The freezing of food is consolidating its position as a key strategy for the sustainability of the food system and health protection. In fruits like the mango, pre-processing and freezing allow for the efficient utilisation of the fruit’s edible fraction, significantly reducing waste. While a fresh mango suffers total losses in the region of 35–40% due to peel, seed, and trimming, the frozen product is mainly marketed as pulp or cubes, concentrating the value in the usable fraction.

This way, approximately 60–65% of the mango’s initial weight is effectively destined for consumption, versus the high probability of partial discard faced by fresh fruit in the home. This approach highlights the technical and environmental efficiency of freezing as an alternative to reduce spoilage and optimise resource use.

Infrastructure Challenges and Essential Recognition

It is vital to dispel the belief that frozen foods are intrinsically «robust». The cold chain is, by its nature, capital- and energy-intensive, which underscores its vulnerability and logistical complexity. Therefore, it is imperative to recognise that cold chain logistics and transport are essential and irreplaceable parts of the food supply chain, comparable in importance to the role of farmers.

The frozen food sector represents a massive socioeconomic opportunity for developing nations. Even the most impoverished areas can access distant and lucrative markets through this technology. However, unlocking this potential requires a global harmonisation of science-based food safety systems and a reduction in excessive regulatory pressures.

In regions such as Europe, the sector identifies overly complex regulation, which hinders the efficient management of cold storage warehouses and limits the operational agility of new investments. Added to this are the restrictions and delays in accessing the electrical grid for new facilities, a critical factor for cold infrastructure expansion. In this context, the sector demands to be recognised as an essential industry in order to access priority support mechanisms. In parallel, the Hispanic American region is emerging as a key strategic partner to sustain and expand the growth of frozen food exports.

Future Growth and Technological Innovation

Sector projections towards 2026 are heavily conditioned by the regulatory frameworks and tariffs of 2025. The consensus calls for greater collaboration within the ecosystem to face these challenges.

There is a massive growth opportunity in regions such as India, Africa, and Asia, where frozen food production is in its initial stages. These regions are considered to have the advantage of being able to «start from scratch», quickly implementing more efficient and modern structures to advance «from 0 to 100» in a short time.

Technological innovation is driving this revolution. The most notable trend is magnetic freezing, an advancement that uses electromagnetic fields and cold air to generate ultrafine ice nanostructures. This process not only preserves the cellular structure, flavour, texture, and nutrients but makes the frozen food virtually indistinguishable from the fresh product, opening the door to new product categories and even medical applications.

In summary, the future of the sector lies in synergistic collaboration throughout the global supply chain and an unwavering focus on the value and quality offered to the consumer.