We are thrilled to announce that Solar Freeze is the 2025 winner of the F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact. This award recognizes a social enterprise working to scale its impact on social or environmental problems around the world.
Tackling Post-Harvest Loss with Innovation and Deep Roots
Smallholder farmers are skilled producers and vital contributors to local and global food systems. They cultivate crops that nourish communities and generate income, often with limited resources and infrastructure. Yet, despite their ingenuity and hard work, systemic barriers persist beyond the harvest.
Without access to reliable cold storage or energy, up to 45% of fruits, vegetables, and other perishables can spoil before reaching the market. Even when crops do make it to market, constrained access often means farmers must sell to middlemen at reduced prices—limiting their ability to fully capitalize on the value they’ve created.
Solar Freeze is changing that narrative. Founded by Dysmus Kisilu—who was inspired by the challenges he saw his grandmother face as a smallholder farmer in rural Kenya—Solar Freeze delivers solar-powered cold storage units directly to rural farming communities. These units are paired with a micro-franchising model, accessible financing, and AI-powered market intelligence. The result: farmers can preserve more of their harvest, access better-paying markets, and gain greater control over their economic futures.
Why We’re Excited About Solar Freeze’s Impact Potential
Solar Freeze’s motto—“Solutions for smallholder farmers, with smallholders, by smallholders”—reflects the deep lived experience of its founder and team. Their work is rooted in the realities of rural farming life and driven by a commitment to community-led innovation.
What sets Solar Freeze apart is not just its technology, but its holistic approach to value creation. The team has:
- Pioneered low-cost, solar-powered cold storage tailored for rural contexts.
- Developed a micro-franchise model that ensures local ownership and long-term sustainability.
- Integrated AI-driven market intelligence tools that help farmers aggregate produce and negotiate better prices.
Transformative Impact in Kenya. Solar Freeze’s growth has been remarkable. In 2018, the company served 3,000 smallholder farmers. By 2024, that number had grown to over 300,000—a 100-fold increase. Among these users:
- 90% report that Solar Freeze’s services are essential to their economic stability.
- Post-harvest losses have dropped by up to 95%.
- Incomes have increased by as much as 150%.
Empowering Communities Through Micro-Franchising. At the heart of Solar Freeze’s model is a commitment to community empowerment. Through its micro-franchise approach, the company has:
- Created over 3,000 jobs for rural women and youth.
- Achieved a 95%+ retention rate among micro-franchisees after three years.
This success is driven by comprehensive training, localized support (including guidance in local dialects), inclusive technology, and access to financing and micro-insurance.
Building Strategic Partnerships. Solar Freeze actively collaborates with a wide range of partners—including local governments, nonprofits, corporate tech firms, institutional produce buyers, and regional financing institutions—to ensure the sustainability and scalability of its impact.
Scaling for Greater Impact
Looking ahead, Solar Freeze aims to reach one million smallholder farmers, rural women, and refugees across Kenya and three additional Sub-Saharan African countries within the next five years. The team will continue to invest in its AI-powered platform to help farmers aggregate produce and access high-value markets. As they deepen their presence in Kenya and expand regionally, they also hope to inspire adaptation of their model in other countries. We hope you’ll continue to learn more about Solar Freeze by visiting their website and following them on social media.