In a world where over a billion tonnes of food go to waste every year and nearly 800 million people face chronic hunger, two young Ugandan innovators are rewriting the script— one piece of fruit at a time.
Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (27), co-founders of Karpolax, have developed a biodegradable, plant-based sachet that extends the shelf life of fresh fruit by up to 30 days.
Their innovation has earned them a place among the top 10 finalists in the 2025 Young Inventors Prize, awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO) to young changemakers tackling the world’s biggest challenges.
The winners will be announced on June 18, 2025, during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland.
FROM FARM ROOTS TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Both Namboozo and Muyita grew up in farming families, where they witnessed firsthand the heartbreak of watching good produce get spoilt before it could reach the market. For many smallholder farmers in Uganda, such post-harvest losses mean not only financial setbacks but also food insecurity for their own households.
“Farmers are one of our biggest customer groups,” says Namboozo.
“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.”
The result is a sachet that looks simple but is loaded with scientific ingenuity. It slowly releases natural compounds extracted from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus and winter- green—plants known for their antimicrobial properties.
These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) work by suppressing ethylene, the gas responsible for ripening, while also protecting against mould, bacteria and fungi. In tests conducted with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization, mangoes stored with the sachets stayed fresh for 33 days, compared to just 11 days without them.
Karpolax has since proven successful with bananas, apples and oranges—and now, they are testing sachets for pineapples, berries, and capsicum. The breakthrough is more than just a scientific marvel; it’s a practical solution tailored to the people who need it most.
The sachets are affordable, scalable and biodegradable—ideal for small-scale farmers, market vendors and exporters in the global South.
SOLVING BIG PROBLEMS WITH SMALL TECHNOLOGY
The stakes are high. According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), food loss and waste account for eight to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Add to that the World Wildlife Fund’s estimate that up to 40% of food produced globally never reaches the consumer, and the urgency becomes clearer. Karpolax’s solution touches on multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—including SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
“It’s not just about keeping food fresh. It’s about keeping incomes stable, families nourished, and climate goals within reach,” says Muyita.
“Starting from zero, you need to source for that funding yourself. We had some supervisors from the university who supported us and made us feel confident that we could succeed.”
The two met while studying at Makerere University, Uganda’s flagship institution, and launched Karpolax in 2020. Since then, they have worked with over 100 farmers, 20 exporters and 250 market vendors, providing them with a locally made alternative to synthetic preservatives.
PROTECTING IDEAS, PRESERVING FUTURES
Being named among the top 10 global finalists for the Young Inventors Prize, selected from over 450 entries worldwide, is no small feat. The prize highlights global youth using technology to create real, scalable solutions to real-world problems.
The recognition also brings new opportunities—visibility, potential partnerships, and a growing platform for their mission to reduce food loss across Africa. Their next goal? Expand Karpolax’s reach across East Africa, beginning with Kenya and Rwanda.
Their work is already inspiring a new wave of socially driven entrepreneurs in the region, proving that innovation doesn’t have to come from billion-dollar labs. It can start in a university classroom—or on a farm—and still change the world.
As the spotlight turns to the prize ceremony in June, Namboozo and Muyita are already looking ahead. Their mission, they say, has only just begun. “We want a future where farmers don’t lose what they’ve grown,” says Namboozo.
“Where fresh food doesn’t rot on the way to the market. Where innovation keeps families fed and the planet healthy.”
Ugandan youths, please, you MUST just join hands to say NO to the tribalistic system Rwandese Museveni so so cleaverly put in place, then UNITY will block & show him way out!
Then & only then will the youths & your children have a Uganda that will belong to you, governed as you wish!