Africa’s future in food relies not only on the continent’s agricultural growth but also on its ability to effectively preserve and distribute its produce.
Given the diminishing international aid and the severe effects of climate change, a new perspective is taking shape that emphasizes resilience through improved infrastructure instead of reliance on outside assistance.
A critical issue that needs to be tackled is the vulnerability of Africa’s cold chain infrastructure, which is vital for ensuring food security, facilitating trade, and maintaining regional stability.
The True Challenge: Infrastructure Rather Than Assistance
During the recent Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit held in Paris, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen emphasized the necessity for Africa to enhance its resilience. This statement was made in light of substantial reductions in global humanitarian assistance.
While the United States pledged $577 million through the USAID initiative Feed the Future, the sudden halt of foreign aid by the Trump administration has raised alarms regarding escalating food insecurity.
However, the fundamental problem extends beyond mere aid. In sub-Saharan Africa, 37% of food is lost prior to reaching consumers, primarily due to insufficient cold chain infrastructure. Without dependable refrigeration and storage, farmers are forced to witness their laboriously cultivated produce decay before it can be marketed or consumed.
Furthermore, as increasing hunger contributes to instability across borders, even nations like South Africa, which receives less than 0.3% of its GDP in aid, experience the consequential effects. Migration, resource conflicts, and food theft are all manifestations of a more profound structural dilemma.
The Importance of Cold Chain Infrastructure in Ensuring Food Security
The cold chain infrastructure is essential for maintaining the quality and safety of food from production to consumption.
Ensuring appropriate temperature control during storage and transportation greatly minimizes post-harvest losses and guarantees that food retains its nutritional value and is ready for the market.
Africa’s Future in Food Depends on Cold Storage
To tackle food waste and increase access, cold chain infrastructure must be a top priority. Temperature-controlled storage and transport systems ensure that harvested crops stay fresh from farm to table.
In the absence of such systems, nutritious food goes to waste, and vulnerable communities suffer the most.
This isn’t merely an agricultural problem, it’s also a power and energy challenge. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 57% of households in Africa lack access to electricity.
And with the dismantling of Power Africa, an initiative aimed at expanding energy access, the continent’s ability to support cold storage facilities has taken a major hit.
Still, all hope is not lost. As governments and development agencies shift their focus from short-term aid to long-term sustainability, there is a growing opportunity to invest in smarter, cleaner, and scalable infrastructure.
Cooling-as-a-Service: A Scalable Solution
One innovation that is gaining traction is Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS). This model allows businesses, particularly farmers and food producers, to access energy-efficient cooling solutions without incurring heavy upfront costs.
Instead of buying expensive equipment, users pay only for the cooling they consume, with the service provider responsible for maintenance, upgrades, and energy efficiency.
CaaS is already being rolled out in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. These long-term partnerships are helping to reduce operational risks while ensuring that critical infrastructure remains up and running.
Moreover, by enabling more localized storage, CaaS helps limit food loss, increases profitability for small farmers, and supports intra-regional trade.
These solutions are not just about technology, they are about accessibility. By removing financial barriers and reducing risk, CaaS empowers local businesses to grow and serve their communities better.
Rethinking the Food Security Equation
To truly address food insecurity, we must go beyond increasing crop yields and instead focus on preserving and efficiently distributing what is already grown.
This shift in perspective highlights the critical role of infrastructure, especially cold storage and energy access, in building a resilient and self-sufficient food system across Africa.
Policy, Innovation, and Partnership Are Key
Transitioning from an aid-dependent model to a resilient, self-sustaining food system will take collaboration. Governments, private companies, and development partners must work together to fund, build, and maintain robust cold chain networks.
Importantly, this shift requires more than investment; it demands a new mindset, one that sees infrastructure as the backbone of food security.
It’s not only about growing more food. It’s about protecting what’s already being produced. By focusing on preservation, distribution, and energy access, Africa can drastically improve its food outcomes and reduce reliance on volatile international support.
Building Resilience From Within
While global partnerships still play a role, Africa’s future in food must be built from the ground up. The continent’s potential lies not in waiting for aid but in embracing innovation and strengthening internal capabilities.
As we face a future marked by climate uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, developing resilient infrastructure offers a more reliable and dignified path forward.
Africa’s future in food security is being rewritten not with bags of imported grain but with cooling systems, clean energy, and smart investments that empower communities to thrive on their terms. This is how Africa feeds itself, not someday, but starting today.
Expert Editorial Comment
In conclusion, Africa’s future in food cannot hinge solely on international aid. While humanitarian support has its place, lasting solutions must come from within. Strengthening cold chain infrastructure is not just a technical upgrade; it is a lifeline for farmers, traders, and entire communities.
As food waste continues to rise and access to aid becomes uncertain, investing in resilient systems like Cooling-as-a-Service offers a sustainable path forward.
By addressing energy access, improving food storage, and fostering public-private collaboration, Africa can move from vulnerability to resilience. The time to act is now, before another harvest is lost.
