Y1 Progress report | Pearl Lefadola

Upcycling Food Waste into Value-Added Products: A Sustainable Approach to Food Loss in Botswana’s Tomato Supply Chain

During the first year of the project, several activities were undertaken to establish a strong scientific and operational foundation for the study. A major focus was capacity building, in which I successfully completed a Systematic Review training organised by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). The training enhanced my skills in conducting rigorous evidence synthesis and enabled me to refine a systematic review of food waste upcycling and its applications in the modern food industry from a circular economy perspective.

To strengthen the quality of the research, the experimental design was reviewed, refined, and finalised. Research instruments were developed in both English and Setswana to facilitate effective data collection. Following the signing of the research contract and release of research funds in December 2025, an application for ethical clearance was submitted, and ethical approval was obtained by the University of Botswana and the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in January and February 2026. A stakeholder engagement meeting was subsequently conducted to introduce the project, strengthen partnerships, and facilitate the commencement of participant recruitment for Phase 1 of the study.

The project benefited from international research exposure through a research visit to Justus Liebig University (JLU), Germany (9–23 November 2025), which enhanced my knowledge of food waste management, circular economy approaches, and food waste upcycling.

During the reporting period, I participated in the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems Conference (21–22 November 2025), where I presented a paper entitled "Circular Economy Transitions in Botswana's Agro-Food Systems: A Multidimensional Perspective on Food Waste Reduction." In addition, I delivered a conference poster presentation on the project at the South African Association for Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST) conference (25-27 August 2025), which provided an opportunity to disseminate preliminary findings and receive valuable feedback from fellow researchers.

To strengthen my research impact and engagement skills, I participated in a Foundation Science Communication programme (15-16 June 2026), where I contributed as a facilitator, enhancing my capacity to communicate scientific evidence effectively to diverse audiences. I also participated in a Science Diplomacy training programme (21-23 June 2026), which strengthened my understanding of how scientific evidence can inform policy development, foster international collaboration, and help address global sustainability challenges. The knowledge and skills gained from both programmes will enhance the translation of research findings into policy and practice. In addition, I moderated a panel discussion during the commemoration of World Food Day 2025 and produced a reflection paper documenting the event's key outcomes and recommendations.

Participant recruitment for Phase 1 was initiated. Substantial progress has been made in field data collection. One-on-one key informant interviews have been conducted with representatives from the Botswana Bureau of Standards, the National Agro-Processing (NAPro), and agricultural extension officers to gain institutional perspectives on the magnitude and causes of tomato waste and on waste management practices. In addition, interviews and structured observations have been conducted with vegetable vendors and tomato farmers in the Kgatleng District to document current practices, identify the causes and extent of tomato waste, and understand existing waste management and value addition strategies. These activities have generated valuable primary data that will inform the subsequent phases of the project.

The primary challenge during the reporting period was the delay in finalising the contract between the University of Pretoria and my home institution. This resulted in a delayed project inception and a postponed start to research funding. In addition, delays in obtaining the research permit affected the timeline for commencing field activities. Consequently, several planned activities, including Phase 1 data collection, quantification of tomato waste, investigation of the causes of tomato waste, data analysis, product development, training of women food processors, sensory evaluation, and dissemination activities, could not be undertaken within the original timeframe. Although these administrative delays affected implementation, they did not hinder the project's intellectual progress. Preparatory activities such as capacity building, refinement of the research design, development of research instruments, preparation of the ethical clearance application, writing of systematic reviews, stakeholder engagement, conference participation, and professional development continued during this period.

Over the past 12 months, my understanding of transdisciplinary research has evolved from viewing it primarily as collaboration across academic disciplines to recognising it as a process of co-producing knowledge with diverse stakeholders to address complex societal challenges. Through the Programme and the implementation of my research project on tomato waste upcycling, I have come to appreciate that sustainable solutions require meaningful engagement with stakeholders throughout the research process rather than only at the dissemination stage. This understanding has been strengthened through stakeholder engagement activities and fieldwork involving government institutions, the Botswana Bureau of Standards, the National Agro-Processing Programme (NAPro), agricultural extension officers, tomato farmers, and vegetable vendors. These interactions have demonstrated that addressing food waste requires integrating scientific evidence with local knowledge, practical experience, policy perspectives, and industry needs. Engaging these diverse actors has provided insights that would not have been obtained through disciplinary research alone and has helped refine the research questions and implementation approach.

