What if the solution to one of the world’s most stubborn problems-food waste-came not from a Silicon Valley lab, but from the heart of Uganda? In a world where over 1 billion tonnes of food are wasted every year while 783 million people go hungry, the story of Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita, the dynamic duo behind Karpolax, is a breath of fresh, plant-scented air.
The Global Food Waste Crisis
Let’s set the scene. Nearly 40% of all food produced globally never makes it to a plate. That’s not just a tragedy for hungry families; it’s a climate disaster, too. Food loss and waste account for 8–10% of annual greenhouse gas emissions-almost five times the emissions from the entire aviation sector. In the U.S. alone, food waste tops 60 million tons a year, valued at $218 billion-enough to feed millions and fill landfills to the brim.
But why does so much food spoil before it can be eaten? The answer is complex: from farm-level losses and poor storage to confusing expiration labels and inefficient supply chains. For smallholder farmers in Africa, the heartbreak is especially acute. Post-harvest losses can wipe out profits, stifle livelihoods, and deepen food insecurity.
Enter Karpolax
Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita know these challenges intimately. Both grew up in Ugandan farming families, witnessing firsthand the devastation of seeing hard-earned harvests rot before reaching market. Their response? Not to accept the status quo, but to invent a better way.
Karpolax’s breakthrough is deceptively simple: a small, plant-based sachet that, when placed in a box of fruit, can extend its shelf life by up to 30 days. The secret sauce? A blend of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extracted from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and wintergreen. These natural compounds slow down the fruit’s ripening by inhibiting ethylene-the gas that tells fruit it’s time to go soft and sweet-and protect against mould, fungi, and bacteria.
Unlike traditional chemical preservatives, Karpolax’s sachets are biodegradable and tailored for different fruits, ensuring a controlled, sustained release of freshness. Pilot tests with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization showed mangoes stored with these sachets stayed fresh for 33 days-triple the shelf life of untreated fruit.
Innovation with impact
Since launching Karpolax in 2020, Namboozo and Muyita have worked with over 100 farmers, 20 exporters, and 250 market vendors, preventing an estimated one million tonnes of fruit from going to waste and enabling over 250,000 people to access fresh produce in a single year. The sachets have proven effective on mangoes, bananas, apples, and oranges, with plans to expand to pineapples, capsicum, and berries.
The impact is not just environmental or economic-it’s deeply personal. For smallholder farmers, every extra day of shelf life means a better chance to sell their crops, earn a profit, and support their families.
“Farmers are one of our biggest customer groups. We wanted to use our knowledge and technical skills to develop something that would not just end on a paper in a lab but really be used by somebody,” says Namboozo.
Global recognition
The world is taking notice. Karpolax’s founders have been named among the top 10 innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025-known as the Tomorrow Shapers-selected from 450 candidates worldwide.
This prestigious recognition, awarded by the European Patent Office, celebrates young visionaries tackling global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
On June 18, 2025, the world will be watching as the winners are announced live from Iceland-a fitting stage for a story that blends science, sustainability, and hope.
