In an exclusive Agrospectrum interview, BioPrime CEO Dr. Renuka Diwan outlines how the company is transforming India’s agronomy by addressing low nutrient use efficiency, particularly phosphorus and zinc limitations, through its Bionexus and SNIPR platforms. Its microbial innovations unlock previously inaccessible soil nutrients, delivering 2–3X higher phosphorus availability and 65–70 per cent zinc solubilization, while boosting farmer yields by 15–25 per cent even under reduced fertilizer regimes.

By integrating these biological solutions with ICL’s fertilizer portfolio, BioPrime ensures rapid adoption, scalable deployment, and nationwide impact within 1–2 years. Beyond productivity, the platform supports regenerative agriculture, enhances soil health, lowers nitrous oxide emissions, and aligns with India’s climate and policy goals, including PM-PRANAM and soil health initiatives. Looking ahead, BioPrime envisions enabling carbon market integration and ESG-linked financing, positioning India as a global leader in sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.

The Big Picture: India is one of the largest fertilizer consumers globally. How does solving India’s phosphorus and zinc problem fit into the larger narrative of global food security and climate goals?

India is the world’s second-largest consumer of fertilizers, yet our nutrient use efficiency (NUE) remains among the lowest globally—less than 30 per cent for nitrogen, and even lower for phosphorus and zinc. Globally, the issue is not just about farm productivity but about food security and climate goals. Overuse of fertilizers contributes to soil degradation, groundwater contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions.

BioPrime’s Bionexus and SNIPR platforms directly addresses this challenge by offering holistic and comprehensive solutions in Biostimulants, Biofertilizers and Biocontrol space. P is the most expensive nutrient in India- subsidy cost is high and use efficiency is declining. In addition to this Fe- and Al-bound complex phosphorus, is very difficult to mobilize, a unique but widespread issue in Indian soils.

The existing solutions and parameters did not account for this leaving a vast pool of inaccessible phosphorous in the soil. Zinc availability is also another issue in Indian soils particularly plaguing crops like rice. By enabling farmers to grow more with less fertilizer, we align with global ambitions of sustainable intensification—producing sufficient, nutritious food without expanding farmland or increasing emissions. This is equally relevant for countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where soils face similar lock-ups.

Land area above or below their agronomic threshold (15 mg kg⁻¹) required for optimum production

Economic Stakes: Fertilizer subsidies cost India over $ 20 billion annually. How much of that do you believe could be offset if BioPrime’s solutions achieve mainstream adoption?

India spends more than $20 billion annually on fertilizer subsidies. Even a 10–15 per cent increase in NUE could save billions while reducing import dependence on phosphate and potash. If BioPrime’s solutions achieve mainstream adoption, we estimate $3–5 billion annually could be offset over the next decade. Beyond savings, healthier soils and reduced input dependence make farmers more resilient and profitable—unlocking long-term productivity dividends for the economy. Indian govt is also very actively pushing soil health reforms, educating farmers through soil health cards.

The Science Behind Bionexus Microbial Breakthrough: Your platform has identified microbes that unlock Fe/Al-bound phosphorus—a uniquely Indian problem. Could you explain the science behind this in simple terms for a global audience?

Most Indian soils bind phosphorus with iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al), unlike soils every else in the world where Ca-P is the main challenge. Conventional phosphate solubilizers have limited impact here and as you can see vast reserves of phosphorous in soil remain unaviable for crops. Through our rigorous study we uncovered the link between the nature of Phosphorous reserves and declining Phosphorous use efficiency in India. We decided to address this specific challenge as this could be a game changer for farmers

Phosphorus distribution in Indian soils

Through Bionexus, India’s largest plant-associated microbe library (18,000+ strains from 400+ agro-ecological niches), we identified novel microbial strains with the unique ability to release phosphorus bound to Fe/Al complexes along with Ca and that could work across pH range. These microbes secrete specific organic acids and siderophores, effectively “unlocking” soil nutrients previously considered unavailable.

The selection program was designed with most stringent assays on Phosphorous complexes, including very most complex forms like rock phosphate and broad temperature and pH functionality, ensuring that only strains with most potent activity and high solubilization profile pass through. In parallel, our SNIPR platform allows us to discover secondary metabolites that enhance microbial-plant signaling—together delivering synergistic nutrient release and uptake. Similarly unique assays were designed to discover very high potential Zn solubilizing strains.

Metrics that Matter: Which agronomic or environmental metrics are you using to measure success—PUE gains, soil health indices, yield uplift, or carbon footprint reduction?

We evaluate impact across multiple dimensions, beginning with use efficiency (PUE), which goes beyond solubilization measurements to include widely accepted nutrient use efficiency indices. These include Partial Factor Productivity (PFP), which relates yield to nutrient input; Agronomic Efficiency (AE), which measures the yield difference between fertilized and unfertilized plots; Physiological Efficiency (PE), which reflects the efficiency of nutrient uptake in terms of yield gain; and Apparent Recovery Efficiency (ARE), also known as Recovery Efficiency.

