ShareIIR Seminar in Tunis brings to the forefront the social and economic strategic importance of the cold chain
According to the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), establishing cold chains for foodstuffs in developing countries to the same standard as in industrialised countries would allow these countries to have at least 15% more food availability.
Recognising the social and economic importance of this issue on a global scale, the IIR organised a seminar on the Logistics For Transport Of Foodstuffs Under Controlled Temperatures In Hot Countries on October 25, 2016 in Tunis (Tunisia), followed by an IIR Working Group (WG) meeting on The Cold Chain in Hot Countries the next day.
The seminar and the Working Group meeting: focused lively debates
Chaired by Halima Thraya (IIR Delegate of Tunisia and chair of the IIR WG on the Cold Chain in Hot Countries), the seminar attracted over 120 participants from administrations, the public and private sectors, representatives of international organisations, and multinational companies from ten different countries.
The seminar, organised around two panels on the contribution of refrigerated transport in the development of the cold chain in hot countries and Interest of the ATP agreement application in the field of mobile refrigeration, focused lively debates making for a dynamic environment of discussion.
Participants exchanged and gave insights on practical and challenging presentations from experts in the field, including Elie Adaimy (Air Liquide) on the “Environmentally efficient and innovative solutions for the cold chain in the transport of food” and Éric Prieur (Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems) on “The cold chain challenges in Africa and how refrigerated transport can help”.
Taking advantage of the interest created by the seminar, the IIR WG on the Cold Chain in Hot Countries held a meeting on October 26, again bringing together stakeholders to discuss in detail the practical aspects of implementing an adapted cold chain in hot countries.
Why organise these strategic meetings?
In hot countries, where microbial growth is faster as a result of high temperatures, the use of refrigeration must be regarded as essential.
Around 80% of the world’s population lives in developing countries (the majority of these countries have a hot climate: equatorial, tropical or Mediterranean) and it is estimated that 50% of the population of these countries live in towns with increasingly severe food supply problems as they are still without refrigeration.
Consult the WG webpage on the IIR website to download the WG meeting minutes.
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The IIR would like to thank all those who attended the seminar to share their insights and expertise, as well as those who participated in the organisation and made it such a success.
Haven’t already joined? Join the IIR WG on The Cold Chain in Hot Countries on LinkedIn.
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