Scientist helps farmers cut production costs in Parner

For farmers, the local input shop is the first and last resort for advice and often commission rather than science dictates the advice they receive. “So, the farmer often ends up using chemicals which should be used as the last resort as the first line of defense. This is mostly due to the local players not investing in proper research and development (R&D) to develop products,” he said.

The Indian agri input market, Gadge said is broadly captured by three types of companies viz the MNCs, the Indian MNCs and the local players. “While the first two have significant investment in R&D, the local players who have captured around 70 per cent the market lack it. Thus their products, which are often much more economical than the first two, end up introducing chemicals which are generally not needed for the fields,” he said.

It is to bridge the gap and help the local players develop solutions for Indian markets through proper R&D. The company is working majorly in the biostimulant sector, which he says helps reduce production costs and make agriculture sustainable.

This model, which sees Biome take up contract research and development for companies, has its genesis in Gadge’s passion for research into biostimulants back in 2015-16. “I had converted a small roof on my terrace and devoted myself into developing into a biostimulant. Post development, I tried to sell the product to around 40 companies and finally managed to sell the same to another start up. The product was a success and soon, the input companies approached us to take up contract research for them also,” he said.

In 2016, Gadge formed a proprietary firm to take up third party research and development for companies in the field of biostimulants. Biome Technologies has seen their product portfolio and collaboration with companies increase over five years. It registered as a private limited company in 2021 and currently works with 150 Indian firms and 11 firms in the US and Europe. “From design to regulatory framework, we help companies in all aspects of product development,” he said.

Biome is an incubate of the Choudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agriculture Marketing and earlier this year won a grant of Rs 18 lakhs for its product called Soilometer.