Engineering prosperity: How a $700 greenhouse is rewriting climate resilience

​What if climate adaptation wasn’t just a policy challenge but a product farmers could actually buy, use, and benefit from? In this conversation, Kaushik Kappagantulu (Co-founder, Kheyti) joins Tarah Foster (Terra.do’s Learning for Action Course Director) to explore how a deceptively simple innovation - Greenhouse-in-a-Box - is helping smallholder farmers turn climate vulnerability into opportunity.

​Built to cost roughly 90% less than conventional greenhouses, Kheyti’s solution is designed specifically for the realities of smallholder agriculture: limited capital, unpredictable weather, and high risk. By protecting crops from climate shocks while enabling farmers to grow higher-value produce, the greenhouse is helping thousands of farmers stabilize incomes and improve productivity in a changing climate.

​Drawing from his experience building Kheyti from early prototypes to growing adoption across rural communities, Kaushik will reflect on what it takes to design technology that farmers actually use. The conversation will unpack the role of product design, farmer trust, and local ecosystems in turning climate innovation from a promising idea into a scalable solution.

​Expect a candid discussion on building for affordability and adoption, navigating the complexities of scaling in rural economies, and why climate resilience may ultimately depend as much on practical engineering and business models as it does on policy.

​For anyone interested in climate innovation, rural development, or building solutions that reach those most affected by climate change, this session offers an inside look at how thoughtful product design can unlock resilience, prosperity, and dignity for millions of farmers.