BioPrime AgriSolutions, a Pune-based startup, has developed SNIPR technology that uses naturally-occurring microorganisms to boost crop yields, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, and minimize pesticide use for sustainable farming.

In early 2016, Dr. Renuka Diwan, Dr. Shekhar Bhosale, and Dr. Amit Shinde began working with tomato farmers in Narayangaon, Pune, to introduce BioPrime AgriSolutions innovative SNIPR technology. Combining expertise in genetic engineering, mycology, and bioactives, they developed the technology to help farmers cope with climate change. The region later experienced its worst heatwave in 155 years, leading to major crop losses.

Dr. Diwan recalls, “Initially, it was challenging to convince farmers to adopt our technology, as there was scepticism and resistance. To demonstrate its effectiveness, we decided to intervene at the seedling nursery stage, treating the tomato plants right from germination. This approach provided tangible benefits, with farmers observing minimal transplantation shock and plant deaths in the treated seedlings.”

In collaboration with the local nursery, they treated thousands of plants with a bio-stimulant containing a unique blend of biomolecules that triggered the plants adaptive processes, such as "signalling molecules," metabolites, and antioxidants. While farmers acknowledged the positive outcomes, they were still hesitant to use their own land for further testing. However, as the heatwave intensified and surrounding tomato crops suffered, the stark contrast between the treated plants and the affected ones became clear.

“Our fields stood out with lush green hues and fully expanded leaves. Intrigued, farmers started approaching us, curious about our methods and the exceptional condition of our crops. This inspired us to name our first product Verdant," she recalls. The bio-stimulant was formulated using their proprietary SNIPR technology.

How BioPrime AgriSolutions Helped Farmers Overcome Heatwaves and Achieve Consistent Yields

“Later that summer, a turning point came when 10 farmers decided to join our summer testing programme, which quickly expanded to 100 due to the intensity of the heatwave. Despite widespread crop loss, these farmers recorded a normal harvest at the end of the season, thanks to the effectiveness of our technology. This success helped establish a strong foothold for us in the region, and today, it is rare to find a farmer in that area who does not use our products,” she adds.

The tangible results they witnessed were the resilience and improved performance of the treated crops compared to those in surrounding fields.

Farmers saw firsthand how our products could mitigate the negative effects of heat and viral infections. As word spread about our success in Narayangaon, more farmers became interested in adopting our technology. They recognized that our products, such as Verdant, Fortisea, and Chiron, offered reliable support and helped them achieve consistent yields under challenging conditions,” Diwan explains.

Building on initial success, BioPrime AgriSolutions expanded their technology across rural India, empowering farmers to reduce risks, improve crop yields, and enhance their livelihoods. Witnessing the power of climate resilience and its ability to prevent harvest losses, we saw an opportunity to restore pride and profitability to farmers, says Dr. Diwan.

Since 2016, BioPrime AgriSolutions innovative solutions have helped prevent significant crop losses due to unexpected weather events, benefiting hundreds of farmers in Maharashtras Pune, Satara, and Nashik districts, as well as farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Understanding the Science Behind BioPrimes Innovative Technology

Dr. Diwan and her team have developed groundbreaking technology that helps farmers boost crop yields while minimizing their reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. By harnessing the power of naturally-occurring microorganisms and biomolecules, BioPrime offers an eco-friendly solution to promote healthier crop growth.

So, how does it work? Dr. Diwan explains the science behind it:

“The naturally-occurring biomolecules and microorganisms we use at BioPrime are essential components of the plants ecosystem. These elements have coexisted with plants for centuries, playing a crucial role in enhancing crop growth and resilience,” she shares.

One of the key attributes of these microorganisms is their ability to form beneficial relationships with plants,” explains Dr. Diwan. “In the past, with heirloom crop varieties, this association was much stronger. Plants used to release about 70-80% of the carbon they sequestered as exudates and sugars, which served as a food source for the beneficial microorganisms.

