The cellular structures that protect meat and meat fibers during a rapid freeze do not exist for plant-based products. The crystal growth protections afforded to animal proteins are not natively present in plant-based systems.

For the first time, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published an Activity Report which emphasizes the essential role of refrigeration at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

All professionals in the field of low-temperature technologies are strongly encouraged to strictly adhere to the internationally established and approved definitions, by the International Institute of Refrigeration and the ASHRAE, of the following words: cooling, refrigeration, chilling, freezing and cold chain.

ASHRAE has published an updated guideline to assist in control of legionellosis associated with building water systems. ASHRAE Guideline 12-2020, Managing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, provides guidance useful in the implementation of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems. The guideline is intended for use by owners of human-occupied buildings and those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, management, operation, maintenance, and service of centralized building water systems and components.

The IIR calls on national governments to consider the various services of refrigeration and air conditioning as “essential services” in the context of the spread of COVID-19 in countless countries around the world. Over 15 million people are employed worldwide in the refrigeration sector--including air conditioning--which consumes about 20% of the overall electricity used worldwide.

The Danfoss CO2 Adaptive Liquid Management solution, which fully utilizes all of an evaporator's surface area and improves the energy efficiency of transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems by as much as a 10 percent, received top honors in the 2020 AHR Expo Innovation Awards program.