ColdHubs' pay-per-use refrigeration system in Nigeria cuts down on food spoilage, boosts female business owners, and enhances community resilience.
In Nigeria, ColdHubs, a pioneering company, is making a significant impact on smallholder farmers, women, and retailers through its innovative solar-powered cold storage solutions.
The introduction of ColdHubs has led to a substantial reduction in food waste, saving over 13.8 million kilograms of fresh produce from spoilage [2]. This has transformed what was once lost harvest into marketable goods, enabling farmers who previously lost around 30% of their harvest to sell their entire output [1].
By providing affordable, solar-powered cold storage, ColdHubs has not only prevented post-harvest losses but also boosted incomes. Farmers and traders, on average, have seen their earnings double, from an average of about US$60 per month to US$120 per month [2]. This income increase allows them to save money, pay school fees, and expand their market stalls, improving livelihoods for entire families [1].
ColdHubs is also creating employment opportunities, particularly for women. With over 100 new jobs created, more than 60 women operate ColdHubs facilities across Nigeria, managing storage facilities and building trust with traders, which is vital in local cash-based economies [1][2].
In addition to food preservation, ColdHubs is addressing the issue of food waste during transportation. The company's cold logistics through cold trucks ensures that cooled goods are transported from farms to urban markets, further reducing spoilage and strengthening supply chains [1][2].
Climate change mitigation is another significant benefit of ColdHubs' approach. The company’s solar-powered cold storage hubs save approximately 3.93 million kilograms of CO2 emissions by replacing traditional, fossil-fuel-dependent refrigeration [2]. This renewable energy approach aligns with environmental sustainability goals by using solar power to preserve crops and reduce carbon footprint [1][2].
ColdHubs' commitment to women empowerment is evident in various ways. The company offers training on how to access and use laptops with the excess energy produced by their solar panels [3]. ColdHubs' management team is composed of women at the local, regional, and headquarters level, with a commitment to recruiting and training more women [2].
The company's distribution of cold rooms near Nigerian farm clusters, aggregation centres, and outdoor food markets has resulted in positive knock-on effects for Nigerian women farmers/retailers and their communities. Some families have even been able to send girls to school and support community members in starting up side businesses [2].
Mrs. Ramatu Addulla, a small farmer in Yankaba Kano, stated that ColdHubs has changed the way she does business and her outlook on the future [1]. Mrs. Bukola Oyenuga, another farmer, attributes her access to a small loan for her dairy farm to ColdHubs' post-harvest management training [1].
In a country where 45% of food spoils due to a lack of cold storage, causing small farm owners to lose 25% of their annual income [4], ColdHubs' solutions are proving to be a game-changer. The company launched a network of 100% solar-powered walk-in cold stations in 2015 for 24/7 storage and preservation [2].
ColdHubs' pay-as-you-store model for their cold stations facilitates capacity building on post-harvest management [2]. The company has contributed to increasing the income of 6,317 farmers, retailers, and wholesalers in Nigeria [2].
In conclusion, ColdHubs' model not only increases food security and incomes for smallholder farmers but also contributes to local job creation and meaningful climate impact by combining solar energy with modern cold storage and logistics [1][2]. The company's commitment to women empowerment and training, as well as its renewable energy approach, make it a beacon of hope for sustainable development in Nigeria.
Scientists at ColdHubs are now exploring ways to expand their technology into the field of environmental science, aiming to develop eco-friendly cooling solutions for other perishable items in the lifestyle sector, such as flowers and cosmetics.
With the success of ColdHubs' solar-powered cold storage hubs in transforming the lives of smallholder farmers, the company is now considering a partnership with tech companies to integrate smart technology into their cold storage units, making them more efficient and easier to manage.
