Ayush Bhaskar Kale

Fresh produce is perishable, and this simple, unavoidable fact restricts many Indian farmers to a very tight timeframe: either they sell all their produce within it, or they risk losing it. The result of the latter is wastage and food decomposition, releasing tonnes of climate-damaging methane into the atmosphere. Ayush’s solution to this widespread environmental problem combines solar technology with a clever evaporative cooling system and a community approach. He calls it Agricold: a community storage facility that extends the shelf life of perishable items and gives farmers a much wider window to sell. Less food wastage means a more efficient farming industry and this, he argues, could reduce water waste, chemical use, and deforestation to clear land. Farmers, meanwhile, would be able to earn more from the same amount of produce — simply because less of it is wasted.