Coola

Flourish ColdChain Limited

Coola

Coola: Smart, solar-powered refrigeration for fresh food, reduced waste, and sustainable community impact.

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

NGA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Food spoilage due to inadequate refrigeration is a global crisis, affecting smallholder farmers, rural market women, and food vendors in off-grid communities. In Nigeria alone, 40% of all food produced is lost before reaching consumers, primarily due to the lack of cold storage, this results in $9 billion in annual losses, affecting both farmers’ incomes and food supply chains. Smallholder farmers, who make up 80% of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, lose an average of 15% of their earnings due to spoilage, perishable food prices fluctuate widely farmers are often forced to sell at 50% lower prices during peak harvest periods due to a lack of preservation options. Globally, post-harvest food loss is responsible for 1.3 billion tons of wasted food annually, leading to: Economic losses exceed $1 trillion per year. A worsening global food security crisis, as food waste contributes to shortages while 828 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. In sub-Saharan Africa, where 60% of the population depends on agriculture, only 3% of perishable food is stored refrigerated, compared to 85% in developed countries. The growing effects of climate change, unreliable electricity, and poor infrastructure further increase the issue, making sustainable and accessible cold storage solutions essential for food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.

Coola is an affordable, solar-powered refrigeration system built to reduce post-harvest food losses and increase income for smallholder farmers and rural market women. How It Works: Coola operates entirely on solar energy, making it reliable in off-grid communities where electricity is scarce. It functions as both a refrigerator and a freezer, allowing users to store perishable food for up to 10 days without spoilage. The system includes an ice battery, which stores excess solar energy during the day and keeps the unit cold for up to 4 days without sunlight. Users can remotely monitor temperature levels via a WiFi-enabled mobile app, ensuring optimal storage conditions. Multi-functional ports allow for USB charging, providing additional value in areas with limited power access. Key Technologies: - Solar-Powered Cooling System: Runs entirely on photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, making it ideal for off-grid and rural areas with unreliable electricity. - Ice Battery Technology: Ensures continuous cooling for up to 4 days without sunlight, improving reliability. - WiFi-Enabled Smart Monitoring Users can monitor and control storage conditions remotely via a mobile app. Impact and Accessibility: With Coola, farmers can preserve their produce, increase their profits, and reduce food waste, while also cutting carbon emissions by preventing food waste.

Coola primarily serves rural market women, smallholder farmers, and food vendors who lack access to reliable refrigeration, leading to significant post-harvest losses and financial instability. Target Population & Impact: Rural Market Women 70% of users Many rely on selling perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and fish but lose up to 40% of their products due to inadequate storage. Coola helps them extend shelf life from 2 days to 10+ days, increasing sales and profits. Smallholder Farmers 20% of users 70% of smallholder farmers in Nigeria lack cold storage, causing annual losses of 15–30% of their harvest. Coola enables farmers to store and sell produce at optimal prices rather than at distress sale prices due to spoilage risk. Food Vendors & Off-Grid Communities (10% of users) Includes mobile food vendors, local grocery stores, and off-grid households. Access to refrigeration reduces food waste, improves food safety, and enhances income stability, by providing affordable solar-powered refrigeration, Coola is empowering rural women, improving food security, and enhancing economic resilience, particularly in underserved communities with no access to grid electricity.