The Global Menace.
Post-harvest Losses
Globally, 1.3 billion tons of food is lost each year. (UN, FAO)
Post-harvest Losses of vegetables and fruits occur at all points in the supply chain from post-production storage to the food being placed on a plate for consumption.
UNEP estimates that a staggering 15% of food waste related CO2 emissions come from inefficiency in post-harvest cold chains.
Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have been found to lose as much as 36 percent of their total harvested food, with up to 94 percent of these losses attributed to inefficient supply chains.
The Solution.
Smart Solar-Powered Cool Box
For smallholder farmers and traders.
Our IoT enabled mobile off-grid cold storage preservation technology is made of cold room panels, solar panels, sensors, a compressor and an air cooler. This cooling technology extends shelf life of perishable crops from the usual 5-day period to 21 days.
Farmers appreciate our technology because it helps them extend shelf life of their crops and reduce wastage. During the storage period, farmers will be able to find buyers or middlemen to sell their crops to. Due to this extended time not only would farmers be able to find someone to buy their produce, but they can also use their time to ensure that the buyer is offering them a fair price.
Our Social Impact
We have developed a solution keeping in mind the Triple Bottom Line accountability framework, which is inclusive of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of our business.
Reducing green house gas emissions and conserving environmental resources.
Alleviating poverty in small-holders' farming communities and boosting the local economy
Creating employment opportunities for women and the youth.
The tomato buyers do not come to purchase the produce after
harvesting and tomatoes are left on the farms to rot.
Introducing AkoFresh “Cold Store” is a great idea since we will be able to keep
our tomatoes fresh while we find buyers.
Yaw Agyapong
(Akumadan Farmer and Youth Leader)
SDGs Addressed
Climate Impact
Every solar cold room we set up is reducing up to 16.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions each month.
This means that with two of our preservation units operating, we are saving over 300 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in just one community, thereby contributing to achieving a net-zero carbon world. The impact increases as we grow and expand to new communities.
Prize Winner,
Prototypes for Humanity Award, Dubai.
DIFC, A.R.M Holding & Dubai Culture
2022
Rising Star Winner
.ORG Impact Awards
Public Impact Registry.
2022
Grand Winner , Best Startup Under 3 Years Old
Startupper of the Year Challenge (3rd Edition)
TotalEnergies.
2022
First Prize Winner
Young Global Changers Recoupling Award
Global Solutions Initiative
2022
Winner
Youth for Climate Resilient Agriculture Competition.
UN FAO & IAAS Global
2022
Winner & Top Innovator
Generation Restoration Youth Challenge.
UpLink - World Economic Forum.
2021
Community Prize Winner
Techstyle for Social Good International Competition.
The Mills Fabrica.
2021
Grand Prize Winner
Fishbowl Entrepreneurship Challenge
2021
Angus Ridgway
CEO, Potentialife
Dr. Samuel Yaw Akomea Esq.
Manager, Center for Business Development & Snr. Lecturer at KNUST