How to Solve the World’s Food Waste Problem, with Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, founder and CEO of ColdHubs

Approximately one-third of all food - about 1.3 billion tons - gets lost or wasted every year, with the people who produce it losing potential profit. In Nigeria, annual food loss from domestic production is even higher at 40%. Post-harvest losses impact farm profits, farmer livelihoods and the overall economic sustainability of rural communities.

Access to cold storage significantly reduces the threat of food loss, increasing a crop’s longevity and ability to make it to markets and consumers. ColdHubs Ltd. designs, installs, commissions and operates 100% solar-powered, walk-in cold rooms known as "ColdHubs," in farm clusters, horticultural produce aggregation centers and outdoor food markets. The hubs are used by smallholder farmers, retailers and wholesalers, to store and preserve fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods 24/7, extending their shelf life from two days to 21 days.

ColdHubs is one of two 2021 AYuTe Africa Champions, recently announced at the 2021 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit. While many agritech competitions focus on early-stage companies and ideas, the AYuTe Africa Challenge backs innovations like ColdHubs that are market-tested, farmer-ready and poised to provide an impact that will cascade across the food systems of multiple countries.

Join Heifer International Senior Vice President of Africa Programs, Adesuwa Ifedi, in conversation with founder and CEO of ColdHubs, Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, to discuss the importance of innovative storage solutions for smallholders to reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmer incomes and increase food security in Africa.

For more information:
ColdHubs, coldhubs.com
AYuTe Africa Challenge, AYuTe.Africa
Read about this year's AYuTe champions on our blog, Announcing the Champions of the Inaugural AYuTe Africa Challenge