The three-day summit in Gandhinagar will bring together policymakers, manufacturers, scientists and industry stakeholders to chart a roadmap for reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic specialty fertiliser production

The Specialty Fertilizer Summit & B2B Expo (SOMS) 2026 will be held from July 2 to 4 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a renewed focus on accelerating innovation and advancing self-reliance in India’s specialty fertiliser sector.

Organised under the theme, “The Foundation of a Self-Reliant India,” the summit aims to create a collaborative platform for addressing some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, including import dependence, regulatory bottlenecks and the need for greater domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The event comes at a time when the Indian specialty fertiliser industry is increasingly seeking to strengthen local production and reduce its vulnerability to global supply disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties that can significantly affect the availability and pricing of agricultural inputs.

The opening day of the summit will feature The Big Debate, a dedicated session focusing on issues related to fertiliser distribution linkages, the readiness of India’s agri-startup ecosystem, industry perspectives on the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) and the Essential Commodities Act, and the potential role of specialty fertilisers in addressing subsidy-related challenges.

Over the course of three days, the summit will host a series of panel discussions covering innovation, agricultural start-ups, policy reforms, manufacturing challenges and the long-term roadmap for India’s specialty fertiliser industry. The deliberations are expected to bring together manufacturers, scientists, government representatives, agri-input companies and other stakeholders to formulate actionable strategies for building a more resilient and self-sufficient sector.

Speaking about the summit, Rajib Chakraborty, President, Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA), said:
“Whenever global geopolitical tensions rise, their impact is immediately felt on national economies, with agriculture being one of the first sectors to suffer. India continues to depend heavily on imports for specialty fertilizers, making the sector vulnerable to global disruptions. SOMS 2026 is an initiative to bring together Inventors, manufacturers, policymakers, scientists, and industry stakeholders to discuss practical solutions for reducing this dependency. We will also present policy recommendations to the Government of India to create a more industry-friendly regulatory framework that encourages domestic manufacturing, supports innovation, and enables India to become self-reliant in the specialty fertilizer sector.”

A key highlight of the event will be the SOMS Agri Journalism Awards 2026, which will recognise outstanding contributions to agricultural reporting and awareness across English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi media. The awards aim to acknowledge the role of journalism in advancing public understanding of agriculture and rural issues.

The summit will also host the SOMS Thesis Showdown, a national platform designed to encourage research and innovation among students and young professionals. The initiative will provide an opportunity for researchers to showcase ideas and scientific work related to agriculture and specialty fertilisers while fostering stronger linkages between academia and industry.

According to the organisers, the summit seeks to generate practical recommendations that can support the development of a more industry-friendly policy environment and encourage investment in domestic manufacturing and innovation. The event is also expected to facilitate discussions on measures that can help India reduce its reliance on imported specialty fertilisers and build a globally competitive industry.

SOMS 2026 is expected to attract participation from manufacturers, policymakers, researchers, agri-input companies, farmer organisations and industry experts from across the country. By bringing together stakeholders from across the fertiliser value chain, the summit aims to develop a shared roadmap for innovation, sustainable growth and long-term self-reliance in India’s specialty fertiliser sector.