This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
Nigerian startup Keep IT Cool (KIC) delivers sustainable refrigeration and smart distribution solutions for small-scale farmers and fishermen. By extending the shelf life of their produce, the service curbs food waste while fostering more stable incomes.
Food waste throughout the supply chain, from production to consumption, poses a significant challenge in many African markets. For instance, fishermen on the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria lose up to half of their daily catch due to the lack of proper refrigeration and transport systems. The lack of centralised energy networks and the scarcity of on-demand cold storage options make it challenging to preserve the freshness of produce, particularly during its journey from port to market. While the installation of localised refrigeration systems offers a potential solution, it fails to tackle the wider supply chain constraints that play a major role in the spoilage of fresh goods.
KIC installs solar-powered cold storage units at the points where the catch is unloaded, preserving the freshness of the produce, and manages the transport to market, significantly cutting food waste. In addition to providing refrigeration, KIC directly links farmers and fishermen to retail markets.
Through agreements with 1,600 retailers, the Nairobi-based startup ensures the timely purchase of produce, offering farmers and fishermen income security. The organisation establishes a guaranteed price at harvest time, removing reliance on middlemen and protecting against price fluctuations tied to product conditions.
KIC currently collaborates with eight fishermen's cooperatives, consisting of 4,500 members. Thanks to its actions, the organisation has prevented 25% of the catch from going to waste, while 3,600 fishermen have seen their incomes rise by more than 15%.
Winner of the Earthshot Prize 2024, Keep IT Cool measures its success by the reduction of food waste and post-harvest losses (PHLs), as well as the emissions avoided through waste reduction, clean energy use, and hybrid trucks. Currently, the company handles 250,000 kg of produce per week and has achieved a 98% reduction in post-harvest losses of 1.5 million kg of food since 2022.
KIC's solution holds vast potential in the food storage sector. Keep IT Cool is constructing Kenya's largest solar-powered cold chain distribution facility for small-scale farmers. The new facility will have a capacity of 70 tonnes, seven times that of the current facility. With plans for expansion into East Africa and beyond, Keep IT Cool is also working to grow its operations in poultry, fruit, and vegetables.
Website:
Name:
Keep IT Cool
Sector:
Food waste
Plus:
Connecting farmers and fishermen to retail markets
Features:
Localised and sustainable refrigeration systems that help small farmers and fishermen preserve their produce
Image: Envato