Integrating Biotech Solutions to Support Farmers

What if the materials we rely on for fuels, plastics, and chemicals are already being produced every harvest season on farms across America? In California’s North San Joaquin Valley alone, billions of pounds of agricultural biomass such as nut shells, crop residues, and orchard trimmings are generated each year, much of it underutilized. The constraint has historically been infrastructure: the ability to convert this resource into useful products efficiently. That is beginning to change. Advances in conversion technologies, along with new efforts to map and mobilize biomass, are turning crop residues into a viable resource. Through Schmidt Sciences ‘ Virtual Institute for Feedstocks of the Future, initiatives like BioCircular Valley are working to connect research, data, and local partners to unlock these opportunities. As I mentioned in a recent post (https://lnkd.in/eURW6kbs), the convergence of biotechnology and new industrial systems will help define the next era of economic leadership. The emerging bioeconomy is one example of that shift already underway, as science and infrastructure align to produce essential materials at scale. In practice, this shift could reduce reliance on fossil inputs, lower emissions, and create new jobs across rural logistics, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology, while providing farmers with additional revenue streams from materials that are currently underutilized. Learn more about biomass and its potential in this animated explainer video. This is the beginning of a shift where farms don’t just feed and fuel the world; they help build it.

To Feed the World, A Rethink in Agriculture is a Must: Harnessing Modern Technology for Food Security!! With the global population expected to surpass 9.7 billion by 2050, the challenge of feeding the world has never been more pressing. The current agricultural system, strained by climate change, declining soil health, and unsustainable practices, is ill-equipped to meet this demand. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production must increase by 70% to feed the projected population—a daunting task under existing farming methods. A comprehensive rethink of agriculture is essential, and technology must play a pivotal role in this transformation. Modern agriculture is no longer just about growing crops; it's about growing them sustainably, efficiently, and in harmony with our planet's limitations. Digital Technologies are revolutionizing how we farm. The use of AI, machine learning, and data analytics allows farmers to make smarter decisions—whether it's about planting, irrigation, or crop protection. According to a McKinsey report, precision farming technologies can increase farm productivity by 60-70%, significantly boosting yields while reducing resource consumption. In India, startups using digital platforms to provide real-time advice and market insights can help farmers increase income by 20-30%. Biotechnology offers another vital solution. By developing genetically modified crops resistant to pests, drought, and disease, we can ensure higher yields in increasingly unpredictable environments. The success of Bt cotton in India, which led to a 24% increase in yield, is just one example. Biotechnology also enhances nutritional content, with biofortified crops like Golden Rice tackling malnutrition in developing countries. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)—from greenhouses to vertical farming—allows for year-round cultivation in any climate, with minimal water and land use. CEA systems can produce up to 10 times more yield per acre compared to traditional farming. Companies like Plenty and Bowery are already proving that urban vertical farms can be part of the solution, growing crops sustainably with 95% less water and no pesticides. If we are to feed the world, embracing these modern technologies is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. Agriculture must evolve to meet the challenges of the future, and the integration of digital technologies, biotechnologies, and controlled environment farming is the pathway toward sustainable global food security. The future of food is here, and it demands our attention today.

