Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) develops new seed treatment tech to protect microbial agents, soil nutrients

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) signed a memorandum of understanding with two private seed companies on Thursday to commercialise a patented biopolymer-based seed coating technology developed by it for seed treatment to protect nutrient mobilising microbes and thereby helping farmers get improved crop yields by 25% to 30%.

ICAR-IIOR signing MoUs with two private seed companies on commercialising biopolymer-based seed coating technology in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

The MoUs were signed between IIOR and the two private seed companies. The Director of IIOR R.K. Mathur and representatives of the seed companies signed the documents in the presence of Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences) of ICAR T.R. Sharma. The innovative technology is developed by the IIOR scientists K.S.V.P Chandrika and R.D. Prasad.

According to officials of IIOR, it is a landmark development in the history of IIOR and use of the revolutionary biopolymer in seed treatment would protect beneficial microbes, nutrients and safer chemicals. Introduction of the crop protection and nutrient mobilising microbes in soil through seed treatment would immensely benefit farmers and in terms of yields it would be 25% to 30% increase. It would also offer stress resilience under adverse climate change effects.

Complimenting the scientists who developed the technology, Mr. Sharma said the invention would help farmers reduce input costs and get economic benefits too. The innovative solution – Film Coating Biopolymer Composition – offers a uniform film coat on seed that would gradually release active ingredients like microbial bio-agents, bio-fertilizers or pesticides.

Director of IIOR Mr. Mathur said IIOR was a forerunner in the area of microbial bio-pesticide technologies’ development and commercialisation in the country for eco-friendly crop production. Several bio-pesticide technologies based on bacillus thuringiensis, beauveria and trichoderma were developed and licensed by IIOR already, he stated.