InspiraFarms and BASE have started collaborating in Kenya to demonstrate that Cooling as a Service (CaaS) can transform the affordability and accessibility of cold chain infrastructure in emerging markets. Join the webinar on 25 June 2020 at 3pm CEST to find out more!

Inspirafarms and BASE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this month (June)  to start a collaboration for implementing the Cooling as a Service model in agricultural supply chains in Kenya. 

InspiraFarms produces energy-efficient pre-cooling and cold rooms that allow agribusinesses to leapfrog barriers to emerging technology. The solutions offered by Inspirafarms significantly cut energy costs, reduce food losses and come ready to meet the major international food safety certifications.

InspiraFarms and BASE are working with established exporters of fresh produce, from Kenya to the UK and Europe, to bring Cooling as a Service to both small-scale outgrowers and commercial farms in Kenya to increase the quality, volume, and shelf-life of the produce, allowing growers to increase their income and reduce losses. 

These exporters source significant quantities (up to 70 per cent of their total production) of green beans, sugar snaps, mange tout and peas. Small-scale growers typically receive modest payments for their raw produce, which is transported to large regional packhouses before it is cooled and processed for export. At the farm and en route to the export packhouse, up to 20 percent of produce is lost due to problems of dehydration and a lack of cooling and storage facilities. Small-scale growers can double their income by cooling their produce at the farm, however are unable to access capital and often don’t have land with a secure tenure to position a cold storage. 

By charging per kilo for cooling, InspiraFarms aims to remove the financial barriers to participation of Kenyan growers in the cold chain, and ensures that the agricultural, weather and market risks faced by farmers are not increased when taking on new assets and technology. InspiraFarms is deploying small-scale mobile pre-coolers as well as packhouses and cold storage systems using a pay-per-kilo model that will transform the accessibility and affordability of cold chain solutions for farmers, and thus the competitiveness and sustainability of agribusiness, in emerging markets in Africa and beyond. 

BASE and Inspirafarms are working together on the contractual arrangements and on pricing models to optimise the Cooling as a Service model for the agricultural sector.

This week, on 25 June 2020 at 3pm CEST, Inspirafarms, the Global Cold Chain Alliance and BASE will host a webinar on “Cooling as a service for agricultural supply chains”. The webinar will focus on the urgent need to rethink technology and financial solutions in order to create the right environment to effectively reach and serve large numbers of farmers and agribusiness, especially in terms of physical access to cold storage and affordability. Cooling as a Service is a key element of the solution to this challenge. Join us for this exciting conversation!