Reference no: EM133083896

Case Study: Solar Crop Dryers:

Food spoilage is one of the critical problems the world is facing today. A majority of food spoilage is happening in the post-harvest period due to inadequate storage and processing facilities. Cold storage is a good option but it is very expensive and energy intensive. Hence, food drying comes to light.

Drying is one of the oldest methods used for food preservation. Crops in many regions around the world have traditionally been solar dried in order to preserve them. That is, using the sun to dry vegetables and fruits. However, crops left outdoors are vulnerable to pests and need someone to guard them.

A solar crop dryer is used to reduce crop losses during in-season harvesting periods. A solar-dried crop is hygienic and preserves nutritional value. A solar crop dryer reduces drying time with protection from external disturbances such as pests, rain and wind. Despite the great impact in meeting food security, rural farmer groups were more interested in solar dryers for income generation than for food. The "Fruits of the Nile" company was founded in 1990s to link rural producers in Uganda with the market for dried fruit in Europe.

The company is a cooperative enterprise where local farmers own and manage the company. Within three years, more than 50 farmer groups had taken up the solar drier technology, and in 1995, the company exported more than 40 tons of dried fruit. The dried fruit is produced by the farmer groups and transported to a central collection point in the capital city Kampala. Produce is then inspected for quality and exported to a marketing group in the UK.

Questions:

write a report addressing the following questions:

Question 1.

Reflecting on Fruits of the Nile, discuss the sustainable development role played by the company in supporting the local community in Uganda. How does the company achieve success regarding the three pillars of sustainability (the TBL)?

Question 2.

Discuss the factors affecting innovations in cleaner technologies and environmentally friendly innovations. In your opinion, which of these factors is/are most influential to the success of Fruit of the Nile and why?