South Africa’s agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, has emphasised the importance of the food cold chain to get more food to Africa’s rising population.
Cold chain infrastructure was critical for securing Africa’s food supply, Steenhuisen told a recent cold chain conference, Freight News reported.
Steenhuisen highlighted how advanced logistics could curb post-harvest losses and boost economic growth amid rapid population growth.
“Africa’s population is growing faster than anywhere else in the world,” Steenhuisen said, noting that South Africa’s population had risen from 55 million in 2015 to 63.1 million in 2025, per Stats SA.
He warned that, by 2050, Africa’s population would surpass two billion.
“The question of food security is no longer optional. It is central. And the cold chain is at the heart of answering it.”
A 2024 study in Agriculture & Food Security found that sub-Saharan Africa loses up to 40% of perishable crops like fruits and vegetables due to inadequate storage and handling.
He said these losses equated to “billions in wasted food and lost economic potential” and that efficient ports were key to addressing these challenges.
He said food security must be at the centre of global cooperation and that, while the African Continental Free Trade Area offered trade opportunities “without reliable cold chain systems, that potential will remain untapped”.
Steenhuisen said technology was a game-changer for the sector.
“Artificial intelligence can forecast demand, optimise logistics and reduce spoilage,” he said, while blockchain ensured traceability “from the farm to the fork”. Africa needed public-private partnerships, incubators and training programmes.
“The cold chain is not a side issue. It is the artery through which Africa’s food system flows. Without it, farmers lose, consumers suffer, and economies falter. With it, we can feed more people, create more jobs, and compete more confidently on the world stage.
“But none of us can do this alone. Government cannot deliver cold chains without the private sector. Industry cannot thrive without enabling policy. Farmers cannot succeed without infrastructure,” Steenhuisen said.
