1 Engineering Management Program, University of Lincoln - Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.
2 Department of Agricultural Science, Florida A&M University, FL., USA.
3 Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(01), 1829-1839
Received on 09 September 2024; revised on 08 October 2024; accepted on 11 October 2024
Post-harvest food loss remains a critical challenge in rural agricultural areas, exacerbated by inadequate storage facilities and unreliable energy access. This study develops and optimizes an advanced renewable energy-powered cold storage system tailored for rural settings, integrating solar and wind energy with phase change materials (PCMs) for efficient energy storage. The system incorporates Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy management to maintain optimal storage conditions and enhance energy efficiency. Field trials conducted in Lincolnshire, UK, and Appalachian regions of the US demonstrated significant reductions in post-harvest food loss by an average of 43.5%, extensions in produce shelf-life by up to 300%, and increased income for smallholder farmers by approximately 43%. The system also achieved an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered systems. Economic analyses revealed a shorter payback period and higher return on investment, confirming the system's viability. High user satisfaction and adoption rates indicate the system's practicality and potential for widespread implementation. The findings suggest that integrating renewable energy with smart technologies in cold storage solutions offers a scalable and sustainable approach to enhancing food security, promoting economic growth in rural areas, and supporting environmental objectives globally.
Renewable energy; Cold storage; Post-harvest food loss; Smart technologies; Rural agriculture
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Oluwaseun Francis Owolabi, Dupe Stella Ogundipe and Peter Makinde. Integration of renewable energy-powered cold storage solutions for reducing post-harvest food waste in rural agricultural areas. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(1), 1829-1839. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.24.1.3202