Rwanda leads Africa’s green cooling revolution, says Prof. Toby Peters

Elias Hakizimana Oct 11, 2025 0 Comments

By Prince Boris CYUBAHIRO.

According to Prof. Toby Peters, Founding Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), Rwanda is emerging as a continental leader in driving sustainable cooling innovations that address both food security and climate resilience.

Speaking during the Festival of Cooling 2025, held from October 6 to 10 at the University of Rwanda’s Rubirizi Campus, Peters emphasized that Rwanda’s integrated approach to sustainable cooling places it at the forefront of Africa’s green transition.

“Rwanda is not just piloting technology—it’s building an entire ecosystem for sustainable cooling that benefits farmers, health systems, and the economy,” Prof. Peters said. “The country is demonstrating how to achieve climate-friendly growth while improving people’s lives.”

Second from right, Prof. Toby Peters, Founding Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), walks with other officials during the closing ceremony of the Festival of Cooling

The event, organized under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Cooling for Food, Health, and Development,” brought together experts, innovators, private sector representatives, and policymakers to showcase practical solutions that enhance cold-chain efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.

Peters highlighted that effective cold-chain systems could cut food loss by up to 30%, improve vaccine preservation, and support climate goals by minimizing energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions. “The impact of sustainable cooling is not theoretical—it translates directly into healthier communities and stronger rural economies,” he noted.

The festival also featured companies developing cutting-edge technologies in refrigeration, solar-powered cold rooms, and climate-smart logistics. Through collaboration with local partners, ACES aims to train Rwandan technicians and entrepreneurs to deploy these systems across the country and the wider region.

Officials from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure commended ACES for positioning Rwanda as a hub for sustainable cold-chain innovation in Africa.

Participants agreed that scaling up cold-chain infrastructure is crucial for achieving Rwanda’s National Cooling Strategy, which aligns with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol—a global agreement to phase down climate-damaging refrigerants.

“By investing in sustainable cooling, Rwanda is creating green jobs, protecting food supply chains, and setting an example for other nations,” Prof. Peters concluded. “The future of cooling starts here, in Africa, with Rwanda leading the way.”