ShareActivities of the IIR’s Commission on Refrigerated Storage and the IIR’s international partnerships
The activity of Commission D1, Refrigerated Storage, is involved in the links with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Within these partnerships, major projects are being carried out, all related to food.
Among the several international partnerships of the IIR, those with UN organizations have been strengthened in recent years. The activity of Commission D1, Refrigerated Storage, is involved in the links with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Within these partnerships, major projects are being carried out, all related to food. In fact, it is acknowledged that food losses due to poor storage and transport conditions are a global issue and need prompt and effective solutions.
- FAO and the IIR have a well-established collaboration which in the past focused on the Commission for the Codex Alimentarius. Now they have signed a broader partnership. They have agreed on a new joint publication, “Design and Operation of Cold Stores in Warmer Developing Countries: Technical Guide”, which is a new edition of the IIR "Cold Store Guide" with expanded sections on the specific issues encountered in warm countries. Some members of the IIR from various commissions are involved in this editorial project, making available their expertise.
- A 3-day regional workshop on the use of the cold chain to promote agricultural and agro-industry development in Sub-Saharan Africa will be held on June 4-6, 2012 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This venue has been chosen because of its geographical location, its bilingual English-French situation, its major agricultural potential, the importance of the cold chain in its developmental strategy and the active participation of Cameroon as an IIR member country. The workshop will provide a platform for participants to discuss challenges and best approaches for developing cold chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. They will gain better knowledge of the current situation in the use of cold chains in the food sector, and will be able to identify issues, strategies and priorities for their development.
- The IIR is represented at the annual General Conference of UNIDO. In 2009, the Delegate of India identified deficiencies in the field of refrigerated storage of vegetables. Discussions continued with India’s Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Agriculture, and also involved FAO, focusing on the agri-food value chain. Cooperation between the French and Indian Ministries of Agriculture was set up. The IIR, FAO and UNIDO agreed to join forces in order to integrate the cold chain into agricultural development to reduce post-harvest losses. Now the Indian Ministry of Agriculture is creating a national technical centre on refrigeration, and is willing to ask the IIR to help. A meeting will take place this year to identify their needs and the possible involvement of the IIR.
The role of the IIR is well recognized worldwide, and the expertise of its members is considered a valued source of knowledge for developing strategies to fight food losses.
Giovanni Cortella,
President of Commission D1
- FAO and the IIR have a well-established collaboration which in the past focused on the Commission for the Codex Alimentarius. Now they have signed a broader partnership. They have agreed on a new joint publication, “Design and Operation of Cold Stores in Warmer Developing Countries: Technical Guide”, which is a new edition of the IIR "Cold Store Guide" with expanded sections on the specific issues encountered in warm countries. Some members of the IIR from various commissions are involved in this editorial project, making available their expertise.
- A 3-day regional workshop on the use of the cold chain to promote agricultural and agro-industry development in Sub-Saharan Africa will be held on June 4-6, 2012 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This venue has been chosen because of its geographical location, its bilingual English-French situation, its major agricultural potential, the importance of the cold chain in its developmental strategy and the active participation of Cameroon as an IIR member country. The workshop will provide a platform for participants to discuss challenges and best approaches for developing cold chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. They will gain better knowledge of the current situation in the use of cold chains in the food sector, and will be able to identify issues, strategies and priorities for their development.
- The IIR is represented at the annual General Conference of UNIDO. In 2009, the Delegate of India identified deficiencies in the field of refrigerated storage of vegetables. Discussions continued with India’s Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Agriculture, and also involved FAO, focusing on the agri-food value chain. Cooperation between the French and Indian Ministries of Agriculture was set up. The IIR, FAO and UNIDO agreed to join forces in order to integrate the cold chain into agricultural development to reduce post-harvest losses. Now the Indian Ministry of Agriculture is creating a national technical centre on refrigeration, and is willing to ask the IIR to help. A meeting will take place this year to identify their needs and the possible involvement of the IIR.
The role of the IIR is well recognized worldwide, and the expertise of its members is considered a valued source of knowledge for developing strategies to fight food losses.
Giovanni Cortella,
President of Commission D1