The countdown is on for the Festival of Cooling 2025, a five-day celebration dedicated to showcasing innovation, raising awareness, and driving action for the adoption of cold-chains in the agri-food sector. Hosted by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) at its campus in Rubirizi, Kigali, Rwanda from 6th to 10th October, 2025, the festival will bring together farmers, students, innovators, engineers, researchers, policymakers, and the public to celebrate sustainable cooling solutions.
Why it matters
In a fast-warming world, reliable and sustainable cold-chains are vital for preserving and protecting food, safeguarding vaccines, and supporting livelihoods. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, millions of tonnes of fresh produce and thousands of vaccine doses are lost every year due to a lack of cold-chains. The festival is about more than just discussing the challenges of deploying them in the Global South, it’s about building hope and celebrating African solutions to African challenges.
“Through the Festival of Cooling, we aim at integrating education, communities, artists, industry partnerships, technical training, and policy discussions in order to transform accessibility, affordability and efficiency of cooling and cold-chains in the Global South, as well as pave the way for continuous innovation and capacity-building in clean cooling and cold-chain solutions” said Toby Peters, Professor in Cold Economy, University of Birmingham and CCN lead.
“ACES is now recognised as the leading cold-chain and cooling hub in Africa. The Festival of Cooling is not just a one-off event; we hope it will become an annual, pan-Africa happening and part of the global movement we are leading, the aim of which is to realise a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient cooling and cold-chain ecosystem” added Peters.
What to expect
The program includes a range of activities tailored for different audiences:
- Live demonstrations of clean cooling cold-chain technologies
- Discussions on cold-chain development led by practitioners and experts
- Showcases of innovations from startups and entrepreneurs
- Exhibitions on cold-chain technologies and services
- Policy dialogues with decision-makers, investors, and industry representatives
- Networking opportunities
- Hands-on activities and competitions
- Cultural performances and live music
A festival for everyone
Each day of the festival is dedicated to a different audience, from farmers and innovators to schools, policymakers and the public, ensuring that every participant finds relevant insights and opportunities. Whether seeking to reduce post-harvest losses and increase farm income, explore investment opportunities, understand how food can be delivered more safely, or simply experience cooling innovations, the Festival of Cooling offers something for everyone. The focus for each of the days is as follows:
- Day 1 – Farmers and the agricultural value chain
- Day 2 – Health sector
- Day 3 – Schools and higher education institutions
- Day 4 – Innovation, entrepreneurship and creative hub
- Day 5 – Policy roadmap, closing gala
How to get involved
The festival is open to all. Morning sessions require free advance registration, while after lunch sessions are open without prior booking. Spaces for certain workshops and competitions are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
For more on the festival and how to register, take a closer look at The Festival of Cooling.
Join us in Kigali from 6th to 10th October 2025