A solar-powered
tech venture that is combating food waste in Bharat and a global regenerative
agriculture initiative founded by a Karnataka professional are among the five
winners of the GBP 1 million 2023 Earthshot Prize, founded by Britain’s Prince
William and referred to as the ‘Eco Oscars’.
S4S Technologies,
founded in 2013 by six university friends Nidhi Pant, Vaibhav Tidke, Swapnil
Kokte, Ganesh Bhere, Shital Somani, Tushar Gaware and Ashwin Pawade, was named
the winner in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category at an awards ceremony in
Singapore on Tuesday.
In the “Fix Our
Planet” category, Aadith Moorthy’s Boomitra emerged as the winner for its work
with struggling farmers the world over.
“The last year has
been one of great change and even greater challenge. A year in which the
effects of the climate crisis have become too visible to be ignored,” said
William, the Prince of Wales.
“The light of
optimism is burning bright in our Earthshot Finalists. From Boomitra, S4S, and
Acción Andina, to GRST and WildAid Marine Program, our winners and all our
finalists remind us that, no matter where you are on our planet, the spirit of
ingenuity, and the ability to inspire change, surrounds us all,” he said.
S4S, which stands
for Science for Society, was set up with the aim of creating a waste-free food
system and to transform the lives of millions of women farmers.
“S4S, along with
women farmers, are creating a new food ecosystem that reduces wastage and
mitigates the increase in GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions while meeting the
world’s food needs,” said co-founder Nidhi Pant.
“With empowered
women farmers taking leadership to fight climate change by ensuring food
security, increasing incomes, creating jobs, boosting local economies, and
advocating with the government, women farmers have emerged as key-partners in
driving lasting impact,” she said.
Boomitra, which
means “friend of the earth” in Sanskrit, is a soil carbon marketplace that
rewards farmers for sustainable land management practices. The company works
with more than 150,000 farmers, from half-acre smallholder farms to large
ranchers, managing more than 5 million acres of land in some of the poorest
parts of Africa, South America and Asia.
“This prize is a
recognition of the hard work and dedication of our partners on the ground, the
Boomitra team, and all the farmers we work with, who work every single day
towards moving the needle on climate change,” said Aadith Moorthy, Boomitra CEO
and Founder.
In 2017, he was
passing through an Indian village when he came across a funeral procession
mourning the death of a farmer who, left destitute after a crop failure, had
taken his own life. This emotional moment sparked questions in his mind and led
to the creation of Boomitra, which today has a base around the world including
in Bengaluru.
The other winners
of the 2023 prize include South American forest protection initiative Accion
Andina; Battery recycling project GRST from Hong Kong; and US-headquartered
WildAid Marine Program which is combatting illegal fishing.
During a
glittering awards ceremony in Singapore to be telecast over the weekend, the
five winners chosen from among the 15 worldwide innovators and entrepreneurs
named as 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalists were each awarded a catalytic GBP 1
million prize to help scale their solutions and accelerate their growth and
impact.
PTI
