ABSTRACT
Value consumers in developing countries have developed dynamically, which is indicated by the growth of modern markets. The increase of people mobility in the global era has also contributed to the changes in value consumers, especially in the regions that emerged as tourist destinations. The local traditional food supply chain system is challenged to be value-oriented in a value chain system. Intrinsic quality is an essential value that has to be created in local small-scale value chain systems, which requires cost-effective, easy-to-adopt and eco-friendly technologies. The golden rule of postharvest management is maintaining the intrinsic quality of the fresh horticultural products by decreasing the product’s core temperature and keeping it at the minimum possible throughout the life cycle, without causing chilling injury. Small-scale value chain holders or actors, in general, neither have the financial capability to afford conventional cold storage nor the technical expertise to install and maintain them Moreover, a single product or a small group of products has specific low-temperature requirements. A conventional cold storage installation based on the principle of mechanical cooling costs about USD 8,000 for 2 tonnes of cooling while the cold room equipped with CoolBot™ will only cost around USD 1,000 for the same capacity. The main aim of the cool room controlled with a CoolBot™ was to make the facility available and affordable for small-scale value chain systems. Included in this chapter are models of a value chain that use CoolBot™ equipped cooling systems in India.
