South Africa produces enough food for its population, yet millions still experience hunger. Multiple outlets point to losses occurring after production, where food is wasted or spoiled along the supply chain rather than reaching households.
The articles cite official statistics and emphasize that hunger is not presented as a simple shortage of output. Instead, they highlight the scale of waste and the role of infrastructure, particularly cold storage and broader “cold chain” systems that keep produce safe and extend shelf life. One estimate cited in the reporting says South Africa wastes about 10.3 million metric tons of food each year, including roughly 19% as fresh produce.
While both sources agree on the core problem—food is available but lost before it can be consumed—The Conversation frames the solution more explicitly around improving cold storage and preservation capacity. Phys.org similarly focuses on waste within the value chain as a key factor, aligning the issue of hunger with post-harvest logistics and losses rather than production alone.