During fieldwork, I directly encountered and engaged with Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the farming and post-harvest handling practices of farmers and vegetable vendors. These practices are embedded in everyday agricultural activities and play an important role in reducing food waste, improving resource efficiency, and supporting production under resource-constrained and climate-sensitive conditions.

One notable example is the use of ashes as a soil amendment to improve soil fertility. Farmers reported and demonstrated that wood ash is applied to fields as a traditional practice to enhance soil nutrients and support crop growth. This practice reflects locally developed ecological knowledge that contributes to soil health and productivity and indirectly influences the quantity and quality of tomato yields, thereby affecting post-harvest loss levels.

Another significant observation was the use of traditional storage structures, such as huts, to temporarily store harvested vegetables. In some cases, farmers indicated that these structures are preferred because they are believed to maintain cooler internal temperatures compared to direct outdoor exposure. This practice is used as a low-cost preservation strategy to slow spoilage and reduce food waste, particularly when immediate market access or access to cold storage facilities is limited. From a climate resilience perspective, such practices represent adaptive strategies that help communities cope with heat stress and post-harvest losses in the absence of formal infrastructure. These observations highlight that Indigenous Knowledge is not separate from production systems but is actively integrated into everyday decision-making around soil management, harvesting, storage, and waste minimisation.

One of the most rewarding experiences during my fieldwork occurred while interviewing a tomato farmer who had also produced a large lemon harvest. Although my research focused on tomato waste, I learned that she had approximately 2 tonnes of harvested, waxed lemons at risk of being lost due to limited market access. Recognising the potential for significant food loss, we shared this information with the local horticulture officer to facilitate timely intervention. The intention was to explore temporarily restricting lemon imports under the existing horticultural import management framework to give local producers an opportunity to sell their produce. Seeing the farmer's relief and appreciation after the issue was raised with the relevant authorities was deeply fulfilling. The experience highlighted how research can extend beyond data collection to create meaningful, real-world impact for farming communities through timely stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Another particularly interesting story from my field engagements was the frustration farmers expressed over systemic bottlenecks that affect product quality and market access. They highlighted the lack of accessible testing facilities in Botswana, as well as restrictions from the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BURS) that limit the movement of fresh produce across the border into South Africa. As a coping strategy, farmers described informal transport practices, such as packing tomatoes in lunchbox-like containers to bypass regulatory constraints. However, this method compromises temperature control during transit, resulting in deterioration of quality upon arrival and ultimately affecting market value and quality indicators. This experience revealed how regulatory and infrastructural gaps can unintentionally contribute to postharvest losses and reduced competitiveness in cross-border horticultural trade.

One of the most positive experiences over the last year has been stakeholders' willingness to collaborate and share their expertise. Researchers contributed diverse disciplinary perspectives that enriched the study's design and implementation, while institutional partners provided valuable policy, technical, and operational insights. Farmers, vendors, retailers, and market operators openly shared their lived experiences regarding post-harvest losses, market dynamics, storage limitations, and the economic consequences of tomato waste. These diverse perspectives have strengthened the research by ensuring that it reflects the realities and priorities of those directly involved in the food system. The engagement process has reinforced the importance of co-creating knowledge rather than conducting research in isolation. It has been demonstrated that addressing food waste requires collaboration across academia, government, the private sector, civil society, and local communities. The different stakeholders have not only contributed information but also helped shape the research questions, validate findings, and identify practical solutions relevant and implementable within the Botswana context.

Annual report submitted by Dr Pearl Lefadola

(summarised for publication by Heidi Sonnekus for the FAR-LeaF Programme)