Writer: Minal Jain

In much of the developing world, postharvest losses are as high as 80%. This loss is primarily due to harvest spoilage because of high temperatures, and lack of proper storage and cooling facilities. This lost harvest results in poor income for the rural families, debt, hunger, poverty and in countries like India even more disastrous consequences like suicides.

Because fresh produce can perish in a matter of days under ambient temperatures, temperature control alone can extend the shelf life by weeks or even months. But the cold‐storage chain is virtually non‐existent due to the high cost of equipment and spotty electricity. This is especially true for small farmers, in poor countries, who may not have the financial capability to install storage systems which will improve the shelf life of their produce.

But now a team of a new young generation of Africans, with an average age of 27 years, come out with a novel solution! It seems so incredibly simple, yet its benefits could be tremendous. They built a mobile storage solution called Solar Freeze. The Solar Freeze uses solar energy, simultaneously solving the problem of storage and unreliable electricity.

Solar-powered refrigerators have been around for a long time, but the Solar Freeze provides bigger storage rooms which are mobile. Solar Freeze units contain approximately 2 – 3 tons of perishable food, and the units can be transported from the farm to the market directly, to provide a convenient solution to reduce post-harvest loss.

The concept is taken further by inculcating the “sharing economy” idea. Small farmers do not have to invest in the entire Solar Freeze unit, instead they share space with other farmers, on a pay as you store model. A bit like renting space and ubering it to the market.

Moreover, the units are installed by women, who receive technical expertise from the team, helping in female empowerment. It also trains them on technical skills in renewable energy, therefore breaking the barriers to entry for women in energy.

According to the Solar Freeze team, some benefits of this invention include:
1. Reduced Food Loss and Waste in the fresh produce agricultural sector by 90 per cent.
2. Increased incomes for rural farmers by 70 per cent.
3. Eliminated use of diesel-powered generators for cold storage as well as reduced deforestation in rural areas

An innovative solution that favours small rural families, city dwellers, and the environment!

Source:
http://www.solarfreeze.co.ke/story/
https://www.energyglobe.info/en/world-awards/energy-globe-2018/fireKenya/

Image Source:
https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en/programmes/expo-live/iigp/global-innovators/solar-freeze

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