FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
exports , most of which is bound for Asia , Europe , and the United States . In the global citrus market , Spain has the greatest market share of 25 %, followed by South Africa with 17 %, and then Egypt with 16 %.
All exports are strictly controlled and checked by the Perishable Products Export Control Board ( PPECB ), South Africa ’ s official export certification agency for the perishable produce industry . PPECB protocols define the transport temperature of products , which are dictated by the importing country to prevent the importation of quarantine pests .
Thanks to temperature-controlled refrigerated containers , products can go further and consumers can enjoy products from all over the world .
COLD TREATMENT
The cold treatment process kills all living fruit flies , eggs , and possible larvae in or on fruits and vegetables , to protect the importing country from insects that are alien to it . For example , it limits the spread of Citrus Black Spot , which is caused by the false codling moth , a small insect originally from sub-Saharan Africa that feeds on citrus and stone fruit .
Cold treatment has featured as a standard functionality on Daikin reefer containers for many years . It is achieved by maintaining a constant , uninterrupted low temperature for a fixed period . The period is different in each country and is agreed by export and import countries . Measured by several probes recording temperature and duration , various import countries have their own protocol established for acceptable temperature and duration parameters . Japan , for example , has very strict guidelines on this , stipulating that if the shipment temperature and period do not meet the criteria , it will not be accepted by the government .
Reliability is therefore vital , especially in challenging economic times . If the reefer container is not functioning correctly , then the cargo will almost certainly be damaged or delayed . If the machinery is not operating correctly , then cold treatment will have to be reset and the container cannot be opened until the specified treatment time has been completed , causing delays . The commercial risk of damaged or delayed goods , in addition to the reputational damage from a lack of reliability , is high .
INVESTING IN THE COLD CHAIN
Daikin has investigated the cold chain over the years , for example , visiting a pineapple field in West Africa to experience first-hand the whole process from field and cleaning to reefer and arrival , to gain a detailed understanding of what is required .
Pineapples and bananas are West Africa ’ s main exports . The Ivory Coast is one of Africa ’ s biggest banana growers with approximately 280 000 tonnes of bananas produced in 2016 , and output expected to almost double within two years . The country also exported 32 628 tonnes of mangoes over the 2016 season , which represents a 43.3 % increase on the previous year . According to government spokesperson Bruno Nabagné Koné , mangoes have become the country ’ s third most exported fruit .
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE
Although cold treatment remains the priority for South African exporters , in the West African market , controlled atmosphere ( CA ) — and also Daikin ’ s Active CA — is steadily gaining interest . While a relatively new innovation for the reefer industry , CA has a comparatively long history in land applications , and it is this technology that is enabling the carriage of new cargoes . CA technology effectively puts food and other sensitive perishable products in transit to sleep , slowing down the ageing process , and allows them to be transported in better condition for longer periods , extending their shelf life .
Refrigerated containers can preserve the transported goods during the entire shipment cycle . This opportunity is extending further with new advances such as CA . Using CA , it is now possible to transport leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits , regardless of respiration rate and voyage length .
Products from all over the African continent are in high demand globally . And as reefer container technology evolves , reliable reefer transportation provides both shippers and shipping lines the opportunity to provide new services and added value to their customers . CLA
If the reefer container is not functioning correctly , then the cargo will almost certainly be damaged or delayed .
COLD LINK AFRICA • September | October 2017 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 41