EF Polymer: Transforming agriculture through innovation and sustainability

In this episode of Food Frontiers, we speak with Narayan Lal Gurjar, founder of EF Polymer, who shares his inspiring journey from a personal connection to farming to developing sustainable solutions for water conservation in agriculture. His motivation stems from a desire to address the water challenges he witnessed firsthand in his family’s farming endeavors.

Narayan discusses the unique aspects of EF Polymer’s flagship product, Fasal Amrit, an organic, biodegradable super absorbent made from recycled bio-waste like orange and banana peels. This innovative solution helps farmers conserve water, reduce fertilizer use, and boost crop yields, making a meaningful impact on both sustainability and productivity. He also shares his vision for EF Polymer’s future in expanding the reach of their eco-friendly solutions and enhancing resilience in India’s agritech ecosystem.

IBT: What inspired you to start EF polymer, share some insights in your journey so far?

Narayan: I’ve seen the agriculture from my childhood, and my father is also farmer, so when I was in high school, in summer, he was growing corn crop and worked hard on it for 2 months, using fertilizers and everything, but there was no rain for 20 days and it left him very disappointed, so he shared his pain with me and said, if I can do anything for this water problem. At that time, I didn’t know how to solve this problem, but I decided I would dedicate my life to solving this problem. From that day onwards, I started to look, what is the solution around us to solve this problem. There are solutions available to save water like drip irrigation, bulging, sprinkler system, all these solution can save the water, only when it is available. Without water availability, these solutions doesn’t work and for poor farmers, they are not feasible.

IBT:  What makes your products unique? How are they enhancing the farmers’ experiences, especially your fasal Amrit, and how they are contributing towards farmer water conservation, and maintaining soil health?

Narayan: Our product is very unique compared to the existing solution. If you look in the market, there is a chemical polymer which is made from acrylic acid and acrylamide. But our product, which is made from orange peel and banana peel is bio-based. Through our innovation, we recycle this bio waste, orange peel, banana peel, and extract the pectin, and through our natural process, we convert it to this organic, super absorbent Fasal Amrit. This is our patented technology where we convert this into an organic, super absorbent polymer, and this technology helps farmers, save 40% of their water, and 20% of fertilizer, and increases their yield by up to 15%. This is 100% biodegradable and organic, so there is no harmful effect on the soil and environment.

IBT: Your product aims to boost crop yields and maintain affordability, but since it doesn’t replace fertilizer, will it add extra costs for farmers? How can affordability be maintained?

Narayan: Our product is affordable and helps farmers manage costs by reducing water and fertilizer needs. For example, during a two-week dry spell, cotton yields could drop by 30-50% without intervention. However, with our product, farmers can maintain yields closer to their potential, minimizing losses. Additionally, by reducing irrigation from three times a month to just once, farmers save on water, electricity, and labor costs. The product also prevents nutrient washout, allowing a 20% reduction in fertilizer use—cutting input costs while boosting yields.

IBT: So can you tell what is the current state of India’s agritech industry and how is your company contributing to the Farm to Fork ecosystem in terms of growth and innovation?

Narayan: India’s economy heavily relies on agriculture, with most farmers dependent on this sector. However, while agricultural innovation is growing, especially through agri-tech startups, reaching farmers at the ground level remains challenging. Unlike in foreign countries where farmers adopt the latest technologies, Indian farmers often lack access. Many agri-tech startups are helping to transform this ecosystem, addressing issues from climate risks to input efficiencies.

Our startup aims to reduce climate-related risks for farmers, acting like insurance against unpredictable weather. For example, in arid areas like Jaisalmer, our product has enabled farmers to successfully grow crops like cumin, demonstrating its impact on boosting rural productivity and resilience.

IBT: How is the government currently supporting startups like yours, particularly in agri-tech? What specific steps do you believe could enhance this support in the future? Additionally, what recommendations would you make to further boost the growth and impact of agri-tech startups like yours?

Narayan: The government offers some helpful schemes, like subsidies of up to Rs 25 lakh for early-stage startups, which is beneficial. However, more support is needed, especially in ground-level implementation. One key challenge we face is the lack of specific product categories for innovative agri-tech solutions, which makes it hard for startups to register and market new products. Currently, only large companies can often manage to create such products due to these constraints.

Additionally, the government could make a significant impact by subsidizing innovative products, making them more affordable for farmers. Expanding schemes to include subsidies for these types of technologies would greatly benefit Indian farmers and contribute positively to the economy.

IBT: Given that EF Polymer focuses on sustainability with biodegradable and compostable products, how do you see your solutions preparing India’s agriculture and economy to address future environmental challenges?

Narayan: Sustainability is about creating solutions that don’t become problems in the future. Our product embodies this by using a circular model—recycling bio-waste into organic polymers that return to the soil, enriching it naturally. Agriculture needs more solutions aligned with the environment to support not just the present, but future generations. Sustainable practices ensure we can feed our future in a responsible way.

IBT: With a presence in nine countries, how does EF Polymer plan to further expand its global and national reach? Are there strategies in place for diversifying the product portfolio while remaining committed to sustainability and community development goals? Additionally, what plans does EF Polymer have to maintain this alignment as it grows?

Narayan: EF Polymer is currently focusing on expanding its presence in India, Japan, the US, France, and Thailand. The company is also planning to support African and UAE farmers, collaborating with sustainability-focused B2B partners, including fertilizer companies, and receiving support from governments in Japan, the US, and India. Future plans include developing climate-resilient products to address heat and salt stress, as well as converting barren land into productive soil, all while maintaining a focus on organic, sustainable solutions.