Through this partnership, the initial focus will be on products that enhance Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE).

ICL, a global leader in crop nutrition, has entered into a strategic long-term partnership with BioPrime, a leading agri-biologicals innovator, to launch advanced soil and crop health solutions in India powered by BioPrime’s pioneering Bionexus platform.

Through this partnership, the initial focus will be on products that enhance Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE). Leveraging ICL’s expertise in crop nutrition and plant health management, the first set of solutions will target Phosphorus (P) and Zinc (Zn) efficiency—two of the most limiting and expensive nutrients for Indian farmers.  India consumes nearly 12 per cent of the world’s phosphate but remains heavily import-dependent, with up to 85 per cent of applied phosphorus getting locked or leached due to soil conditions. Similarly, 48 per cent of Indian soils are zinc-deficient which is projected to rise to 63 per cent with declining fertility, particularly in Southern states.

Phosphorus represents a critical challenge. India faces a unique problem where the majority of P gets locked with iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al), unlike other regions where it is more commonly bound with calcium (Ca)—a far simpler complex. As a result, most current solutions are ineffective at releasing usable P, leading to progressively declining Phosphorus Use Efficiency (PUE).

Through BioPrime’s pioneering Bionexus platform, several novel microbial strains have been identified with the unique ability to release P from these complex Fe/Al-bound forms. These strains have demonstrated the potential to improve PUE by 2–3X, offering a true game changer for Indian agriculture.

Similarly, Bionexus has delivered breakthrough strains capable of 65–70 per cent solubilisation of Zinc, ensuring higher availability of this essential micronutrient.

Together, these solutions will help farmers optimize resource utilization, enhance nutrient uptake, and reduce fertilizer wastage—all while ensuring precision, consistency, and stringent quality control.

This collaboration marks the first partnership for BioPrime’s BioNexus Library, a proprietary platform housing over 18,000 unique microbial strains. Each strain possesses distinct features designed to improve soil and crop health, making this a groundbreaking milestone for Indian agriculture. With ICL’s decades-long presence and strong brand reputation in India, the products will be widely accessible across the country.

“At BioPrime, our mission has always been to harness the power of biology to solve agriculture’s toughest challenges. We consider our partnership with ICL – a global leader in crop nutrition- a very strategic and significant step forward. ICLs support gives us the scale, expertise, and reach to bring our pioneering Bionexus platform to millions of farmers in India. Together, we will deliver next-generation solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency, restore soil health, and transform agriculture into a more resilient and sustainable system”, said Renuka Karandikar, Co-founder & CEO, BioPrime AgriSolutions.

“ICL is committed to advancing sustainable agriculture in India with innovative biofertilizers that enhance resilience, productivity, and soil health. With our unique, R&D-driven WSF portfolio, the integration of bio-stimulants into crop plans will undoubtedly help growers increase both productivity and profitability. We see biofertilizers as a key driver of the future of farming—combining innovation with environmental responsibility to support India’s food security and growth”, commented Anant Kulkarni, Country Lead, ICL Growing Solutions India.