Crop post-harvest: science and technology
Volume 1: Principles and practice

A comprehensive overview of post-harvest science and technology as it applies to both durable and perishable crop products

Post-harvest handling of crops - both durables and perishables - is an extremely important component of the food supply chain, which can influence food safety, quality and losses through wastage. A solid understanding of post-harvest practices can, therefore, not only help to secure a reliable supply of food, but can also go a long way to assuring product safety and quality whilst minimising wastage and increasing food business productivity.

As the first in a planned 3-volume set*, this book takes a detailed look at a wide range of post-harvest practices as they apply to both durable and perishable crops. Carefully compiled and edited by an international panel of experts, it covers subjects as diverse as crop physiology, storage technology, pest and disease management, food preservation, food safety assurance, international trading agreements and ethical trading. It is aimed at all professionals involved in the harvesting, shipping, storage and processing of crops, including agricultural, plant and food scientists and technologists, in industry and the public sector, for whom it provides a highly valuable reference source.

*Note: this is the first in a planned three-volume set. Volumes 2 and 3, due for publication in 2005 and to be sold separately, will focus respectively on durables and perishables.

Contents

• Post-harvest systems in agriculture
• Biology of plant communities
• Physical factors in post-harvest quality
  - Including properties of stored product, principles and measurement of physical factors, and water content

• Biological factors in post-harvest quality
  - Including pests and diseases of durable and perishable crops

• Technology and management of storage
  - Including storage structures and systems, storage losses and storage management

• Pest management
  - Including safety aspects, insects, rodents, and birds

• Remedial treatments in pest management
  - Including fumigation, irradiation and other solutions

• Food processing and preservation
  - Including preservation principles, packaging, oilseeds, oils and fats, weaning foods and animal feeds

• Food systems
• Applied research and dissemination
• Trade and international agreements
  - Including WTO and other organisations, commodity agreements, commercial practices, phytosanitary agreements and HACCP

• Glossary and appendices
  - Including pests, pathogens and weeds of concern

Hardback book - 554 pages