Scientists examine seedlings in a lab, researching sustainable agriculture.
Pune-based BioPrime has raised $8 million in funding to develop biological agri inputs that help crops withstand climatic stress while improving yield quality and soil health. The funding includes a $6 million Series A round led by Belgium-based Edaphon, with participation from Omnivore and Inflexor Ventures.
Founded by Dr. Renuka Diwan, Dr. Amit Shinde, and Dr. Shekhar Bhosle, BioPrime develops sprays and irrigation additives using biochemicals and microbes. These inputs aim to prime crops in advance, enabling them to better survive adverse conditions such as erratic monsoons and prolonged heatwaves.
BioPrime’s patented tech stack, comprising SNIPR (biomolecules) and BioNexus (microbes), delivers immediate protection from adverse weather conditions and long-term soil health. The company also offers soil restoration inputs and biological crop protection products like bio-insecticides and bio-fungicides.
The agritech startup works with secondary metabolites – compounds that plants naturally produce to defend themselves – and uses them to prime crops in advance. BioPrime has developed a patented tech stack, comprising SNIPR (biomolecules) and BioNexus (microbes), to deliver both immediate protection from adverse weather conditions and long-term soil health while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.
BioPrime has tied up with global and domestic agri-input majors such as Yara, ICL Fertilizers, DCM Shriram and Insecticides India, while expanding its footprint across markets including the US, Brazil and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Diwan told Inc42 that BioPrime grew three-fold year-on-year, and is now looking to become profitable next year, with a strong focus on international expansion.
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