Potential Changes in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigerated Supply Chain Introduction in a Developing Food System

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Food Systems

Background:

• Refrigeration significantly impacts food systems, altering production and consumption patterns.
• Developing nations face challenges in establishing integrated refrigerated supply chains (cold chains).

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the introduction of a cold chain in sub-Saharan Africa.
• To estimate changes in pre-retail greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• To analyze the trade-offs between reduced food loss and increased energy consumption.

Main Methods:

• Modeling the development of a cold chain.
• Comparing scenarios based on North American and European cold chain development.
• Estimating greenhouse gas emissions from food loss and cold chain operations.

Main Results:

• Postharvest emissions from cold chain operations can exceed avoided food loss emissions.
• In North American and European scenarios, operational emissions were 10% and 2% higher, respectively.
• System-wide changes, including agricultural and dietary shifts, can increase or decrease embodied emissions by 10% or 15%.

Conclusions:

• The introduction of a cold chain presents a complex environmental trade-off.
• Careful planning is needed to mitigate increased energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Cold chain development can lead to significant shifts in food system emissions.