WayCool Foods partners with National Design and Research Forum for sustainable agriculture

CHENNAI: Food supply chain startup

WayCool Foods

has signed a three-year MoU with

National Design and Research Forum

(NDRF) to re-imagine the agri-supply chain with innovative tech solutions that can enhance efficiency and reduce food wastage.

The MoU was signed and exchanged between Karthik Jayaraman, CEO, WayCool Foods, and

Mylswamy Annadurai

, chairman, NDRF, who was the programme director of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan.

Ranging from R&D for better soil health measurement, use of bio nutrients for crops, use of satellite data and drones for real-time information to farmers, and automation of supply chain, the partnership aims at improving incomes of farmers with an integrated plan for the entire soil to sale process.

The partnership will also enable WayCool’s innovation team to access the latest developments in robotics, sensors, AI, and ML, to strengthen its capabilities to develop next generation agritech solutions.

NDRF, which helps research output from India’s premier research institutes to reach commercial applications, also stands to benefit by accessing WayCool’s network of over 50,000 farmers across India to help expedite field trials.

“Considering the ever-increasing population and the demand for food grains on one side and depleting resources like arable land, available manpower and water for agriculture on the other end, all round technological intervention from soil to sale of the agri produce is need of the hour... I foresee a unique, challenging but well rewarding partnership to all stakeholders - farmers to customers," Annadurai said.

"Through this partnership, we will facilitate field trials and distribution of natural bio-fertilizers developed by NDRF, and its partners...Further, NDRF’s tech prowess will add fuel to our continuing R&D efforts towards improving efficiencies," Sendhil Kumar, head of farmer engagement, WayCool, said.


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