In return, these microorganisms helped make essential nutrients more accessible to the plants, protected them from diseases and pests, and promoted overall plant health. This symbiotic relationship created a thriving community where plants and microbes supported each other.

However, with the advent of modern agriculture focused on high-yielding varieties, this symbiotic relationship has been disrupted. Crops were bred to allocate more resources to yield, but in doing so, the importance of feeding beneficial microbes was often overlooked.

As a result, plants became increasingly reliant on synthetic additives like chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides to fulfill their nutritional and protective needs.

Enhancing Crop Resilience Using Trigger Molecules and SNIPR Technology

At BioPrime, we tackle this imbalance using two main approaches. First, we identify trigger molecules that activate dormant pathways in modern crop varieties, encouraging them to reconnect with beneficial microorganisms. By reintroducing these trigger molecules, we stimulate the plants to allocate resources towards nourishing and engaging with the microorganisms, thereby revitalizing their symbiotic relationship," Dr. Diwan explains.

A key tool in identifying these trigger molecules is BioPrimes proprietary screening platform, SNIPR. This platform helps discover molecules that need to be activated to improve a crops tolerance to heat waves or other extreme climatic conditions.

“It is not a single technology, but rather an amalgamation of various processes we have developed,” she continues. “The platform conducts a series of assays—biochemical, physiological, molecular, and genomic-level—combines them, and performs a subtractive analysis to pinpoint the specific molecules needed to, for instance, make a tomato crop more tolerant to heat waves.”

Developing Formulations to Enhance Heat Tolerance in Crops

The next step in BioPrimes process involves creating a formulation that activates specific processes in crops to make them more tolerant to heat waves.

“We need multiple pathways to address something as complex as heat tolerance,” explains Dr. Diwan. “For example, heat tolerance might require adjustments as simple as a waxy coating on the leaves or a thicker cell wall. The plants cells also need to store more sugar and salt to retain water, and its roots should have finer tertiary branching to absorb more water in drier conditions. It is not enough to focus on just one trait; we need all of these processes to work together.

When designing a formulation, BioPrime identifies the trigger molecules that activate these processes. “Our formulation consists of these trigger molecules. When applied to the plant, they activate these processes instantly,” she adds.

“SNIPR helps us identify which processes to focus on. Once we know which processes are crucial, we search for the right trigger molecules,” Dr. Diwan continues. “We run tests to validate that triggering these molecules activates the desired processes. After validation, we create formulations, test them under controlled conditions, and then commercialize them. Developing a formulation is a long, detailed process—it typically takes about 2.5 years to develop a formulation that is ready for field testing,” she concludes.

From Field Testing to Product Launch: BioPrimes Journey in Agricultural Innovation

Once we have completed field-level testing, we need to assess whether the formulation works on all crops, across different geographical and soil conditions,” explains Dr. Diwan. “This requires testing over two seasons—one kharif and one rabi—to ensure the product works in diverse climatic conditions. After obtaining regulatory approvals, we can launch the product. Products like Prime Chiron, Prime Aavirat, Prime 1515, and Prime Verdant are the results of this rigorous process, developed with the help of SNIPR technology.

Dr. Shinde adds, “BioPrime has adopted a drug-discovery approach, similar to the one used in the pharmaceutical industry, to design agricultural biologicals.”

In addition to identifying trigger molecules, BioPrime has also developed synthetic communities of microbes specifically designed to restore and enhance the lost plant-microbe associations. “Just like humans depend on microbes to digest food, plants also need a core set of microbes to thrive and survive,” says Dr. Diwan.

“These carefully selected microbial strains work together to promote nutrient availability, improve soil health, suppress diseases, and enhance plant growth and resilience. These microbial communities serve as natural allies for plants, supporting their overall well-being while reducing their reliance on synthetic inputs,” she explains. To discover these beneficial microbes, BioPrime has developed another proprietary platform called Bio-nexus.

