- Sector : Sustainable Agriculture- Integrated food chains
- Location : Morocco and Senegal (potentially Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia)
Overview
Ifria is an integrated cold chain logistics development platform that develops and operates temperature-controlled logistics (“TCL”) assets in North and West Africa where reliable cold chain logistic operations are lacking. These assets range from added-value cold storage logistic warehouses for perishable products to first-mile cold chain at the production and farm level.
The platform aims to address the significant gaps in the TCL market by developing greenfield facilities, acquiring and expanding existing facilities to provide a network of more than five temperature-controlled warehouses that will support the local, import and export market in each country by providing access to cold chain services that meet international standards. Locally, this will allow small producers and farmers to reduce waste, improve the quality of their products and enable access to international markets via access to preservation and storage services. Depending on the location, these hubs will act as a logistics platform for importers and exporters improving access and trade within the African Continent.
The Challenge
The lack and immature nature of TCL in North and West Africa causes high post-harvest losses for farmers and small producers resulting in loss of income, increased food insecurity, lower quality produce, poor resource efficiency, etc. In Morocco and Senegal, food waste varies between 10% (poultry, red meat) up to 40%/50% for fruit & vegetables (incl. potatoes, onions). Dairy products and fish also exhibit high wastage between 15% and 25%. In addition, this lack of service results in an uncompetitive environment for exports of perishable goods as international standards are often not met.
The Company helps to solve these issues by providing the opportunity to create a coherent network of highly efficient cold chain logistic hubs in Africa built to international standards. The platform will utilize a market systems approach to meet the needs of farmers who do not have access to cold chain solutions in order to help keep their products fresh, increase shelf life, and reduce post-harvest losses.
SCF’s Involvement
Proposed Investment
SCF is evaluating an investment to serve as a capital partner to the Company for the development and construction/acquisition (and expansion) of five temperature-controlled logistic warehouses in Senegal and Morocco. Further capital may be made available for additional facilities to be constructed / acquired (and expanded) in Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia post successful implementation in Senegal and Morocco. Development is ongoing with investment expected late Q4 2022 / early Q1 2023.
Our Target Impact
Our goal is to build a capable temperature-controlled logistics platform in Africa that will develop and operate a network of efficient temperature-controlled warehouses to help reduce food wastage, improve local farmer and small producer livelihoods as well as increase food security, food quality and export competitiveness. We expect the project will positively impact the following Sustainable Development Goals:
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SDG 13 Climate Action
The platform is expected to mitigate greenhouse gas and carbon emissions via (1) reduction in methane emissions from landfills by reducing post-harvest losses and food wastage by providing cold chain logistics and storage solutions currently not widely available; and (2) reducing emissions from transportation where the current solution for several perishable products is to be shipped and stored in Europe, and then shipped back.
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy efficient solutions such insulation, renewable, operational and processes to be installed and implemented in all facilities (acquisitions & greenfield)
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
The Platform will create direct jobs for development, construction, operations, and maintenance as well as indirect jobs (i.e., value add services, transport, handling, distribution etc.)
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
By increasing market access (for farmers) and increasing shelf life of perishable products (for stores/supermarkets), the project creates a virtuous circle: boosting both farmer and store incomes through efficient use of inputs and limiting waste. It improves resource efficiency from production to use consequently reducing pressure on the ecosystem
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
The project will have a direct impact on better nutrition by improving product shelf life and ensuring that products maintain their freshness and quality for the longest duration through proper handling and storage. It also allows improved healthcare by offering appropriate storage methods for pharmaceutical products.
The investment described above is under development by SCF. There can be no guaranty that the investment will be completed on the terms described or implied above, that SCF will be able to successfully invest in such investment or that impact targets will be achieved.