Field data consistently shows a two- to threefold increase in phosphorus availability, while zinc solubilization by novel strains reaches 65–70 per cent—nearly ten times higher than the regulatory approval norms. The yield uplift dimension is equally compelling, with trials conducted under both normal recommended fertilizer regimes and reduced regimes (20–25 per cent lower) recording an average 15–25 per cent increase in farmer yields, with higher consistency under stress conditions.

On the soil health front, we track indicators such as soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial diversity indices, and pH balance, all of which demonstrate improvement. Finally, the climate impact is clear: reduced fertilizer application translates into a lower carbon footprint, directly aligning with global climate goals.

Scaling with ICL Strategic Fit: Why was ICL the right partner for scaling Bionexus? What unique value do they bring beyond distribution?

ICL is a global leader in crop nutrition known for innovation and cutting edge technologies. For Bioprime, partnering with ICL means combining our cutting-edge biologicals with their deep understanding in crop nutrition, distribution, and unmatched farmer-trust. This seemed like a natural alliance for both Bioprime and ICL. Under the leadership of Anant Kulkarni, who leads ICL in India, we are confident about creating large meaningful impact. This partnership brings credibility and accelerates scale—not only in India but potentially across ICL’s global footprint.

Integration Challenge: How do you plan to integrate BioPrime’s solutions with ICL’s existing R&D-driven fertilizer portfolio, and what does the farmer adoption journey look like?

Integrating biology with conventional fertilizers requires careful R&D alignment. Our modular approach—designing microbe and metabolite combinations for specific crop-nutrient interactions—fits seamlessly into ICL’s portfolio. Farmer adoption will follow a journey of demonstration → validation → integration into crop packages. Importantly, we focus on compatibility and shelf stability, ensuring farmers experience “plug-and-play” solutions without changing existing practices.

Go-to-Market Roadmap: What’s your rollout strategy—pilot regions, crops, timelines—and when do you expect to see nationwide impact?

We have spent the past few months in conducting on ground pilots in various states and crops. We intend to intensify these efforts jointly with more crops shows and training programs. Initially we will be focusing on some high value key crops and then diversifying into large acre crops. We expect to scale rapidly and to have nation wide impact in 1-2 years, aligning with India’s food security and sustainability goals.

Sustainability & Policy Impact Carbon & Climate Lens: Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction globally. How does Bionexus contribute to reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint?

Bionexus is not just about higher yields—it is about regenerative impact. By reducing fertilizer wastage, improving soil organic carbon (SOC), and enhancing microbial diversity, our solutions directly contribute to lowering nitrous oxide emissions, improving soil carbon sequestration, and reducing agriculture’s overall environmental footprint. This approach closely aligns with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement while also resonating with global regenerative agriculture trends.

Policy Alignment: Are you engaging with policymakers or government programs (like PM-PRANAM or soil health card initiatives) to mainstream these biological solutions?

We are actively engaging with government programs such as PM-PRANAM, soil health card initiatives, and state-level organic/biological promotion missions. By demonstrating large-scale PUE gains, we position biologicals as a mainstream component of India’s nutrient-use efficiency roadmap.

Futureproofing: Given the global trend toward green and sustainable agriculture, where do you see BioPrime’s role in India’s carbon markets or ESG-linked financing?

Looking ahead, Bioprime envisions itself not only as a technology provider but also as an enabler of sustainable finance mechanisms. By quantifying soil carbon improvements and fertilizer savings, we see clear opportunities for integration into carbon markets, the development of ESG-linked financing instruments for agribusinesses, and the broader positioning of India as a global leader in green agriculture technologies. Complementing this vision, our open-access innovation platforms—SNIPR and Bionexus—are available for co-development with global corporates, accelerating next-generation solutions in biostimulants, biofertilizers, and biocontrol.

BioPrime is pioneering a new frontier in nutrient use efficiency (NUE) through its Bionexus platform, which unlocks phosphorus bound to Fe/Al complexes—a uniquely Indian challenge—while also enhancing zinc solubilization to achieve 2–3X higher phosphorus availability and 65–70 per cent zinc solubilization.

This breakthrough not only improves farm-level productivity but also has the potential to offset $3–5 billion annually from India’s $20 billion fertilizer subsidy bill, significantly boosting farmer profitability. The science driving this impact comes from Bionexus, with its library of over 18,000 microbes, and SNIPR, with 5,000+ biomolecules, together delivering precise, consistent, and scalable biological solutions validated across multiple crops and geographies.

Strategic partnerships, such as with ICL, enable the integration of biology with conventional fertilizers, ensuring rapid farmer adoption and paving the way for nationwide rollout within the next one to two years. At the same time, Bioprime’s innovations align with regenerative agriculture principles, carbon market opportunities, and India’s policy priorities under programs like PM-PRANAM and soil health initiatives, positioning the country as a global leader in sustainable food systems.

— Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)