Lok Sabha Question No. 5517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: High-Tech Soil Scanning and Bio-Waste Innovation in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Adv Priya Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5517 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026

## High-Tech Soil Scanning and Bio-Waste Innovation in Uttar Pradesh.

## 5517: Adv Pri y a Saroj:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is any proposal to establish an advanced or 'Central Soil Scanning Centre' in major  potato  and  sugarcane  growing  belts  of  Uttar  Pradesh  to  provide  high-resolution  soil nutrient mapping and real-time advisory support to farmers and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the  present  status  of  deployment  of  portable  soil-testing  and  GIS-based  nutrient  mapping technologies in the State under Central research programmes, State and district-wise, particularly for Uttar Pradesh;

(c) whether  any  pilot  projects  on  bio-waste  innovation,  including  conversion  of  sugarcane residue  and  potato  waste  into  bio-fertilizers,  bio-energy  or  value-added  products  are  being supported in Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken to bridge the technology gap between agricultural research institutions and field-level implementation to promote precision farming and sustainable soil health management in the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

a)  and  b) The  Government,  under  the  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  Scheme  of  Department  of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) has established 256 Static Soil Testing Labs and 06 Village Level Soil Testing Labs in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Since, 2014-15 till date 4.07 Crore soil health card have been distributed/issued/generated in the state of Uttar Pradesh under the Scheme.

c) The  Government  through  the Department  of  Biotechnology(DBT),Ministry  of  Science  & Technology  under  the  Bio-RIDE  Scheme  has  supported  laboratory  to  pilot  projects  on developing the enabling technologies for waste bio-innovations focused on bioremediation,  and recycling across the country including Uttar Pradesh. The Department has also supported  research, development and demonstration projects focused on mixed organic biomass as  well  as  the  agricultural  residues  including  potato  and  sugarcane  waste  in  integrated  biorefinery approach.

Supported  projects  on  organic  and  biowaste  to  value  added  products  viz.  bio-fertilizers, bioenergy and value-added products, spanning across the pilots to bench scale in Uttar Pradesh are :

-  Pilot scale biorefinery for value added wealth generation of biogas, lutein and biofertilizer from temple flower wastes with zero discharge;
-  Treatment of organics-laden industrial waste water effluent under flow conditions using photobioreactor-integrated microbial fuel cell;
-  Single-enzyme bioanode for electricity generation by oxidizing phenolics in enzymatic fuel cell;
-  Lab scale biorefinery for concomitant production of biofuel(s) along with other important products using agricultural waste and optimization of post methanated distillery effluent (PMDE) TDS reduction for development of decolourisation and detoxification technique in two step treatment process using bacteria and constructed wetland plant treatment.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  through  it's  Public  Sector Undertaking  i.e.  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance  Council  (BIRAC)  has  also supported following projects on bio-waste management and sustainable biotechnology solutions in the state of Uttar Pradesh so far:

-  Helpusgreen®  Bio-leather Animal free leather made from floral-waste/ Temple Waste into Sustainable Products
-  Protein-based bioplastics and biocomposites made from upcycled poultry waste from a processing perspective
-  Mycelium Based Materials
-  Development of process know how for butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass
-  Production of Beta Galactosidase using Agriwaste
-  Conversion of lactose and glucose based feedstocks to Butanol-feasibility study
-  Studies on Bioconversion of glycerol a byproduct of biodiesel industry into a economically important 1, 3 propandiol, its purification and scaling up (Phase-II)
-  Removal of Hydrogen Sulphide from Biogas by Recovering Sulphur from it
-  Valorization  of  Agro  waste  for  converting  into  bio  active  compounds/  bio-fuels/biochemicals  using  biotechnology  process  with  microbial  /  enzymes  in  dark  fermentation technology

Besides,  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare has developed the Pusa Decomposer technology, which facilitates efficient exsitu  decomposition  of  agricultural  residues  such  as  sugarcane  trash  and  press  mud  into  valueadded products like enriched compost and Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM), promoting circular agriculture and reducing residue burning.

Further, ICAR has also developed various composting techniques and enriched organic manures, and  promotes  organic  and  integrated  farming  systems,  particularly  in  states  such  as  Uttar Pradesh, to encourage effective waste utilization.

d) The Government through, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Ministry of Agriculture and  Farmers  Welfare)  has  undertaken  multiple  steps  to  bridge  the  gap  between  agricultural research and field-level implementation, particularly in precision farming, sustainable soil health management, and biowaste conversion. A key initiative is the development and commercialization  of  the  Pusa  STFR  meter  (PUSA  Soil  Test  and  Fertiliser  Recommendation Meter), a digital portable soil testing machine capable of analyzing 14 soil parameters, which has been scaled through manufacturing by 21 firms and widely distributed, including 1000 units to Kendriya  and  Navodaya  Vidyalayas  and  around  500  units  to  fertilizer  industries,  NGOs,  and Farmer Producer Organizations, thereby strengthening real-time soil diagnostics at the grassroots level.

Further,  ICAR  operationalizes  technology  dissemination  through  its  nationwide  network  of Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras,  which  undertake  field  demonstrations,  technology  assessment,  and farmer capacity-building programmes, ensuring the adoption of innovations in precision farming and sustainable soil management in various states of the country including Uttar Pradesh. These integrated efforts collectively strengthen the linkage between laboratory research and farm-level application, fostering sustainable and technology-driven agriculture.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Government  through  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance Council  (BIRAC),  a  PSU  under  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  promotes  industryacademia  collaboration  and  supports  technology  validation  and  commercialization,  enabling adoption of innovative solutions in areas such as sustainable agriculture, bio-based inputs, and resource-efficient technologies. These efforts contribute to promoting precision farming practices and improving soil health management through scalable and field-ready innovations.

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