A safer future for food storage: How simple bags could be transforming markets in West Africa

In the lively markets of Niger and Nigeria, every grain of cowpea tells a story of survival and sustenance. Yet, these grains face a silent enemy: contamination from harmful chemicals used to keep insects at bay during storage. For farmers and families, the struggle to keep food safe without risking health has long been an uphill battle. But an innovative solution is changing that narrative—a simple, airtight bag. 

These bags, known as hermetic storage bags, are revolutionizing food storage across rural Africa. By sealing out air and pests, they preserve grains without the need for toxic pesticides. This means families can store their harvests safely, eat healthier food, and earn more money by selling high-quality produce. 

But here’s the real breakthrough: when researchers from the Purdue University, USA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique du Niger (INRAN), and IITA, Ibadan during a study aimed at estimating the extent to which rural consumers in sub-Saharan Africa value quality signals about their food, conducted an experiment with a type of hermetic storage called PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bags in markets Niger and Northern Nigeria, they found something remarkable. Indeed, consumers were not just willing to use them—they were ready to pay extra for grain stored in them. 

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