I AR Pest control - USAid

of food handling and storage. Food losses
occur at many stages in the food delivery
chain.., in the fields, during transport to
the market, storage, in processing and in
final preparation. This sem:nar focused attention
only on those losses which occur
during transport and storage, and particular
attetioto waspai hes prolem asto
attention was paid to these problems as
they relate to commodities shipped to
developing countries as food aid.
FTHE SEMINAR
OBJECTIVES OF Tresulting
The Manila Food Storage Seminar focused
most attention on grain and cereal losses
which occur during transportatlon and storage
in Asian countries. The overall objective
was to create an awareness of the
problems and practical solutions associated
with handling and storing at the port and
warehouse levels. The specific objectives
were as follows:
1) To illustrate specific problems and conditions
that contribute to the deterioration of
foods.
2) To review the most recent research and
development of specialized packaging
materials and handling iechniques.
3) To demonstrate the latest practical
methods, equipment, and chemicals that are
presentlyavailable to aid in the reduction
of food losses.
4) To motivate the various participants to
become more actively involved in improving
food storage conditions and handling practices
of U.S. food aid commodities.
PROGRAM, PROCEDURES, AGENDA
The conference was held at the Enrico Hotel
in Manila during the week of April 21-25.
iegi rin the we5 pri l began
Registration of the 105 participants began
April 18 as representatives from 10 Asian
countries began to arrive at the hotel. Prior
the conference each participant was
carefully selected by the USAID missions on
the basis of experience and background in
the area of food production, processing,
transport, storage, and/or distribution. The
group was a stimulating cross section
of experience and talent in the food
handling field; AID, CARE, Catholic Relief
Services, Church World Service, World Food
Program, UNICEF, U.S. and foreign private
industry, and numerous government agencies
were all represented at the conference.
The first three days of the seminar combined
lectures and field demonstrations. All the
lectures were held in the mornings and were
supplemented with color slides, films, visual
aids, charts, printed materals and handouts
such as insect vials and magna lights for
warehouse inspection purposes. The afternoons
were devoted to demonstrations at
food warehouses in the Manila area to illustrate
problems and techniques discussed
during the morning lectures.
On the last day and a half lectures were
delivered by University of Philippines professors
on local storage conditions and the
control of grain waste, rodent damage, and
infestation in the Philippine context. The
last session, an open forum for participant
feedback, generated interesting discussion
among participants and seminar staff and
resulted in recommendations for follow-up
actions to the conference.