The Earthshot Prize

Protect and Restore Nature. That's not an order, though I really wish I had that superpower. It is, however, the category of our fourth Earthshot Prize. And to present it, is a beloved and multi-award winning comedy actress, star of best in show, Home Alone, Beetle Juice, and the sensational Schitt's Creek. (audience cheering) This is Protect and Restore Nature. Please welcome the wonderful Catherine O'Hara. (audience cheering and applauding) We humans, we humans share this planet with millions of other species. Coexisting, for now, in a wonders variety of habitats. That's nature for you. Unfortunately, we often see the natural world only as an obstacle to getting what we want. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the factory. Tonight's nominees for Restore and Protect Nature, know that nature is our friend, and together we can safely secure the health and welfare of all beautiful life forms. Here are the nominees. Kheyti, Modular Greenhouses. We've developed an affordable modular greenhouse that can play a vital role in protecting crops from the unpredictable impacts of changing weather systems linked to climate change. helping give farmers a steady income. We believe our greenhouses can bring a greener, and more sustainable future to vulnerable small holder farmers. Desert Agricultural Transformation. (speaking in foreign language) Our solution is Desert Agricultural Transformation. (speaking in foreign language) Hutan, conserving threatened habitats and wildlife species. In Borneo, historic forest exploitation has resulted in rainforest being fragmented to a tipping point. Living wildlife with too little room to live. By changing perceptions and mindsets through collaboration, research, and reforestation. We are reconnecting islands of forests and creating safe passageway for wildlife. (audience cheering and applauding) The Earthshot for Protect and Restore Nature, goes to Kheyti. (audience cheering and applauding) A majority of the food in the world is grown by 500 million smallholder farmers. In India, there are a hundred million of them, but unpredictable weather systems linked to climate change put them at a high risk of poverty. This year we saw the hottest month India has ever had, since records began over 120 years ago. Just one bad harvest can reduce their income to zero. I was about 17 years old, when I saw a farmer in my village eating mud. He looked into my eyes and said, my crops have failed, my stomach doesn't know that my pocket is empty. When Kaushik and I met, we were determined to do something. We spent six months talking to a thousand farmers across India to understand what their challenges are, and how we could solve them. We grew up together a team of engineers, scientists, and designers from around the world, to co-create our KP greenhouse. For our greenhouses to work, we needed them to be affordable and modular. Only then can the farmers invest in their future, and adapt the design for their plot of land. The simple structure sits on a small portion of a farmer's field and can be more sustainable than traditional greenhouses seen on large farms. They use less water than in open cultivation. Climate risk is decreased for the farmer, and more crops can be grown in a smaller space, which leads to less land being needed for agriculture. (speaking in foreign language) To make sure our farmers succeed, we provide quality seeds, training and advice. -

Sathya

We work with a wholesale vegetable market that sells the produce of Kheyti farmers to local vendors. (speaking in foreign language) Today we work with about a thousand farmers across six states of India. Over the next 10 years, we want to scale that to a million farmers directly. But also inspire a smart farming revolution around the world. I dream of a day where smallholder farmer equals a happy farmer, and being forced to eat mud should never happen anywhere again. (audience cheering and applauding) Such important work. What would you like to share with us now that you've won this award? Thousand thanks to the Earshot Prize for this honor. The idea of Kheyti started with a simple dream, that the hard work of half a billion farmers across the world should pay off. The only reason that vision persevered is because others shared that dream. Our team, our families, and most importantly, the thousand plus farmers who have taken, trusted us and taken a chance with us. Congratulations to all of them. This is just the beginning. We aim to help a million farmers over the next 10 years, and this prize can help us invest in a solid foundation for that ambition. Thank you for helping us ignite the Smart Farmer Revolution. (audience cheering and applauding)