Poor cold chain logistics resulting in massive food wastage in Africa

The newspaper quotes Alexander Isong, President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa, as saying: “We have very small, minute, cold rooms that don’t scratch the surface.” 

Business Day Nigeria adds that the African Post-Harvest Loss Information System estimates Nigeria loses around 40% of its total food production to post-harvest spoilage each year, with fruits and vegetables suffering losses of up to 70%. 

Michael Akintese, co-founder of Ecotutu, a cold-chain storage and logistics firm, says Nigeria operates at less than 4% of its cold chain capacity requirement, a shortfall that costs farmers and agribusinesses up to US$4.5-billion annually. 

“This gap highlights an investment opportunity in the country’s cold chain sector, valued at approximately $206-million in 2023,” reports Business Day Nigeria. 

“Potential investments range from automated storage solutions to the manufacturing of plastic crates for fresh produce transport, and the acquisition of cold storage trucks for perishable goods.” 

Significant food wastage due to inefficient supply chain infrastructure 

In a blog post published in September 2024, logistics and infrastructure consultancy ALG Global notes that, on average, Africa wastes about 50% of its food due to inefficient supply chain infrastructure, particularly in agriculture.  

In sub-Saharan Africa, where over 60% of the population are smallholder farmers, inadequate cold chain facilities worsen this issue. In addition, cold storages for pharmaceutical products often lack the capacity to store vaccines and temperature-sensitive medicines in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, contributing to a global annual death toll of 1.5-million people from preventable diseases.  

“|By recognising the critical role of a sustainable cold chain from farm to market, both private and public sectors are increasingly investing in this essential infrastructure in Africa,” ALG Global states.