Guwahati: Arborist Innovations Pvt. Ltd., founded by Dr. Shabiha Nudrat Hazarika, is an eco-conscious company focused on creating bio-fungicides that promote sustainable farming while reducing the use of harmful chemicals in agriculture. The scientific journey is one that explores the biodiversity of the North-East region, especially Assam, as a means of tapping into the indigenous microbes for betterment of agricultural practices. She wants to revolutionize the agricultural sector, especially in tea farming, by providing environmentally safe solutions that benefit both the environment and farmers.
In a recent conversation with Business North East (BNE), Hazarika shared, “The current scenario in agriculture is unsustainable, with the overuse of chemical pesticides and fungicides. We aim to offer alternatives that are not only effective but also safe for the environment and human health. The North-East, with its rich microbial biodiversity, is the perfect place to explore these alternatives.”
Hazarika's doctoral research in microbial biotechnology inspired the establishment of the startup Arborist Innovations, where she focused on the biodiversity of microorganisms associated with tea plants in Assam and Meghalaya. Assam's tea industry is among the oldest and largest tea industries in the world that has been exposed to chemical pesticides and fungicides for decades. It was during her research that Hazarika found a great potential of beneficial microbes, especially endophytes, which naturally promote plant growth and control diseases, an alternative to synthetic chemicals.
"As part of my PhD at IASST, I realized that this rich microbial biodiversity in North-East can be harnessed to benefit agriculture particularly the tea industry," explained Hazarika. "Tea is a major cash crop in India, but the use of excessive chemicals has proven harmful both to the environment and to human health."
Her findings led her to shift from research to entrepreneurship. Hazarika set up Arborist Innovations Pvt. Ltd. with a Biotechnology Ignition Grant of Rs 50 lakhs from the Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council to develop biotechnological products to reduce chemical dependency in agriculture. "The grant allowed me to turn my research into a tangible business solution," she shared with BNE.
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One defining characteristic of Arborist Innovations is the focus on indigenous microbes for the development of bio-fungicides. In contrast to synthetic chemical pesticides used by most agricultural communities, bio-fungicides work by using naturally occurring microorganisms to control pests and diseases. What makes Arborist's products unique is their reliance on local microbes, which are naturally adapted to the specific ecological conditions in Assam's tea gardens.
The major endophytic microbes employed by Arborist reside within the plant tissue, helping control disease-causing pathogens, growth-promoting microbes, and enhanced stress resistance. They are found naturally to suppress deleterious pathogens and help defend crops from disease without damaging the plants. Through research, Arborist has discovered that the natural microbes are capable of a highly effective suppression of disease and pest infestations on tea crops as well as promoting their general health.
"Chemical fungicides leave residues on tea leaves that end up in the final product consumed by humans," explained Hazarika. "These chemicals harm not only consumers but also soil health, water systems, and the non-target organisms like insects, and birds. In contrast, our bio-fungicides are made of naturally occurring microbes, non-toxic and safe to the environment and human health.
Arborist Innovations’ bio-fungicides are biodegradable, eco-friendly, and safe for soil microbiota, helping maintain soil fertility. Unlike conventional chemicals, they do not deplete soil health, contaminate water, or contribute to pesticide resistance.
Bio-fungicides developed by the Arborist have been very effective, just like traditional chemical fungicides. However, such bio-fungicides do not harm the beneficial organisms that comprise the health of the general ecosystem. Hazarika spoke about the increasingly popular demand for organic as well as chemical-free tea; this demand is especially emerging in international markets. Last year, 42 percent of the tea exported from India was returned due to chemical residues," she said. "This highlights urgent need for a shift towards sustainable farming practices that do not rely on harmful chemicals.
Bio-fungicides are decidedly less expensive than traditional chemical alternatives. Bio-fungicides are cheaper to produce because the process requires less infrastructure and fewer raw materials. "Bio-fungicides can be produced with microbes grown in a microbiological lab. Chemical fungicides, on the other hand, require large-scale industrial processes and costly chemical compounds." Hazarika elaborated.
The company also conducts rigorous toxicity testing to ensure that the products are safe for plants, soil, and water. “We conduct toxicity studies, including cell line cytotoxicity tests, to ensure that our bio-fungicides are not harmful to human health or the environment,” Hazarika stated.
Research and development are some of the significant factors that have made Arborist Innovations successful. The company focuses on continued innovation to ensure that its bio-fungicides remain potent and safe for long-term application. The process of research and development is involved with isolating and screening beneficial microbes, evaluating their antifungal activities, and checking their ability to survive in the long run.
"R&D is the backbone of our company," said Hazarika. "We spend about 30-50 percent of our budget on R&D. This includes microbial isolation, lab testing, field trials, and ensuring the efficacy and safety of our products. We are also working on expanding our product range to include bio-fertilizers and other microbial solutions for agriculture."
In terms of the market strategy, Arborist Innovations will target both the B2B and the B2C models. The company will partner with tea industries and agricultural sectors to provide large-scale solutions while also offering products to consumers who are interested in organic farming methods.
Looking ahead, Hazarika has ambitious plans for Arborist Innovations. Currently, the company is focusing on the tea industry, but she envisions expanding into other agricultural sectors, including cereals and vegetables. "Agricultural crops are also heavily reliant on chemicals, and we want to provide solutions that can help farmers reduce their dependence on harmful pesticides," she told BNE.
Arborist Innovations will also provide consultancy services to farmers and agricultural industries in terms of training how to use bio-fungicides and bio-fertilizers effectively. "Our objective is not only to sell products but to educate and empower farmers to adopt more sustainable farming practices that are both economically and environmentally beneficial." She shared in an exclusive interview with BNE.
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
