Kennisbank Mestverwaarding

The objective of the study was to evaluate the capacity of Northern Bandung Dairy Farmer Cooperative (KPSBU) to support farmers in producing good quality milk within the milk value chain in West Bandung Regency, West Java. The study used qualitative research strategies including desk study, case study, and focus group discussions. The study compared the involvement of three milk collecting actors that were classified into large cooperative (KPSBU), small cooperative (KUD Puspa Mekar), and private company (Bina Kitri Bersama). A total of 18 dairy farmers, 3 milk collecting actors, 2 milk processors, and one livestock officer were interviewed. Three focus group discussions were conducted. The large cooperative performed better in services, milk collection, and milk quality assessment compared to other milk collecting actors. Members’ commitment, inconsistent milk quality, and shortage of good quality fodder were the hindering factors that influenced the collection of good quality milk in the large cooperative. In conclusion, the large cooperative had better performance in service provision, it also had better infrastructures in milk collection and milk quality assessment compared to other milk collecting actors. Increasing the milk quality standard by milk processing companies affected the milk price since 2000.

Kenya's horticultural sector comprises of a diverse range of fruits, as the country's tropical and temperate climate zones facilitate the cultivation of a diverse range of horticultural crops. Avocado is one of the main horticultural products in Kenya that permits additional investments aimed at integrated sector development. Food loss refers to a decrease in the weight or quality of food that was initially produced for human consumption as the result of inefficiencies created along the food supply chain, for example poor logistics and infrastructure, insufficient technology, knowledge, skills, management capacity of supply chain participants, and market access. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

The main objective of this study was to analyse food loss and waste (FLW) at the production, collection, processing, distribution, and consumption level with focus on smallholder farmers in avocado value chain in Nandi County, Kenya. The findings from this study show that there is high rate of FLW produced in avocado value chain in Nandi County. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

Milk and milk products are responsible for around 21% of worldwide food losses, with annual after harvest milk losses ranging from 10% to 23%. Losses in production, post-harvest, and distribution are more typical in economically underdeveloped countries like Kenya. FORQLAB is a Kenyan Programme aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving food quality along the avocado and dairy value chains. Bungoma County in Kenya is experiencing milk handling difficulties, resulting in massive rejections and spillages. The goal of this study was to identify milk loss hotspots in Bungoma that have major economic and carbon footprint implications along the Kitinda and Kaptama smallholder dairy value chains. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

This publication the avocado advisory report which is based on popular papers (practice briefs) of master and bachelor theses and business assignments of students at three Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences: Van Hall Larenstein (VHL), InHolland and HAS Green Academy, and Meru University of Science and Technology in Kenya. All 23 theses and business assignments were commissioned through the research project entitled “Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality LivingLab (FORQLAB)” in Kenya.

The use of milking machines has been available since the 1970s. Despite the fact that they improve milk quality the uptake has not been well received and only a few farmers have access to these existing technologies. The objective of this study was to investigate the opportunities to reduce milk losses in Githunguri and Kabete sub-counties by utilizing milking machines and ensuring access to finance among dairy farmers. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

Despite the effort of different researchers in Kenya, Post-harvest milk loss in the supply chain is a persistent challenge in the dairy sector. This study was about the post-harvest loss reduction in the milk value chain using Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, Kiambu county - Kenya as a case study. The objective was to determine the overview of PHL and develop sustainable interventions for post-harvest milk loss reduction at the production, collection, and processing level of the milk value chain. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

Avocado farming is a popular enterprise among small holder avocado farmers in Meru-County Kenya. The sector is rapidly growing and the country is ranked as the 6th world producer of avocado. However, the developed avocado value chain is experiencing high food losses along different phases of the chain. This hinders the sector’s sustainability and is limiting competitiveness for the growing demand. A study on reduction of food losses along the Meru avocado value chain was conducted in Meru County, with key considerations on the involved stakeholders and their roles, food loss causes and food loss hot spots, current food loss reduction measures and food loss impacts. This research has been carried out as part of Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB FORQLAB – Kenya Project

With this project we strived to contribute to structural reduction of post-harvest food losses and food quality improvement in the Kenyan avocado and dairy value chains through the application of technical solutions and tools as well as improved coordination in those food chains. The consortium had four types of partners: 1. Universities (2 Kenyan, 4 Dutch), 2. Private sector actorsin those chains, 3. Organisations supporting those chains, and 4. Network partners. The applied research has been implemented in cooperation with all partners, whereby students at involved universities conducted most of the field studies and all other consortium partners support and interact depending on the phases.The FORQLAB project targeted two areas in Kenya for both commodities, a relatively well-developed chain in the central highlands and a less-develop chain in Western-Kenya. The research methods were the business to business and multi-stakeholder (living lab) approaches to increase the potential for uptake of successful interventions in the chain. The project consisted of four phases: 1. Inventory and inception, 2. Applied research, 3. Spreading research outputs through living lab networks, 4. Translation of project output in curricula and trainings. The outcomes were: two knowledge exchange platforms (Living Labs) supported with some advice for sustainable food loss reduction, a research agenda, proposals for ICT and other tech solutions and an implementation strategy; communication and teaching materials for universities and TVETs; and knowledge transfer and uptake.

