UPL-SAS sees tech, climate solutions as key to growth after USD 200 mn investment

PTI New Delhi: UPL  Sustainable AgriSolutions (UPLSAS) is spearheading a transformative approach to Indian agriculture, leveraging technology, digital innovations, and a holistic strategy to address the complex challenges facing the country's farming ecosystem, CEO Ashish Dobhal revealed in an exclusive interview. With agriculture spanning 400 million acres and involving 130 million farmers, 80-85 per cent of whom are smallholders, the company is reimagining its role from a crop protection product seller to a comprehensive solution provider. "Each state has its own nuance, cropping pattern, and cultural nuances of farming," Dobhal explained, underscoring the intricate landscape of Indian agriculture. Emerging from a challenging period, Dobhal confidently asserted that "the worst of the industry downturn is behind us." UPL-SAS, a subsidiary of UPL Ltd, is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to revitalize its performance with key strategic priorities. These priorities include developing crop protection solutions for emerging pest problems, expanding climate-smart technologies, investing in bioinsecticides and biofungicides, and exploring agricultural mechanization and leveraging artificial intelligence and data analytics for micro-market strategies. "Climate change and agriculture have become very dynamic. The solutions useful four years back might not be useful in the next four years....Our approach goes beyond selling crop protection solutions," Dobhal noted. "We're committed to solving problems for farmers at a granular level." He also said the company will leverage a USD 200 million investment from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Brookfield, and TPG received two years back to accelerate innovation in agricultural technologies and crop protection solutions. Dobhal emphasized that this investment is not about short-term gains .