Farmers’ practices on common beans production: a path towards food loss reduction and food security improvement in Costa Rica

Food loss in common bean production is a significant issue that impacts productivity, sustainability, and food security. Despite its importance, dedicated research on the diagnosis of specific farming practices that contribute to these losses and their impact on smallholder bean farmers in the Latin American context is still limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the practices of 56 common bean farmers from a characteristic productive area in Costa Rica and conducting in-depth interviews with their farmers' association representatives, following part of the 4S FAO Methodology for food loss assessment. Our findings reveal that low levels of mechanisation and limited adoption of modern technologies are widespread, restricting productivity and exacerbating post-harvest losses. Furthermore, while some farmers invest minimally in cultivation, they persist in growing beans due to their dual role as a cash crop and a food security staple. Intercropping is a prevalent practice among these farmers, and storage challenges, such as heterogeneous humidity levels, often lead to postharvest losses and increased risk of mycotoxin contamination. These insights underscore the need for interventions to enhance access to mechanisation, promote the adoption of technologies, and provide incentives for improving productivity. Addressing these factors is crucial for reducing food loss and promoting sustainable food security in regions that rely heavily on common bean production. The proposed approach and methodology application could be useful for similar cases in the region, where diagnosis should be a first step for pertinent interventions.