Govt withdraws nod for animal protein-based crop boosters amid religious pushback

In a sudden reversal, the Union Agriculture Ministry has withdrawn approval for 11 animal protein-based biostimulants, citing “religious and dietary concerns,” just months after clearing them for use on crops including paddy, tomato, potato, cucumber and chilli.

The move, conveyed through a notification on September 30, follows complaints lodged with Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s office by members of the Hindu and Jain communities, officials confirmed.

The withdrawn products include biostimulants made from chicken feathers, pig tissue, bovine hide, and fish derivatives such as cod scales and sardine extracts. All had earlier been added to Schedule VI of the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, after clearance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Biostimulants, unlike fertilizers or pesticides, do not supply nutrients or kill pests but stimulate plant processes to improve growth, yield, and resilience. Protein hydrolysates — one of the most common forms — can be derived from either plant sources like soy and maize, or from animal proteins.

ICAR Director-General Mangi Lal Jat told this newspaper that approvals for animal-derived products had been “withheld” to avoid ethical conflicts and until more pre-harvest data was available.

The rollback comes at a time when India’s biostimulants market is rapidly expanding, valued at USD 355 million in 2024 and projected to triple by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. Major producers include Coromandel International, Syngenta and Godrej Agrovet.

Industry insiders fear the decision could restrict innovation and growth. “These products are widely used globally. The Indian market will now have to rely largely on plant-based sources,” said an executive with a leading agribusiness firm.

Minister Chouhan has earlier raised concerns over unregulated proliferation of biostimulants, noting that nearly 30,000 products were in circulation until stricter checks brought the number down to around 650.

With the new order, companies may be forced to rework formulations and lean heavily on plant-based alternatives to stay compliant — potentially reshaping one of the fastest-growing segments in Indian agriculture.