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Top Stories Pharmaceuticals

LOWERING WATER FOOTPRINT MAIDEN ASSET ACQUISITION

EF Polymer wins DCM Shriram AgWater Syngene acquires its fi rst manufacturing facility in US

Challenge Syngene International Ltd, a
Bengaluru-based contract research, deve-
DCM Shriram Foundation and CultYvate, an agri-tech platform by is a key driver, with 62% of its water lopment, and manufacturing organi-
The/Nudge Institute, in partnership Farm2Fork Technologies, also received coming from rapidly depleting ground- sation (CRDMO) and part of biotech
with the Offi ce of the Principal special recognition and was awarded water. At the current rate, India will major Biocon, has announced the
Scientifi c Advisor to the Government Rs. 25-lakhs for its contributions to have only 50% of its water needs by acquisition of its fi rst biologics site in the
of India, have announced EF Polymer, developing smart irrigation systems that 2030, threatening 600-million farmers. US – fi tted with multiple monoclonal
an agro-biologicals startup, as the simplify irrigation and provide farmers The DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge antibody (mAbs) manufacturing lines.
winner of the ‘DCM Shriram AgWater with advisory for effective decision- demonstrates the potential of AgWater-
Challenge’. making. The technology leverages IoT- Tech organisations to build scalable, The facility, acquired by Syngene
enabled soil sensors, weather stations, high-impact solutions for water-inten- USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
Launched in June 2023, with the and satellite-based remote sensing to sive crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, of Syngene, from Emergent Manufac-
cohort kicking off in September of the deliver critical insights on moisture and cotton, which are crucial to the turing Operations Baltimore, LLC (a
same year, the DCM Shriram AgWater levels, crop health, environmental livelihoods of smallholder farmers. subsidiary of Emergent BioSolutions
Challenge was designed with the goal conditions, and beyond. Operational Inc.), will expand Syngene’s biologics
to drive water effi ciency, productivity, in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, “Water is the most critical resource footprint to better serve its customers novation and supply chain resilience. network and will be underpinned by
and profi tability for 1-mn smallholder Maharashtra, and Punjab, their services for agriculture. Against the backdrop across both human and animal health This investment highlights the potential existing key client projects.”
farmers in India, focusing on four particularly benefi t paddy farmers. of the nation’s severe water crisis, this market segments. Overall investment for deeper economic collaboration bet-
major water-intensive crops – sugarcane, challenge forms a crucial mission to in the US facility is estimated around ween India and the United States, fos- “The investment will be synergistic
wheat, paddy and cotton. It received The other two fi nalists are also mak- fi nd and scale holistic, modern solu- $50-mn, including the cost of acquisi- tering sustained economic growth and with expected additional process deve-
134 applications, of which 16 AgTech ing remarkable contributions to the fi eld: tions to make water use more effi cient tion ($36.5-mn) and expenses to make advancing the shared goal of bolstering lopment work that will be executed in
organisations were selected for the  Industill Farmtech Pvt. Ltd. pro- for smallholder farmers. We congratu- the facility operational. critical healthcare infrastructure. India while manufacturing can be done

cohort, driving innovations across vides an IoT platform, called Auto- late the winner, along with the other in the US. The investment will be fully
irrigation, BioAg inputs, advisory Farm, to automate irrigation, fi nalists, for their pioneering work – The new site will increase Syngene’s Commenting on the development, funded through internal accruals and
services, and more. Post evaluation, promoting micro-irrigation and and look forward to watching these so- total single-use bioreactor capacity Mr. Peter Bains, CEO-Designate, Syn- cash,” added Deepak Jain, CFO,
four fi nalists were identifi ed for their improve water effi ciency. The plat- lutions continue to scale and transform to 50,000-litres (L) for large molecule gene International, said, “With one of Syngene International Ltd.
breakthrough potential: EF Polymer, form automates irrigation and ferti- the lives of millions of farmers around discovery, development, and manufacturing the largest biologics R&D teams and
CultYvate, IndusTill, and PhyFarm. gation with smart devices, managed the nation,” said Mr. Ajay Shriram, services. “Additionally, it will provide commercial scale manufacturing capa- The Baltimore facility is strategically
via a mobile app, which helps boost Chairman & Sr. Managing Director, Syngene’s customers with continuity of bilities in both India and the USA, we located near key biotech hubs in the
EF Polymer was awarded yield and effi ciency while reducing DCM Shriram Ltd. and Director, supply from its four development and now offer a compelling and fl exible Northeast of the US and will be availa-
Rs. 2-crore for its pioneering solutions to water, fertiliser, and pesticide use. DCM Shriram Foundation added. manufacturing facilities located in India solution for global pharma and biotech ble for client projects from second half
enhance water-use effi ciency and boost and North America, offering services customers.” of 2025. Syngene anticipates the site
agricultural productivity for India’s  Physiz Agtech Pvt. Ltd. offers “I’m deeply proud that all four ranging from cell line development, will see demand from innovative US

smallholder farmers at a grand fi nale PhyFarm, an irrigation automation fi nalists have set the foundation for process optimisation and both clinical Mr. Alex Del Priore, Senior Vice mAb developers requiring direct access
event graced by Amitabh Kant, Former technology that enables farmers an AgWater infl ection point in India. and commercial supply,” the company President – Development & Manufac- for ‘onshore’ production, as well as
CEO, NITI Aayog as Chief Guest. to remotely control pumps and Their commitment birthed India’s said in a press note. turing Services, Syngene International, international innovators that want a
Currently operating in Rajasthan, valves via a mobile application that fi rst AgWater ecosystem, bringing said, “This facility is a significant US based manufacturing option and
Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, EF Polymer’s measures and optimises water usage together experts, investors, and enablers Syngene’s investment in its fi rst milestone for Syngene and comes in complements the capabilities and capa-
product, Fasal Amrit, is an organic soil using intelligent irrigation systems. with genuine urgency. They’ve proven facility in the United States marks a stra- response to growing client demand in city available across its facilities in
conditioner that can absorb water up to technological solutions can be both tegic commitment to the US market, the US, the fastest-growing biologics Bengaluru. As part of the agreement,
100 times its weight. This ensures opti- Severe water crisis accessible and transformative for small- with signifi cant benefi ts for the local market. It strengthens our offering for Emergent itself has the right to secure
mal soil moisture retention and boosts India is facing a severe water crisis, holders. The path remains complex, economy and the broader life sciences animal health clients looking for USDA manufacturing capacity from the facility
crop yields. Over the last two years, with per capita water availability drop- but we’ve shown innovative, scalable industry. The facility is expected to approval for their products. Most im- in the future, representing offtake
EF Polymer has covered over 17,000 ping below 1,486-cubic meters – well solutions are within reach. We should create jobs, stimulate local economic portantly, it increases the options we potential from US-based innovators. It
farmers across 11 states, increasing under the 1,700-cubic meter threshold only go above and beyond from here,” activity, and strengthen domestic biolo- can offer our global customers, provid- will also support the growing animal
irrigation effi ciency by 40% and for water stress. Agriculture, which added Kanishka Chatterjee, Director, gics manufacturing capabilities, while ing commercial-scale biologics manu- health segment in which a US site is
18.72% yield increase. consumes 78% of India’s freshwater, The/Nudge Prize. also contributing to pharmaceutical in- facturing capabilities across our global often a key client requirement.

150 Chemical Weekly March 18, 2025 Chemical Weekly March 18, 2025 151

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