Recently, I visited Dungarpur (Rajasthan) to review HDFC Bank Parivartan ’s CSR interventions focused on delivering hyper-local, sustainable solutions for improving agricultural practices. During this visit, I had the opportunity to engage with the project team from Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) and study the Bio Resource Center (BRC) and Ten Drum Unit model in detail. What stood out was the strong integration of technical rigor, operational clarity, and community ownership within the program design. The Ten Drum Unit is built around 10 structured organic formulations, each serving a specific agronomic function: 1. Soil Health & Nutrient Management Humic Acid, Fulvic Acid, DF-1 (chelated micronutrients), Waste Decomposer, and Jeevamrit are used to improve soil structure, enhance microbial activity, and increase nutrient availability. These inputs strengthen root systems, improve soil porosity, and support long-term soil fertility. 2. Crop Growth & Pest Management EM-based solutions, Dashparni Ark, Amil Ark (ginger–chilli–garlic extract), and Amritpani provide biological pest control, disease resistance, and plant growth stimulation, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides while improving crop resilience. The model follows a crop stage-wise application protocol: 1. Early stage: Root development and microbial activation 2. Vegetative stage: Pest resistance and nutrient uptake 3. Flowering stage: Micronutrient balance 4. Fruit stage: Yield enhancement and disease management This structured, outcome-oriented approach ensures optimized input use, improved productivity, and better risk management at the farm level. From a leadership and governance perspective, this initiative demonstrates how CSR programs can move beyond funding to become capability-building platforms. Farmers are not only receiving inputs, but are also gaining technical knowledge, confidence, and decision-making autonomy. The visible outcomes: reduced chemical dependency, improved soil health, and stronger crop resilience reflect the value of community-led, technically sound, and scalable interventions. For me, effective development leadership is about enabling systems, strengthening local capacities, and creating sustainable impact through knowledge transfer and institutional partnerships. #HDFCParivartan #CSRLeadership #SustainableDevelopment #ImpactInvesting #ESG #ClimateResilience #RuralTransformation #CapacityBuilding #CommunityPartnership #LeadershipInAction Nusrat Pathan | Sharukh R. Taraporewala | Ashish Srivastava | Tania Pal | Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) | Crispino Lobo | Marcella D'Souza | Richa Naula | Prashant Burman | Vikas Kumar Gupta | Sunita Verma | Mrityunjay Kumar

I was asked an interesting question by a delegation from Mexico last week: "What's the challenge of being number one in the industry?" I paused on that question. Being an industry leader comes with obvious challenges like competition, innovation cycles and market dynamics. But the deeper challenge is responsibility. When you're a leader, you have a responsibility to help transform the entire industry, not just your own operations. This means ensuring our innovation benefits farmers everywhere. We're embracing AI as the catalyst across agriculture. From Cropwise AI that acts as an agronomic advisor in farmers' hands, to agentic AI systems that optimize input applications while maintaining yields. These aren't just productivity tools. They're bridges to a more sustainable and equitable food system. We're deploying AI across the full value chain: in our labs to accelerate molecule discovery, in the field through precision agriculture, and through digital systems that help smallholder farmers maximize their potential with targeted advice. But technology only transforms agriculture when it's accessible. That's why we recently opened the Cropwise platform to developers worldwide. Over 70 million hectares of farmland already use Cropwise, and now third-party innovators can build on that foundation to create solutions that reach even more farmers. Developers get access to proven AI and agronomic models to build tools farmers actually need. Being number one means you can choose to be a gatekeeper or a platform. We chose platform. The technology exists. Now we need to make sure access does too. 

🍄 #Agriculture is facing a compounding crisis with drought, heat stress, and rising pathogen pressure, and synthetic inputs alone aren't solving it. Crop losses from soil-borne pathogens like Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium species cost billions annually. Existing #biocontrol products offer narrow pathogen coverage. Most commercial #bioinoculants are formulated for temperate, well-watered conditions, not the arid, saline environments where climate stress is hitting hardest. The pipeline for drought-adapted biological solutions is thin. Here's what's actually at stake: researchers at the University of Almería isolated 415 fungal endophytes, which fungi that colonise plant roots without causing disease, from one of Europe's harshest landscapes. Select strains suppressed up to 15 pathogens simultaneously, with inhibition of V. dahliae exceeding 90%. Bean seedlings inoculated with certain strains showed biomass gains of 80–140% over controls. These fungi also produce indole-3-acetic acid, a root-growth hormone, and iron-scavenging compounds that improve nutrient uptake under stress conditions. The #AgriTech sector is moving toward #integrated biological solutions. The brands and input suppliers gaining ground are those investing in stress-tolerant, multi-functional #microbial strains, not single-mechanism products. There's an important caveat. Standard fungicides like azoxystrobin inhibited these beneficial fungi by over 90%. #BiologicalAgriculture and conventional chemistry need to be planned together, not applied in parallel without compatibility testing. Broad-spectrum synthetic inputs are losing ground. #EndophyticFungi adapted to climate extremes are just getting started. 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e474WUqt Know someone in #cropscience, #agribusiness, or #biotech? Send this to them or tag them below! 🍄 #EndophyticFungi #Biostimulants #FungalBiotech #AgriTech #SustainableAgriculture #BiologicalAgriculture #ClimateSmartAgriculture #CropProtection #Mycology #AgriInnovation #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAg #PlantScience #Microbiome #FoodSecurity

