By Paul Matthew, Global Cold Chain Alliance director for Africa
The essential role of temperature-controlled logistics in the resilience of food supply is often overlooked, however periods of serious disruption underline just how vital the cold chain service is.
The regional trade and supply route disruption that began as a result of political and security unrest in Mozambique in the latter months of 2024 has had significant implications for cold chain operations across Southern Africa, which have carried into 2025. The disturbance has seriously affected perishable food logistics and supply for Mozambique, and for its neighbours and trading partners too.
As we consider collectively how to minimise the risks and impacts of such disruptions in the future, it is crucial that the importance of temperature-controlled logistics for food supply chain resilience is recognised and prioritised in government policies and investment decisions.
With incidents of violence reported in the early stages of the post-election protests, the operations of a number of manufacturing, storage, and logistical companies were suspended completely or partially due to safety concerns. We received reports of vandalised refrigerated trucks, resulting in some cold chain businesses unable to safely send their vehicles into Mozambique in that period. There have also been examples of customers deciding not to reopen stores at all following vandalism.
Interruptions to road traffic had a severe effect on movement of temperature-controlled produce, especially closures of the N1 road which blocked the South-North movement of goods into and within the country. Circulation interruptions resulted in backlogs, including at the Komatipoort-Ressano border when the Lebombo border post was closed temporarily, and at Maputo Port.
This port backlog created a risk of an influx above capacity into customers’ storage facilities because of bulk release of reefer containers and led to delays.
Food supply chain consequences of these disruptions have included delays in deliveries to supermarkets, lack of food on shelves, risks to the operation refrigeration equipment due to fuel concerns for generators, and increased logistics operating costs which ultimately leads to price increases for consumers.
The impacts of the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique have highlighted the vulnerabilities of day-to- day food supply, and the vital importance of building greater resilience into the food supply chain across Southern Africa. Investing in the development and growth of the cold chain network is fundamental to achieving this crucial improvement food supply chain resilience.
As the first line of defence against post- harvest food loss, expanding the temperature- controlled storage and transportation network is fundamental to minimising perishable food spoilage in the event of supply chain disruptions. Growing the cold chain throughout Southern Africa will also enable expansions of, and greater efficiency within, supply and trade channels at local, regional, national and international levels – a development that would enable increased food availability and choice, boost the economy and increase resilience of food supply.
The cold chain can also play a crucial role in increasing Southern Africa’s food supply chain resilience by enabling greater flows of temperature-controlled produce between countries. There is a compelling opportunity to increase trade of perishable goods within the continent as progress continues the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). An expanded African cold chain can also provide a gateway to the world for food and pharmaceutical importers and exporters. Both important benefits would help minimise the impacts on overall food supply of disruptions to individual supply routes.
Cold chain businesses and international investors alike are ready to invest in growing the cold chain across Africa. However, this growth and the transformation that it will bring for people, communities, the economy and the environment, can only be delivered if governments and regional development authorities recognise the opportunity and implement policies to support and encourage the necessary investments.
There are several key areas where governments and the African cold chain industry can work together to expand and develop temperature-controlled logistics across the continent. GCCA Africa is putting the case to governments across Southern Africa for a policy environment that encourages investment into energy efficiency and on-site energy generation, and for greater public sector investment into infrastructure such as reefer plug-in points and transportation hubs across Africa’s port network. We are also calling for a government- industry approach to training and skills that will help develop the pool of skilled people that will be needed to operate and maintain an expanding cold chain industry.
With the right policy environment in place, there is fantastic potential to grow and advance Africa’s cold chain infrastructure which would improve healthcare, sustainable job creation and economic surety as well as bringing a substantial positive impact on food supply chain resilience when faced with disruptions of all kinds.