Cold Chain Industry Aids In Food Security

The government has been urged to establish a framework for the installation of cold storage facilities in non-urban areas and to further support the cold chain industry to ensure food security across the country.

The prominence of the cold chain industry in public awareness has been propelled by government efforts to address the urgency of achieving desirable levels of food sufficiency and security. I Photo: Arctic Cold Refrigeration Facebook

The essence of this call emerged from a round table discussion led by Anthony S. Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, and sponsored by the Monday Circle, a platform promoting healthy exchanges of ideas on various economic topics.

Dizon highlighted the challenges facing the cold chain industry, emphasizing the need to raise public awareness regarding the necessity for more cold storage facilities to support the government's initiatives on food security.

Currently, the aggregate holding capacity of cold chains in the country stands at approximately 700,000 pallets, equivalent to 600,000 metric tons.

This falls significantly short of the country's total food supply requirement of 15 million metric tons per year, encompassing vegetables, meat, marine, and poultry products.

Dizon emphasized the crucial need to establish cold storage facilities in non-urban areas, while also addressing power supply issues, which present a major hindrance to the development of support mechanisms for food security.

In response to these concerns, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Cong Joey Sarte Salceda pledged to invite Dizon and his group to a forthcoming Congressional hearing to address the challenges associated with the cold chain industry in alignment with the government's commitment to ensuring food security.

During the discussion, various issues were raised, including the necessity for government support in encouraging infrastructure and production facility development in less urbanized areas.

Additionally, participants highlighted the importance of adopting developmental policies rather than punitive measures against the cold chain industry.

The prominence of the cold chain industry in public awareness has been propelled by government efforts to address the urgency of achieving desirable levels of food sufficiency and security.

Dizon presented essential statistics indicating that the total food supply to the country is estimated at 15 million metric tons per annum, with notable disparities in per capita consumption compared to neighboring countries like Vietnam and Malaysia.

The entry of conglomerates into the industry signals promise for the government's food security agenda. Corporate giants such as Ayala, Aboitiz, and Metro Pacific are actively involved, reflecting growth opportunities in the sector.

However, Dizon cautioned that challenges persist, both at the policy and operational levels.

He stressed the importance of understanding the relationship between production, supply chain, and market absorptive capacity, advocating for more developmental government policies rather than punitive measures.

In summary, while there are promising opportunities for growth in the cold chain industry, concerted efforts are needed to address existing challenges and ensure sustainable development in support of food security initiatives.