GCCF Supports USDA Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) in Africa

GCCF successfully facilitated the participation of two key operators from Ghana and Kenya at the GCCA Africa Conference in August. Both companies are influential in their respective countries’ cold chain sectors and their involvement is expected to enhance future cold chain projects, including those related to USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). 

GCCF met with local operators, including CCS, Cross Berth Cold Storage, Shoprite, and FoodForward South Africa, the largest food bank network in Africa. These meetings allowed the team to learn more about cold chain operations in South Africa as well as discuss similar obstacles in other African markets, including energy management, transportation, and business development. 

At the Conference, participants attended several key meetings, including the GCCA Africa Advisory Council, Food Safety & Compliance Committee, and Risk Management Committee meetings. Discussions focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), food security, and energy management within the cold chain industry. Over 100 industry professionals attended, providing significant networking opportunities with equipment suppliers, warehouse operators, and transportation providers. 

Participants gained valuable insights on managing energy efficiency and operations during power outages, which could be adapted to their respective contexts. As a follow-up, GCCA Africa has developed a survey to identify training needs and programs for the cold chain industry across the continent. GCCF’s involvement was deemed a success, facilitating significant networking and learning opportunities for our members, and providing valuable insights for future cold chain programming in Africa.