Benefits of BioPrimes Technology in Agriculture

Dr. Diwan highlights the significant benefits of BioPrimes biological solutions: “Our biologicals can reduce fertilizer requirements by up to 50%, allowing farmers to optimize nutrient management and cut input costs. Additionally, our products play a crucial role in pest and disease management. Currently, our biologicals are being actively used on over 150,000 acres across more than 25 different crops.”

BioPrime follows a B2B business model, forming strategic partnerships with large agri-input companies that have a strong presence and pan-India distribution networks.

“Their goals must align with ours—focusing on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. These companies typically have strong chemical R&D capabilities but havent necessarily invested in biological discovery. They either partner with us to bring our products to market or collaborate with us to co-develop products that they eventually distribute,” Dr. Diwan explains.

In addition to B2B partnerships, BioPrime maintains a direct interface with farmers, particularly in western Maharashtra and central Uttar Pradesh. “We have our own team that operates like a small sales force. We work closely with about 600 farmers, iterating and refining the products with their feedback. These farmers are educated, marginal, export-oriented, and also include small grain growers,” she adds.

Protecting Farmers and Ensuring Product Safety with Rigorous Testing

To safeguard farmers, BioPrime ensures that all products undergo a rigorous testing process before reaching the market. Dr. Diwan explains, “Before we provide any product to farmers, it undergoes testing for environmental toxicity, cytotoxicity, exposure-related toxicity, and more, in GLP (Good Laboratory Practice)-approved labs. After this, we validate every iteration of our product using the SNIPR platform to ensure it performs as promised. We then conduct control-condition trials in growth chambers, followed by testing in greenhouses on vulnerable seedlings. If any harmful effects are observed, we immediately eliminate the cause.”

After these steps, the product is tested on actual crops in controlled conditions at their research farm. Once it passes this stage, it is ready for use by farmers. “This process significantly reduces the chances of adverse events, but in the rare case that something goes wrong and a farmer suffers crop losses, we reimburse them 100%. We dont want farmers to suffer,” Dr. Diwan assures.

One such farmer who has benefited from BioPrimes solutions is Sachin Durape, a 32-year-old farmer from Narayangaon and a second-generation farmer with an engineering background.

Sachin shares his experience: “I cultivated chrysanthemums and saw that Prime Chiron increased my yield by 40%, with more uniform flowers, vibrant colors, and a 4-5 day extended shelf life.” However, Sachin realized that he wasnt getting full market value for his products due to middlemen targeting distant markets offering  prices. Taking a bold step, he built a small cool room to store his harvest and began sending flowers to markets as far as Hyderabad.

A farmer from Narayangaon became the first in his village to send his produce to Hyderabad, increasing his income from Rs 25/kg to Rs 70/kg. Now, other young farmers in the village follow his lead, grouping their crops and sending them to larger markets like Bangalore and Hyderabad, earning significantly more.

In Uttar Pradesh, Sunil Verma, a fruit farmer from the Awadh region, used [Prime] Chiron to achieve uniform produce and an excellent strawberry harvest. Recognizing that local markets didnt offer good prices, he took a chance by branding and packaging his strawberries, employing his family to help, and selling them in Lucknow at a much higher profit. His earnings tripled as a result. Verma has since started a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) with some help from BioPrime, assisting neighboring farmers in taking their produce to the Lucknow market. Their next goal is to expand into the Delhi market.

Securing Funding to Accelerate Growth and Expand Reach         

The company has received significant backing from various government-supported organizations, including the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Atal Incubation Mission (DBT AIM) by the Department of Biotechnology, NITI Aayog, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa.

Dr. Diwan acknowledges that the support from these institutions has played a crucial role in advancing their research and development initiatives. Additionally, the guidance and mentorship offered by these organizations have been invaluable in helping to drive the business forward.

Alongside institutional support from government-backed organizations, they have also attracted venture capital funding from firms like Omnivore and Inflexor Ventures, which specializes in early-stage technology startups.

Looking to the future, they are exploring opportunities for Series A funding to further accelerate their growth. This funding will allow them to expand their product offerings, increase their impact, and extend their reach to more farmers and agricultural communities.

Edited by Gayathri