UGANDA – Two Ugandan entrepreneurs are among the recipients of the 2025 Young Inventors Prize, organized by the European Patent Office (EPO).
Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita, co-founders of Karpolax, were recognized under the “Community Healers” category for their development of a biodegradable sachet that extends the shelf life of fruit by up to 30 days.
The prize, part of the EPO’s initiative to spotlight innovators under the age of 30, referred to as “Tomorrow Shapers”, selected the winning teams from more than 450 global applicants.
Alongside the Ugandan duo, inventors from Spain, France, the United States, and several other countries were awarded across thematic categories such as “Nature Guardians” and “World Builders.”
Extending shelf life with plant-based chemistry
The Karpolax sachet is made from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from plants like cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and wintergreen.
Once placed in fruit storage crates, the sachet gradually releases active substances that inhibit phospholipase D, an enzyme linked to membrane degradation and spoilage.
The approach aims to delay ripening and protect produce from microbial contamination without relying on synthetic preservatives.
In pilot tests conducted with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization, mangoes stored with the sachets remained fresh for up to 33 days, compared to 11 days without treatment.
The technology has also been tested on bananas, apples, and oranges, and the team is developing sachets tailored to pineapples, berries, and capsicum.
Karpolax was founded in 2020 after Namboozo and Muyita met as students at Makerere University in Kampala, reports Euro News.
The innovation is currently being used by over 100 farmers, 20 exporters, and more than 250 vendors in Uganda, with the team now eyeing market expansion across East Africa, including Kenya and Rwanda.
Focus on local solutions for global challenges
The biodegradable sachet was developed in response to persistent post-harvest losses that impact smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), food waste contributes to approximately 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with much of this waste occurring before food even reaches consumers.
By extending fruit freshness during transport and storage, the Karpolax sachet supports goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
“Our goal was to create something grounded in our farming background, but informed by science,” said Namboozo during an interview with Euronews.
“We didn’t want this to be just another lab innovation that never leaves the shelf.”
Muyita added that the journey had not been easy, but mentorship from university faculty and perseverance allowed them to refine and commercialize the product.
“Funding was a challenge,” he said, “but we believed in what we were doing.”
Color changing label to detect bacteria
Other honorees at the EPO event also addressed food preservation and safety.
The People’s Choice award was presented to a Spanish research team, Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez, and Luis Chimeno, for developing a biodegradable label that changes color upon detecting bacteria.
The product, already in commercial use, aims to prevent both foodborne illnesses and unnecessary food waste in Europe, which discards an estimated 59 million tonnes of food annually.
The Young Inventors Prize celebrates innovators aged 30 and under who use technology to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the transformative impact of youth-led solutions and recognizes remarkable young people building a more sustainable future.
Established in 2022, the prize initially awarded trophies during the European Inventor Award ceremony. It has since become a stand-alone event, now alternating yearly with the European Inventor Award.