Global Cooling Festival to Address up to 40% Food Losses and Health Issues

Post-harvest losses in Rwanda reduce farmers’ incomes, limit market supply, and threaten national food security. Limited access to cold storage and inadequate transport infrastructure are the main drivers of these losses.

Across Africa, similar issues persist, with food losses and gaps in healthcare cold chains—essential for storing vaccines, medicines, and blood—putting public health at risk.

Energy shortages and outdated refrigeration technologies exacerbate the problem, while farmers, cooperatives, and health facilities often lack access to modern cooling solutions or the technical skills to operate them efficiently.

To tackle all these challenges, Kigali will host the first-ever Global Festival of Cooling from 6–10 October 2025, gathering farmers, innovators, educators, students, health professionals, policymakers, Private sector, and others stakeholders.

The five-day event organized by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain ( ACES), will showcase sustainable cooling solutions and explore their role in improving food security, healthcare, and climate resilience.

It will highlight solutions to reduce food loss, strengthen healthcare, and boost climate resilience, featuring renewable-powered refrigeration, cold storage innovations, digital monitoring systems, interactive exhibitions, and startup competitions showcasing climate-smart business models.

It will also offer opportunities for youth and entrepreneurship, inspiring new green jobs and climate-smart businesses.

“By hosting the Festival of Cooling, Rwanda is creating a platform to reimagine cooling as a driver of resilience, opportunity, and sustainable development ," said Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye.

With Africa’s cooling demand expected to triple by 2050, addressing gaps in post-harvest and healthcare cold chains is urgent. The Festival will reveal the importance of sustainable cooling technologies that can reduce food loss, protect public health, and generate economic opportunities across Rwanda and the continent.