GCCA Promotes Skills for Cold Chain of the Future: World Refrigeration Day 2025

June 26, 2025 – The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) is highlighting key skills for the temperature-controlled supply chain of the future, as it supports World Refrigeration Day today. Emerging technologies, changing populations and increasing pressures on food supply chains over the coming decades will necessitate new skills alongside those applied today.

GCCA is an official ally of World Refrigeration Day, which takes place on 26^th June each year. The World Refrigeration Day theme for 2025 is ‘Cool Skills’, celebrating the range of temperature-control industry skills that make modern life possible.

The GCCA represents temperature-controlled storage, logistics, and construction companies from around the world.  Building a future-ready workforce is a strategic priority of the GCCA.  Two key programs that educate and train the temperature-controlled workforce are: the Cold Chain Institute, delivered by GCCA’s Global Cold Chain Foundation and the CEBA Professional Certificate, delivered by the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA). The Institute isa unique, multi-year, specialist educational program for temperature-controlled logistics professionals in the United States, Latin America, Brazil, Australia and Europe. The CEBA Professional Certificate is an immersive training course for building and construction professionals in the temperature-controlled industry, which trains on a variety of topics including refrigeration.

GCCA President & CEO Sara Stickler says: “Around the world, the cold chain offers stable careers for today and for the future. The industry continues to grow sustainably and roles range across engineering, operations, compliance, sustainability, logistics, and many other specialties. Temperature-controlled logistics is a varied and fulfilling career choice for people who are solutions-focused and embrace innovation. GCCA’s education and training programs offer opportunities for professional development and continued growth and investment in our cold chain workforce.

“Over the coming decades we can expect global food supply chain resilience to become increasingly dependent on temperature-controlled logistics, particularly as populations face disruptions as a result of geopolitical uncertainties, fast changing populations, and changing weather patterns. Skill areas such as data analysis, automation management, energy efficiency and the development and operation of AI-driven systems will be increasingly important to the cold chain of the future. On World Refrigeration we recognize and celebrate the refrigeration professionals that support the cold chain. These critical roles keep our supply chain functioning and safe through their work and contributions. We take seriously our role in educating and training “cool skills” and our Institute and CEBA Professional Certification are two great examples of continuing professional development.

Find out more about the Cold Chain Institute here, and learn more about the CEBA Professional Certificate at CEBA Professional Certificate Training Program – Global Cold Chain Alliance.