Leaders Transforming Sustainable Agriculture and Biotech Innova on
Why Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture and Biotech Innova on Are Struggling to Deliver
Dr. Minshad Ansari CEO and Founder, Bionema Group
Ansari
Pioneering a Greener Future in Agriculture
Pioneering a Greener Future in Agriculture Dr.
GROUNDEDINNOVATION A Call for
AtCIOBusinessWorld,wehavelong
championedthetransformativepowerof technologyacrossindustries—fromenterprise softwaretohealthcare,andnowmoreurgently,to agriculture.Astheclimatecrisisintensifiesandglobal foodsecuritybecomesmorefragile,thepromiseof sustainableagricultureandbiotechinnovationhas capturedheadlinesandimaginationsalike.Butwhilethe visioniscompelling,theoutcomessofarhavebeenfar fromconclusive.Ourlatesteditorialfeaturetakesa criticallenstotheso-called"greenrevolution"and exposestheuncomfortabletruth:nobodyistruly winning.
Intheory,sustainableagriculturebackedby biotechnologyshouldbethesolutiontoourfood system’sgrowingpains.Itoffersthehopeofgrowing morewithless,ofprotectingtheplanetwhilefeedingit. Butasourfeaturerightlypointsout,thecurrentreality isriddledwithmisalignment,inaccessibility,andunmet expectations.
Leadersandinnovatorsareindeedpouringresources intoagri-biotech,yettheprogressisinconsistent.On oneside,youhavehighlyadvancedtechsolutionsbeing rolledout—verticalfarms,AI-guidedtractors,microbial fertilizers—butontheotherside,smallholderfarmersin muchoftheworldremainuntouchedbythiswaveof innovation.Thesesolutionsoftenassumeinfrastructure, education,andinvestmentlevelsthatsimplydon’texist inmanyregions.Andthat’swherethedisconnect begins.
FromaCIO’sperspective,thischallengeisalltoo familiar.Itmirrorswhatwe’veseenincountlessdigital transformationinitiatives—greatonpaper,problematic indeployment.Ifagricultureistotrulybenefitfromthe
techrevolution,wemustadoptamindsetofresponsible innovation.Thatmeansprioritizingusabilityover complexity,outcomesoveroptics,andinclusionover exclusivity
Anotherglaringissueliesinthelackofcohesivepolicyand practicalregulation.Governmentbodiesareeagerto supportsustainablefarming,butpolicyvolatilityand bureaucraticinertiaoftenderailmomentum.Public-private partnerships,whichshouldserveasthebridgebetween innovationandimpact,arefrequentlystuntedbymistrust andmiscommunication.Meanwhile,consumersdemand cleaner,greenerfood,butpushbackatthecostrequiredto produceit.Everyoneisspeaking—butfewaretruly listening.
Thisisnotadismissaloftheeffortsbeingmade.Many passionatemindsareworkingtirelesslytosolveproblems thatgenuinelythreatenourplanet.Butwecannotaffordto keepdressinguphalf-bakedsolutionsasbreakthroughs. Theriskisnotjusttechnologicalfailure—it’salossoftrust, andwithit,thesupportneededtofuelrealprogress.
AtCIOBusinessWorld,webelievetheagriculturalsector standsontheedgeofamajortransformation.Butforthat leaptobemeaningful,innovationmustbehuman-centered, policymustbefuture-proof,andleadershipmustbe groundedinreality—notjustambition.
Ourgoalinfeaturingthispieceisnottodiscourage,butto challenge.TocallonCIOs,agri-leaders,policymakers,and investorstorecalibrate—toinnovatenotforapplause,but forimpact.
Theworlddoesn'tneedmoreagriculturaltech.Itneeds betteragriculturaltech.Let’smakethatthemission.
