The emissions per kg product increase to the end of the supply chain. In other words, one kg product wasted at the retail sector contributes to a larger extend to GHG emissions compared to one kg product lost at primary production.

Table 2: Impact factors in kg CO2-equivalents per kg table grapes along the table grapes supply chain for the Netherlands

The FLW percentages from Table 1 are applied to the import volume of the Netherlands. Converted to impact, the chain stage division in CO2 footprint as in Figure 3 results. With the highest FLW % in the import, discarded table grapes in this stage of the supply chain contribute the most to the GHG emissions along the chain.

Figure 3: Division of FLW associated GHG emissions along the supply chain for the Dutch table grapes import volume

Causes of FLW in each supply chain link

Table 3 shows the causes of FLW for table grapes in the international supply chain, per supply chain stage. As table grapes are a perishable food item, most causes are generic and also applicable to a variety of perishable food items. In the country of origin, the main root causes of food losses include products not meeting the specification, and uneven quality due to over maturity, type of variety and unskilled labour. The root causes of table grape discards at import and retail include low quality on arrival, progressive defects, and supply and demand planning.

Interventions to prevent and reduce FLW

Potential interventions for FLW reduction for table grapes, per supply chain stage, are provided in Table 4. The interventions are classified into three categories: hardware, software and orgware4 . Addressing all three categories ensures a comprehensive approach to developing strategies to decrease FLW. Most potential interventions presented can be implemented in all type of international fresh fruit supply chains. Main intervention to tackle the root causes of FLW for table grapes include implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), improving communication, coordination, planning and forecasting with suppliers and clients, and using demand and forecasting technology. Root causes cannot always be tackled by simply investing in one intervention. Often losses found in one part of the supply chain are already caused further upwards in the supply chain. For example, table grapes sorted out at arrival at the importer due to bruises received the bruises due to transport or the packaging that was used in the producing country. Therefore it is needed to collaborate with other actors in the supply chain to efficiently reduce FLW.

Table 4: Potential interventions for FLW reduction per supply chain link

Take-home message

Facts & figures

The percentage of Food Loss and Waste (FLW) in the international supply chain of table grapes to the Netherlands from primary production till and including retail is 14.3% in total, with the highest percentage of FLW occurring in the importing country. Estimated FLW associated greenhouse gas emissions increase from 0.52 kg CO2-equivalents per kg table grapes at primary production to 1.24 at retail for Dutch imports of table grapes.
The main root causes of FLW for table grapes in the country of origin include products not conforming to export specifications, and uneven quality due to over maturity, type of variety and unskilled labour. The root causes of FLW for table grapes arriving in the Netherlands include low quality on arrival, progressive defects, and mismatch between supply and demand.
The main interventions for FLW reduction for table grapes include implementing GAP, and using communication, coordination, planning and forecasting technology with suppliers and clients.

Where to begin?

Implement the TARGET-MEASURE-ACT strategy and make use of the tools of the FLW toolbox

Concrete actions and targets

Actions: Set targets for your own organisation and monitor the side streams, discuss the causes of FLW, determine reduction strategies, allocate capacity, formulate a business case, discuss challenges with chain partners, and evaluate the results
Targets: Connect your targets with the SDGs. Achieving targets is feasible when tackled jointly in the supply chain with support of a wider network of stakeholders

Contact

Do you want to start with the Target-Measure-Act approach to monitor and reduce your Losses and Waste in the banana supply chain? Please do not hesitate to contact us.