FAO`s Agricultural Support Systems Division has just published "Processed foods for improved livelihoods", by P. Fellows, as Number 5 in its FAO Diversification Booklets series. The 65-page publication describes some of the opportunities and constraints faced by communities in developing countries that wish to introduce or improve food processing. It focuses on secondary processing, in which fresh foods or the products of primary processing are made into a wide range of processed foods (e.g. products such as bread, wine/beer, fermented pickles, yoghurt etc., obtained by adequate use of beneficial microorganisms). FAO Diversification Booklets aim to raise awareness and provide information about opportunities at the farm and local community level to increase small-scale farmer income. Their main target audience is people and organizations that provide advisory, business and technical support services to small-scale farmers and local communities in low- and middle-income countries. See http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/006/y5113e/y5113e00.pdf or contact FAO to request a copy.

11/11/2004