The increase in global demand for healthy food products and initiatives to ensure food security in developing countries has focused on the cultivation of drought-resistant and biofortified cassava varieties. Cassava is a staple root crop grown in subtropical and tropical climates. Cassava flour is gluten free, which can be used as composite flour in essential foods such as bread. Thus, the role of postharvest handling of freshly harvested cassava root is essential, owing to the rapid physiological deterioration of the root soon after harvest. This situation confers a limited shelf life and, thus, creates poor utilization of the cassava root. However, processing cassava root into other food forms such as fufu, garri, starch and highquality flour enhances stability and long-term storage. This article critically reviewed the postharvest handling, processing and storage of fresh cassava root. Highlighting on the role of storage and minimal processing on sustainable cassava production, various spoilage mechanisms of cassava root were identified. In developing countries, cassava root is a valuable food and energy source, and understanding the role of optimum postharvest handling, processing and storage techniques would alleviate some concerns of food insecurity.

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The influence of packaging materials (plastic bucket, low density polyethylene [LDPE] bags and paper bags) on quality attributes of the flour of 2 cassava cultivars (TME 419 and UMUCASS 36) stored at 23 ± 2 °C and 60% relative humidity (RH) were investigated for 12 wk. Cassava flour from each package type was evaluated for proximate composition, physicochemical properties and microbial growth at 4-wk intervals. Total color difference (∆E) of both cassava flour cultivars increased with storage duration. Flour packed in plastic bucket had the lowest change in color (3.2 ± 0.42) for cv. "TME 419ˮ and (4.1 ± 0.87) for cv. "UMUCASS 36ˮ at the end of week 12. Total carotenoid decreased across all treatment, and after the 12 wk storage, the highest total carotenoid retention (1.7 ± 0.02 and 2.0 ± 0.05 μg/mL) was observed in flour packed in plastic bucket. However, cassava flour in paper bag had the lowest microbial count of 3.4 ± 0.03 and 3.4 ± 0.08 log cfu/g for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and fungi, respectively.

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