When Solar Gave a Farmer’s Harvest More Time

On a small island, space is precious. In Seychelles, that is especially true for agriculture. The country has a narrow agricultural base and relies heavily on imported food. Its updated climate commitments state that Seychelles depends on imported foods for about 70% of local nutrition needs, while its agricultural land is limited.

That makes every locally grown fruit and vegetable valuable. But growing food is only one part of the challenge. Once harvested, fresh produce needs to be stored, transported, and sold before it spoils. For farmers, this creates a difficult equation: produce has a short shelf life, refrigeration is expensive, and the country’s geography makes logistics more complicated.

This is where solar-powered cooling can make a difference.

Through a partnership with the International Solar Alliance, Seychelles established a 5-metric-tonne solar-powered cold-storage facility on Praslin Island in October 2024.

The project connects three issues that are often treated separately: energy, agriculture and food security. Solar supplies the energy, cold storage protects the harvest, and farmers get a better chance to retain value.

Because Seychelles’ energy system currently relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, which supply over 95% of the country’s electricity. This dependence contributes to high electricity costs and makes the country more vulnerable to global fuel price fluctuations. In 2023, renewable energy accounted for just 5% of total electricity generation. Acknowledging the need for a more stable and sustainable energy future, the Government of Seychelles has set a target to increase the share of renewables to 15% by 2030 through its National Energy Policy 2010-2030. Through a mix of policy reforms, investment incentives, and technical support, the country is laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more secure energy system.

This is an important lesson for small island developing states.

The solar transition is not only about putting panels on rooftops. It can mean using solar energy to strengthen the systems that keep an island economy running, including food production, storage, and distribution.