Research aims to help Wageningen University & Research’s PHSC group fine-tune services for the fresh produce industry
A Wageningen University & Research student is inviting fresh produce professionals to share their challenges and information needs through a short survey to help shape the relevance and accessibility of industry research and expertise.
Matthew Meslage, a graduation intern with Wageningen University & Research’s (WUR) Post-Harvest and Supply Chain (PHSC) group, is conducting research into the challenges, needs and information-seeking behaviour of organisations involved in post-harvest and supply-chain activities.
The research aims to develop a better understanding of the needs of businesses across the fresh produce sector, helping WUR’s PHSC group make its expertise and services more relevant and accessible to industry.
The survey is aimed at professionals and organisations involved in fresh produce post-harvest operations and supply chains. Their responses will help identify the challenges and priorities considered most important by the industry, ensuring that the research reflects perspectives from across the sector.
Meslage commented: “It’s one thing to look at industry trends and research what companies might need, but it’s another to hear directly from the people dealing with these challenges every day. That’s why I’m particularly interested in hearing different perspectives from people working across the industry.
“Challenges such as reducing food loss and waste, extending shelf-life and developing more sustainable solutions matter not only to individual businesses, but also to the wider food system. I believe that understanding what the industry actually needs is an important step towards ensuring that research focuses on the right challenges and can make a real difference.”
The survey can be accessed here.
