FOOD WASTE PROBLEM IN AFRICA
In West Africa, particularly in hubs like Lagos, Accra, and Abidjan, the “Market Queen” system dominates local commerce. However, these women face a systemic crisis: up to 50% of perishable goods rot before they can be sold due to unreliable electricity. Cool-Link introduces 40ft solar-powered refrigerated containers—a “Cold Storage as a Service” (CSaaS) model—to transform these markets into high-efficiency, zero-waste economic hubs.
No Cold Chain Infrastructure
- Most rural areas lack refrigeration from farm transport and the market.
- Perishables spoil quickly under high temperatures
- $10B in annual losses in West Africa due to a lack of cold chains
Unreliable Electricity Conditions
- Long hours of blackout of electricity
- Rural areas have no electricity at all
- Diesel generators are expensive and unsustainable
Poor Transportation System
- Delays, heat exposure, and rapid spoilage
- No refrigerated trucks (Cold chain logistics) are available
