GreenBox™

MVUTU

GreenBox™

100% solar powered cold rooms for producers and vendors to store and preserve fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods.

Brazzaville, République du Congo

COG

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 30–50% of food production is lost before reaching the market due to issues ranging from improper use of inputs to a lack of adequate post-harvest storage, processing, or transportation facilities. Global food waste contributes to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is due to inefficient post-harvest cold chains. Current post-harvest losses pose a threat to the population in terms of food and financial stability. Post-harvest loss is a threat to food security, economic stability, and environmental protection that affects most farming communities in Africa and around the world. Through our solution, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions by preventing food waste, helping local farmers escape poverty, and creating jobs for women in the community. The high rate of post-harvest losses is due to a combination of factors, including the lack of affordable cold storage at key points in the food supply chain and the lack of knowledge on proper harvesting and post-harvest handling. A decentralized, cost-effective, and efficient solar micro-cooling station at the farm level that can be used by a farmer group or cooperative.

Our GreenBox project is 100% solar-powered cold rooms installed in agricultural clusters, horticultural aggregation centers, and open-air food markets. The Hubs are used by farmers, retailers, and wholesalers to store and preserve fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods 24/7, extending the shelf life from 2 days to 21 days. Each Hub consists of: Cold Room: A 10ft long, 10ft wide, and 7ft high insulated cold room panel of 120mm with stainless steel floor. This holds approximately 3 tons of perishable goods arranged in 150 units, 20 kg plastic crates, stacked on the ground. Refrigeration Unit: An energy-efficient R290-propane monobloc refrigeration unit for 24/7 refrigeration, using 658 W/h. The temperature is adjustable from -5 to +15° Celsius. Solar Power: Provided by rooftop solar panels generating 6 kW/h, connected to a set of deep-cycle batteries and inverters. The power generated runs the hub in all weather conditions. Service: We operate a simple pay-as-you-go model. Farmers and vendors pay 100 CFA to store a 20 kg crate per day. The hubs are operated by our hub operators. Education: We educate users on best practices for handling fruits and vegetables after harvest.

Our project directly serves smallholder farmers, retailers, and wholesalers of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods. The majority are women, as women are typically small-plot gardeners providing 75% of the production work and 100% of the marketing work for fruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods, with a monthly income of $60. We currently serve 3,517 users, using our 5 cold rooms installed at sites in Congo. 3 additional GreenBoxes are currently under construction, bringing the total number of hubs planned to 8 by the end of 2025. By 2025, our 8 operational GreenBoxes will prevent 20,400 tons of food from spoiling. It increased the household income of 3,517 smallholder farmers, retailers, and wholesalers by 50%, an additional US$60 from the previous US$60, bringing their monthly income to US$120, simply by eliminating the previous 50% food loss. Created 18 new jobs for women, recruiting them to work as hub operators and market attendants. GreenBox ensured the safety of 20,400 tons of food, eliminating direct exposure to sunlight, chemical, bacterial, parasitic, and mycotoxin contamination, making this safe and nutritious food available for local consumption. Reduced carbon emissions by 51% (69 tCO2e) through efforts such as food waste reduction, solar-powered coolers, and hybrid trucks.