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The rapid drive towards trade interconnectedness has led today’s world to turn into a web of value networks, linking farmers, processors, distributors, and consumers from across continents coming together to enhance the global agri-value chain. In 2023, the overall export value of this global agri-value chain stood at over USD 1.6 trillion, of which 39 percent is represented by perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy products1.
Figure: Types of post-harvest treatment for prolonging shelf life of perishable food
While the cross-border trade value of perishable food items is estimated to be over USD 600 billion, 14 percent of the overall produced food gets spoiled in the post-harvest process, before reaching the shops, and 17 percent more is wasted after reaching the shops and customers2. To minimize the loss resulting from such post-harvest management, different treatment measures are adopted.
Food irradiation, a physical treatment measure, preserves the quality and extends the shelf life of food through safely transferring energy, using radiation to eliminate microbial contamination and minimize the risk of food-borne illness. The irradiation process mainly involves ionizing radiation to treat food, and there are three types of irradiation technologies.
| Technology | Source | Suitability |
| Gamma Ray | Radioactive Isotope | Operational: Large-scale irradiation operations Food Type: High-density food items |
| X-Ray | Electron Beam Accelerator | Operational: Flexible operation process Food Type: Mixed load processing |
| E-beam | Electron Beam Accelerator | Operational: Fast and flexible operations with lower cost Food Type: Low-density food items |
Table: Irradiation technologies and their varying suitability for food irradiation
While gamma-ray offers deep penetration and is the most widely used irradiation technology, due to the strict regulatory and safety requirements connected to its radioactive source, a rising shift towards x-ray and e-beam is noted3. With the growing need for reducing post-harvest losses, overall irradiation technology is currently approved in 69 countries for the treatment of over 60 types of perishable food items, including fruits and vegetables4.
Figure: Food irradiation process
Globally, around 1 million tons of food items are irradiated every year5. The technology is already in commercial use in 50 countries, through 200 facilities6, marking the rising demand for such safe treatment, which is expected to further increase in the coming years, with the rising population of the world and the deepening economic ties among countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ensuring food safety and security and building resilience against climate change adversaries.
Driven by agricultural production and exports, the commercial users of food irradiation include leading export markets like the USA, China, Brazil, Thailand, and the Netherlands7. Additionally, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and several European and South Asian countries are also participating in the global irradiated food market, with China leading the irradiated food production globally8 and Belgium leading in Europe9. While in Europe, the greater portion of the irradiated food was herbs and spices, in Asia, the irradiated food basket was more diverse, containing fruits, vegetables, spices, frozen meat and fish, etc. Overall, spices and herbs are common irradiated foods across all countries.
| Country | Number of Facilities | Type of Irradiated Food |
| China | ~170 | Spices, cereals, dried vegetables, health meals, and functional foods |
| India | ~25 | Spices, fruits, sprouts, dried vegetables |
| Pakistan | ~3 | Spices, legumes, and fruits |
| Thailand | ~3 | Fruits, herbs, frozen foods, and processed food |
| Bangladesh | 1 | Spices, nuts, spirulina, pet food, and mushrooms |
Table: Food irradiation in selected countries
For developing countries like Bangladesh, where agriculture accounts for over 10 percent of GDP and employs over 45 percent of the total workforce10, post-harvest losses pose a serious threat to food security, farmer incomes, and export competitiveness. With over USD 149 million in fruits and vegetables exports11 and USD 2.4 billion annual post-harvest losses12, Bangladesh is at a crossroad, where unlocking the door for next-level growth for exports lies in safely preserving quality foods and extending shelf life.
While Bangladesh is on a continuous journey to expand its global market portfolio, the recent entry of Bangladeshi mangoes to China, the world’s second-largest mango importer, and the ongoing discussions with the UAE on establishing a halal meat processing zone reflect the growing interest of the global markets. To effectively and fully unlock such export potential of the country, a strategic focus is needed on utilizing emerging post-harvest management and treatment technologies, such as food irradiation.
At present, the country has one irradiation research facility and one commercial facility. Institute of Radiation and Polymer Technology (IRPT), the commercial irradiation facility at Savar has been providing service to private organizations by irradiating food, medical and pharmaceutical items, where the irradiated foods include spices, nuts, spirulina, pet food, and mushrooms13.
To increase the country’s capacity for food irradiation, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) is establishing another facility in Faridpur, which is expected to reduce the post-harvest loss by 95 percent14. This new facility aims to process 85,000 tons of agricultural products annually, with a focus on export-oriented items such as onions, potatoes, and mangoes, thus strengthening the export ecosystem of Bangladeshi fruits and vegetables.
As Bangladesh is transitioning towards diversifying its export basket and expanding market access, the country needs to consider a multi-pronged approach to strengthen its position in the global market.
Figure: Roadmap to enhancing the treatment of Bangladesh’s agri-food
Food irradiation is a transformative technology to enhance the exportability of agricultural products of Bangladesh. Embracing this technology would be a strategic move toward safer food, reduced food loss and waste, and stronger global integration. While irradiation technology would significantly minimize the risk of losing value in the post-harvest process, a strong agri-value chain for Bangladesh products would also require an integrated approach with the involvement of all stakeholders in strengthening the ecosystem to build a more food-secure and economically prosperous Bangladesh.
The article was authored by Ainan Tajrian, Senior Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners. For further clarification, please contact here: [email protected]
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