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HomePosts Tagged "Dr Renuka Diwan"
Agri Genomics, Agribiotechnology, Agrotech, India, Opinions

 By Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, BioPrime Agrisolutions 

A sustainable and resilient agricultural future is built on biotechnology, which is more than just a tool for increasing crop output. Startups are leading this change by using state-of-the-art technologies to provide comprehensive solutions that help consumers, farmers, and the environment.

Biotechnology has emerged as one of the most transformative forces in the agricultural sector, addressing some of the most critical challenges: food security, environmental sustainability, and resilience to climate change. Over the last few decades, advances in this field have paved the way for more efficient, sustainable, and precise farming practices. Today, the convergence of biotechnology with data science, genomics, and precision agriculture has redefined how we think about crop production and farm management.

At its core, agricultural biotechnology applies biological principles and tools to enhance crop productivity, improve resilience, and reduce dependency on chemical inputs. Some of the key applications include:

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): GM crops were one of the earliest breakthroughs in agricultural biotechnology. These crops, such as Bt cotton and herbicide-resistant soybeans, were engineered to confer pest resistance and herbicide tolerance. As of 2021, more than 190 million hectares of GM crops were cultivated globally, with the U.S., Brazil, and India leading the adoption.

Success Story: Bt cotton, introduced in India in 2002, drastically reduced the need for chemical pesticides and increased yields. Today, more than 95 per cent of cotton grown in India is Bt cotton, contributing significantly to the country’s agricultural GDP.

CRISPR-Cas9 and Gene Editing: The CRISPR revolution has taken biotechnology to new heights by enabling precise genetic modifications. Unlike traditional GMOs, CRISPR can “edit” genes within the crop itself without introducing foreign DNA. This tool has been used to improve drought tolerance in wheat and increase yield potential in rice.

Success Story: Corteva Agriscience has developed a CRISPR-edited variety of waxy corn with improved starch properties, providing enhanced value for the food processing industry.

Microbial Solutions for Soil and Plant Health: The focus has shifted to the soil and plant microbiome as a critical component of agricultural sustainability. Microbes play an essential role in nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and plant immunity. Advances in microbiome research have identified beneficial microbes that can enhance nutrient uptake, improve stress tolerance, and even protect against pathogens.

Success Story: The Bioprime’s Bionexus platform has revolutionised microbial research by building India’s largest plant-associated microbe library that houses 18000 + microbes from 13 agro-climatic zones and 3 biodiversity hotspots. These solutions are designed to replace or reduce the consumption of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides while maintaining high productivity.

In the global market, Pivot, a U.S.-based company, uses engineered microbial strains to improve nitrogen fixation and reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.

Biostimulants and Secondary Metabolites: Biostimulants such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and microbial metabolites are gaining momentum due to their ability to enhance plant growth and boost resilience naturally. Bioprime’s proprietary SNIPR platform uses secondary metabolite-based signalling molecules to prime crops for stress tolerance, effectively mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses like drought, heat and salinity.

RNA Interference (RNAi): RNAi technology offers a targeted approach to pest and disease management by silencing specific genes in pests or pathogens. Monsanto’s SmartStax Pro corn, which uses RNAi technology to combat corn rootworm, is a landmark product in this category.

Precision Agriculture Meets Biotechnology: The integration of biotechnology with precision agriculture allows for a more data-driven approach to crop management. By leveraging IoT devices, drones, and AI models, farmers can apply biostimulants and biopesticides in a targeted manner, ensuring maximum efficiency and sustainability.

Case Study: Syngenta’s digital platform combines biological products with precision tools, enabling real-time monitoring of soil health, crop growth, and pest pressures. This helps farmers apply the right inputs at the right time, reducing waste and improving outcomes.

To read more click: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

 By Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-founder & Chief

Agbiologicals, Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D, Start ups

Trials results show a 30 per cent higher income level compared to standard practices in San Luis, California.

 Bioprime Agrisolutions has announced the successful completion of our groundbreaking trials for BioPrime Fortisea in the United States. This marks a significant milestone in our journey to revolutionize agriculture on a global scale.

In August 2023, Bioprime Agrisolutions set out to prove the efficacy of our innovative technology in the American market. Following tremendous success in India and South Asia, we turned our attention to North America. Collaborating with an accredited validation agency in the USA, our trials delivered outstanding results.

BioPrime Fortisea, our unique seaweed formulation produced using a proprietary cold extraction process, was tested on tomato crops at San Luis Ranch, California. The US tomato industry, known for its variety and importance in American kitchens, provided an ideal testing ground.

