GUJARAT, INDIA, 24 November 2018 - REFCOLD 2018, India’s first exposition focusing specifically on the refrigeration industry and the cold chain sector was organized by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE). This major event, which was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 22-24 November, provided a platform for all the relevant stakeholders in India’s cold chain sector to share best practices and information on the latest technologies. REFCOLD 2018 also highlighted the importance and role of industries working in the cold chain to prevent food loss and waste in India. Mr. C. Subramanian, ISHRAE President, stated that “A sustainable and efficient cold chain is critical for farmers to receive the expected value of their produce, which would ultimately contribute immensely to the Government of India’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.”
Reducing by half per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, and reducing food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses by 2030, is a Sustainable Development Goal agreed by the world community. The expansion and improved performance of the refrigeration cold chain is critical to achieving this objective.
About 6,000 delegates visited REFCOLD 2018 with more than 150 exhibitors from the Indian and international refrigeration industry. There were several seminars organized that covered different aspects of the latest technology developments and innovative projects in the sector. Seminar topics included best practices in operations and maintenance of cold storages, advances in natural refrigerant technology, and the latest system designs and trends in sub-sector applications. REFCOLD 2018 also recognized the innovative achievements of the Indian refrigeration industry in various application areas.
Seizing on the opportunity this critical mass of India’s refrigeration sector professionals being present in one spot, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction partnered with ISHRAE, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers), the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and the Global Food Chain Council (GFCCC) to organize a technical workshop on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Cold Chain Sector in the margins of REFCOLD 2018 on 23 November. About 200 industry delegates joined this event to discuss the global perspectives of the cold chain sector, its role in reducing food loss, and the technology trends driven by the Montreal Protocol, especially the recently-agreed Kigali Amendment. OzonAction also presented its experience in addressing the technology selection and phase-out challenges in marine vessels and the off-shore fisheries sectors. There were also perspectives from Indian industry on the uptake of natural refrigerant-based technology in cold storage applications. The workshop highlighted the need to further outreach to the cold chain sector to better integrate with the ongoing Montreal Protocol implementation activities in the country.
For more information:
Ayman Eltalouny
Coordinator International Partnerships
UN Environment Programme OzonAction
Email: ayman.eltalouny[at]unep.org
Shaofeng Hu
Montreal Protocol Coordinator South Asia and South-East Asia and Pacific
UN Environment Programme OzonAction
Email: hus[at]un.org
