Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL) partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to institute the “CFCL-TERI Centre of Excellence for Advanced and Sustainable Agriculture Solutions.” The partnership, signed between the MD of CFCL, Abhay Baijal, and the DG of TERI, Vibha Dhawan, intends to respond to critical challenges in the agricultural sector. These include soil health degradation, stagnating productivity, and adverse impacts from excessive synthetic inputs on the environment and human health.
The research and development of nano-biotechnology-based fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, bio-stimulants, and biological pest control agents will form the crux of collaboration. These agents are believed to enhance crop nutrition and protection with a minimized impact on the environment and human health. This is well in line with the Indian government’s drive toward sustainable agricultural practices, which include the encouragement of alternative fertilizers under the PM PRANAAM scheme.
CFCL funds the research through a grant-in-aid over five years, and TERI will carry it out. This collaborative endeavor will create biological products that will go along with the chemical agri-inputs, cost-effective and sustainable for farmers. The Centre of Excellence supports the Government of India’s BioE3 initiative to advance the bio-manufacturing industries in the country.
CFCL is one of the largest urea manufacturers in India, providing 12% of the country’s urea supply and catering to farmers in 14 states through its “Uttam” brand. TERI, a leader in energy and sustainability research, brings decades of experience and infrastructure to the partnership, aiming to address climate resilience, food security, and environmental health.
This partnership is a significant stride toward sustainability in Indian agriculture, offering innovative solutions that benefit the farmer, the environment, and the broader agricultural ecosystem.
Source: Newsvoir