EVAKUULA Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_84fQhuT4g
What it is: The EVAKUULA general concept is that a mild heat treatment of milk to 58-63oC with biogas, followed by cooling to approximately 10oC below room temperature, saves the evening milk. This mild heat treatment does not result in pasteurization; the growth of the remaining spoilage microorganisms is slowed by the evaporative cooling temperature to the extent that milk is still “fresh” the next day and can enter the cold chain. The 10oC-below-room temperature is achievable by low-cost evaporative coolers, powered by wind energy. The innovative features of this solution are: 1) scaling-down the thermization process to be successfully implemented on a smallholder farm and in the hands of a smallholder farmer, 2) seamlessly coupling the scaled thermization with low-cost evaporative cooling, and 3) enabling adoption of renewable biogas use and reducing the use of unsustainable firewood, as the main source of household energy for cooking. All the evakuuled milk has successfully entered the cold chain the next day as fresh milk. The technology was endorsement by the Uganda Dairy Development Authority for commercialization in Uganda. One EAKUULA sister products, branded as YAIKUULA, is for preserving the viability of guinea fowl eggs for hatching in the Sahelian belt countries (e.g., Burkina Faso and Niger) – See YAIKUULA page for more details
The problem it solves: Small-acreage farmers predominantly found in rural settings, do not have access to grid electricity to keep their evening milk fresh until the next day when it can be marketed. There are over 800 million smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The growth of mixed farming–crop and livestock–is on the rise, for example, the growth of dairy farming in such settings is estimated to be between 5 and 7%. EVAKUULA saves or keeps smallholder dairy farmers’ evening milk fresh, until the next day, when it can be marketed or enters the cold food supply chain.
The delivery business mode and impact: In comparison to competitor products, EVAKUULA is affordable; increases milk sold 30 to 50%, and can handle more milk as production increases. EVAKUULA in made and distributed in Uganda by Thermogenn. Thermogenn uses a rent-to-own business model, consistent with the target customers’ low liquidity. The monthly or weekly payment are managed via mobile money, set up with a local provider (AIRTEL). In addition to the initial sale, further revenue is generated from service and training. A typical customer is a female in a smallholder mixed farming household with three zero-grazed cows. She collect the cow-dung and feeds a digester for biogas production, not only to power the EVAKUULA, but for also cooking and lighting. As noted above impacts include increased incomes, health and environmental benefits from reducing firewood use. Preserving milk freshness with biogas is a “killer application,” because the extra income generated makes microcredit borrowing for biogas plant construction attainable, narrowing the gap between installed capacity of thousands and potential of hundreds of thousands domestic biogas plants.