ShareHighlights from REFCOLD India 2024
The International Institute of Refrigeration recently participated in REFCOLD India 2024, held from October 3-5 in Kolkata, India. Organised by ISHRAE and Informa Markets, this premier refrigeration and cold chain exhibition aimed at advancing the refrigeration and cold chain industries in South Asia.
The IIR, as a project partner for INDEE+ and ENOUGH projects, played an active role at REFCOLD as a keynote speaker, leading knowledge sessions and participating in a panel discussion that showcased the IIR’s commitment to fostering collaboration and enhancing understanding across all aspects of refrigeration and heat pump technologies.
Dr. Yosr Allouche, Director General of IIR, delivered a keynote address on sustainable refrigeration technologies, emphasising how refrigeration has transitioned from a luxury choice to a basic need, particularly in the context of climate change and rising temperatures affecting developing nations, and how sustainable it should be to achieve the global climate target.
She also highlighted the vital contributions of women in the refrigeration and cold chain sectors during the knowledge session titled "Women in 'Cool' Careers: Her Story of Cooling", which is part of the Women in Cooling initiative.
On October 5, the INDEE+ team hosted a knowledge session on "Successful Demonstration and Future Scope of Natural Refrigerant Systems in India". This session covered the successful completion of projects using natural refrigerant-based cooling technologies across various applications, including fisheries, community kitchens, hotels, and hospitals, aimed at decarbonising heating and cooling energy. Supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the project is drafting key deliverables related to demonstration sites established in India, which were discussed during the event. Expert lectures and technical sessions are available on the INDEE+ official website https://lnkd.in/gRDCKHWf.
Additionally, the ENOUGH team organised a panel discussion on "Solutions for Reducing Food Loss and Waste in Cold Chains". The panel addressed food loss and waste issues in India, highlighting key challenges such as consumer behaviour, improper post-harvest management, inadequate cold chain infrastructure, and the impacts of climate change. Discussions focused on practical short-term solutions, like improving awareness among farmers and optimising cold storage facilities, as well as long-term strategies to modernise storage systems and create integrated cold chains.
