Shunya Agritech and the Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly build a nationally scalable certification-based skilling program in hydroponic green fodder production and livestock nutrition. The MoU, signed on 13 November 2025 in Baner (Pune) and valid for a period of 5 years, marks a significant step toward developing future-ready talent for India’s dairy and livestock ecosystem.

Both organisations – Shunya Agritech, a leading innovator in automated hydroponic fodder systems, and AEGF, a mission-driven organisation focused on building rural entrepreneurship – share a common vision: empowering agri-entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and market-linked opportunities needed to drive rural prosperity. With India facing a well-documented deficit in green fodder and rising pressure on dairy farmers to improve productivity sustainably, this collaboration aims to address the talent and capability gap that currently limits scale.

Reliable green fodder has become one of the biggest missing pieces in India’s smallholder dairy economy. Shunya’s fodder-as-a-service model fills that gap with a solution that is both scalable and rooted in science. For AEGF, this partnership strengthens our effort to nurture agri-entrepreneurs who can build sustainable, market-linked livelihoods. A commercial Growth and Logistics Centre in our facility in Pune will not only demonstrate what is possible, it will empower a new generation of rural entrepreneurs to turn opportunity into impact.

Mr. Rajendra Jog, Director, AEGF

MoU & First-of-its-Kind Certification in Hydroponic Livestock Nutrition

At the heart of the partnership is a commitment to co-create a specialised training curriculum that blends science, operations, and entrepreneurship. The program will focus on hydroponically grown sprouted green fodder (referred to as Nutri Ankurit Feed or NAF) and its role in improving livestock productivity in a climate-resilient, water-efficient manner.

The curriculum will feature:

• Technical and operational modules on hydroponic fodder systems
• Practical training in daily production, hygiene, and quality control
• Economic modelling and business frameworks for hydroponic units
• Livestock nutrition fundamentals and measurable farmer impact

AEGF and Shunya will jointly certify participants and the certification is designed to unlock livelihood opportunities across roles such as:

1. Production Partners (PPs): Entrepreneurs investing in and operating hydroponic Growth & Logistics Centres (GLCs).
2. Operations Team Members: Skilled associates who run daily production at Shunya or partner-managed facilities.
3. Saarthi Partners: Community-facing roles designed to promote, market, and support adoption of NAF among dairy farmers.

By establishing a structured talent pipeline, the program aims to professionalise and standardise hydroponic fodder operations nationwide.

We truly value the support from AEGF. Their commitment to developing strong rural entrepreneurs aligns closely with what Shunya is building on the ground. This partnership gives us the platform to work directly with aspiring agri-entrepreneurs and help them build viable, science-driven fodder solutions that can stand on their own feet. The Training Centre & Program in Pune will become a place where ideas turn into skills and skills turn into real opportunities.

Mr. Ritesh Raj Gupta, Chief Technology Officer, Shunya Agritech

Centre of Excellence for Hands-on Training

To ensure that training is immersive and practice-led, Shunya will set up a demonstration and training Growth & Logistics Centre (GLC) at AEGF’s Centre of Excellence in Agriculture (CEA) in Koregaon Bhima, Pune. Trainees will receive both classroom instruction and on-ground exposure to various aspects of hydroponics based green fodder production.

The collaboration will begin with a pilot setup to serve nearby farming clusters, with a provision to scale up over the next 3-6 months. The demo unit will also function as a live business environment, enabling trainees to experience real-time operations, logistics, customer outreach, and supply chain coordination.

MoU that solidifies partnership & multiplies capabilities

Shunya Agritech will lead technical content development, design and deploy the demo infrastructure, support train-the-trainer activities, and integrate certified participants into its ecosystem wherever suitable. AEGF will leverage its strong network of agri-entrepreneurs to source participants, contextualize content for rural learners, host training batches, oversee classroom delivery, and manage the certification process.

As the certifying authority, AEGF will maintain training records and support post-training linkages. Shunya will also nominate its Production Partners and field teams to undergo certification, ensuring operational excellence across all locations.

Both organisations will jointly promote research findings, insights, and best practices emerging from the collaboration; inline with the commitment to empower rural entrepreneurs and communities.

A Long-Term Commitment to Rural Livelihoods

For India’s dairy sector—where millions of smallholder farmers rely on livestock as a primary source of income—this initiative represents an important step forward. By combining technology, training, and entrepreneurship, Shunya Agritech and AEGF aim to build a skilled workforce capable of operating climate-smart fodder systems, improving milk productivity, and strengthening rural livelihoods.

With hydroponic fodder increasingly recognised as a sustainable solution to India’s green fodder deficit, this collaboration sets the foundation for a new generation of trained professionals and entrepreneurs who can accelerate its adoption across the country.

Read more about AEGF here.

To know more about the partnership, please connect at Information Centre