Each time I go to Brazil, I’m reminded that innovation doesn’t happen in boardrooms — it happens in the field. You can read every report and model, but nothing replaces standing alongside your #customers and seeing their challenges firsthand. 🌾🐛🦗   Last week, I spent time with our team and partners in #Brazil — one of the most advanced and fast-moving agricultural regions in the world. 🇧🇷   Listening to our customers in #Bahia and #Goiás was a powerful reminder that innovation only matters when it works in the real world. 👩🔬👉👨🏼🌾   Brazil’s farmers face some of the toughest pest challenges anywhere, including fall armyworm, a pest capable of destroying crops in days. And they are winning — not by spraying more chemicals, but by thinking differently. For years, growers relied on biotech traits and synthetic insecticides to control these pests — but resistance has become a growing challenge. 👀 That breakdown has created an opening for preventive solutions such as #pheromones, which stop pests from reproducing and prevent infestations before they start. We are now seeing that preventative approach pay off: Provivi, Inc. pheromone systems are helping farmers achieve consistently higher yields, while significantly reducing synthetic chemical use and protecting #biodiversity. 📈🦋   Brazil is proving that #sustainability and #performance can go hand in hand! It’s also proving that positive #impact and profitable growth depend on #collaboration and #trust — between farmers, distributors, and our impressive local team. 🤝 What’s happening in Brazil offers a glimpse of agriculture’s future: scalable #innovation that works with nature, not against it — and creates measurable value for growers, the environment, and society. 🌱 My deepest thanks for their leadership and commitment to Veronica Gaviolle, Diego Silva, Mauro Becker, Patryc Jhonathas Neves da Silva, Joice de Paula Pistore, Luiz Fernando Ribeiro Barbosa, Barbara Moura, and Jim Demetriades. Produtiva Sementes TCHÊ Produtos Agrícolas Bela Vista Group Kasuya Inteligência Agronômica Grupo Mizote AIBA Company #Agriculture #Sustainability #Biologicals

Did you know that every minute, we lose 30 football fields of fertile soil due to degradation? And yet, we still need to grow more food. Agriculture is under pressure from both sides: 🌱 Farmers must increase yields to feed a growing population 🔥 Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides already account for 3% of global carbon emissions 🦠 And 70% of soil biodiversity has been lost due to agricultural intensification At Climate Tech Time, Angela de Manzanos from FA Bio explained why biological alternatives to agrochemicals are no longer “nice to have.” They’re essential! FA Bio focuses on fungi, the overlooked backbone of soil ecosystems. Unlike bacteria-based solutions (which make up ~80% of the market), fungi form deep, symbiotic relationships with plant roots. How? By improving nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and soil health. Using their patented SSPORs technology, FA Bio can discover fungi that: 🌾 Boost yields 🛡️ Protect crops from disease 🌍 Regenerate soils without harmful chemicals The future of farming is beneath our feet! 🎥 Watch Angela’s full talk on Climate Connection’s website: https://lnkd.in/dZ4Kk7sR #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateTech

