Your Virtual Cold chain Assistant project is piloting the innovative Coldtivate app in 10 key Nigerian states: Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Plateau, Imo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo.​ Commencing in October 2023, this pilot program, conducted in collaboration with ColdHubs, marks a substantial leap towards improving the efficiency, transpiracy and reliability of decentralized cold storage in Nigeria. ​With over 137 registered farmers and traders, the Coldtivate app has so far, played a pivotal role in mitigating food spoilage and boosting the income of its users. ​

Additionally, approximately 4,000 crates of fresh produce were successfully stored in 12 cold rooms within 12 months, primarily consisting of green beans, bell peppers, carrots, apples, onions, and cucumbers.​ The Coldtivate app, a product of the Your Virtual Coldchain Assistant project, a joint project between Empa and BASE, has demonstrated its potential to revolutionize the way smallholder farmers in Nigeria store fruits and vegetables after harvest. Its user-friendly interface, physics-based food models, machine learning model for food price prediction, and other powerful features have empowered farmers and traders to make the most of their produce, ensuring that less goes to waste and more contributes to their livelihoods.​ This success fuels our resolve to expand this project, benefiting more regions and industries across Nigeria.​ Stay connected for further updates on this project as we continue our journey towards transforming and revitalizing the African cold chain landscape.​