In this paper, we try to understand what the main causes of food losses (FLs) are. Our results show that producers' education and experience and the number of years in which a producer has been involved in the production of a specific crop are significantly correlated with reduction in FL. Unfavorable climatic conditions, pests, and diseases, as well as limited knowledge and access to equipment, credit, and markets, are also challenges to increasing production of higher quality and therefore reasons for FL. Policies to reduce and prevent FL need to be targeted to specific commodities and contexts.

中文翻译：

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关于粮食损失的根源

在本文中，我们试图了解造成食物损失（FL）的主要原因。我们的结果表明，生产者的教育和经验以及生产者参与特定作物生产的年限与FL的减少密切相关。气候条件，虫害和疾病的不利影响，以及有限的知识和获得设备，信贷和市场的机会，也对提高优质产品的产量构成了挑战，因此也是造成FL的原因。减少和预防FL的政策必须针对特定的商品和环境。