Kenya’s Keep It Cool has been awarded the 2024 Earthshot Prize, receiving a £1 million grant in recognition of its groundbreaking sustainability solution aimed at reducing food waste and enhancing livelihoods. The company, founded by Francis Nderitu, provides small-scale farmers and fishers with sustainable refrigeration and distribution systems to extend produce shelf life, reduce spoilage, and stabilize incomes. Keep It Cool was one of five winners from over 2,500 nominees across 139 countries and was selected in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category.
The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, honors transformative solutions to pressing environmental challenges. During the awards ceremony in Cape Town, Prince William praised the winners, emphasizing the Earthshot Prize’s mission to support and scale such visionary efforts. Beyond the financial prize, Keep It Cool and other winners will participate in the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme, receiving mentorship, resources, and technical support from the Earthshot Global Alliance.
The event highlighted Africa’s significant role in climate action, showcasing solutions across multiple categories: Fix Our Climate, Revive Our Oceans, Protect and Restore Nature, and Clean Our Air. The ceremony in Cape Town reflected Africa’s critical contribution to global environmental progress. Since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has supported innovations addressing global challenges, advancing sustainability solutions with over £75 million in financial and in-kind support.
