Eric Verploegen | Agrilinks

Eric Verploegen

United States Founder CoolVeg

Eric Verploegen, PhD, is the founder of CoolVeg, a business that disseminates technologies based on evaporative cooling for fruit and vegetable preservation in off-grid dry regions. He has ongoing projects in Mali, Niger, Kenya, and Gujarat, India.

Eric has a background in materials science and received his PhD in polymer science and technology from MIT in 2008. Prior to CoolVeg, Eric developed materials for solar cells and waste remediation systems for the oil and gas industry. In 2014, he joined MIT D-Lab as a research engineer where he studied and developed technologies related to off-grid energy and fruit and vegetable preservation.

Fruit and vegetable storage chamber in a field.

Increasing Access to Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Forced-Air Evaporative Cooling Chamber

A new off-grid fruit and vegetable storage chamber utilizing forced-air evaporative cooling is a more cost-effective alternative to refrigerated cold rooms for the rapid precooling of produce.

Eric Verploegen

Leon Glicksman

Sep 27, 2023

Agricultural Productivity Food Safety Markets and Trade Nutrition Resilience

People adding leafy greens to a clay pot cooler.

Reducing Fruit and Vegetable Losses with Clay Pot Coolers: An Ancient Technology for the Current Moment

Clay pot coolers are an ancient — but underutilized — technology that is more cost-effective for storing fruits and vegetables than electric refrigeration in hot and dry regions.

Eric Verploegen

Sep 11, 2023

Food Loss and Waste Education and Extension Food Safety Nutrition Resilience

Clay pot-in-dish cooler, Infographic: 98% of users reported less food waste and 88% of users reported eating more fruits and vegetables.

Reducing Household Food Waste and Improving Nutrition with Simple Technologies

A training program focused on disseminating clay pot coolers allows users to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer, reduce food waste, save time and money, and improve nutrition.

Eric Verploegen

Sep 29, 2022

Nutrition Resilience