What systemic changes do you believe are most urgent to address inefficiencies and waste in the global food supply chain?
One of the most effective changes to reduce food waste in the global supply chain is implementing IoT technology. Real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity throughout the supply chain enhances the transparency and traceability of produce, helping suppliers maintain freshness. Another critical change needed is to improve cold chain logistics and related infrastructure. By having the right solutions in place, providers avoid issues such as inadequate storage and transportation systems, which often leads to considerable food spoilage before it reaches the market.
At Daikin, our HVAC-R (heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning & Refrigeration) solutions are designed to keep produce at optimum conditions throughout the entire supply chain, guaranteeing freshness from ‘from Farm to Fork’. IoT devices plays a vital role in the process by providing predictive maintenance of our HVAC-R systems, reducing downtime, and preventing energy-intensive failures, which is crucial for maintaining consistent conditions throughout the supply chain.
How can countries like the UAE improve their food management practices to reduce waste from production to consumption?
In the UAE, the National Food Security Strategy 2051 aims to strengthen food supply chain resilience by boosting local production. Reducing reliance on long-distance transportation, local production significantly cuts food waste by decreasing the amount of spoilage that takes place during transport and storage. Food waste costs the UAE an average of 13 billion dirhams per year.[1]
Promoting sustainable food production through advanced technologies, indoor farming is, in turn, quickly becoming a viable solution for enhancing food security in the UAE. At Daikin, we are committed to enhancing local food production by offering flexible HVAC-R solutions that meet the diverse needs of small farms and urban centers. Our inverter-driven compressors, for example, optimize energy consumption based on real-time demand, making decentralized cooling both cost-effective and reliable for smaller facilities.
Local production, however, also demands localized cold storage solutions. Integrating IoT devices into the local supply chain is crucial for preserving freshness and further minimizing waste. By enabling remote monitoring and maintenance, IoT boosts efficiency and reduces downtime, thereby optimizing cold chain solutions. This approach not only lowers operational costs but also ensures a consistent supply of locally produced food.
Daikin offers energy efficient and connected solutions that address the future needs of our customers. Supported by our world-class research and development team, our products are not only reliable but are supported by a vast service network to sales and service network to serve our customers.
Can you elaborate on how the UAE’s unique climate and geography affect its food supply chain, and how Daikin’s technologies support sustainability in this context?
One of the major challenges in the Middle East is the extreme heat, which can impact every stage of the supply chain. Without adequate storage facilities, efficient distribution systems, and effective resource management, food can spoil easily, resulting in waste. Another concern is the lack of fertile soil in the region, which hinders local production.
Daikin addresses this by offering tailored solutions that provide precise temperature control and energy efficiency, ensuring that food remains fresh, and energy costs are minimized throughout the entire process. Ensuring effective climate control across the entire “Farm to Fork” chain, especially in the Middle East’s challenging climate. Our solutions include – advanced HVAC-R systems that create the optimal environment during indoor farming for crops to grow, and refrigeration solutions for transport and storage that ensure that products are kept at the correct temperature and humidity levels consistently, to prevent spoilage.
What pioneering technologies is Daikin currently developing or implementing to reduce food waste and enhance sustainability across the supply chain?
We at Daikin are working to make all aspects of our business carbon neutral by 2050 through our net-zero strategy. As a global leader in the manufacturing of HVAC-R products, we work hard to limit the environmental impact of our products with a comprehensive approach throughout the refrigerant and equipment lifecycle. Our energy efficient and sustainable solutions include the use of lower global warming refrigerants to reduce environmental and climate impacts and advanced HVAC-R technology to reduce carbon emissions.
Here’s how we balance environmental impact with operational effectiveness:
Inverter Technology: Our Inverter technology optimizes energy consumption by adjusting compressor speed in real-time based on cooling demand. This enhances refrigeration efficiency, reduces energy use and carbon emissions, and helps maintain optimal storage conditions in food processing and distribution.
Low GWP Refrigerants: We are at the forefront of transitioning to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, significantly reducing environmental impact. Our systems use refrigerants like R-32, which lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining cooling performance.
IoT and Connectivity Solutions: We utilize IoT technology to offer advanced connectivity solutions for real-time monitoring and management of HVAC-R systems. This enables proactive maintenance and performance optimization, reducing energy waste and preventing failures, which is essential for consistent supply chain conditions.
How is HVAC-R technology being integrated into the food ecosystem to promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact?
Daikin’s HVAC-R solutions offer precise climate control and energy-efficiency with advanced inverter technology, low GWP refrigerants, and IoT systems, ensuring optimal freshness and minimal environmental impact. These innovations not only enhance the efficiency of HVAC-R systems but also supports the broader goals of sustainability and carbon reduction in the ‘Farm to Fork’ supply chain. Our commitment to advancing technology while maintaining environmental responsibility ensures that we meet the demands of today and tomorrow.
Could you explain the role of HVAC-R solutions in the emerging trend of indoor farming in the Middle East?
As concerns over food security have grown in the Middle East in recent years, reducing dependence on local imports has become an important strategic imperative for regional governments. The UAE government actively supports indoor farming as part of its National Food Security Strategy 2051, which emphasizes enhancing local food production through sustainable means. Saudi Arabia, according to its Vision 2030 strategy, is pursuing similar objectives.
