Food waste is an enormous problem in both the US and around the world. The USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that roughly $161.6 billion of food goes uneaten every year at only the retail and consumer stages of the supply chain. When the entire supply chain is considered, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 30 percent of global food loss occurs at the agricultural production and harvest stages, 6 percent post-harvest, 3 percent during processing and packaging, 18 percent at retail and distribution, and a whopping 42 percent at consumption.  

With regard to food waste occurring in the postharvest environment, losses due to decay-causing plant pathogens and physiological issues occurring during storage can leave produce unmarketable, resulting in waste. As fungicide resistance becomes more prevalent, and regulatory restrictions on certain synthetic chemicals tighten, the need for alternative compounds able to reduce decay and/or extend crop quality and shelf-life is heightened.  

Pace International is a global leader in sustainable postharvest solutions for the fresh produce industry, focused on reducing food waste during storage and after packing for retail sales. Our product portfolio includes sanitizers, fungicides and fruit coatings among others. The need for new and innovative solutions to this problem continues to drive our research efforts.