TECHNOLOGY
‘ From Field to Fork’: How Solar Power Supports the Food Supply Chain
- GEO GREEN POWER-
It’ s no secret that many businesses and chains within the hospitality sector are feeling the strains caused by increasing energy prices- especially those providing food and catering services. Every day more and more of these operators are struggling to turn a profit and make ends meet, without compromising on the quality of service their customers expect.
What’ s more, when we take a look at the bigger picture, it’ s also clear that it’ s not just the hospitality providers at the end of the food supply chain who are faced with problems due to rising energy costs- it goes right back to the start. From growing crops and raising livestock, to harvesting, product preparation and packaging, distribution and storage, it’ s more expensive in terms of energy consumption at every step.
However, while this unfortunately means the sector challenges run much deeper than they may appear, a positive is that they can all be combatted with the same solution, solar power.
To shed a little more light on this, Kat Auckland, Communications and Projects Director of nationwide renewable energy installers, Geo Green Power, has explained more about how solar can support at every stage of the food supply chain.
Production, processing and packaging“ As with any industry, the greater the size of the operations, the higher the energy costs, but generally speaking, farming can be one of the most energyintensive sectors.
Whether it’ s climate-controlled greenhouses, automatic feeding systems for livestock, refrigeration for dairy farms or the machines and systems used for packaging and automation, there are many aspects where solar can be harnessed.
Farmland, barns and warehouses offer lots of opportunity for commercial solar installations which can be essentially tailored to suit specific operational
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