Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd. (CFCL) has entered into a partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to establish the “CFCL-TERI Centre of Excellence for Advanced and Sustainable Agriculture Solutions.” The collaboration aims to focus on developing innovative, sustainable agricultural solutions that address key challenges in India’s farming sector.
Addressing Key Agricultural Challenges
The primary focus of this collaboration is to advance biogenic innovations aimed at developing effective and eco-friendly products for crop nutrition and protection. By addressing the key challenges in India’s agriculture sector—such as stagnant agricultural productivity, soil health degradation, low nutrient use efficiency, and the harmful impacts of excessive synthetic inputs—the partnership aims to contribute to sustainability in agriculture.
The initiative will explore alternatives like nano-biotechnology-based fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants, and biological control agents. These solutions aim to minimize the negative environmental and health impacts typically associated with conventional chemical inputs, while also offering a better benefit-to-cost ratio for farmers.
Research and Development Support
Under the terms of the agreement, CFCL will provide grant-in-aid over five years to support the research activities. TERI will lead the end-to-end research efforts, developing and testing these biological solutions to complement traditional chemical agri-inputs.
Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, highlighted the global food security challenges posed by a growing population, stressing the need for alternative solutions to traditional chemicals. She noted that by 2050, global food production must increase by 70 percent to meet the demands of the population. Dr. Dhawan emphasized that in this context, the Indian government’s promotion of alternative fertilisers under the PM PRANAAM scheme is essential. The collaboration with CFCL, she added, provides an opportunity to introduce biological solutions to address multiple agricultural challenges, including food security, human health, and environmental impact.
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Abhay Baijal, Managing Director of CFCL, expressed his optimism about the partnership, citing the success of previous products like Uttam Superrhiza and Uttam Pranaam Bio-Phosphorous. These products have shown encouraging results, prompting the establishment of the Centre of Excellence. This collaboration, he said, would foster the development of bio-based agricultural solutions that support sustainability, environmental health, and climate resilience, aligning with the Indian Government’s BioE3 initiative to promote bio-manufacturing industries.
Impact on Agriculture and the Environment
The CFCL-TERI Centre of Excellence aims to make a meaningful impact on Indian agriculture by developing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. This partnership brings together CFCL’s market expertise and TERI’s research capabilities to create innovative products that improve soil health, enhance environmental sustainability, and contribute to food security.
The agreement was signed by Abhay Baijal, Managing Director of CFCL, and Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, to advance research in biogenic innovations for crop nutrition and protection. With both organizations focused on long-term sustainability, this collaboration is poised to provide significant benefits to the agricultural community and the environment.