Hyderabad-Based Startup 'Kheyti' Wins Prince William's Earthshot Prize

Kheyti, an Indian startup that provides innovative yet simple farming solutions, has been named one of the five winners of this year's prestigious Earthshot Prize, an initiative of Prince William that awards a million pounds to each winner.

According to a statement on the Earthshot website, Kheyti won in the category Protect and Restore Nature for providing a pioneering solution for local smallholder farmers to reduce costs, increase yields, and protect livelihoods in a country on the frontlines of climate change. The prize is Prince William's initiative to provide an impetus for environmental conservation by funding projects that provide innovative solutions to the ongoing climate change crisis.

Each year until 2030, five Earthshot Prizes of one million pounds ($1.2 million) are awarded to support future environmental innovation projects. "I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges," the Prince of Wales said at the awards ceremony on Friday in Boston. "I hope that the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive alongside tonight's winners and finalists and those to be discovered in the years to come," he said.

Kheyti has created a simple solution that is already having an impact. According to the statement, its Greenhouse-in-a-Box is designed for small-scale farmers and their growing crops, providing shelter from unpredictable elements and destructive pests. "This year, we are honoured to be recognized by The Earthshot Prize."

The world relies on small-scale farmers, but their lives are among the most difficult on the planet. Today, our Greenhouse-in-a-Box is empowering farmers in India. "The steps we've already taken at Kheyti are now being built to change farmers' lives at scale," said Kaushik Kappagantulu, CEO and Co-Founder of Kheyti.

In addition, the Indian startup trains and supports farmers to ensure that their greenhouse is as efficient as possible. A greenhouse is now installed on 1,000 farms. According to Kheyti, by 2027, 50,000 farmers will have a Greenhouse-in-a-Box. This is the second round of Earthshot Prizes, following the first round last year.

The award, inspired by late US President John F. Kennedy's 'Moonshot' ambition of putting a man on the moon within a decade in the 1960s, aims to unite the world in finding innovative solutions for a stable climate by 2030 and creating a world in which communities, oceans, and biodiversity can thrive in harmony. The winners for this year were chosen from a group of 15 finalists.

During a star-studded ceremony attended by many celebrities, the Prince and Princess of Wales presented awards to the five winners. Apart from Kheyti, the other winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize are as follows:

• Mukuru Clean Stoves tackles clean air in Kenya

• The Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network is helping revive Australia’s oceans

• Notpla’s circular solution to waste in the U.K.

• The 44.01 Project in Oman is turning CO2 into rock