AgResearch Labs (ARL) has announced a partnership with Samunnati to expand its clean farming systems across India. The agreement will help ARL scale up its aeroponic systems by using Samunnati’s network and finance services.
The two companies will work together to provide trade and financing solutions for farmers and agri-businesses. This will help more growers adopt aeroponic systems, which use very little water and land compared to traditional farming. The partnership is supported by Stay Still Scale High, an advisory firm that helps small companies raise growth capital.
ARL says its systems can produce upto 360 tons of leafy vegetables per acre each year. The company also says the systems use 95% less water, save 98% of land, and aim to lower the carbon footprint of vegetable farming.
Samunnati is based in Chennai and operates in 28 states. It works with more than 100 value chains in the agriculture sector and connects farmers, buyers and service providers. Samunnati has a gross transaction value of more than $3 billion and works with 46 financial institutions to support farmers and agri-businesses.
ARL, based in Bangalore, develops systems to grow vegetables without pesticides. The company was founded by graduates of IIM Bangalore and NIT and has been incubated by IIMB NSRCEL and Stanford SeedSpark.
The two companies say the partnership will help meet India’s growing demand for clean, affordable and chemical-free food