Our team tackled the issue of post-harvest loss using Human-Centered Design, an approach put together and utilized by designers to solve seemingly unsolvable, complex issues. We embarked on a ten-week journey of secondary and primary research, analysis and ideation. For the secondary research we studied the report of two SCAD students who went to Nigeria, interviewed the farmers and observed the process of tomato in transit; we studied the stakeholders map of tomato value chain that was created by the two students; we examined the GKI Collaboration Colloquium Report, the Waste and Spoilage Innovators Storybook, and 26 case studies from the Rockefeller Foundation. For the primary research, we interviewed members of PYXERA Global who work with the farmers in Nigeria. After gathering data points, we analyzed the data by plotting it on the tomato value chain to see if there were any new actors, resources, or facts that would further inform our understanding. We studied the tomato raffia basket chain as well as alternative materials to be used for tomato handling. We then affinitized the data, gathered insights, and ideated solutions around what the research dictated.

Our design principles focused on CARE, Create, Aware, Relationship, and Enhance. We wish to infuse CARE into the current situation in Nigeria. First, we must Create a system/infrastructure that can support and transport the tomato in a safe manner. Second, we must foster Awareness by providing education and training for better practice. Next, we must cultivate Relationships building on the community and encourage sharing of resources. Lastly, we must Enhance economic stability. By leveling off the fluctuations in the market due to glut and scarcity we can create both economic and food stability.

We developed three tools that addressed CARE in different ways. Building an ‘Aggregation Center Game’ targets the necessity of creating a system to handle tomatoes safely as it serves as a hub for new economic opportunities, reducing post-harvest loss and creating a new source of income for the community. ‘Connect and Grow’ addresses post-harvest loss by teaching women different ways of processing tomatoes and how to brand and market them to become a viable business. This would provide an empowering product that can quickly turn the loss into gain, the women processors will bring food and financial stability to the value chain as well as to their community. ‘Tomato Festival’ is a comprehensive strategy to guide, cultivate connectivity, and celebrate the tomato through a festival. This is a diffusion tool that would serve as motivation for the community, and all the stakeholders in the tomato value chain to learn how to infuse CARE in the system to reduce post-harvest loss.

IMPACT
PYXERA Global acknowledged the efficacy of the outcome, so I was selected with another colleague to go to Nigeria and implement the Aggregation Center Game and the Connect and Grow Toolkit. For personal circumstances, I couldn’t accept the offer but my colleague, Pilar Moreno Azcárate went and tested the solutions with the farmers. The impact was very positive and the solutions were further enhanced and iterated according to the farmers’ feedback in Nigeria. The project is currently being considered for the 2018 Fast Company World Changing Ideas award.