Key highlights from the trials include:

  • A 10 per cent increase in productivity compared to standard grower practices.
  • An additional $1,738 per acre in farmer income.
  • Early crop maturity, boosting growers’ income levels.

In another trial, we reduced fertilizer application to 80 per cent of the standard practice. The results were even more remarkable:

  • A 33 per cent increase in production.
  • An additional $4,872 per acre in income.

A 30 per cent higher income level compared to standard practices in San Luis, California.

Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder & CEO at Bioprime Agrisolutions said, “The positive feedback from the North American market highlights the practical benefits of BioPrime Fortisea, affirming its potential to enhance agricultural productivity globally. We are excited to bring our innovative solutions to North American markets, promoting healthier crops and a more sustainable future.”

Trials results show a 30 per cent

Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, India, Start ups, Sustainability

Collaboration will bring together BioPrime’s cutting-edge SNIPR technology-based “Chiron” and Yara India’s expertise & leadership in crop nutrition.

 BioPrime AgriSolutions, a leading ag-biotech startup harnessing the power of agricultural biotechnology for sustainable and resilient farming practices, announced a strategic partnership with Yara India, a subsidiary of Yara International, the world’s leading crop nutrition company. Bringing together BioPrime’s cutting-edge SNIPR technology-based “Chiron” with Yara India’s expertise & leadership in crop nutrition, this collaboration marks a noteworthy milestone in serving farmers with sustainable solutions mitigating the risk of crop failures due to weather uncertainties & boosting the crop yields.

Chiron, developed by Bioprime, leverages the cutting-edge SNIPR technology, utilizing small molecules to modulate plant responses effectively. This fast-acting formulation is designed to enhance flower count and improve flower-to-fruit conversion, resulting in a significant increase in crop yields. Additionally, Chiron helps in delivering better qualitative parameters like uniformity of produce & higher-grade output leading to additional profits for the farmers. Farmers have benefited with its capacity to mitigate climatic uncertainties and provide them with a reliable solution for achieving superior crop yields despite changing and challenging agricultural conditions.

“We are excited to collaborate with Yara India to deliver sustainable solutions built on the back of nature for the benefit of farming community”, said Dr Renuka Diwan, CEO of BioPrime. “Together with Yara India, we have the huge opportunity to cater to the unmet needs of the farmers facing the brunt of weather uncertainties leading to loss in yield”.

Speaking on the partnership, Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia said, “We are delighted to announce Yara India’s strategic partnership with Bio Prime, a leading player in biostimulants. This alliance signifies not just our mutual commitment to innovation and sustainability, but also a shared vision of a greener future for India. Yara India is committed to enhancing crop nutrition and soil health, ensuring healthier crops and improved livelihoods contributing to a nature positive food future”.

This partnership between Bioprime Agrisolutions and Yara India marks a significant milestone in the agricultural sector, paving the way for innovation and sustainability in farming practices. Together, we are poised to empower farmers with the tools and solutions they need to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

Collaboration will bring together BioPrime's cutting-edge SNIPR

Agribiotechnology, Agrotech, Company News, India, Start ups

Cohort participants will receive business and technical assistance over the entire crop cycle through technical training sessions, mentorships and one-on-one support.

BioPrime AgriSolutions, a leading biotechnology company specialising in developing cutting-edge agri-biologicals, is revolutionising farmer empowerment with the launch of its “King Farmers Cohort” program. This initiative equips farmers with crop-specific, region-specific knowledge and skills, preparing them to thrive in the evolving agricultural landscape. Through a mixture of focused technical training sessions, mentorships, one-on-one support, and group farm visits, Cohort participants will receive business and technical assistance over the entire crop cycle. 

The King Farmers Cohort goes beyond mere yield maximization and fosters a holistic approach to agriculture, with a focus on crucial areas like climate-resilient practices, soil health management, and building profitability. Each cohort will hold four dedicated technical training sessions led by leading researchers, and innovators to provide targeted knowledge focusing on farmers’ crop specific needs and empower them to adapt to the ever-changing climate and nurture healthy soil, which is the foundation for sustainable success.

The learning extends beyond the classroom with designated field days and harvest days in selected farmer fields for practical learning, inspiration, and networking. Thus, creating a forum for peer-to-peer learning, where shared challenges find collaborative solutions and best practices flourish through hands-on experiences. As one farmer who’s participated in an Onion Cohort noted, there’s a great benefit of learning from other farmers with differing amounts of experience and expertise, and the supportive nature of the group created a space to find solutions to problems collaboratively.

To crown it all, BioPrime will organise a valedictory function to commemorate each cohort with rewards for outstanding achievements in yield, profitability, and sustainability through a grand ceremony, adding a layer of motivation that inspires every farmer to reach their highest potential.

