Page 18 - LUA May - June 2023 for Magzter

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Africa's Cold Chain

MARKET SETTING

REMARKABLE

TRENDS

By 2050, Africa is expected to exceed the population of China and India,
with 60% of Africa’s population being urbanised by 2050 and the number
of middle-class households rapidly increasing. With such social and
economic growth comes the amplified need for international - standard
medicines and healthcare. Yet, despite the African pharmaceutical
market poised for growth in the coming years, the sector continues to face
challenges and risks, Zinal Dedhia reports.

n recent years, Africa has seen a consumption of processed foods and a shift sensors to monitor temperature, humidity,
significant increase in the demand in consumption patterns as people became and other environmental factors during
for effective cold chain packaging more health concerned after Covid-19, thus shipping and storage, are increasingly
Isolutions. The continent's rising assisting the market's growth. Because most being invested in by businesses. These
economy and the growing need of industrial districts are located nearby, major technologies are expected to play an
protecting the quality and safety of cities such as Gauteng, Cape Town, and important role in ensuring that items
temperature-sensitive items all contribute Durban are emerging as hotspots for the arrive in optimal condition.
to this increase in interest. cold chain industry. “The use of real time temperature
The rising need for temperature- African governments are embracing the recorders within packaging is the most recent
controlled items in the continent, the challenges of maintaining a continuous trend. Exporters can track and trace their
entry of many new businesses, and cold chain, assuring the delivery of products and determine if there were any
government efforts and programmes are perishable foods from farm to fork delays or temperature excursions that will
projected to boost the cold chain industry. through innovative technologies and hamper product quality. These temperature
The South African government has strategic collaborations. monitors use cellular towers to transmit
launched the National Transport Master the information. Decisions relating to the
Plan 2050 to oversee the construction of a PROMISING TRENDS product can then be made by the exporters.
multimodal transport system to fulfil the The utilisation of innovative technology Some of these decisions include reducing
country's long-term transport demands. is a trend that is gaining pace in the waste and loss as well as determining the
Changes in lifestyle and urbanisation African cold chain packaging business. shelf life of the product,” said Vijan Chetty,
contributed to increased domestic Smart packaging solutions, which employ Board of Director, Cold Chain Association.

16 LUA MAY - JUNE 2023