India’s leading agriculture solutions player, Coromandel International Limited, unveiled its Coromandel Nanotechnology Centre at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, which will support its efforts towards development of wide range of nano-enabled agro-inputs for plant nutrition and crop protection.
The Centre will be the 6th R&D facility of Coromandel and the 2nd Tech Centre which will focus on development of next-generation agri-inputs, the first being Coromandel’s research facility in Monash Academy, IIT Bombay.
The Nanotechnology Centre is fully equipped with high-end equipment and research tools for carrying out cutting edge R&D work for synthesis, characterization, biosafety testing and evaluation of nano-products, says a company pressnote.
The Centre will facilitate wider application of nano-inputs in agriculture by disseminating scientific data and knowledge to farmers, scientists and policy makers.
It will also serve as the central laboratory for all nano-products of Coromandel to ensure full compliance with regulatory guidelines. Besides, it will have the capability to develop wide range of bio-products.
Earlier this year, the company had launched Nano DAP, which has received encouraging response from the farming community. Recently, it has also developed unique Nano Urea formulation containing 12% N (w/w), which is undergoing extensive farmer trials.
The company is in the process of setting up an integrated Nano products manufacturing facility at Kakinada.
Speaking on the occasion, Coromandel’s Executive Vice Chairman Arun Alagappan said, “The Coromandel Nanotechnology Center is a unique facility established to drive Coromandel’s efforts in nanotechnology in agriculture. This will enable high quality research in nano space and is in line with various Government initiatives to promote innovation and use of technology.
"This is a major step towards strengthening India’s R&D capabilities for development of efficient plant nutrition and protection solutions," he added.