Nairobi startups turn to solar-powered cold storage to cut food waste

Farmers outside Nairobi lose a large share of their tomatoes, mangoes and leafy greens before they ever reach a buyer. A group of young companies thinks the answer is cold storage that runs on sunlight and is paid for by the crate.

Pay as you store

Instead of buying expensive refrigeration, farmers pay a small daily fee through mobile money for each crate they keep in a shared cold room. Sensors report temperature and capacity to an app.

Operators say produce that once spoiled in two days can now last up to three weeks, giving farmers time to wait for better prices.

Scaling up

The companies are now raising money to expand into Uganda and Tanzania, where similar post-harvest losses are common.