In developing countries, disposed food accounts for nearly 42% of waste. A significant portion is due to spoilage. In southern Nigeria, farmers suffer from the absence of refrigeration, poor handling, and poor packaging for produce they sell on the market. The result is many vegetables and fruits either spoil or they are forced to give them away quickly at low prices. Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, seeing this challenge, founded ColdHubs, which stations solar-powered cold rooms so farmers can store their foods. “Spoilage entraps farmers into a poverty cycle because, by the time the food arrives in the outdoor market, the value has reduced, economically and nutritionally." These cold rooms extend shelf lives for up to three weeks for a small fee of 100 Naira (25 cents) per 20kg plastic crate per day. Farmers reported their income increased nearly 50% because of the technology. Currently, there are 54 cold rooms throughout Nigeria, saving more than 40,000 tons of food that otherwise may have gone to waste.
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