Australian tech helps vegetable famers in Son La to keep things cool

The vegetable sector is an important source of employment and income for local people, especially women, in Son La province, northeast Vietnam. But the produce risks damage during the long journey to Hanoi – the most important market for vegetable sales.

A project funded with nearly A$300,000 from Round 2 of our #Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants will build 10 walk-in coolers and 5 refrigerated trucks for local farmers to help reduce post-harvest loss in the vegetable supply chain. The first cooler was completed and handed over to Dong Sang Organic Agriculture Cooperative by Fresh Studio , one of the two implementers of the project.

The coolers and trucks will be using CoolBot, an innovative tech from Australia with low-cost controllers that allow conventional air-conditioning units to be used and achieve temperatures of 5 degree Celsius. This is necessary to ensure fruit and vegetables arrive in Hanoi in peak condition for retailers and customers.