CoolCycle's Innovation Empowers Food Security in Nigeria

As global temperatures continue to rise at an alarming rate, the demand for cooling has never been higher. In 35 African countries analysed in SEforALL’s Chilling Prospects 2023 report, 370 million people are at high risk due to a lack of access to cooling—53% are women, and 47% are men. In Nigeria, about 114 million people (53% of the population) are at high risk. This lack of cooling severely impacts key sectors such as agriculture, especially in countries like Nigeria, where many depend on farming to earn a living.

CoolCycle, a Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN) co-led initiative, aims to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food security, and promote clean energy use, pioneering a transformative approach to Nigeria's agricultural sector by integrating renewable energy with cold storage technology, aiming to revolutionize food security and enhance livelihoods.

Through the successful deployment of a 12-ton walk-in, solar-powered cold storage facility and a pack house in Epe, a key agricultural hub in Lagos, the project has established a reliable and continuous energy supply. This is achieved via a robust solar energy system, comprising 24 units of 350-watt solar panels, a 7.5kVa hybrid inverter, and a 20kWh lithium-ion battery.

Epe was strategically selected due to its significant agricultural output and the pressing cooling infrastructure challenges identified by Eweko farmers. The local government's support further solidified Epe as an ideal location to address both environmental and agricultural needs.

Waste to wealth

To ensure this initiative’s success, CoolCycle tracks  energy consumption, temperature stability, food preservation rates, and end-user feedback. This data-driven approach will go a long way to ensure the system's efficiency and impact.

According to Mr. Saheed Adams- CEO, Eweko aggregate, Epe, Lagos, “Reducing post-harvest losses starts with the right infrastructure. The CoolCycle solution has provided cold storage support to over 50 farmers within the immediate community and is expanding to more than 200 potential farmers, reducing the post-harvest losses to about 5%.” Mr. Saheed Adams added that it supports jobs and economic development, noting that “over 20 job opportunities were created in post-harvest handling because of the CoolCycle solution, and it is growing as Eweko aggregate continues to connect farmers to efficient storage and market linkages, ensuring higher earnings, reduced food waste, and a more resilient food system.”

Farmers in Epe are projected to experience a significant reduction in post-harvest losses, with potential savings of up to 60% for crops like tomatoes. This translates to substantial financial gains, as spoilage-related losses can reach up to N1.4 million (GBP 703) annually for tomatoes alone.

“CoolCycle offers affordable weekly cold storage access for as low as N150 (GBP 0.075) per kilogram, eliminating prohibitive upfront costs”, said Damilola Hamid Balogun, CEO and Co-founder of YSDN, which co-implements the project. “This idea enhances accessibility while minimizing operational expenses through reliance on solar power,” added Damilola.

CoolCycle's solution also supports the circular economy by repurposing discarded generator casings, reduces emissions by displacing fossil fuels with solar-powered systems. Ultimately, it aims to showcase innovation in tackling food security through sustainable and scalable solutions.

To learn more about CoolCycle visit https://www.ze-gen.org/circularity-challenge/

To learn more cooling solutions for food, nutrition, and agriculture, click here.