Page 131 - CW E-Magazine (24-6-2025)

Top Stories

Table 1: PMFAI Awards in recognition of individual Excellence in Agri Inputs Sector in India
Award Recipient
Women contributor in agrochemical Shilpa Uchil, Regional Head – International Business, Hemani Industries Ltd.
industry
Emerging leader in agri-inputs sector Abhijit Bose, Executive President & COO, Tagros Chemical India Pvt. Ltd.
Leader of the year Arvind Kumar, CEO, Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Ltd.
Leader in international business Amit Talsera, Assistant Vice President, Meghmani Organics Ltd.
Leader of the year for contribution in Pradeep Ghattu, President & COO, Excel Industries Ltd.
allied industry segment
Special award for contribution to Dr. Venkatesh Devanur, CEO & Managing Director, AgriLife India Pvt. Ltd.
agri-bio sector
Leader in institutional business Praveen Dubey, Head, Institutional Business and Strategic Sourcing, NACL
Industries Ltd.
Leader in brand business Anil Nirwal, CEO, Saffi re Crop Science Pvt. Ltd.
Leader in supply chain management V. Gopalakrishnan, Vice President, Sumitomo Chemicals India Ltd.
in agri-inputs
Regulatory compliance person of the Dr. A. Kuppusamy, Vice President, NACL Industries Ltd.
year
Lifetime achievement award Anil Kakkar, Vice President, Sumitomo Chemicals India Ltd.

(CCFI), noted the industry’s increasing Regulatory Affairs, NACL Indus- Sushilkumar Bahuguna, Com-
focus on research and innovation. tries Ltd., spoke on the future of agro- mercial Leader, IMEA, Momentive,
chemicals, and the need for balancing focused on pioneering adjuvant techno-
Innovation and sustainability challenges innovation with sustainability, while logies that empower growers to achieve
The event hosted a signifi cant gathe- addressing regulatory challenges in “more with less”. He highlighted how
ring of pesticide scientists and industry India and globally. Momentive’s advanced adjuvant solu-
experts who delivered presentations on a tions are helping growers around the
variety of critical topics. Ms. Komal Shah Bhukhanwala, globe enhance spray performance,
Director, SML Ltd., addressed the role soil health, and crop productivity in a
R.K. Goyal, Managing Director of green chemistry in pesticide formu- sustainable way, while reducing waste
(South Asia), Verdesian Life Sciences lations. and enhancing effi cacy.
LLC, stressed that the pursuit of innova-
tion and sustainability has become both The rise of biologicals Mr. Shrikant Aherkar, Lead Scien-
a necessity and a challenge. He noted Dr. K.R.K. Reddy, Managing tist, Stepan Asia, Singapore, observed
that for companies in the bio-stimulant Director, Sri BioAesthetics Pvt. Ltd., that many biological active ingredients
and plant nutrient sector, innovation de- explored the strategic imperatives are currently formulated as wettable
mands heavy investments in research, for agrochemical players to integrate powders, with little to no formula-
validation, regulatory pathways, and biologicals into their portfolios. He tion technology behind them, which
farmer awareness. “Sustainability fur- also highlighted key innovations, leads to poor performance and limited
ther compounds this challenge, call- regulatory considerations, and col- shelf-life. He gave the example of Oil
ing for eco-friendly inputs, responsible laboration models that can accelerate Dispersions, which despite being one
manufacturing, and long-term impact mainstreaming of biologicals. “As the of the more challenging formulation
assessment. Ultimately, the cost of global demand for sustainable agri- types, bring several advantages, such
innovation and sustainability is high, culture grows, the industry’s ability as absence of water (promoting dor-
but so is the opportunity,” he stated. to scale and deliver proven biological mancy of cells & spores, and remov-
solutions will determine its relevance ing the need for preservation) and a
Dr. A. Kuppusamy, Vice President & and leadership in the future of farm- potential for increased shelf-life com-
Head – Product Development, IPR & ing,” he stated. pared to solid formulations.

Chemical Weekly June 24, 2025 131

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised