Ouagadougou hosts the first International Conference on Refrigeration in Africa

The first International Conference for the Diffusion of Refrigeration in Africa , scheduled to take place in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), brings to the centre of the debate one of the continent's most pressing issues: the construction of a reliable, sustainable and widespread cold chain.

This issue not only concerns economic development, but also food security, public health, and the stability of production systems.

A continent where refrigeration is not a service, but a vital necessity

In many African countries, the lack of adequate preservation systems causes enormous losses: up to 70% of agricultural products do not reach the consumer in optimal condition . The lack of storage facilities, refrigerated transport, and distributed cold chain solutions affects:

• quality and availability of food , especially in rural areas;
• conservation of vaccines and medicines , often compromised by the discontinuity of the electrical grid;
• transportation and logistics costs , which increase significantly to compensate for the lack of adequate refrigeration.

The picture that emerges is that of a profound infrastructural gap , which directly affects the continent's food sovereignty and health resilience.

Why the conference is a strategic step for the refrigeration sector

The Ouagadougou event was born with a clear objective: to create a shared agenda for bringing reliable, efficient, and sustainable refrigeration technologies to African countries. The conference aims to:

• networking professionals, researchers, businesses and institutions ;
• identify solutions contextualized to actual local operating conditions;
• promote national policies that structurally integrate refrigeration into agriculture, healthcare, and logistics;
• present technologies suitable for unstable electrical infrastructures, with a focus on modular solutions, off-grid systems, natural refrigerants, and photovoltaic integration.

The goal is not just to transfer technology, but to promote sustainable, replicable models capable of generating local skills.

New market spaces for industrial and commercial refrigeration

The Ouagadougou International Conference also represents a key moment for refrigeration companies, called upon to compete on a continent where demand for cold chains is growing rapidly.

The combination of hot climates, unstable power grids, and the need to preserve food and vaccines makes the African market a testing ground for robust, efficient, and easily maintainable technologies . Solutions based on natural refrigerants, modular systems, and integration with renewable sources are becoming increasingly popular, creating space for companies capable of adapting their products to evolving contexts.

The conference therefore offers a strategic opportunity to build partnerships, enhance expertise, and contribute to the development of a cold chain essential for food safety and public health.