Pioneering Indian Start-Up Develops Food Waste Solutions to Combat Climate Change

credit: John Peter Lee, Ltd.

"It's never a no; it's always about finding other ways of doing it."

That's how Ankita and Nikhil Vijayvergiya describe their company, BillionCarbon, which uses technology to convert food waste into valuable byproducts, including liquid biofertilizer and insect protein, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%.

It was Ankita's own question during the recent COVID-19 pandemic about what we're really doing with our time that spurred her to pursue a career in the climate sector, she tells Fast Company.

Ankita and her brother launched their first startup, Nature Healers, which focused on educating people about sustainable living.

Their second startup, BillionCarbon, launched in 2023 and focuses on converting food waste into valuable resources using Black Soldier Flyrvae (BSFL) technology.

"It's crucial for women proactively create a support system around them," says Ankita, who became pregnant shortly after launching BillionCarbon and faced physical and emotional health challenges during pregnancy and postpartum.

"The flexibility of running a home office has been crucial," she adds.

"This experience has reinforced her belief in the need for supportive workplace policies that acknowledge and accommodate the unique challenges women face, particularly in navigating balancing work and caregiving responsibilities."

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