Clean cold-chain development and the critical role of extension education

 Present refrigeration and cold transport technologies typically use either diesel fuel (expensive and a source of pollution) and/or electric power (often not available in rural areas). Promoting the expansion of existing technologies for cold-chain development will have the side effects of increasing pollution, greenhouse gas production and associated climate change. Clean cold-chain development is an environmentally sustainable way to achieve essential cooling and reduction in the post-harvest losses. Effective promotion of clean cold technologies is possible only through appropriate extension outreach, capacity-building and training activities. This paper focusses on the critical role of extension education in the implementation of clean cold-chain management in developed and developing countries