Danfoss India presents the 10th edition of Danfoss-ICE Awards

Danfoss India in association with Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) India has announced that it presented the 10^th edition of the Danfoss-Indian Cold Chain (ICE) Awards at a mega event that took place at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, Hyderabad to recognize and reward excellence in the Indian cold chain industry that has been integral to realizing the Indian Government’s vision to transform India as the food factory of the world.

The annual Danfoss ICE Awards held this year was attended by Mr. Mahendra Swaroop, President, Federation of Cold Storages Association of India, Pawanexh Kohli, CEO & Chief Advisor, National Centre for Cold-Chain Development, Nagendra Rao Gubba, President, Chamber of Cold Storages Industry, Telangana, Atul Khanna, Director, ICE and Mr. Anuraaga Chandra, Director – Cooling, Danfoss India.

Given the increasing pace of urbanisation, major problems exist with respect to food safety as well as quantitative and qualitative losses, owing largely to inadequate rural electrification, low levels of organization and limited knowledge of smallholders about quality management through temperature management and good handling practice. The resulting losses negatively impact food security, nutrition and incomes of smallholders, while increasing the cost of food for low income consumers. The development of appropriate cold chain systems (including low emission, renewable energy, new technologies) from farm to market, holds considerable potential for enhancing the safety, quality and shelf life of perishables, while increasing returns to producers. It is against this backdrop that Danfoss along with GCCA and ICE instituted the Danfoss ICE Awards to specifically identify and showcase the best practices & excellence in Cold Chain to others.

Over the years several entrepreneurs, business model innovators, farmers consultants and more have been awarded. And now, we they are acting as change agents of this important sun rise industry, which we also believe is the next big job creator for India.

Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chairman Committee on Doubling of Farmers Income, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare, Govt. of India won the Danfoss ICE Exemplary Thought Leadership Award 2018. Under Dr. Dalwai’s chairmanship, the Committee on Doubling Farmers Income has brought about a paradigm shift in how the agriculture is understood and has positioned agri-logistics, including cold chain, as the backbone of the agricultural system. Dr. Ashok Dalwai has not only contributed immensely to the field of agricultural economics but has played a vital role in redefining various concepts relating to agriculture and bringing the human factor to the fore.

Speaking on the occasion, Anuraaga Chandra, Director – Cooling, Danfoss India, said, “While India’s agricultural output has grown five times in the last sixty years, the agricultural sector accounts for a mere 17.9% of our GDP which stresses the need for the government and industries to invest in skill development and capacity building across the food infrastructure to reap the benefits of our hard-working farmers. Through our association with ICE and GCCA, we believe that the awardees can be taken as an inspiration to create new business models that can transform India’s profitability story by doubling farmer incomes and making India the ‘food factory of the world’”.

The recognition of the Danfoss – ICE Awards 2018 was bestowed uponDeesa Cold Storage Association that bagged the Danfoss-ICE bestProgressive Association award 2018,while RINAC India Ltd won the Danfoss-ICE Manufacturer of the year award. Danfoss-ICE Energy Efficient Facility 2018 award was jointly shared by Kool Solutions India and Ananda Foods.

Sana Masood won the Danfoss-ICE Women Achievers Award while Eggway International Asia Pvt Ltd bagged the Danfoss-ICE Processing unit of the year Award and Sical Logistics was recognised by Danfoss-ICE Cold Chain Logistics Provider Award 2018. Citizen Welfare Society, Prakasam District was awarded the Danfoss-ICE Progressive Farmer Producer Organization Award 2018. VivekSavla - Savla Foods & Cold Storage Pvt. Ltd. won the Danfoss-ICE GenEx Award 2018.Dr.Vasudevappa C, Vice Chancellor, NIFTEM &Mr. Sandeep Tandon on behalf of UNIDO were presented with the Danfoss-ICE Special Certificate of Honor.

The various Danfoss–ICE Awards were presented for achievements and contributions to the industry in terms of adaption and innovation of newer technologies that help in strengthening the cold chain infrastructure in the country that is integral to increasing the value proposition of food and reducing food wastage in the journey from farm to fork.

Every year, nominations are drawn from all over the country where several Cold Chain Industry professionals from Indian organizations with relevant technical expertise, competence, experience and exposure to global Cold Chain standards and practices participate in the awards.

Danfoss ICE Awards has had a fruitful journey from its inception in 2009 when the first of its cold chain awards were conceptualized in India, till date.Danfoss, GCCA and ICE have worked with NCCD and the Industry through this memorable journey, and this has been captured in a Coffee Table Book that was unveiled at the Awards Night. This book is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of all those winners, the best of the last decade of Danfoss ICE Awards, who have helped in transforming the cold chain industry in India.