Snails, Science, and the Crown: EscarGrow™ Nominated for Earthshot Prize
Last week, Ozi Manning, aka Mama Kuku, was officially nominated for the 2026 Earthshot Prize for her invention, the EscarGrow™ , our sealed, snail-powered system for composting, food waste diversion, and clean protein production.
This nomination is proof that climate-smart, culturally intelligent infrastructure is finally earning its place on the global stage.
Source: The EarthShot Prize
What is the Earthshot Prize?
The Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William, is one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards. Focused on breakthrough solutions to repair the planet, it recognizes five scalable innovations each year that have the potential to drive measurable environmental impact.
Ozi’s nomination came from Simon Littlewood, a seasoned expert in sustainable finance and impact investing with 40+ years of experience across global markets and emerging economies.
Let's look at what makes EscarGrow™ a contender
EscarGrow™ is a modular, app-integrated system designed to work in spaces where conventional composting fails: urban school kitchens, community centers, and maternal health hubs.
It converts pre-consumer food waste into four high-value outputs:
♻️ Regenerative Compost – reduces methane emissions, restores soil, sequesters carbon
🐌 Clean Protein (Escargot) – supports culturally relevant diets across African, Southeast Asian, Caribbean, and European communities
🌿 Snail Mucin – an emerging biomaterial with applications in regenerative skincare and agriculture
📲 Digital Access – through the My EscarGrow™ App, users can monitor snail health, activate remote misting and feeding, and integrate learning modules into classrooms or household use
And it’s all done in a way that is scalable, sealed, voice-enabled, and designed for real-world conditions — not theoretical models.
🔧 Designed for Equity and Impact
EscarGrow™ was built for the communities that most climate tools ignore. It supports:
Food security in neighborhoods where grocery access and food waste are urgent issues
Climate education for children and caregivers alike — turning biology, composting, and circular economy thinking into daily practice
Workforce readiness, especially for mothers, returning citizens, and overlooked entrepreneurs
Culturally respectful infrastructure, reclaiming a globally valued farming practice long ignored in the U.S.
We’re honored by this nomination — and ready for the next steps.
While the Earthshot selection process moves forward, we’re focused on:
Finalizing strategic partnerships
Expanding pilot opportunities with educators, food service professionals, and community-based orgs
Incorporating feedback from survey respondents and early adopters
Refining and manufacturing the next generation of EscarGrow™ Pro and Mini units
📣 How you can help
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✅ Connecting us with educators, funders, or organizations that care about real, local, climate solutions
Let’s see what happens next!
