The Danish consul general is pushing for the development of a cold chain in Nigeria for the agriculture and health sectors.

Cold chain development was the course of discussion at a Cold Chain Roundtable on Climate-Resilient Infrastructure on Wednesday in Lagos.

The roundtable was in partnership with the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) and other stakeholders in the sector.

The Consul-General of Denmark and Head of Trade, Jette Bjerrum, said the Danish government was committed to partnering with African countries to promote sustainable growth, resilience, and climate adaptation.

She said, “This is the only strategic project that has been approved in the sub-Saharan Africa region in Copenhagen. Today is about linking classic cold-chain business with real climate adaptation initiatives. So, bridging these two thematic areas is very particular for Denmark, and that is happening now in Lagos, as the megacity of Nigeria and the key hub for a lot of things.’’

Ms Bjerrum said cold chains play a vital role in multiple sectors, but particularly in agriculture and in healthcare.

“We also know that it is very energy intensive to run the cold chain infrastructure, and if not managed sustainably, it can also contribute significantly to climate challenges. Denmark’s new Africa Strategy inaugurated last year emphasises our strong commitment to partnership with African countries to promote sustainable growth, resilience, and climate adaptation,” the consul said.

Ms Bjerrum reiterated that “climate change is not an abstract challenge; it is a daily reality affecting livelihoods, food security, and health systems. Addressing these challenges requires innovative, practical solutions—and cold chain is a sector where solutions can have immediate, tangible impact.

“Danish companies and institutions bring decades of experience in developing energy-efficient cooling technologies, renewable energy integration and smart logistic systems, combined with the local expertise and the market knowledge here in Nigeria. We can create models that both reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and expand access to essential and important products,’’ she said.

Ms Bjerrum said the roundtable was not just about technology—it was about building partnerships.

“By working together across sectors and borders, we can strengthen the value chains that support farmers, improve public health outcomes, and build resilience against the effects of climate change,” Ms Bjerrum said.

On her part, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titi Oshodi, commended the Danish consul for its initiative in promoting the cold-chain sector’s growth.

“We are excited that the Danish government has started to look along the line of providing solutions in the cold chain sector. Climate resilience is something that we have to start to introspectively look into, and we have to start looking at how it can be adaptable to our clime and to every reality that faces us.

“I commend the organisers for creating this platform to explore solutions at the intersection of climate change, food systems and health, adding that the impact of climate change is not a distant threat,’’ she said.

Ms Oshodi said that Nigeria loses up to 40 per cent of food produced to post-harvest losses and a weak preservation system.

“This result in waste has become a significant challenge that threatens food security and economic and environmental stability. This is why cold chain systems are not simply a technical fix. They are a lifeline for food security, public health and climate resilience. So, solutions like this are crucial,” the special adviser said.

Also, the President of OTACCWA, Alexander Isong, restated the need to invest more for the growth of Nigeria’s cold-chain sector.

He stated, “The cold-chain sector in Nigeria is not just an infrastructure challenge—it is a national development imperative. Addressing its deficits will unlock food security, reduce health risks, and catalyse economic growth. With strategic investment, policy coherence, and climate-resilient innovation, Nigeria can transform its cold-chain landscape from a bottleneck into a backbone. Treating cold chains as climate-resilient infrastructure—not a peripheral cost—lets Nigeria convert today’s losses into tomorrow’s incomes and health outcomes.

“With targeted, standards-driven, clean power investments across food and vaccine supply chains, Nigeria can reduce waste, save lives, build export credibility, and crowd in green capital at scale.’’

Mr Isong said OTACCWA would remain committed to partnership and the national acceleration programme to better Nigeria’s cold-chain sector.

(NAN)