Moldova's Food Chain Problems: Waste and Losses after Harvest

Laureana Odajiu, Nicolae Mocanu, Silvius Stanciu

”Dunărea de Jos” University of Galaţi

Keywords: food waste, post-harvest losses, Republic of Moldova, food security, agri-food supply chain.

Abstract: This study analyzes food waste in the Republic of Moldova, focusing particularly on losses that occur on farms after crop harvest. The post-harvest stages are a critical point where a significant amount of food is lost. In 2022, a severe drought caused the loss of approximately 95,000 tons of field crops after harvest, including cereals (wheat, corn) and oilseeds (sunflower, soybeans), representing about 5% of total production. For fruits and vegetables, farms lacking proper sorting and storage facilities can lose 10-15% of their harvest, while modern cold storage could reduce these losses to 3-5%.
Agriculture is of major importance to Moldova’s economy, contributing over 18% of GDP (including the food industry) and accounting for approximately 45% of the country’s exports. The main causes of post-harvest losses are climate challenges, inadequate storage infrastructure, and strict export market requirements.
The study concludes that reducing food waste and strengthening Moldova’s  agri-food sector requires technological modernization, digitalization, and alignment with international standards.