Transforming Farm Waste into Gold Industrial biotechnology and advanced manufacturing key to unlocking the future of sustainable agriculture. In the heart of Rotorua, a groundbreaking initiative is turning farm waste into valuable resources. Cetogenix, a local startup, is revolutionizing the way we handle agricultural waste by converting it into biogas and fertiliser. This innovative technology, developed in collaboration with Scion and supported through the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA) leverages advanced biotechnology to process organic waste efficiently and sustainably. Cetogenix's modular system is designed to be flexible, catering to various waste streams. Building on the expertise from AgResearch ensures the scalability from individual farms to larger operations. By extracting more gas and valuable nutrients from waste, this technology not only boosts economic returns but also offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers. With an estimated 7 million tonnes of organic waste produced annually in New Zealand, the potential impact of this technology is immense. Processing just 10% of this waste could generate significant amounts of biomethane and fertiliser, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. Daniel Gapes I Trevor Stuthridge I Alexandra Stuthridge I Rob Lei I Marc Gaugler I Jamie Bridson #SustainableAgriculture #Farm #Innovation #Biotechnology #WasteToEnergy #GreenTech #Agriculture #Biogas #Bioeconomy #Cleantechnology #AdvancedManufacturing https://lnkd.in/gJqQ5WQx

AI can go beyond. It´s decoding ecosystems to empower farmers and optimize agriculture! Last year, US Farmers spent more than USD $48 billion in inputs (fertilizer, crop protection and biological applications). While the adoption of biologicals accelerates and the use of fertilizers does not decrease at the same speed, there’s a pressing need for advanced prescribing tools to guide farmers in optimizing their operations. Imagine using AI to predict changes in the soil ecosystem and generate precise recommendations for the fastest-growing segment of agriculture—biological inputs and fertilizers. #BeCrop is the first digital system to predict soil functionality, powered by Biome Makers Inc., with proprietary AI models integrating a wide range of environmental variables—like soil biology, functionality, physical-chemical, or climate factors—to provide data-driven insights and maps tailored to each field. Farmers receive precise recommendations on input needs for nutrients, biostimulants, and crop protection, boosting yields and promoting resilient soil health. https://lnkd.in/daEbXPwf Let's harness the power of AI to nourish our planet and feed the world. #agriculture #agritech #AI #precisionagriculture #sustainability #farming #soilhealth #biologicalinputs #fertilizers #BeCrop

What’s fueling the rise of biological inputs market in Agriculture? Global agriculture is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with biological inputs viz. biofertilizers, biopesticides, and bio stimulants emerging as vital instruments in advancing sustainable productivity. The market for these inputs is expanding at a faster rate, reflecting a significant shift in agricultural practices. What are the driving forces behind this accelerating growth? Ø Accelerating Adoption of Biological Crop Protection As resistance to traditional chemical pesticides grows and integrated pest management (IPM) gains ground, biological crop protection products are becoming a critical part of the grower's toolkit. Their compatibility with IPM systems makes them especially valuable in long-term, sustainable farm planning. Ø Concerns Over Chemical Risks and Residue Levels With increasing awareness around chemical residues in food and their environmental impact, regulatory bodies and consumers alike are calling for safer alternatives. Biological inputs provide a low-residue, environmentally benign solution that supports healthier soils, water systems, and ecosystems Ø High-Value Crop Cultivation From vineyards to specialty fruits and vegetables, high-value crops demand premium quality and low rejection rates. Biological inputs help improve crop resilience, quality, and shelf life making them a strategic choice for growers in competitive markets. Ø Rising Demand for Organic Food Consumers are more conscious than ever about what goes on their plates. The global shift toward organic and clean-label products is pushing growers to adopt inputs that align with organic certification standards. Biological solutions offer a natural and effective way to enhance yield—without compromising food integrity Ø Supportive Regulatory Frameworks Governments and international bodies are stepping up to support sustainable agriculture through policy incentives, R&D funding, and streamlined approval processes for biologicals. These frameworks are making it easier for innovators to bring solutions to market and for farmers to access them. The Takeaway: Biological inputs represent a fundamental shift in agriculture. As the global food system moves toward sustainability, these solutions are not only supporting compliance but also enhancing productivity, viability, and resilience. #Agriculture #BiologicalInputs #SustainableFarming #AgTech #OrganicFarming #CropProtection #Biostimulants #Biofertilizers #FutureOfFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #GreenAgriculture