Development of Waste-derived, Nutrient-enriched Biodegradable Coatings for Extending Shelf Life of Tropical Fruits in Sub-Saharan Africa

Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) represent a critical challenge to food security and economic stability, with losses estimated at 30-50%. This review critically examines the development and application of waste-derived, nutrient-enriched biodegradable coatings as a sustainable and transformative solution to this issue. It analyses the multifaceted postharvest challenges in SSA, including infrastructural gaps, crop diversity and weak market dynamics, which conventional preservation methods fail to address. The article details the principles of biodegradable coatings, highlighting their mechanisms of action as barriers to moisture, gases and microbes and surveys conventional biopolymers like starch, chitosan and alginate. Moving beyond current practices, the review identifies emerging research frontiers tailored for SSA, such as the valorisation of local agro-wastes (e.g., cassava peels, mango kernels), smart responsive coatings, nanostructured biopolymers, nutrient fortification and microbiome-aware design. These innovations position coatings not merely as passive barriers but as active, multifunctional preservation systems. Commodity-specific case studies underscore the potential of these coatings to extend the shelf life of key tropical fruits and vegetables. However, significant barriers to adoption persist, including a scarcity of field trials under real SSA conditions, high costs, low consumer awareness and underdeveloped regulatory frameworks. The review concludes that for biodegradable coatings to achieve their full potential, a systems approach is essential, integrating technological innovation with supportive policies, farmer training, consumer education and digital tools for supply chain management. This holistic strategy can position biodegradable coatings as a cornerstone of sustainable, resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems in SSA.