Thanks to refrigeration, rural areas are able to protect meat and produce from rotting overnight. Markets in Nigeria are now being given walk in cold storage rooms that help not only farmers but also the enviornment. They're 100% solar-powered. Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu pioneered the idea for ColdHubs which solved a myraid of problems in one cold swoop. The profits break down in the discarded fish.
Every day, about 6,000 pounds of fish are caught and attempted to sell in Nigeria. However, only about 2,000 pounds are purchased. The remaining 4,000 typically rots or must be sold within the next day. The same is the case for the fruits and vegetables found in the area. With the cold room, specifically designed to be implemented in off-the-grid locations, these products can last much longer and thus increase profits.
After receiveing the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award in 2020, Ikegwuonu was given a $50,000 prize. He says he will use this money wisely, "to build two ColdHubs in two fruit and vegetable markets, saving 3,285 tons of food from spoilage yearly, increase the income of 200 users, and create four new jobs for women." The invention of the rooms could change the lives of thousands in these areas.