AGRI-COOL consortium gathers for annual meeting and advanced training course

Hosted by project partner ECREEE, the consortium meeting was held in Santa Maria, Cape Verde. Some consortium partners participated in an online format as well.

 

The consortium meeting was held from 13-14 October 2026, and was inaugurated by representatives from ECREEE. University of Twente participates in the project in the capacity of a coordinator, and shed light on deliverable deadlines, essential procedural guidelines, and positive outcomes from the first review meeting with the European Commission. Partner organisations also each presented their work package updates and milestones, as the project has crossed the halfway mark in its timeline.

 

The meeting also included a site visit to the local project partner Inalca Food & Beverage. The visit proved crucial in helping the team gain first-hand insights into the current cold-storage landscape in Sal Island, existing challenges, and how AGRI-COOL cold create a meaningful difference. 

Held alongside the consortium meeting, AGRI-COOL also hosted its first advanced training course via an in-person and fully funded workshop, also held in Cape Verde. The training course formed an important aspect of the capacity-building initiatives undertaken by AGRI-COOL.

 

Led by project partners ECREEE and the University of Western Cape, the training course was delivered with an aim to strengthen African expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient food systems by combining agriculture, energy, and cooling technologies. The training was open to candidates from across Africa, with a specific focus on North, Central, and West African counties. 

 

With welcome messages from project partners ECREEE, the University of Twente, and Dr. Julio Lopes (Presidente Camara Sal), the training programme was split across three modules – technical, economic, and social. Expert presentations were followed by a project-based learning assessment.   

The training course was also honoured by the presence of Deputy Minister Mr. Carlos Monteiro (Deputado da Nação). During his visit, Mr. Monteiro engaged with the AGRI-COOL consortium to discuss the project’s objectives and its focus on Cape Verde. His visit highlighted the interest and engagement of Cape Verde’s Ministry of Agriculture in the project and its mission.

 

The training course enhanced participants' knowledge and practical understanding of sustainable and climate-resilient farming systems, off-grid renewable energy solutions for agricultural applications, cold-chain and cooling technologies that reduce post-harvest losses, and integrated food-energy-water approaches to further rural development. 

 

The course also successfully presented a multidisciplinary approach that blended technical, economic, and systems-level perspectives. Additionally, the training materials were tailored to demonstrate a strong focus on the real-world applicability of solutions in varied African contexts.