This magazine presents the highlights of the applied research project “Inclusive and climate-smart business models in Ethiopian and Kenyan dairy valuechains (CSDEK)”. The CSDEK applied research project was conducted in six case study areas, three in Ethiopia and three in Kenya. At the time of publishing this magazine, research was still ongoing in some of the study areas. The projectteam and researchers hope to contribute to creating awareness of climatesmartdairy practices and development of the dairy sector in Ethiopia and Kenya. In two of the study areas, collaboration between VHL and dairy stakeholders will continue, preferably through local networks in a Living Lab approach.

In this publication, the four authors provide several solution directions to shape that transition to a new, sustainable agricultural system. With a different relationship between food production and nature and the environment. It is the - necessary - basis for a good agricultural agreement. And the way to work towards a sustainable future for our agricultural sector and food system.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the capacity of Northern Bandung Dairy Farmer Cooperative (KPSBU) to support farmers in producing good quality milk within the milk value chain in West Bandung Regency, West Java. The study used qualitative research strategies including desk study, case study, and focus group discussions. The study compared the involvement of three milk collecting actors that were classified into large cooperative (KPSBU), small cooperative (KUD Puspa Mekar), and private company (Bina Kitri Bersama). A total of 18 dairy farmers, 3 milk collecting actors, 2 milk processors, and one livestock officer were interviewed. Three focus group discussions were conducted. The large cooperative performed better in services, milk collection, and milk quality assessment compared to other milk collecting actors. Members’ commitment, inconsistent milk quality, and shortage of good quality fodder were the hindering factors that influenced the collection of good quality milk in the large cooperative. In conclusion, the large cooperative had better performance in service provision, it also had better infrastructures in milk collection and milk quality assessment compared to other milk collecting actors. Increasing the milk quality standard by milk processing companies affected the milk price since 2000.

This booklet presents twenty-one impact stories of Ethiopian and Kenyan alumni of Dairy (Livestock) trainings in the Netherlands. The Dutch trainings consists of Master courses conducted by Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (VHL) in Wageningen or Velp, short courses or diploma courses organised by Practical Trainings Centre (PTC+) in Oenkerk or Barneveld / Dairy Trainings Centre (DTC) in Oenkerk and short courses organised by Centre of Development Innovation – part of Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) in Wageningen. Most refresher course participants attended the Dutch trainings between 2010 and 2018. These alumni attended the Refresher Course entitled “Assessing the impact of Dutch knowledge institutions on performance of Netherlands alumni on dairy value chain governance in Kenya and Ethiopia” organised by Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (VHL), Agrikom (alumni organisation) and Egerton University on 7-16 July 2019 in Nairobi and Nakuru, Kenya. Part of the refresher course was dedicated to a write shop about the impact of the Dutch training. It was written in collaboration with the professorship Climate Smart Dairy Value Chains.

This booklet presents sixteen 'practice briefs' which are popular publications based on 12 Master and one Bachelor theses of Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (VHL). All theses were commissioned through the research project entitled 'Inclusive and climate smart business models in Ethiopian and Kenyan dairy value chains (CSDEK)'. The objective of this research is to identify scalable, climate smart dairy business models in the context of the ongoing transformation from informal to formal dairy chains in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Het doel van deze whitepaper is bewustzijn vergroten van de complexiteit van het bedrijfsoverdrachtsproces binnen de agrarische sector. Zowel het aantal vraagstukken als het grote aantal betrokkenen met verschillende perspectieven maken het ingewikkeld. Het bedrijfsovernameproces kent veel vergelijkbare onderdelen, het doorlopen ervan kent echter geenroutine want alle overnames zijn uniek.

Bij de overname van een agrarisch familiebedrijf sta je voor grote financiële, juridische, fiscale en sociaal-emotionele uitdagingen. Zowel bedrijfsoverdragers, bedrijfsovernemers, maar ook de familie staat voor grote en ongelooflijk lastige beslissingen. Het maken van een rendabel bedrijfsmodel lukt vaak wel. Veel moeilijker is het sociaal-emotionele deel. Niet voor niets is het gezegde "met familie moet je wandelen, maar niet handelen". En toch zul je bij de bedrijfsovername het gesprek moeten aangaan met alle betrokkenen. Tijdens het webinar gaan we in gesprek met overdragers, overnemers en niet-overnemende familieleden. Ook vanuit het perspectief van de adviseur delen we de ervaringen. M.m.w. Ron Methorst (Aeres), Koos Dekker (HAS), Robert Baars (Van Hall Larenstein) en Gerry Kouwenhoven (Inholland).

Experts in the agricultural sector say Nigeria can become self-sufficient in milk production if opportunities in the sector are properly tapped into.

The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT) Moor Plantation, Ibadan, in collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Science, Netherlands, on Friday concluded the 2-week training on NUFFIC Tailor-Made Training.

The avocado production is considered as a main source of income for farmers who are Abogeta West growers’ cooperative members in Meru County. In our days, the available previous studies showed that avocado losses account for 35% for the local chain and 15% for the export chain but there was a scarcity of literature showing the role of avocado value chain governance in that food loss and appropriate interventions. The document presents findings from a study to understand the potential contribution of value chain governance in the reduction of avocado production losses, identifying leverage points in the chain and appropriate and applied interventions for overcoming the gaps.

In deze publicatie geven de vier schrijvers verschillende oplossingsrichtingen om die transitie naar een nieuw, duurzaam landbouwsysteem vorm te geven. Met een andere relatie tussen voedselproductie en natuur en milieu. Het is de - noodzakelijke - basis voor een goed landbouwakkoord. En de manier om te werken aan een duurzame toekomst voor onze landbouwsector en ons voedselsysteem.