From theEditor’sdesk
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Dr. Minshad Ansari
Pioneering a Greener Future in Agriculture
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16 Why Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture and Biotech Innovation Are Struggling to Deliver Leaders Transforming Sustainable Agriculture and Biotech Innovation
April, 2025
Dr.MinshadAnsari
Pioneering a Greener Future in Agriculture
Insustainableagriculture,fewnamesstandoutasprominentlyasDr.MinshadAnsari,the
visionaryCEOofBionemaGroup Ascientistturnedentrepreneur,Dr Ansari’sjourneyfroma ruralfarmingcommunityineasternIndiatoleadingarevolutionarybiocontrolcompanyhasbeen extraordinary.Hismissionisclear—toreplacesyntheticpesticideswithnature-basedsolutions, creatingamoresustainableandenvironmentallyfriendlyfutureforglobalagriculture.Through resilience,innovation,andanunwaveringcommitmenttochange,DrAnsarihasplacedBionema Groupattheforefrontofthebiocontrolindustry,pushingboundariesinresearch,productdevelopment, commercialisationandregulatoryreform.
TheRootsofaVisionary
Growingupinafarmingcommunity,Dr Ansariwasacutelyawareofthechallengesfarmers faced—pestinfestationsthatwipedoutentirecrops,excessivedependenceonchemicalpesticides,and thelong-termenvironmentaldegradationofsoilhealth.Theseearlyobservationsduringthemidseventiesplantedtheseedofcuriosityinhismind,leadinghimtoquestionwhethernatureitselfcould provideabettersolution.
Bionema is expanding its global footprint by offering practical and scalable alternatives to chemical pesticides, targeting a business worth £500 million over the next 5 to 10 years.
Dr. Minshad Ansari CEO and Founder, Bionema Group
Hisacademicpursuitstookhimworldwide,culminatingin aPhDfromGhentUniversityinBelgiumin2005,wherehe specializedinentomopathogenicnematodesandmicrobial biocontrol.TheUnitedKingdombecamehisnexthome, wherehecontinuedresearchatSwanseaUniversity,further developinghisexpertiseinbiologicalalternativesto syntheticpesticides.Thisperiodofintensestudyand researchprovidedhimwithinvaluableinsight—biocontrol wasnotjustanalternativetochemicals;ithadthepotential tocompletelytransformmodernagriculture.
However,despitegroundbreakingscientificdevelopments, thetransitionfromresearchtoreal-worldapplicationwas slow.Innovativebiocontrolsolutionsremainedprimarily confinedtolaboratories,strugglingtoreachthecommercial market.Recognisingthisgap,DrAnsaritookaboldstepin 2012—hefoundedBionema,acompanydedicatedto developingbiocontrolandsustainablebiocontrolsolutions.
OvercomingChallengestoRevolutioniseAgriculture
Bringingbiocontroltomarketisnoteasy.Unlikesynthetic chemicals,whichhavelong-establishedpathwaysfor productionandregulation,biocontrolsolutionsface differentchallengesrequiringstrategicnavigation.
Oneoftheprimaryhurdleswasregulatoryapproval. Althoughbiocontrolproductsposesignificantlylower environmentalrisksthanchemicalpesticides,theyarestill subjectedtostringentregulationsdesignedinitiallyfor syntheticchemicals.Theprocessofobtainingapprovals wascostly,complex,andtime-consuming.Toaddressthis issue,DrAnsariestablishedtheWorldBioProtectionForum in2019,anonprofitorganisationdesignedtoconnect academiaandindustry,acceleratingtheapprovalprocess forbiocontrolsolutions.Despitenotableprogress, challengespersist,particularlyintheUK,wherepost-Brexit regulationsstillmirrorthoseoftheEU,resultingindelays ofuptoeightyearsfornewproductstoreachthemarket.
Anothersignificantbarrierwasmarkethesitancy.Farmers, accustomedtotraditionalpesticides,wereinitiallysceptical abouttheeffectiveness,cost,andusabilityofbiocontrol solutions.Bionemaconductedextensivefieldtrialsacross differentcropsandsectorstocombatthisscepticism, demonstratingtangible,real-worldresults.Strategic partnershipswithindustryleadersfurtherhelpedbridgethe gap,provingthatbiocontrolsolutionswerenotjust theoreticalalternativesbuthighlyeffective,practicaltools forpestmanagement.
Scalingthebusinesswasyetanotherchallenge.Unlike largeagrochemicalcorporationswithvastfinancial resources,Bionemahadtogrowstrategically Thecompany focusedonresearchcollaborations,securedgrants,attracted equityinvestments,andreinvestedrevenueintoR&D. Today,Bionemaiswellonitswaytoachievingits ambitiousgoalofestablishingahalf—billion—pound businessinthenext5-10years.
