From the Field

Elevating DryCard™ and Dry Chain Innovations Across Regions to Reduce Food Loss

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The dry chain, modeled after the cold chain, ensures that dried commodities reach safe moisture levels before storage, preventing postharvest losses. Horticulture Innovation Lab team with researchers at the University of California, Davis, have pioneered affordable drying technologies such as the DryCard™, chimney dryer, and pallet dryer, providing small-scale farmers with practical tools to enhance food preservation and reduce economic losses.

DryCard and dry chain workshop in Arua, Uganda

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To help producers in Uganda effectively preserve their dried products, the Horticulture Innovation Lab’s Lydiah Maranga conducted a dry chain, “train-the-trainer” workshop with seventeen attendees from different sectors including government, private sector, academia, and farmers. The dry chain is similar to the cold chain - drying products effectively, confirming they are safely dried, and safely storing them in water tight and air tight (hermetic) storage.

How to cook sweet potato leaves, with thanks from Ethiopia

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Did you know the leaves of the sweet potato plant are also a tasty, nutritious food? In Ethiopia, where sweet potatoes can be a staple crop, a UC Davis student recently helped farmers reconsider their sweet potato crop in a new culinary light. Watch this video...