The global conversation around sustainable cooling has reached a pivotal moment, with the dialogue maturing — from curiosity to conviction.
Miriam Rodway CEO of IOR and Professor Toby Peters, University of Birmingham and Director of ACES at the Clean Cooling Network Conference on the Sustainable Cold Chain for the Global South. © Clean Cooling Network / Chris de Bode
With an ever-sharpening focus on dealing with the impacts of global warming and socio-economic inequity, the future role of sustainable cooling in helping to create fairer and more resilient communities across the Global South has never been clearer.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces up to 50% loss post-harvest with nutritional and economic consequences. India experiences significant food loss due to issues like poor infrastructure, storage, and handling - more than one-third of all food produced is lost in India annually after the harvest, which contributes to food insecurity.
Against this backdrop more than 120 delegates from around the world came to the University of Birmingham to mark a pivotal moment in the global conversation on sustainable cooling. The Clean Cooling Network Conference on the Sustainable Cold Chain for the Global South showcased innovative solutions, international collaboration, and a shared commitment to equitable and resilient cold-chain development.
This is where ACES and its model of market intervention is ready to play its part in helping to deliver and accelerate the creation of resilient communities through its innovative programmes, approaches and platform.
A major highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and the African Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Cold Chain (ACES). This strategic partnership aims to strengthen collaboration and promote the exchange of ideas and expertise in the field of clean cooling.
More significantly, the two-day event showed that the conversation on the need for sustainable cold chains as critical infrastructure in the Global South has achieved maturity and a tipping point has been reached. It is now clearly time for multi-dimensional collaboration in the scale-up of deployment.
This is where ACES and its model of market intervention is ready to play its part in helping to deliver and accelerate the creation of resilient communities through its innovative programmes, approaches and platforms.
Based at the University of Rwanda, in Kigali, ACES is a central hub that provides sustainable solutions to cold-chain challenges. Research looks at the entire food harvest, processing storage and distribution explores sustainable, fit-for-market and purpose solutions and business models that ensures quality and safety of food from farm to fork. These models are then applied to other cold-chain services such as vaccines and socialised through specialised outreach centres in Africa including Community Cooling Hubs.
The work of ACES has laid the groundwork for transformation. With awareness now deeply embedded, 2026 must be the year of decision delivery - where rapid, widespread implementation of market intervention models begins in earnest. This is not just a call to action; it is a strategic imperative.
Unlocking the full potential of sustainable cold chains will require deeper collaboration with the private financing community. We must explore and co-design innovative investment models tailored to multi-benefit, multi-dimensional infrastructure projects. These models must be inclusive, equitable, and resilient - especially for rural communities across the Global South.
This is not just about cooling - it’s about creating systems that support food security, health resilience, and economic empowerment. Sustainable cold chains are the backbone of thriving rural economies, and their deployment must be supported by accessible, affordable financing products that reflect the realities of the communities they serve.
Accelerating uptake requires a blend of enabling government policy environments and robust public-private financing mechanisms. ACES, alongside the Clean Cooling Network, is uniquely positioned to convene the collaborators needed to design and deliver these solutions - not only in Rwanda, but across Africa, India, and the broader Global South.
One of the most promising innovations is the scale-up of commercially viable, multi-service Community Cooling Hubs. These hubs offer a tangible, practical pathway to sustainable cold-chain deployment. They empower smallholder farmers, enhance rural socio-economic resilience, and help mitigate youth migration by creating local opportunities in a warming world.
The UK, like many nations, is increasingly exposed to risks in food and health security due to its reliance on supply chains originating in the Global South. These chains are vulnerable to climate shocks, ecosystem degradation, and socio-economic disruptions. By leveraging its expertise in technology, investment, trade, and science, the UK can play a pivotal role in strengthening the sustainability and resilience of these supply chains - reducing risk at home while supporting development abroad.
The tipping point has been reached. The time for pilot projects and isolated interventions is over. What’s needed now is a bold, coordinated push - driven by policy, powered by finance, and anchored in community. ACES stands ready to lead this charge, and we invite governments, investors, innovators, and civil society to join us in delivering sustainable cooling solutions that serve both people and planet.
Toby Peters, Professor of Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham
Professor in Cold Economy
Professor Toby Peters is an award-winning technology developer and industrial academic with more than 14 years of experience in energy storage /energy systems.
