December 23, 2024

India and Japan collaborate to develop BNI wheat varieties

Indian and Japanese institutions have joined forces to create India's first wheat varieties using Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) technology.

This initiative aims to reduce dependency on urea while addressing environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity, and the financial burden of urea subsidies.

The project is a collaborative effort involving the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), along with the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding the initiative.

In early December, a delegation led by Dr T.R. Sharma, deputy director general (crop sciences) at ICAR, visited JIRCAS to review progress. Dr R K Yadav, director of ICAR-CSSRI, shared that initial results from laboratory and field trials have been encouraging. He expressed optimism about introducing a wheat variety that requires less urea, potentially reducing India's reliance on the fertiliser.

Dr Ajay Kumar Bhardwaj, principal scientist at CSSRI, highlighted the transformative potential of BNI technology. He explained that it can lower the demand for nitrogen fertilisers without compromising yield or quality. This contributes to sustainable agricultural practices while reducing nitrogen leaching into groundwater, preserving soil fertility and water resources.

Dr C N Mishra, senior scientist at IIWBR, stated that initial experiments showed a 15-20% reduction in urea usage without affecting yield or quality. He confirmed that the breeding strategy for BNI-enabled wheat varieties is progressing as planned.

This breakthrough is expected to revolutionise wheat cultivation, not only in India but also in addressing global agricultural challenges. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising water pollution, and enhancing soil fertility, BNI technology promises significant benefits for sustainable farming practices.

Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) is a natural process in which plant roots release compounds that inhibit the conversion of nitrogen into nitrate. This reduces nitrogen loss through leaching and emissions, ensuring more efficient nutrient usage and lowering reliance on chemical fertilisers like urea.

-      The Tribune