 Speaking about the initiative, Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder & CEO, of BioPrime AgriSolutions said, “At BioPrime, we believe empowering farmers isn’t just about higher yields, it’s also about equipping them to be sustainable. The King Farmers Cohort is a catalyst in this changing world where we pool resources and support for farmers towards a future where profitability and sustainability go hand-in-hand.”

Cohort participants will receive business and technical

Agrotech, Opinions, R&D

By Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder & CEO, BioPrime Agrisolutions

In a rapidly growing and urbanising India, a sustained agricultural growth and food security must be factored. Biotechnology holds great promise for enhancing crop resilience and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. One particularly promising approach gaining traction in recent years is the development of microbe–plant interactions for plant‐growth promotion and disease control. The interaction of plants and microbes forms an integral part of the Earth’s ecosystem and have applications in various fields. Studying and harnessing this communication can improve our understanding of natural phenomena that affect our daily lives and enable us to adopt practices that lead to sustainable resource utilisation, reduced environmental impact, pollution cleanup, and even influence on global atmospheric gases.

The connection between the plants and microbes is highly complex, regulated by specialised metabolic products that alter gene expression. This intricate relationship can result in plant growth, inhibition of soil pathogens, improved nutrient availability, biofilm development, accumulation of soil microbes, or a combination of these effects. Such interactions eliminate the need for artificial fertilisers that can contribute to pollution. Utilising these interactions in biotechnology offers numerous advantages. By employing naturally occurring plant-microbe pairings for plant development and biocontrol, the reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticide treatments can be minimised. Technologies involving plant–microbe interactions provide economically viable and environmentally sound alternatives to conventional processes. The mutualistic nature of these interactions enables plants to directly acquire nutrients (acting as biofertilisers) or facilitates the uptake of substances like iron or phosphate, making them more accessible to plants.

Leveraging Biological Agents

Microbials, which encompass naturally occurring microorganisms and their byproducts, provide sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to address climate-related stressors in crops. These biological agents work in harmony with nature, promoting plant health, improving nutrient uptake, and combating diseases and pests. By harnessing the power of biologicals, farmers can enhance the resilience of their crops, ensuring sustainable and consistent yields even in challenging climates.

Deploying Biostimulants

Biostimulants, derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and beneficial microbes, play a crucial role in strengthening crop health and resilience. These substances stimulate plant growth, enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, and improve stress tolerance. By incorporating biostimulants through biologicals, farmers can fortify their crops against drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, ultimately leading to improved yields.

Using Abscisic Acid

Small molecules play a critical role in plant physiology and have been leveraged to enhance crop resilience. Notable examples include the use of abscisic acid (ABA) and proline, which are small molecules involved in plant stress responses. ABA is known to regulate stomatal closure, reducing water loss through transpiration and improving drought tolerance. In a study conducted by Smith et al. (2021), maize plants treated with exogenous ABA showed a 35 per cent reduction in water loss, enhancing their ability to withstand drought stress.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder & CEO,

Agrotech, Interaction, R&D

Dr Renuka Diwan, a first-generation entrepreneur, having a doctorate and post-doctorate in plant sciences with 17 years of research experience, patents, and technology transfer. As  Co-Founder and  CEO of BioPrime Solutions, she focuses on developing sustainable strategies for achieving the long-term goals of the company by developing key partnerships and collaborations for rapid penetration in the market. Dr Renuka is also In charge of finance and fund-raising, focusing on building profitability with long-term growth and manages the company’s IP strategies. Renuka Diwan interacted with AgroSpectrum on the status of women entrepreneurs in the agri industry and the way forward. Edited excerpts;

How can women’s contribution in agribusiness be increased in India?

Agriculture is a notoriously male-dominated industry. From the manufacturing side – seed, feed, agri equipment, inputs to the actual growers, FOPS and lastly to the procurement side – Aggregators, Arhtiyas (middlemen) , exporters – the entire value chain has a poor representation of women. However, the sector is undergoing massive reorganisation and transformation- mostly through the integration of technology in each and every aspect in the value chain. This opens up a huge area where women can contribute in a more meaningful way and establish themselves in more leadership positions. Though corporates have traditionally engaged women in management positions in small numbers , they are making conscious efforts to change that. Startups have given women more opportunities and we see more and more women in leadership positions.

According to you, which sector of the agri industry will be more remunerative for women entrepreneurs in the next five years?

