Rwanda’s Festival of Cooling: The Hidden Backbone of Food and Health Security

As the world races to build resilience in food systems, healthcare, and climate action, Rwanda has taken a bold step forward through the Festival of Cooling, the world’s first global event dedicated to sustainable cooling and cold-chain innovation.

Hosted at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) in Rubirizi Campus, Kigali, the week-long (6–10 October 2025) event brought together farmers, scientists, innovators, and policymakers to showcase cooling technologies designed to keep food fresh, vaccines potent, and communities resilient in a warming world.

For many, cooling remains invisible, an unseen but vital service that underpins modern life. From keeping vaccines potent to preserving food and running data centers, cooling technologies are critical for both human health and economic stability. Yet, globally, millions still lack access to affordable, reliable cold systems.

“What we’re looking at is two things,” said Prof. Toby Peters, Founding Director of ACES. “First, we’re trying to make cooling less invisible. People don’t realize how critical it is. Our food, our medicines, even our mobile networks depend on it. Second, we’re showing that cooling isn’t one single solution, but a system, a whole approach that involves technology, training, and business models.”

At ACES, that systems approach is evident. The campus, the first of its kind globally, demonstrates technologies that support both agriculture and health, from seed to plate and from vaccine manufacturer to patient. Alongside innovations on display were sessions for refrigeration engineers, farmers, and policymakers aimed at training and knowledge-sharing.

Saving Food, Saving Lives

Across Africa, post-harvest food losses can reach 40 percent, largely due to poor cold storage. In Rwanda, reducing these losses is a national priority under the five-year National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), which aims to cut post-harvest losses in staple crops from 13.8 percent in 2023 to 8 percent by 2029.

Dr. Florence Uwamahoro, Deputy Director General in charge of Agriculture Development at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB), said ACES technologies could play a pivotal role in achieving that goal.

“These technologies will provide sustainable solutions that help reduce crop losses,” she said. “We are working with ACES to reach farmers, identify their needs, and match them with the right technology, not only for crops but also for animal products, so they reach consumers with integrity.”

Among the showcased solutions was a solar-powered cold room presented by Munyax-Eco, a Rwandan company specializing in clean energy.

“We brought a solar cold room for vegetables and fruits,” explained Claudine Uwineza, Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Munyax-Eco. “It operates at +4°C and can store up to five metric tons. We’ve already installed systems in Bugesera, Kamonyi, and Nyamagabe. These solutions are mobile, cost-saving, and perfect for rural farmers who face high electricity tariffs.”

Beyond agriculture, Munyax-Eco also showcased solar freezers and photovoltaic systems that can power small businesses, an example of how renewable energy is helping bridge the gap between sustainability and economic opportunity.

Protecting Vaccines and Public Health

The cold chain is not only about food; it is also about life-saving vaccines and medicines. Globally, between 25 and 50 percent of vaccines spoil before reaching patients due to broken cold chains.

“This percentage has to be reduced,” Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Director of One Health at ACES emphasized. “When vaccines lose efficacy, it’s not just waste, it’s people’s lives. We’re working on improving cooling systems and using innovations like drones to transport vaccines efficiently.”

At ACES, this issue is being addressed through partnerships with health institutions and innovators such as Zipline, which uses drones to deliver vaccines to remote areas while maintaining precise temperature control.

Musabyimana noted that new vaccine technologies demand even more advanced cooling methods.

“Some vaccines, like genetic or mRNA vaccines, require temperatures as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius,” he explained. “Future vaccines will likely need even lower temperatures, so it’s time to rethink how we manage and power vaccine cold chains. The challenge is to make these systems resilient and sustainable.”

Cooling for Climate and Inclusion

The Festival of Cooling was not just a technology showcase; it was a call to action. Cooling, experts said, must become inclusive, affordable, and climate-sensitive if it is to support Rwanda’s Vision 2050 goals.

“Cooling cannot be exclusive,” said Prof. Peters. “It has to be inclusive and affordable. That’s why we’re also focusing on business models, how to make cooling accessible for farmers, communities, and health systems. The cold chain is as essential as a water pipe or electricity cable.”

As the festival continues, the message is clear: cooling is the hidden infrastructure of progress. From farmers saving their harvests to health workers preserving vaccines, the technologies showcased in Rubirizi are redefining what resilience looks like in a warming world.

“I hope people go back and talk to others about why cooling matters,” Prof. Peters said. “We can’t deliver Rwanda’s Vision 2050 without a robust cold chain. This festival is about making that visible and fun.”