Keep it Cool, a Kenyan enterprise in sustainable innovation, has been awarded the 2024 Earthshot Prize. It is one of five winners worldwide. This award includes £1 million in funding, supporting Keep It Cool’s mission to reduce food spoilage, decrease waste, and enhance livelihoods in Kenyan communities.
Founded by Prince William, the Earthshot Prize celebrates initiatives that tackle critical environmental challenges. Each year, the Prize recognizes transformative projects that drive lasting, positive change for a more sustainable world. Keep It Cool was selected from over 2,500 nominations spanning 139 countries. It won in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category, reinforcing Kenya’s leadership in sustainability solutions.
Read About 3 African Companies that Vied for Earthshot Prize
Sustainable Solutions to Reduce Waste & Boost Income
“We are grateful for the recognition from The Earthshot Prize. It is an important milestone for Keep It Cool. We are on a mission to revolutionize the food supply chain in East Africa. We will continue to enhance market access, reduce waste, and build climate resilience for small-scale fish and poultry farmers across the region.” Stated Francis Nderitu, Keep It Cool’s founder and Managing Director.
The company’s innovative approach equips small-scale farmers and fishers with sustainable refrigeration and efficient distribution systems. They extend the shelf life of their products, reducing spoilage, and stabilizing incomes. By boosting profits and curbing food waste. Keep It Cool offers a scalable, impactful model aligned with Earthshot’s vision of a waste-free world.
During the awards ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, emphasized the mission’s hopeful vision. “I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope, and optimism. That is why The Earthshot Prize exists. To champion the game-changers, inventors, makers, creatives, and leaders; to build upon the amazing things they’ve already achieved. To speed their innovations to scale and inspire the next generation to create the future we all need.”
Other Recognized Innovators
Four other innovators joined Keep It Cool in being honored, each receiving £1 million to recognize their groundbreaking work across Earthshot’s categories.
Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems
Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative
Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization [GAYO]
Beyond the £1 million award, each winner will join The Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme, benefiting from mentorship, resources, and technical support provided by The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance of Partners, a network of leading businesses, investors, and environmental experts dedicated to scaling innovative solutions for maximum impact.
The Multichoice Group, a key partner in the Earthshot Global Alliance, has actively supported and promoted Earthshot Prize finalists and winners. Since the Prize’s launch in 2020, it has unlocked over £75 million in financial and in-kind support to advance essential environmental solutions worldwide.
Hosting the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Africa highlighted the continent’s vital contributions to global climate action and environmental solutions. Cape Town joined a prestigious lineup as the fourth host city, showcasing Africa’s vast potential for leading environmental progress and innovation.
