By Eamonn Ryan
Minister Steenhuisen reminded delegates that cold chain failures are not abstract – they directly impact the lives and livelihoods of small-scale producers across Africa.
Every percentage of spoilage equals lost income. Steenhuisen illustrated the issue with vivid examples:
- A tomato farmer in rural Africa who watches his produce rot before it can reach the market
- A citrus grower in the Eastern Cape missing export deadlines due to port delays
- A livestock producer in Kenya unable to access higher-value markets because of no nearby cold storage
“These aren’t just statistics,” he emphasised. “They’re lost jobs, lost income and lost opportunity.”
Cold chain breakdowns are often the tipping point between profitability and poverty for farmers. With limited access to electricity, poor road infrastructure, and lack of refrigerated transport, most rural producers simply cannot compete in national or export markets.
Steenhuisen pointed out that the majority of Africa’s food is grown by smallholder farmers – those who are most affected by inefficient agricultural logistics. “We must stop treating them as peripheral to the economy,” he said. “They are the foundation.”
In rural areas, food that spoils before it can be sold represents not just a financial loss, but an emotional and psychological one as well. Years of effort can be undone in a few hours without cold storage or transport.
The minister called for targeted support for rural agricultural hubs, particularly in post-harvest handling and logistics. “If we want farmers to take risks and grow their businesses, we must give them the tools to succeed.”
Access to cold chain facilities should not be a luxury, he said, but a basic service – just like water or roads. When losses are reduced, productivity increases. And when farmers earn more, entire communities benefit.
“We don’t just lose food to spoilage,” Steenhuisen concluded. “We lose opportunity – and in Africa, opportunity is everything.”