London-based Dearman has launched a new project aiming to reduce wasted harvest in South Africa.
Food waste in South Africa is estimated to be worth £4.7bn ($6bn) annually, half of which occurs in the fruit and vegetable sector. Low farmer income makes access to cooling technology difficult.
Dearman’s 24-month project, which is backed by grant funds from the Department for International Development, seeks to develop a mobile pre-cooling system, using the company’s groundbreaking liquid nitrogen (N2) engine. Pre-cooling rapidly reduces the temperature of produce immediately after harvest, to ensure minimal post-harvest food loss.
Working with local partners Transfrig, the cold chain operator, and Harvest Fresh, a family-owned food producer based in the Gauteng province, Dearman will develop a mobile, off-grid, zero-emissions system that allows small farmers to access affordable pre-cooling.
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