Industry is at the heart of the cold chain community, providing the infrastructure, technology, and practical expertise needed to operate cold chains efficiently.
The role of industry includes:
Infrastructure Development: Industry players build and manage the physical infrastructure of cold chains, such as refrigerated warehouses, vehicles, and storage facilities. These stakeholders ensure that the necessary infrastructure exists to meet the demands of temperature-sensitive goods.
Technological Innovation: Companies in logistics, technology, and manufacturing develop and deploy the tools needed for a functioning cold chain, including sensors, tracking systems, advanced refrigeration units, and AI-driven data analytics to monitor and optimise temperature-controlled supply chains.
Sustainability and Efficiency: Industry can drive the adoption of green technologies, such as solar-powered cold storage and low-carbon transport options. By working with academia and government, industry can adopt practices that reduce energy consumption and mitigate climate change impacts.
Real-World Insights and Data: Industry players generate real-time data from cold chain operations, which is invaluable for research and policy development. Their feedback helps improve regulations and technologies by identifying operational bottlenecks and challenges.