‘Nutritious Fruit Bars’ project launched to combat post-harvest losses, improve food security

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Pakistan successfully launched a transformative project, “Nutritious Fruit Bars,” aimed at revolutionizing the fruit value chain in Pakistan. This initiative addressed the critical challenge of post-harvest losses in fruits like apricots and dates, which significantly impacted food security and economic stability in rural communities.
The post-harvest losses, amounting to as much as 30% of the harvest before reaching consumers, posed a significant threat to food security and economic resilience. GAIN’s project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) in collaboration with Arla Food Ingredients (AFI) and Danish Industry (DI), aimed to develop innovative and affordable fruit-based products to mitigate these losses and provide nutritious food options, especially for low-income consumers.
Ms. Farah Naz, Country Director of GAIN Pakistan, highlighted the importance of this initiative in addressing malnutrition and fostering sustainable food systems. “The ‘Nutritious Fruit Bars’ project came at a crucial time, offering a sustainable and scalable solution to combat post-harvest fruit losses,” said Ms. Naz. “By working collaboratively with stakeholders and leveraging technical expertise, we aimed to make healthy food snack options accessible to vulnerable populations.”
The project launch event, titled “Empowering Health and Sustainability through Nutrient Enriched Fruit Bars,” took place on April 30th, 2024, at Faletti’s Hotel in Lahore. The event brought together key stakeholders from the public sector, private sector/SUN Business Network (SBN) members, global partners, and relevant stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions in the fruit value chain. A delegate of international experts from GAIN, AFI and DI also joined the event and shared the importance of nutritious food products.
The event agenda included sessions on leveraging expertise for sustainable fruit-based solutions, responsible business conduct, regulatory compliance, and sustainable business models in the fruit value chain. A panel discussion focused on responsible business conduct and sustainable practices, featuring experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies was held to get insights from technical experts about regulations, product positioning and affordability etc.
“We are excited to have launched the ‘Nutritious Fruit Bars’ project and engaged with diverse stakeholders to drive positive changes in Pakistan’s food systems,” added Ms. Naz. “Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, we aimed to create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system in Pakistan.”