NEWS
SophiA starts sustainable solutions project for Africa
S
ophiA, a new EU funded project aims to provide sustainable off- grid solutions for pharmacies and hospitals in Africa which includes cooling facilities using natural refrigerants.
With a budget of 8 million euros over four years, SophiA will develop containerized solutions for hospitals using natural refrigerants, solar thermal and photovoltaics to enable more and more African people to access carbon-neutral energy for electricity, heating and cooling of medicine and health care units as well as safe and clean drinking water, increasing the quality of life in a sustainable way.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and coordinated by Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA), SophiA had its first consortium meeting on October 12-13, 2021. More than 50 participants representing the 13 project partners, as well as members
of the Advisory Board and Friends of SophiA, attended the meeting organised as a hybrid event in Karlsruhe and online.
At this official launch of the project, participants were welcomed by Dr. Med. Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe, Prof. Dr. Franz Quint, prorector for research, cooperations and quality management at HKA, and representatives of the European Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Executive Agency (CINEA).
SophiA in a nutshell
SophiA aims to provide sustainable off-grid energy supplies and water free of bacteria and viruses for rural and remote health facilities in Africa, thereby accelerating the sustainable development, growth and economic transformation, and ensuring improved access to energy and health services for all.
Using various technologies, such as
photovoltaics, solar thermal, electrical and thermal storage, sophisticated water treatment and natural refrigerants with low global warming potential, SophiA will develop and manufacture locally innovative, modular, affordable and efficient solar powered systems for providing: Q electricity supply for use during power grid failure;
Q safe and clean drinking water, free of bacteria and viruses;
Q hot water and when needed also steam;
Q cooling of surgical or intensive care units;
Q cooling of medicines at +5°C; and food, when needed;
Q low temperature storage of blood plasma at -30°C;
Q ultra-low temperature storage of sensitive medication (e.g. some Covid-19 or Ebola vaccines) at -70°C.
In addition, PV MedPort, a simple and 100% solar powered solution will
be developed and tested as a mobile health care station in small remote areas in 4 different geographical conditions in Africa. SophiA systems will be manufactured in Africa and will provide for the first time innovative solutions based on climate-friendly natural refrigerants to cover cooling demand for three different temperature ranges (-70°C, -30°C and +5°C). The systems will be tested and demonstrated at four rural hospitals in remote regions throughout the African continent covering the major geographical regions and different climatic condition in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi and Uganda.
Joining forces for a clean energy transition, the multinational and multidisciplinary SophiA team will use a holistic approach for developing tailored solutions to provide green energy and clean water to hospitals in Africa, without the need to re-design the existing infrastructures.
Return to normal sees long-term frozen food growth slow
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rozen food sales remain buoyant despite consumers returning to pre-pandemic shopping habits, according to the latest 52-week Kantar data from the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF).
The figures to 5 September show that frozen sales are nearly £900m higher than the 52 weeks ended June 2019, with an additional 217 tonnes of volume since the pre-pandemic period.
However, with the reopening of hospitality and shoppers reverting to smaller basket sizes and more frequent shopping trips, frozen sales have declined, a trend reflected
across the whole of the grocery market.
Over the 12-weeks ended 5 September total grocery sales were down 2.7%, fresh and chilled sales were down 1.2% and frozen fell by 3.6%. Across the nine frozen categories monitored seven remain in value and volume growth with meat and poultry and frozen vegetables seeing small value declines.
Richard Harrow, chief executive of the BFFF said: “The latest figures are to be expected, as consumers start to eat out again and make more regular shopping trips. However, I suspect current supply chain issues
16 November 2021 •
www.acr-news.com
and consumers stocking-up for Christmas earlier than normal will lead to an up-lift in frozen sales in November and December. “Since 2019 the frozen category has seen value growth of +14.2% and volume growth of +10.4%. When compared to 2019 value growth of frozen is ahead of both total grocery (+13.1%) and fresh and chilled (+12.4) so the outlook remains positive.”
He added: Whilst the market is returning to normal, we are still seeing growth of shopper numbers across the total category and frozen has attracted over 400k more shoppers than in 2019. This latest
Kantar data also shows that across six categories we have retained on average 50% of the additional shoppers gained in 2020. “Frozen has always been recognised as a great value option, but value is now combined with innovation as companies work to develop high-quality frozen free-from products, sustainable packaging solutions and plant-based meals.
“We know people across all demographics are increasingly seeking out healthy and sustainable products, so options on offer in the frozen aisle will continue to attract new consumers.”
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