Munakyalo Agrofresh

Munakyalo Agrofresh

Munakyalo Agrofresh

Solar-powered cold storage and plant-based coating solution reducing post-harvest losses for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kyegegwa, Uganda

UGA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

In Sub-Saharan Africa, up to 50% of perishable agricultural produce is lost after harvest due to inadequate cold storage and inefficient transportation systems (FAO, 2023). This problem is particularly acute in Uganda and Zimbabwe, where smallholder farmers—who make up over 70% of the agricultural workforce—lack access to affordable preservation infrastructure (World Bank, 2022). As a result, farmers suffer income losses, food prices rise, and food insecurity deepens, all exacerbated by rising temperatures and unpredictable weather linked to climate change. Globally, food loss and waste account for 8–10% of greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2021), making it both a climate and a livelihood crisis. In our focus regions, this issue affects over 2 million smallholder farmers directly, reducing their profitability and increasing their vulnerability to climate shocks. The lack of distributed, off-grid cold chains is a critical gap—one that hinders climate resilience and perpetuates poverty. Munakyalo Agrofresh addresses this challenge by providing solar-powered IoT cold storage hubs and a plant-based edible coating (MunaFresh®) that extends shelf life from 2 to 21 days, helping reduce food waste, increase farmer income by 35%, and lower emissions tied to spoilage and diesel-powered storage.

Munakyalo Agrofresh provides solar-powered cold storage hubs and a plant-based edible coating to help smallholder farmers and market vendors in Uganda and Zimbabwe reduce food spoilage, increase income, and adapt to climate change. Our off-grid, solar-powered cooling hubs are designed for rural and peri-urban areas with unreliable electricity. They use clean energy to store fruits and vegetables at optimal temperatures, extending shelf life from 2 to up to 21 days. Each hub is equipped with IoT sensors that monitor and optimize temperature and humidity in real time, improving energy efficiency. Farmers access the service at an affordable $0.40 per crate per day, making it suitable for low-income users. We also offer MunaFresh®, a natural, plant-based edible coating that slows spoilage by reducing moisture loss and microbial growth. It extends shelf life from 2 to 15 days and can be applied directly to produce at farms or markets. It costs only $3 per liter, offering a low-cost solution for preservation without refrigeration. Together, these technologies create a climate-smart, decentralized cold chain that reduces food waste, cuts emissions, and improves livelihoods in communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.

Munakyalo Agrofresh serves smallholder farmers, market vendors, and agricultural cooperatives in rural and peri-urban communities of Uganda and Zimbabwe, many of whom rely on seasonal harvests for income and food security. Over 70% of Uganda’s workforce is employed in agriculture, yet these communities are underserved by cold chain infrastructure, leaving them vulnerable to food spoilage, income loss, and climate-related shocks. Women and youth, who make up a large share of agricultural labor, are especially impacted. Without access to affordable storage or preservation options, farmers often sell their produce at low prices immediately after harvest or suffer post-harvest losses of up to 45%. Our solar-powered cold storage hubs and MunaFresh® edible coating directly address these challenges by extending the shelf life of fresh produce, reducing waste, and enabling farmers to store and sell at better prices. This leads to increased earnings (up to 35%), more stable market access, and greater resilience to climate disruptions. By providing low-cost, clean-energy preservation tools, we are helping farmers and vendors—particularly Women and youth—protect their harvests, improve food security, and build climate-resilient livelihoods in some of the most underserved agricultural regions.