In its inaugural round, more than 475 organizations from 80 countries applied to the USAID sponsored Powering Agriculture Grand Challenge. 12 winners were announced including one from Uganda below. It should result in reducing milk wastage caused today by inadequate refrigeration
“To address the problem associated with limited electricity access and its implication on cold storage in the dairy industry, UGARF has developed a refrigeration unit powered on biogas. The biogas is produced through the collection of cow manure – a resource that is of ample supply to dairy farmers. In capturing the biogas, UGARF’s clean energy solution regenerates zeolite plates which retain their capacity to capture water vapor from evaporative milk chilling process. The milk is chilled in stainless steel, aluminum containers. Through this project, UGARF and Smallholder Fortunes will refine the design of the refrigeration unit and pilot-test the system with farmers in rural Uganda. The team will then work with local manufacturers to secure financing and bring production of the refrigeration systems to commercial scale. “
Photo Credit – U of Georgia
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