Nigeria’s Food Problem Is Preservation, Not Production — Opeoluwa Runsewe Calls for Urgent Cold Chain Investment
Nigeria’s food crisis is not a production problem, it is a preservation failure. That was the urgent message from Opeoluwa Runsewe, Founder and CEO of Terroso Group, who spoke at a virtual press conference on the 22nd of April, 2026, themed “Post-Harvest Losses: The Business Case for Cold Chain Investment and Agro-Industrialisation.”
Runsewe revealed that Nigeria loses between 30 to 50 percent of its agricultural produce post-harvest, primarily due to the absence of an integrated cold chain ecosystem for food preservation. He noted that while agricultural output has improved in recent years, the infrastructure required to preserve perishable goods from farm gate to consumer remains critically underdeveloped.
The conversation highlighted how post-harvest losses affect agro-industrialisation, particularly for large-scale processing plants. High loss rates significantly reduce both the volume and quality of raw materials available for processing, undermining efficiency and profitability. Runsewe identified key challenges including minimising wastage, maintaining quality through proper storage conditions, and ensuring a consistent year-round supply of seasonal produce.
He further explained that the lack of storage infrastructure forces many farmers into distress sales, weakening their bargaining power and limiting their income potential.
Addressing the role of policy and finance, Runsewe called for a shift in how Nigeria’s banking sector approaches agricultural infrastructure. He advocated for infrastructure-grade financing models tailored to cold chain development, alongside policy reforms including tax incentives, reduced import duties on key components, standardised storage regulations, and the establishment of a national cold chain strategy through public-private partnerships.
According to him, solving post-harvest losses should be treated as a macroeconomic priority with direct implications for GDP growth, food security, and inflation control.
As calls grow for increased investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, Runsewe stressed that sustained dialogue and collaboration are essential to addressing systemic challenges and unlocking long-term value. Through Terroso Agriculture — the subsidiary of Terroso Group leading efforts to bridge critical cold chain gaps — he reaffirmed the company’s commitment to driving a preservation-led transformation of the sector.
He called on investors, development partners, policymakers, and private sector players to collaborate in scaling infrastructure, strengthening capacity, and accelerating innovation to build a more efficient and resilient food system in Nigeria.
