International. Arne Pauwels is a student at the University of Antwerp who developed an idea based on a system that offers the possibility of storing fruits and vegetables for longer without the need for refrigeration. A technology designed for developing countries that do not have access to electricity.
The refrigerator, known by the name Wakati, is made with a type of canvas that maintains a sterilized microclimate with the help of a 3 W solar panel, flexible, portable, foldable and very efficient. It is simple to use and supplies the necessary energy to be able to create the microclimate with the help of 200 milliliters of water and a small fan. The system creates a cooler, more humid environment in this structure that resembles in the form of a refrigerator that can store up to 150 kilos of fruits and vegetables.
"The first step in Wakati's development was a field trip to Ethiopia to identify opportunities, with local entrepreneur Yordanos Kidanie, and graduates of The White House African Women's Entrepreneurship Program, offered by Hilary Clinton. During my stay it became clear that post-harvest losses were huge in Africa and there were no cheap solutions available. Based on this research, Wakati emerged to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers rather than focus on their production. After many tests in the product development department at the University of Antwerp, the University of Leuven did the first independent tests, with positive results and gave Wakati the opportunity to do the first field test at the High Atlas Foundation sites in Africa, while being part of a documentary on clean technology on Belgium's national television." Pauwels commented.
This project is in the initiation phase, at the moment 100 units have been built delivered in countries such as Uganda, Afghanistan and Haiti, and are at a cost of US $ 100 per unit.
With Wakati.org and www.gastronomiaycia.com information
