India develops first indigenous water-soluble fertiliser process

INDIA – India has taken a major step in fertiliser technology with the creation of its first indigenous process for producing water-soluble fertilisers.

The development promises to reduce the country’s dependence on China, which currently supplies the bulk of India’s specialty fertilisers.

The technology emerged after seven years of research supported by the Ministry of Mines. Scientists designed the process to work with Indian raw materials and plants, aligning with the government’s Make in India programme.

It also runs as a zero-effluent, emission-free system, which led to its recognition as a project of national importance.

Unlike conventional methods that require different technologies for each type of fertiliser, this single process can produce almost all soluble variants. Industry experts say this approach could cut costs and simplify production for local manufacturers.

Rajib Chakraborty, President of the Specialty Fertiliser Importers Association (SFIA), praised the achievement. “R&D means a failure game a thousand times… But if it is our own, we can keep on developing,” he said.

India currently imports about 95 percent of its specialty fertilisers from China. The new process could change that balance within a few years. If commercial production begins as expected, India could shift from import dependence to becoming a competitive exporter in the global fertiliser market.

Officials confirmed that joint ventures with industry partners are already under discussion. Commercial production could begin within two years, bringing both economic and strategic benefits.

Government push for biomanufacturing

The fertiliser breakthrough comes as the government ramps up efforts to strengthen India’s bioeconomy. On September 1, 2025, officials launched a network of advanced biomanufacturing hubs under the BioE3 Policy, short for Biotechnology for Environment, Economy and Employment.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are leading the rollout of High Performance Biomanufacturing Platforms.

According to government representatives, the hubs will support innovation across industries ranging from agriculture to health and energy.

By pairing fertiliser independence with expanded biomanufacturing, India is moving to reduce its exposure to external supply shocks while encouraging domestic innovation. The fertiliser process not only secures the country’s farming needs but also signals a stronger role for local science and technology.

As Chakraborty noted, the achievement proves that perseverance in homegrown research can pay off. With commercialisation on the horizon and new biomanufacturing hubs in place, India is setting the stage for a more self-reliant and competitive bioeconomy.

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