Post-harvest losses remain a critical challenge for smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa, where limited storage options and inefficient practices contribute to significant food waste. AkoFresh, a Ghanaian startup and member of GCIC Cohort 9, offers sustainable solutions to preserve crops, empower farmers, and combat climate change.
In Ghana’s rural farming communities, one challenge has persisted for generations. While smallholder farmers work tirelessly to cultivate crops, much of their hard work is lost to inadequate storage, limited market access, and a lack of resources.
Enter AkoFresh, a Ghana-based startup which has been transforming the agricultural landscape, by empowering farmers, and tackling food waste with the help of some amazing tech solutions – and the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC).
AkoFresh are the kind of visionary entrepreneurs we cherish – those who create meaningful change by fostering solutions that not only drive economic growth but also contribute to a sustainable future. And at GCIC, we consider ourselves invaluable allies, providing the resources and expertise needed to help startups like AkoFresh thrive. Over the past decade, we’ve given startups much tailored support, comprehensive business training, mentorship from global experts, and grants designed to scale impactful ideas – everything a startup needs to succeed.
AkoFresh: the story so far
Their story begins in Akumadan, a tomato-growing community in Ghana. Here, farmers faced heartbreaking losses, often watching their hard-earned produce rot before it could reach buyers. Witnessing this plight, AkoFresh’s founders were inspired to act.
Through the Fishbowl Challenge, they secured US$25,000 in funding, which allowed them to finesse their design – a solar-powered cold storage system capable of preserving crops for up to 21 days. Road-testing the storage system among 20 farmers in Akumadan had remarkable results – the farmers reported fewer losses, higher incomes, and improved market access.
Encouraged, AkoFresh joined the GCIC to further amplify its impact and in their quest to drive change. They applied for the Youth4Climate initiative, and its ‘Call for Solutions’, a collaborative initiative by the Italian government and UNDP which is focused on identifying and supporting youth-led climate solutions. The application process was rigorous, requiring detailed plans on how AkoFresh’s solar-powered cold storage systems could contribute to climate resilience, reduce food waste, and support marginalised groups, particularly women and young people.
From more than 1,100 submissions from over 120 countries, AkoFresh stood out: their innovative, scalable solution and proven success from previous pilots earned them a US$29,000 grant, along with invaluable mentorship.
A pioneering pilot
Slated for January 2025 and set to finish in December 2025, AkoFresh’s next pilot aims to deploy IoT-enabled solar-powered mobile cold storage trailers, which unlike stationary units, can serve multiple communities. Eco-friendly and cost-effective, they also allow real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity. Such precision is crucial: it guarantees optimal storage conditions, thereby preserving crops and reducing waste.
Plans for the 2025 pilot include training up 800 farmers in post-harvest management and climate-smart agriculture; deploying three solar-powered mobile cold storage units, each with a capacity of four or five tons; reducing post-harvest losses by 30% and increasing farmers’ incomes by 20%; and avoiding 150 tons of CO₂ emissions annually through reduced spoilage.
AkoFresh’s innovative approach has already begun transforming communities: in Akumadan, where the pilot was originally tested, farmers have reported improved earnings, better market access, and increased economic stability. The next phase will expand to other high-need areas such as Suminakese, Techiman and Tuobodom.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, AkoFresh has ambitious plans. Over the next five years, the team aims to deploy 15 additional cold storage units, directly benefiting more than 4,000 farmers. They also plan to reduce post-harvest losses by 40% and introduce complementary technologies, such as solar dryers, to further enhance agricultural efficiency.
Partnerships will be critical in achieving these goals. By collaborating with international organisations, research institutions, and private companies, AkoFresh aims to expand its reach across sub-Saharan Africa, promoting sustainable practices and empowering vulnerable communities.
We think their journey is a shining example of how innovative ideas, when nurtured, can create lasting change, and more generally, a testament to the power of incubators such as ours. So, congratulations, AkoFresh! It has been a joy to witness their progress and be part of their mission to redefine the future of agriculture in Ghana and beyond.
