Creating a More Resilient Food System Through Sustainable Refrigeration
690 million people go without enough food. What's more, 25–30% of food is lost or wasted every year. Close to 14% of food is lost unintentionally between harvest and distribution, meaning a high proportion of food grown never makes it to the market.
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It is also estimated that food loss and waste accounts for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this food loss is due to a lack of effective cold food storage, such as cold storage.
Cold food storage technologies are essential to keep produce such as fruit, vegetables, and milk fresh. Smallholder farmers produce one third of the world’s food, yet many cannot access cold storage to preserve their harvests, and enable them to reach new markets.
Efficiency for Access supports organisations working to advance sustainable cold food storage through the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund, which is part of the Low Energy Inclusive Appliances programme, and the Global LEAP Off-Grid Cold Chain Challenge. Collectively, these initiatives have supported 20 organisations with over £1 million in grant funding. Promethean Power Systems in India and ColdHubs in Nigeria are just two of the companies that have received support.
For farmers like Joy Franklin in Uganda, access to ColdHubs’ solar-powered walk-in cold storage has helped her improve her income and avoid food waste. In our latest Human Success Story, we delve into the lives of farmers and entrepreneurs, and look at how to create a more resilient food system through sustainable cold storage technologies. Watch the full video here: