INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The initiative , developed in 2019 , kicked off at the 31st meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol in Rome , Italy , concluded with the Rome Declaration : “ The contribution of the Montreal Protocol to food loss reduction through sustainable cold chain development ”.

The launch also took place in advance of the United Nations Food Systems Summit . With the support provided by the Montreal Protocol ’ s Multilateral Fund , the Cold Chain Database initiative is currently being piloted in six countries – Bahrain , Bosnia and Herzegovina , The Maldives , North Macedonia , Paraguay , and Senegal . From these pilot data gathering initiatives , a model is being developed that will allow the projection of benefits of cold chain expansion .

The GFCCC is an independent not-forprofit industry organisation that seeks to simultaneously reduce food waste , and related greenhouse gas emissions in the processing , transportation , storage , and retail display of cold food by expanding and improving access to energy-efficient lowglobal warming potential technology .

THE NEED FOR A COLD CHAIN DATABASE To quantify the contribution of the cold chain to food loss / waste , refrigerants & energy consumption , and economies ; there is a need to better understand the complexity of the sector .

In terms of applications , most nonstandalone units are tailored / designed for a specific application or facility and not an off-shelf products . From the institutional perspective , it is also not an easy task to find detailed information , logs , or statistics about cold chain capacities in most countries where several authorities are responsible for different segments of the sector , such as Agriculture , Industry , Economy , Environment , and other local entities .

Hence , understanding the cold chain challenges and gaps would facilitate the introduction of overarching strategies or policies to advance the wise selection of lower-GWP technologies , minimise food loss / waste , and eliminate unnecessary emissions at different operations and practices of cold chain .

The database will be the cornerstone for building a sustainable path for the cold chain , in a country , using robust and validated detailed information about all sub-sectors vis-a-vis different economic segments .

WHAT IS THE COLD CHAIN DATABASE ? A model to quantify stocks , understand gaps and project scenarios of the cold chain

applications at different cold chain processes through a comprehensive assessment methodology and a thorough data collection approach that captures information about technologies , refrigerants , food loss , energy , economics , and operation practices .

Noting that pharmaceutical and vaccine applications are currently part of the food services classification , but most likely will become a separate section with specific questionnaire .

There is a need to better understand the complexity of the sector .

OUTPUTS Initial outputs include to understand current status , with assessment of :

• stock of cooling equipment in different parts of cold chain sectors

• energy usage and related CO₂ emissions

• refrigerants usage and related CO₂ equivalent

• levels of food loss linked to a lack of refrigerated food cold chain ( RFCC )

Longer term outputs include to assess future scenarios :

• with different levels of improvement to RFCC , for example , minimum , mid , maximum

• make assessment of investment required for each scenario , potential benefits ( for example GHG reduction ; financial value of food saved ), potential impacts ( example . extra energy use / CO₂ emissions )

Understanding the cold chain challenges and gaps would facilitate the introduction of overarching strategies or policies to advance better selection environmentally-friendly technologies , minimise food loss or waste and eliminate unnecessary emissions .

UNEP OzonAction | GFCCC

DATA COLLECTION STAGES

• Stage 1 : Country questionnaire , high level ; using national data sources – host country to complete questionnaire – structured to collect available statistics on production , number of relevant food chain facilities , levels of food loss .

• Stage 2 : Country research , detailed data for example via sample of site surveys – based on Questionnaire , develop a customised investigation plan – host country to collect detailed data based on this plan .

STRUCTURE OF THE DATA The model is designed to capture the details and specifics of each subsector ; therefore , the classification and categorisation of sectors and sub-sectors was critical to ensure the comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of the model .

In addition to the main sectors that are identified , 20 + sub-sectors and 50 + subsub-sectors are being classified within the scope of work of the cold chain database model . A detailed set of questionnaires have been developed to facilitate the stage-I and Stage-II data collection process .

All questionnaires are also available in three languages ( English , French , and Spanish ). The data to be collected in each sub-sector includes five main topics : 1 . Population and types of applications in each sub-sub-sector

2 . Type , quantities , and service practices of refrigerants used for each type of application 3 . Basic energy consumption data 4 . Information about food loss estimates and causes

5 . Basic capital and operating expenditures ( CAPEX / OPEX ) of different types of facilities

PILOTING THE DATABASE With the launch of the Cold Chain Database model concept in 2019 , GFCCC and UNEP OzonAction co-operated to mobilise champion countries for piloting the model using thorough data collection methodology and cooperation with GFCCC-UNEP teams in validating their national data against the model . Currently , there are 6 countries from 5 regions involved in piloting the model .

EXTENDING THE SERVICE While the database is currently being piloted , GFCCC and UNEP OzonAction are expanding their line of service through offering the Cold Chain Database Methodology to interested governments and local institutions that are implementing relevant programs .

The line of services includes several levels such as access to the complete methodology and data collection questionnaires , access to use the database interface platform , technical support to assist interested countries to review or validate their data as well as advance design of scenario modelling for analysing possible benefits and impacts .

LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS The National Ozone Units ( NOUs ) are currently the main focal points for leading the work under this model in the six pilot countries . However , other entities might also be taking the lead at the national level depending on the local context , the connection with relevant programs , and the resources required to conduct necessary data collection .

In principle , there are key local players that need to provide input ( feed-in or validate data ) to the model , regardless of the lead entity , which are :

• Agriculture and food authorities

• Statistics authorities

• Environment authorities

• Industry and trade authorities

• Energy authorities

• Technology providers

• Cold Chain associations and expert groups

Further information and access to the complete Database Methodology document is available for download from the UNEP OzonAction website . CLA