As indoor farming becomes a viable alternative to imported foods, HVAC-R systems enable the growth of fresh produce, reducing dependence on imports. By creating controlled environments in greenhouses, vertical farms, and other indoor farming setups, HVAC-R technology helps optimize crop yields, reduce water consumption, and enable year-round production, making it a key enabler of this emerging trend.
How can climate control solutions like those offered by Daikin support the growing indoor farming sector, particularly in arid regions like the UAE?
Our HVAC-R systems are designed to create the ideal temperature for crops to thrive, regardless of external weather conditions. They also maintain optimal humidity levels and ensure proper air circulation. By providing these controlled environments, our technology helps maximize crop yields and reduce water consumption. This means that indoor farmers can grow a diverse range of crops year-round, even in regions with extreme temperatures.
Once harvested, HVAC systems are equally important for storage to ensure the freshness of the produce. Cold storage solutions must guarantee the quality of produce, ensuring they reach consumers fresh.
How does Daikin contribute to reducing food loss, particularly at the production level and during distribution?
At Daikin, our tailored solutions provide precise temperature control and energy efficiency, ensuring that food products are kept in optimum conditions throughout the entire production process.
As a global leader in the manufacture of Heating, cooling, Ventilation and Refrigeration systems (HVAC-R) systems, our innovations are supported by a research and development team committed to enhancing solutions for the next 100 years. Integrating state-of-the-art control systems and IoT capabilities, today these solutions provide remote monitoring and management, transparency, and ultimately peace of mind that food quality is guaranteed at every step of the supply chain.
Could you share examples of successful waste reduction initiatives Daikin has been involved in within the food industry?
Daikin plays a critical role in reducing food waste through the storage process. Our focus is on ensuring that the cold storage environment is both reliable and efficiently monitored. This involves leveraging advanced technology, such as IoT systems, to monitor the performance of refrigeration units and tracks key factors like how often storage room doors are opened. With this data, we can set up alarms and corrective action to prevent temperature fluctuations that could compromise food quality.
Additionally, we maintain a dedicated aftersales team that ensures our solutions operation according to necessary standards. This proactive approach helps prevent breakdowns and inefficiencies, further contributing to waste reduction in the industry.
What are the biggest challenges you face in ensuring integrity across the supply chain, and how does Daikin address these challenges?
When it comes to air conditioning, particularly in regions like the Middle East where temperature control is critical, maintaining supply chain integrity means ensuring consistent performance, energy efficiency, reliability, and compliance with environmental regulations at every step.
In terms of challenges this includes sourcing high-quality materials such as refrigerants, compressors, and insulation, that must meet strict standards for durability and efficiency. Meeting local and international environmental standards is also vital, particularly concerning refrigerants and energy consumption, across the entire supply chain. Other challenges include staying up to date with the latest technologies and ensuring that suppliers and partners are aligned with Daikin’s innovation goals, all the while navigating global supply chain disruptions which can emerge on account of geopolitical issues, natural disasters, or transportation delays.
To overcome these challenges, Daikin employs robust quality control processes, prioritises partnerships with reliable suppliers, and stays ahead of regulatory changes. This approach ensures that our products continue to deliver on their promise of reliability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
In your opinion, what steps can the food service industry take to promote sustainability in the UAE, and how can Daikin’s solutions assist?
First, reducing energy consumption in kitchens and storage facilities is crucial, given that HVAC-R systems typically run continuously. By adopting energy-efficient technologies, businesses can significantly lower their carbon footprint. Daikin has invested heavily in energy efficiency, and today, we are known for offering HVAC-R solutions that use less energy without compromising performance.
Additionally, the industry should prioritize the use of refrigerants with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) index or natural refrigerants to reduce environmental impact. Daikin is committed to this approach, ensuring our systems are not only energy-efficient but also environmentally friendly.
How do you foresee the integration of smart technologies in promoting sustainable practices in the food service sector?
The integration of smart technologies in the food service sector has the potential to significantly promote sustainable practices by increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and improving resource management. For example, IoT-enabled appliances and energy management systems can monitor and adjust energy consumption in real time. Our cooling systems at Daikin can continuously monitor outdoor temperatures and adjust their power usage, accordingly, resulting in energy savings of at least 30% compared to traditional methods.
Looking ahead, how does Daikin plan to evolve its product offerings to meet the growing demand for sustainability and transparency in the food industry?
2024 marked 100 years of operations at Daikin, a testament to our culture of pioneering innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence in the HVAC-R industry. Today, we operate in over 170 countries and with manufacturing facilities worldwide, our products delivering value to people and societies worldwide.
Looking to the future, we intend to build on this legacy, with plans to further evolve our product offerings to meet the growing demand for sustainability and transparency in the food industry. Our focus remains on enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in our HVAC-R solutions, while maintaining high standards of food safety and quality.
[1] https://abudhabisustainabilityweek.com/Leadership/Expert-Insights/How-the-UAE-has-the-chance-to-lead-the-world-in-reducing-food-waste-by-embracing-technology
