Solar food processing

Solar food processing is an innovative and multi-faceted technique capable of addressing various problems faced by people in the developing world. The implementation of technologies for food processing and conservation using solar energy can indirectly help to reduce poverty, improve health conditions, create sustainable local economic opportunities, and limit environmental damage by promoting the use of clean and renewable energy sources. This project targets developing countries with a high solar radiation potential, in particular those countries in need of unique and sustainable development assistance and ideas that relate to solar food products.

The project aims to extend and develop efficient methods of solar food processing for the following activities:

• Conservation of fruits and vegetables
• Drying crops
• Roasting different kind of nuts
• Pasteurising juice, fruits and vegetables
• Baking bread and cake.

Objectives:

• Improvement in the quality of food;
• Creation of local jobs and income;
• Demonstrating environmental benefits (with high potential for CO2 emissions reduction)
• Involvement of local personnel and local resources
• Creation of a new market and encouragement of economic competition in this field.

[Text for this topic was taken from Solar Food Processing - Network and Support]

Events

• January 14-16, 2009: International Solar Food Processing Conference 2009 in Indore, India

Articles in the media

• April 2008: Using the Power of the Sun to Help Make SunChips Multigrain Snacks - Frito-Lay press release

See also

• January 2009: Micro-enterprises in Solar Food Processing Technology - Case Study - M. Ramakrishna Rao, D.J. Rao, S.L. Kumar
• January 2009: Advancing towards achievement of Millennium Development Goals by training Rural and Tribal women in Solar Food Processing - A Hands-on Experience at Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Central India - Dr. Janak McGilligan
• January 2009: Promotion of Smoke Free Villages in Chittoor District & Employment Generation to Rural Youth Through Solar Food Processing - Jagadeeswara Reddy
• January 2009: Agave syrup production – a sweet tradition goes solar - Gregor Schapers
• July 2006: Summary of Available Technologies for Food Transformation with Solar Energy - Solis Gutierrez
• July 2006: An Example of Solar Food Processing: Cooperative Production of Agave Syrup in Mexico - Heike Hoedt
• July 2006: The Potential of Using Panel Solar Cookers to Process Full-Fat Soybeans (Glycine max) for Urease Activity - Irvin Mpofu
• Solar Food Processing - Network and Support - Rolf Behringer
• Coffee roasting
• Chocosol (Making chocolate with the sun for sale in Mexico)
• A brochure from the International Solar Energy Society about using of solar energy to process food (Also in (French), (German), and (Spanish))
• Solar Food Processing Network

External links

• Second International Solar Food Processing Conference in India, 14 to 16 January 2009 - Conference papers now available online.
• http://www.solarfood.org
• Food processing technical briefs from Practical Action
• Solar food processing in Afghanistan
• A brochure from the International Solar Energy Society covering the various uses of solar energy to process food (Spanish version) (French version) (German version)
• Solar Food Processing - Network and Support - Rolf Behringer