POST-HARVEST LOSS REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES WANTED
A North American Challenge, A Global Opportunity
Post-harvest loss is one of the largest untapped opportunities in the agricultural sector today. Across North America, billions of dollars in food are lost every year between harvest and consumption. In the U.S. it is estimated that 30–40% of all food produced goes uneaten, representing more than $218 billion in annual losses, about 1.3% of GDP.
In Canada, the picture is similar: over 46% of food produced is wasted, with 41% of that avoidable, worth an estimated CAD $58 billion annually.
Losses occur at every stage, on the farm, in storage, during transport, and across distribution networks. Grains spoil in silos, fruits and vegetables rot in storage, meat and dairy are wasted when cold chains break down. For innovators, this is an opportunity to create lasting impact in agriculture and food security.
What Causes Post-Harvest Loss in North America?
Post-harvest losses are not confined to developing markets; there are systemic issues in North America too.
Key causes include:
- Storage capacity and conditions – Aging or insufficient infrastructure leads to spoilage of grains and perishables.
- Cold chain fragility – Temperature and humidity breaks during storage or transit reduce shelf life and increase spoilage.
- Transport inefficiency – Long distances, fragmented logistics, and lack of real-time visibility drive losses in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat.
- Data and forecasting gaps – Limited predictive tools cause mismatches between supply and market demand.
- Traceability challenges – Without transparency across the chain, consumers lose trust.
The scale of the challenge underscores a clear truth: North America doesn’t just produce too much food, it loses too much as well.
The Market Opportunity
The economic scale of post-harvest losses makes this an attractive opportunity for innovators:
- United States: $218 billion lost annually; top categories include meat, poultry, fish (30%), vegetables (19%), and dairy (17%).
- Canada: CAD $58 billion lost annually; 13% of fruits and vegetables are discarded post-harvest.
- Environmental Impact: Food waste accounts for 24% of U.S. landfill volume and contributes significantly to methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
Opportunities for Innovation
Carrot Ventures is actively seeking post-harvest technologies with the potential to make a measurable difference in reducing losses.
We’re seeking innovative AgTech solutions such as:
- Smart storage solutions – Sensors and systems that track temperature, humidity, and spoilage risk in silos, bins, and warehouses.
- Optimizing transportation logistics – using route planning and condition tracking.
- Digital inventory management – Cloud platforms and predictive analytics to optimize supply chain decisions.
- Cold chain monitoring – IoT devices for continuous condition tracking from farm to retailer.
- Yield forecasting – Aligning production with demand to reduce surplus loss.
- Supply chain traceability – Blockchain or equivalent systems to ensure accountability and transparency.
Who We’re Looking For
We invite IP owners and AgTech innovators whose technologies are in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5–7 range or above.
- TRL 5 – technology validated in relevant environments.
- TRL 6 – prototype demonstrated in operational environments.
- TRL 7 – system prototype demonstrated in full-scale, real-world settings.
In plain terms: your innovation works in practice, but still needs strategy and execution across product development, market development, commercialization, and integration into the agricultural supply chain – all of which require operational and team execution and capital.
Why Carrot Ventures
Carrot Ventures is a venture studio that creates and finances new companies to commercialize early-stage agricultural technologies. Our model provides:
- Company building – Business structure, leadership, and go-to-market expertise.
- Capital – For commercialization and scaling.
- Partnerships – Access to networks across Canadian and North American agriculture.
For many innovators, the biggest hurdle isn’t proving the science—it’s crossing the commercialization gap. Carrot Ventures exists to bridge this gap.
Next Steps
- For AgTech innovators and IP owners: If you’ve developed post-harvest technology for loss management, Contact Us to explore whether Carrot Ventures is the right approach to commercialize your technology.
- For advisors, consultants, and industry professionals: If you know innovators working in post-harvest management, consider sharing this article with them. Your introduction could help launch the next AgTech company.
Download our ebook to learn about Carrot’s approach to commercializing agricultural technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is post-harvest loss?
Post-harvest loss refers to food that is lost between harvest and consumption due to spoilage, damage, or inefficiency in storage, transport, or distribution.
Q: Why is post-harvest management worth investing in?
Despite advanced infrastructure, North America experiences some of the world’s highest food waste rates, with losses valued at over $270 billion annually.
Q: Why work with a venture studio like Carrot Ventures?
Many innovations stall at the commercialization stage. Carrot offers a compelling solution for innovators and IP owners whose technologies face unclear paths to market.
Q: What is an AgTech venture studio?
An AgTech venture studio is an organization that focuses exclusively on starting, financing and accelerating the growth of new AgTech Ventures.
Q: What is TRL 5–7?
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) describe maturity stages. Technologies in the range of TRL 5, 6 and 7 generally mean that a working prototype has been validated in relevant environments but has not yet achieved full commercialization.
Closing Thought
Reducing post-harvest loss is vital to food security. Innovators who address this issue will make agriculture more sustainable and resilient. If you invented a host harvest technology, or you know someone who is, this is the moment to act.
Sources
- USDA – Food Waste FAQs
- NRDC – Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40% of Its Food (2012 report, 2017 update)
- Second Harvest Canada – The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste (2019)
- FAO – Global Food Losses and Food Waste (2011)
- USDA/EPA/FDA – National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste (2024)
- ReFED – A Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent (2016)
- Food Waste Reduction Alliance – Analysis of U.S. Food Waste (2016)
- Deloitte – Blockchain in the Food Supply Chain
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / ECCC – Taking Stock: Reducing Food Loss and Waste (2019)
- U.S. EPA – Food Waste and Landfills
