The global issue of post-harvest waste
The idea of precooling fruits and vegetables as quickly as possible after harvest is not groundbreaking. By precooling, you reduce the energy needed to bring the product down to the ideal storage temperature at the distribution center. In addition to reducing energy needed down the supply chain, precooling can help reduce unwanted ripening and spoilage that occurs shortly after harvest—leading to more product making it to market.
Prior to solutions such as the xCOLD, the only way to infield precool was by using evaporative cooling (water) or diesel generator-powered refrigeration systems. The xCOLD provides an innovative precooling solutions that can be deployed in a short period of time, in just about any location, and is capable of running on 100% renewable energy.
Post-harvest waste in emerging markets
In developed nations, most of our food waste comes after it reaches our dinner plate. However, in emerging markets it is the complete opposite. In these countries, up to 50% of harvest is lost to spoilage before it ever gets to market. This is a BIG DEAL! Think about it, for every 2 carrots grown, 1 is thrown away before it can even be sold. That is a lot of potential revenue that is never realized!
Reducing post-harvest waste is significant in terms of not only meeting the demand for food and feeding people, but also a material impact on the economics from farm to table. Decreasing post-harvest waste can increase potential revenue for the farmer, the supply chain, and the market.
Reducing waste in developed nations
Post-harvest waste before it reaches the market is not just a problem in emerging markets. It also results in significant revenue loss in the developed world as well. To put this into perspective, in the U.S. it is estimated that post-harvest waste equates to $218 billion in lost revenue. Proper precooling would offset this number by 20%, leading to $44 billion in realized revenue. This is not just chump change!
How SXW and the xCOLD can help
The xCOLD is a part of the solution to reduce post-harvest waste. The xCOLD’s mobile, flexible design makes it perfect for a temporary cooling space in the field. By dropping off the unit with solar panels attached to a storage space (such as a shipping container), we can provide a temperature-controlled environment for freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
The benefit? The xCOLD has reduced food loss and therefore increased revenue opportunities along the entire value chain. And we do it by using the renewable energy of the sun!