Shekhar Garud

Engineered climate-resilient cold storage solutions to reduce food waste in India

Shekhar Garud is an Indian innovator and founder of Ecozen Solutions, a company that addresses post-harvest food loss through sustainable technology. Recognized as a 2016 Rolex Young Laureate, he developed the 'SolCold' solar-powered refrigeration system that requires no electricity or batteries. This breakthrough technology has prevented over 250,000 tons of food waste annually in India's agricultural sector. Garud's 2011-founded company has deployed 15,000+ units across 20 countries, helping farmers increase incomes by up to 40%. His work aligns with UN SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger) and 13 (Climate Action). The MIT Solve initiative selected Ecozen's solar cooling tech as a global finalist in 2019. Garud's TED Talk "How Solar Chill Saved Farmers' Harvests" details his journey from agricultural challenges to scalable solutions. He was awarded the National Entrepreneurship Award by the Government of India in 2021.