Food & Climate
Pioneering fruit preservation technology has won Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Innovation Award 2024.
Freza Nanotech Limited, a startup from Uganda, has won the (FAO) Innovation Award for developing a groundbreaking nanotechnology-based solution that extends the shelf life of fruits and reduces postharvest losses.
The award ceremony took place at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, on the sidelines of the 176th Session of the FAO Council, according a press release that “Food & Climate” platform received today.
What is the pioneering fruit preservation technology?
Freza Nanotech’s innovative technology uses an organic formulation to inhibit the activity of phospholipase D, an enzyme involved in fruit ripening, extending fruit shelf life by up to 30 days.
This emission-free solution addresses a critical challenge in the food supply chain, reducing waste and increasing the availability of fresh produce for consumers.
“Their efforts demonstrate that agrifood systems can be both productive and sustainable, contributing to better nutrition and improved livelihoods in Uganda and beyond,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu during the award ceremony. “Showcasing best practices and innovative solutions like those of Freza Nanotech is important because of their positive impact on production, nutrition, environment and livelihoods, and their contribution to the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind,” he added.
The FAO Innovation Award is part of the FAO Awards Programme, which honors organizations, individuals, and institutions whose innovations contribute to the transformation of agrifood systems and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ceremony at the FAO Council underscored the role of innovation in addressing global challenges and driving sustainable development in agriculture worldwide.
Smallholder farmers in Uganda
The company’s technology has been particularly transformative for smallholder farmers in Uganda, enabling them to reduce postharvest losses, improve their yields, and stabilize fruit prices. Consumers benefit from the increased availability of fresh produce at more affordable prices, while the environment benefits from reduced food waste and lower emissions associated with food spoilage.
Mugisha Gift Arnold, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder at Freza Nanotech, emphasized that receiving the award not only recognizes the team’s commitment but also symbolizes how innovative technological solutions can have a significant impact on global challenges, particularly in food security and sustainability. He highlighted how the technology developed by his company is contributing to improving food availability and supporting economic growth, making a tangible difference in people’s everyday lives.
Uganda experiences the effects of climate change in the form of increased temperatures, frequent disease outbreaks and insect infestations, disrupted rainfall patterns, and frequent floods and droughts.
While Uganda has progressively undergone social and economic growth and transformation, consequently reducing its poverty rate by 23% over the last two decades, sustained gains will require continued investments in agriculture, and inclusive participation in the economic growth of women as well the population reported poor in 2019.
With 81% of the population engaged in rain-fed subsistence farming for food and cash income, the country’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture remains a risk to economic growth, income of farmers, as well as export earnings.
Agriculture contributes up to 40% of Uganda’s total GDP and over 90% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. The agriculture sector contributes to 27% of emissions, followed by the land-use and forestry sectors with approximately 60 percent of emissions.