The Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association has unveiled the second edition of its Research Contest for scientists, researchers and students, seeking to accelerate breakthroughs in speciality agri-inputs, sustainable plant nutrition and next-generation agricultural technologies.

The Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association has announced the launch of the second edition of its Research Contest, an initiative designed to galvanise scientific inquiry and technological innovation across the rapidly evolving plant nutrition ecosystem. Conceived as a platform to foster cutting-edge research and strengthen academia-industry collaboration, the competition invites participation from scientists, researchers and students working on advanced agricultural inputs, nutrient management systems and sustainable farming technologies.

The contest will span a broad spectrum of research themes centred on SOMS agri-inputs — encompassing soluble fertilisers, organic and bio-fertilisers, micronutrients, soil amendment fertilisers and bio-stimulants. Organisers said the initiative aims to encourage agronomic studies evaluating these inputs as integrated nutrient management solutions, while also advancing research on manufacturing efficiencies, formulation technologies, scalability and quality assurance systems.

The competition will additionally spotlight innovations in testing methodologies for speciality agri-inputs to strengthen standardisation and regulatory compliance. Research focused on soil health restoration, alkalinity correction, nutrient availability enhancement and pH management in difficult soil conditions will also receive attention, alongside comparative studies evaluating the agronomic and economic performance of SOMS inputs against conventional subsidised fertilisers.

The programme will culminate in the “Thesis Showdown” grand finale during the Speciality Fertilizer Summit – SOMS 2026, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad on July 2. The summit is expected to convene global industry leaders, policymakers, scientists and agricultural experts, offering finalists an international platform to present their work before a distinguished audience.

The association said the initiative also seeks to attract participation from premier institutions including IITs, ICARs, NRCs and technology institutes working in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and digital agriculture. Previous editions of the competition had surfaced innovations ranging from ammonia recovery from wastewater for soluble fertiliser applications to robotic spraying systems, underlining the contest’s growing role as an incubator for transformative agricultural technologies.

Top research presentations will be recognised with cash awards, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to nurturing scientific talent and accelerating the future of sustainable agriculture.