Addition of Biological Alternatives for Food and Subsistence Crops as a first step towards Regenerative Agriculture
“The largest fertilizer cooperative in Asia took a conscientious decision to trial Bio Fertilizers & Organic Inputs as a step towards climate action”
Manufacturing Capacity of Fertilizer Cooperative
0 Lakh MT
Number of Cooperatives
0
Farmers reach in India
0 Crore
Turnover
0 Crores
Context
Chemical fertilizers help increase farm productivity in the short-term, but lead to poor quality crops and a degenerative impact on the environment and climate in the long term.”
At the core of agriculture is innovation. Urea and Ammonia were discovered and produced in large quantities to combat the food crisis of the 60’s. Advancements in agricultural technology fostered by the Green Revolution throughout the past century have allowed farmers to avoid widespread famine, and feed a population that has grown from less than 2 billion people to more than 7 billion today.
However, previous agricultural breakthroughs have come with serious environmental costs to both people and nature. With a changing climate exacerbating today’s challenges, it is clear the next agricultural revolution will require solutions that not only increase food production, but also sustain the health of our communities, our land and water, and our climate.
However, previous agricultural breakthroughs have come with serious environmental costs to both people and nature. With a changing climate exacerbating today’s challenges, it is clear the next agricultural revolution will require solutions that not only increase food production, but also sustain the health of our communities, our land and water, and our climate.
Approach
“Fertilizer Industries and Farmer Cooperatives need to innovate, move away from conventional methods and turn to biological alternatives, regenerative practices and service offerings.”
The Next Agricultural Revolution Is Under Our Feet
Farmers are caught in a vicious cycle of chemical fertilizer and pesticide use that is counterproductive to agriculture. Excessive chemical fertilizers seep through the soil into the groundwater and other water sources, leading to contamination. This upsets the balance of nature resulting in loss of beneficial soil microbes, fish etc. Chemical fertilizers also contribute to the greenhouse effect through volatilization resulting in climate change. Excessive fertilization makes the topsoil acidic lowering the pH and soil structure thus impacting crop productivity. Chemical fertilizers trade fast growth for health in plants, resulting in crops that have less nutritional value. At worst, chemical fertilizers may increase the risks of developing cancer in adults and children and adversely affecting fetal brain development.
Firefly’s Offerings for Fertilizer Cooperative
Fertilizer Cooperatives have the widest farmer reach because of their management structures, daily interactions with farmers, and massive scale of manufacturing. Therefore, when cooperatives adopt and advocate nutrient management coupled with soil health practices they can influence millions of farmers and impact huge tracts of farmlands contributing to environmental regeneration and the reversal of the effects of climate change.
Regenerative agriculture offers one of the greatest opportunities to help India address human and climate health, along with the financial well-being of farmers. Pursuant to a successful one year trial over 3 crops in 2014, Firefly participated in a tender to manufacture Microbial Biofertilizers and Nanotechnology-based Foliar Sprays for the Cooperative at viable costs to its farmers.
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Our Solutions
Firefly took the opportunity to conduct trials using its high quality Biofertilizers and Nanotechnology based foliar products at the R&D centers of the Cooperative as a first step towards proving the efficacy of organic solutions in 1 year.
Trials to show impact
3 common crops were selected by the Cooperative – Paddy, Wheat, Guar to demonstrate the use of Biofertilizers and Nanotechnology based foliar products to sustain crop yields and boost plants natural immunity
Low-budget High Impact Products
Due to the reduction of product quantity used for the same or increased impact on crop and soil productivity, as well as fast response times of Firefly’s products, the original costs to the farmers per unit area of land were not altered, resulting in economically successful results.
Long Term Support & Collaboration
Firefly is constantly innovating and seeking opportunities to create deeper impact across wider audiences and continues to participate in tenders for Cooperative Societies and the State governments alike.
Tender Participation
After a stringent screening and evaluation of our manufacturing facilities, 9 of Firefly’s formulations were selected under the Cooperative’s tender process, and were produced in mass scale for 36,000 cooperative societies across the country.
Impact
Sustained Crop Yields and Pest Control
Increased Biodiversity and Ecological balance
Preservation of Freshwater Sources
High Quality Chemical-free Food Production
Regeneration of Soil and Microbiota in farmlands
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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