A high-level delegation from the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) visited India in November 2010 to help advance new programs and technology to improve cold chain operations in what has become a leading food-producing nation.
Leading the delegation was Mike McClendon (chairman of the World Food Logistics Organization and president of Richmond Cold Storage). Other members of the delegation included Mark Blanchard (chairman of the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses and president and chief executive officer of NOCS), Bill Hudson (GCCA president and CEO), and Neal Rider (IARW board member and president of Americold).
The delegation arrived just days after President Barack Obama visited India to pledge greater US support for enhancing food security and technology improvements to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the market for food products. It was the first to meet with US Ambassador to India Tim Roemer after the Obama mission.
Key accomplishments during the visit included:
•Meeting with leaders of India’s National Horticultural Board (NHB), which has oversight over all government cold chain initiatives in India. NHB and GCCA have agreed to work together to develop industry training.
•Receiving a commitment from US commercial officers in India to assist US-based GCCA members interested in doing business in India.
•Discussions with the US Trade and Development Agency regarding a study mission for Indian industry professionals to the United States to see and purchase US products exhibited at the IARW-WFLO annual convention and expo in New Orleans LA in May 2011.
•Meeting with Dr Ashok K Chauhan, the founder-president of Amity Universities and Institutions. GCCA plans to sign an agreement with India’s AMITY University to create a Cold Chain Training and Demonstration Center at AMITY.
•Obtaining a $250,000 pledge from Chauhan for AMITY University and GCCA to jointly launch a training program in rural areas in India that will educate farmers on proper postharvest handling procedures.
•Attending the second India Cold Chain Expo (ICE Expo) in New Delhi, organized by the GCCA India Division. The annual event was formally opened by Ashok Sinha, the secretary of India’s Ministry of Food Processing & Industries.
Led by Atul Khanna, the current GCCA India office was launched in 2006. Since then, GCCA activities in India rapidly expanded to now include the ICE Expo, ICE Road Show, SUPCO (Skill Up—gradation Program for Cold Storage Operations) Workshop, and ICE magazine.
The GCCA India division is planning new ways to educate and reach members and the industry. This will include new technical “road shows” to be held in 2011 throughout India that will educate food supply chain professionals on best practices and new technologies.
To learn more, visit http://gcca.in/india/.
