Screen grab of the 2nd FCC project IATWG meeting held online
After conducting the “Policy Forum: Creating Sustainable Food Cold Chains in the Philippines” last June, the Global Partnership for Improving the Food Cold Chain (FCC) project presented the initial result of the policy research that seeks to identify barriers and opportunities for new technologies through safety standards for natural refrigerants and energy efficient technologies and practices during the second Inter-agency Technical Working Group (IATWG) Meeting held online on September 10, 2021.
Among the highlights of the policy research are options for adopting product standards for commercial refrigeration that allow the use of ozone and climate-friendly natural refrigerants, as well as minimum energy performance standards for the cold chain industry. The project is committed to support its partner government agencies to create an enabling policy environment for the entry of cold chain technologies aligned with the Montreal Protocol, Kigali Amendment and Paris Agreement.
The FCC project also initiated preparations for its demonstration of business cases. These demo projects are envisioned to test business models of refrigeration systems, solutions and improvements adopting climate-friendly and low-carbon technologies. Upon finalizing institutional arrangements, guidelines and processes, members of the cold chain industry would be invited to submit proposals, to be assessed by the project in partnership with a financing institution.
Both initiatives are expected to complement the establishment of the Cold Chain Innovation (CCI) Hub, with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) serving as the training platform and showcase center of the project.
The second IATWG meeting coincided with the celebration of Ozone Month. This year’s theme – “Montreal Protocol: Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool” – reflects the cold chain industry’s role in ensuring food security and safety, as well as the efficient rollout of vaccination program to end the COVID-19 pandemic. The cold chain industry’s transition to natural refrigerants and energy efficient technologies is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s climate and sustainable development goals. (FCC Project/ Mae Valdez)
