Ludhiana, Punjab: In a significant stride towards sustainable agriculture and livestock nutrition, Shunya Fodder and Forage Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR), Ludhiana. This collaboration sets the stage for consultancy-based research on hydroponic maize green fodder, a futuristic approach to addressing India’s fodder crisis and enhancing rural dairy productivity.

“India needs a reliable, climate-resilient source of green fodder, and hydroponic maize offers that promise,” said Vijay Singh, MD & CEO of Shunya. “This partnership with ICAR-IIMR is about marrying deep-rooted science with scalable field execution.”

Why Hydroponic Maize?

India faces a significant green fodder deficit, especially during non-monsoon months. Traditional land-based cultivation struggles with water scarcity, land fragmentation, and erratic yields. Hydroponics, soil-less cultivation in controlled environments, presents a sustainable, high-yielding alternative.

By focusing on maize, a nutritionally dense cereal crop, the Shunya-IIMR partnership aims to explore ways to maximize biomass, digestibility, and palatability of fodder grown in vertical hydroponic systems.

Science Meets Execution

ICAR-IIMR, the country’s premier maize research body, brings scientific rigor and breeding insights, while Shunya, with its network of Growth and Logistics Centres (GLCs), brings executional expertise on ground, especially in rural India.

“At Shunya, we’re not just growing fodder, we’re growing livelihoods. Every tray of Nutri Ankurit Feed produced at our centres supports a farmer’s income and a cow or buffalo’s health,” Singh emphasized.

A Model for Scalable Impact

The research collaboration will focus on:

• Variety selection for high hydroponic performance
• Nutritional profiling of hydroponically grown maize
• Best practices for daily harvesting and feeding
• Technology integration to reduce production cost per kg

These insights will be implemented across Shunya’s expanding GLC footprint, impacting thousands of dairy farmers through Fodder-as-a-Service and subscription-based delivery models.

“This is not just an MoU on paper. It is a long-term commitment to dairy innovation,” said Singh. “Our goal is simple: to make high-quality fodder as accessible and dependable as milk itself.”

The Road Ahead

With a shared mission to uplift livestock productivity, reduce carbon footprint, and improve rural incomes, this partnership is a step forward in transforming India’s dairy landscape.

The first phase of research is set to commence at ICAR-IIMR’s facilities, with trials and researches expected in the coming months.

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About Shunya Fodder and Forage Pvt. Ltd.

Shunya is an agritech startup revolutionizing livestock nutrition through climate-smart fodder production. With a vision of transforming rural India through dairy productivity, Shunya builds and operates hydroponic fodder units in underserved areas, offering doorstep delivery of Nutri Ankurit Feed. It also endeavours to provide livestock healthcare services, and digital access to agri-commerce.

About ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana

ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research is India’s apex body dedicated to maize research and development, working under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

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