India forecast to invest $15 billion in cold chain

Cold chain investments in India could reach a cool $15 billion over the next five years, according to a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The study, ‘A Tank of Cold’, advises India to focus on powering cold chains via renewable energy sources.
IMechE‘s head of energy and environment, Tim Fox, said: “Investment in cold chain infrastructure driven by renewable energy is the key to prevent loss of perishable food, alleviating world hunger, improving health through better nutrition and improving air quality.”
Governments, NGOs and retailers should “take steps” to establish cold chains which use renewable energies like solar power, he added.
The report calculates that 40% of fresh food produce is wasted every year in India.
Mr Fox underscored cryogenic engine technology as a means by which agricultural produce could be cooled.
“At today’s prices, using the cryogenic engine technology highlighted in our report to provide the cooling of large refrigerated lorry or rail containers will cost between a fifth and a third of using diesel for the same job,” Mr Fox said.
In addition to having zero emission pollutants, he claimed, farmers would reap commercial benefits as they’d be able to sell more produce.
With headquarters in London, IMechE is a professional body of engineers with over 100,000 members in more than 140 nations.
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Phill Allen

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An in and outside the (bioprocess) box thinker, fluid management specialist Phill knows a thing or two about keeping pharma liquid logistics flowing.

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