Postharvest Innovations for Food Security in Nigeria: Integrating Storage, Preservation, and Processing Technologies. Nigerian Journal of Post-Harvest Research, 3(2), 45-56.

Postharvest losses remain a critical challenge in Nigeria, affecting food security, economic development, and rural livelihoods. This study employs a qualitative systematic review methodology, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines to ensure transparency and rigour. The review aims to examine technological innovations in postharvest storage, preservation, and processing relevant to Nigeria; analyse the roles of Agricultural Extension, Rural Sociology, and Biosystems Engineering in facilitating adoption and sustainability; evaluate the economic, socio-cultural, and institutional factors influencing postharvest innovation outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across scholarly databases and relevant institutional publications to draw insights from 35 sources with triangulation of peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2015 and 2025 that investigated postharvest innovations in Nigeria. A thematic analysis identified four key categories: adoption through agricultural extension platforms, technological adaptation of postharvest tools, socio-cultural factors including gender disparities and trust networks, and institutional synergies and policy coherence. While innovations have improved shelf life and farmer incomes, challenges persist: poor rural infrastructure, gender disparities, fragmented extension services, and inconsistent policy support. Trust-building and community engagement were noted as critical to fostering technology uptake. The study recommends targeted investments in decentralised infrastructure, promotion of gender-inclusive innovation models, and coordinated public private partnerships to accelerate impact. In Nigeria, a revitalised extension system and coherent policy framework are essential to embed postharvest technologies into food systems. These measures will help transform the sector into a resilient and equitable pillar for national food security.