If decided, women can achieve success in every sector of the agri industry. Since women are good at science and technology, they can play an important role in integrating technology in the agri value chain. Starting from seed industry to agri supply chain, women can explore more in e-commerce, animal breeding technology, and sustainable agriculture practices.

With the use of latest technologies such as AI and IoT women can work in research and innovation in irrigation, modern farm mechanisation systems, dairy, fisheries and logistics. 

What inputs are needed for the growth of women entrepreneurs in India?

While there are various factors needed for the growth of women entrepreneurs, here are some of them:  Women should be given equal opportunity employment in companies, startups so that more women will be attracted towards the agri industry.

  • Government and private sector should promote women in leadership positions in the organisations and companies
  • In order to increase women’s contribution in agribusiness, the government should announce more benefits for women-led companies/ startups.

The government has announced various schemes to attract more women into the agri industry. Besides this, how can the private sector contribute to increasing women participation in agribusiness?

Policy level backing is required for any change to be consistent and sustainable. Government intent and backing will definitely be helpful. Government is supporting women entrepreneurs through funding, approving new agritech projects. Actual success can only be defined when the technology or product becomes commercial success. There is a huge gap between the government and entrepreneurs in the process of introducing any particular product or technology in the market. At this stage, the private sector can play an important role in commercialising the technology or product. Private sector can provide handhold support to startups to understand market needs and promote the technology or product in the market.

Government and private sector partnership will definitely pave the way for the growth of women led startups and budding women entrepreneurs. This partnership should include policy support from the government in the form of finance and incubation centres at agriculture universities for women students. Private sector can support in the process of promotion and commercialisation of technology or product in the market

How BioPrime’s biological crop inputs are helping to enhance yields without increasing carbon footprint?

Bioprime SNIPR Biologicals are making crops climate-resilient using targeted physiology modulating biomolecules. SNIPR biologicals give farmers assurance of yields despite the adverse conditions. They reduce climate- change related crop losses by 25-30 per cent, reduce the requirement of fertilisers, especially urea by 25 per cent. In the last year alone we have reduced urea consumption of 30 L kgs reducing carbon footprint by 2.88 L kg Co2 in rice.  Indian rice alone needs 45 million tonnes of urea every year and adoption of such technologies could potentially lead to the reduction of carbon footprint by 89,400 tonnes of Co2 each year.

How will OmniX Bio support Indian entrepreneurs who work in the fields of agricultural biotechnology, novel farming systems, bioenergy and biomaterials?

OmniX Bio will provide venture funding, mentorship from global agrifood life sciences leaders, institutional partnerships, and business development support to access domestic and export sales channels. While all members of the Omnivore team will support OmniX Bio, a PhD life scientist will join the investment team in 2022 to oversee the initiative and help develop the agrifood life sciences ecosystem across India.

At BioPrime we are focusing on discovering fundamental aspects of plant communication, identifying new biomolecules and new modes of modulating plant responses. SNIPR and BIONEXUS enable BioPrime to develop new biologicals and radically improve existing products at a fraction of cost and time. With Omnivore joining us in this journey we are confident of building BioPrime to be a global player in Ag biotech and achieve our goal of a world where good yield is not a gamble but an assurance.

What are growth strategies and plans of the company for FY 22-23?

Bioprime is building India’s largest plant-associated microbe library. Scientists have studied the past 35 years of data and identified 60 locations for microbe collection in the first phase. Registrations of 8 products under the newly formed Biostimulants policy. Initiating studies for International Validation on the new molecules and technology. Securing Pan India distribution for the current product portfolio. Currently, we are evaluating 4 pan- India distribution agreements for 3 products with MNCs. 2 multi-product Co-development projects are underway with MNCs. We have a very strong product pipeline with products on shelf life enhancement, photosynthesis modulation, and in-plant protection – fungicides. We aim to advance these to the multi-location field testing stage.

How do you envisage the future of women entrepreneurs in the agri industry?

Women will increasingly play an important part in transforming the industry. Agriculture is ripe of disruption and this opportune time will see more and more women take leadership positions in corporates and start-ups bringing technology. Women are trying to disrupt traditional trends in agribusiness starting from seed industry to last mile delivery of agri-produce to the consumers with the help of technology.

Even the corporate sector is waking up towards providing equal opportunities to women in agribusiness. The future belongs to women in agriculture who have set out to break the glass ceiling and transform this space from the ground up. Be it as growers, SHGs/FPOs or as inventors or as entrepreneurs- leading the change from the front. In the next five years, women will emerge as leaders of the agri industry and drive the revolution in agriculture.

                                                                                                             Dipti Barve

dipti.barve@mmactiv.com

Dr Renuka Diwan, a first-generation entrepreneur, having