Godrej: Modifying crop to create cheaper feed for poultry

From robot bees to AI-powered farms, firms are betting on the greenfield agri-food innovation sector in Asia. Sunday Times journalist Tee Zhuo looks at the challenges and speaks to six players.

Mr Nadir Godrej, chairman of Godrej Agrovet, which is modifying rapeseed to create a cheaper alternative to soymeal as poultry feed.
Mr Nadir Godrej, chairman of Godrej Agrovet, which is modifying rapeseed to create a cheaper alternative to soymeal as poultry feed. PHOTO: GODREJ AGROVET
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A 122-year-old family empire may not be what first comes to mind when one thinks of cutting-edge farming innovation, but Mumbai-based Godrej Group is aiming to be precisely that.

Its agri-business arm, Godrej Agrovet, founded in 1991, is taking the humble and ubiquitous rapeseed, a crop that has been cultivated in India for over 6,000 years, and modifying it to create a cheaper alternative to soymeal as poultry feed.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 08, 2019, with the headline Godrej: Modifying crop to create cheaper feed for poultry. Subscribe