TheFutureofBiocontrolandGlobalAgriculture
Biocontrolisnolongeranemergingalternative—itisthe futureofagriculture.Overthenextdecade,theglobal agriculturallandscapewillundergoaprofound transformationdrivenbyregulatoryshifts,technological advancements,andchangingconsumerpreferences.
Governmentsworldwideareenforcingstricterregulations onchemicalpesticides.Forinstance,theEuropeanUnion’s FarmtoForkstrategyaimstoreducepesticideuseby50% by2030,pushingfarmerstowardssustainablealternatives. Simultaneously,advancementsinprecision agriculture—integratingAI,drones,andsensor technology—aremakingbiocontrolmoreefficientand scalable.
OneofBionema’smostsignificantbreakthroughshasbeen itsmicroencapsulationdeliverytechnology,whichenhances thestabilityandefficacyofbiocontrolproducts.This cutting-edgeinnovationprovidesfarmerswitha20-40% advantagebyensuringtheactiveingredientsreachtheir targetmoreeffectively.Suchadvancementswillbe instrumentalinmakingbiocontrolaviablealternativeand thestandardinpestmanagement.
Consumerdemandisanotherpowerfuldriverofchange. Withgrowingawarenessoffoodsafety,sustainability,and environmentalimpact,retailersandfoodcompaniesare placingincreasedpressureonfarmerstoadoptpesticidefreecropprotectionmethods.Theshifttowardsbiocontrol isnolongerachoice;itisnecessaryforfuture-proofing agriculturalproduction.
Biocontrol:ASolutionforClimateChangeandFood Security
Asclimatechangeintensifies,theagriculturalsectorfaces mountingchallenges.Risingtemperaturesareexpanding thehabitatsofpestsandplantpathogens,leadingto
Biocontrol is not merely a concept for the future—it is a current reality.
increasedcroplosses.Chemicalpesticides,whileproviding temporaryrelief,contributetolong-termsoildegradationand ecosystemimbalance.Biocontrol,ontheotherhand,offersa sustainableandclimate-resilientsolution.
Biodegradableandresidue-freebiocontrolproductssupport regenerativeagriculturebyrestoringsoilbiodiversityand fertility.Theyprotectcropswhilepreservingbeneficialinsects, ensuringlong-termfoodsecuritywithoutdepletingnatural resources.Astheglobalpopulationgrows,biocontrolwillplay apivotalroleinsustainingagriculturalproductivitywhile mitigatingenvironmentalimpact.
EncouragingFarmerstoEmbraceChange
Despitetheclearbenefits,widespreadadoptionofbiocontrol requiresastructuredapproach.Fielddemonstrations showcasingreal-worldsuccessstoriesarecrucialinbuilding farmerconfidence.Financialincentives,suchasgovernment subsidiesandtaxbenefits,canleveltheplayingfieldagainst heavilysubsidisedchemicalpesticides.Educationandtraining programs,facilitatedbyindustryleaders,willequipfarmers withtheknowledgeandskillstointegratebiocontrolintotheir existingpracticesseamlessly
BreakingDownBarrierstoAdoption
Severalchallengesremaininachievingmassadoptionof biocontrol.Regulatorycomplexitiescontinuetoslow innovation,andmanyfarmersstilllackaclearunderstanding ofbiocontrolproductsfunction.Additionally,ensuring widespreadavailabilityandaccessibilityoftheseproductsis criticaltotheirsuccess.
Addressingthesebarriersrequiresacollaborativeeffortfrom policymakers,scientists,andindustryleaders.Streamlining regulatoryapprovalprocesses,expandingfarmereducation programs,andstrengtheningdistributionnetworkswillbekey toacceleratingthetransitiontowardssustainablecrop protection.
TheEntrepreneurialMindset:InnovatingforImpact
AsBionema'sleader,Dr Ansariensuresthathiscompany staysaheadofemergingtrendsandtechnologiesinsustainable agriculture.HeavyR&Dinvestments,strategicpartnerships withuniversitiesandresearchinstitutions,andactive participationinpolicydiscussionsenableBionematoremain atthecuttingedgeofthebiocontrolindustry.
Innovation,however,mustalwaysalignwithpracticality Farmersrequirecost-effective,easy-to-usesolutionsthat
delivertangibleresults.Byprioritisingusability, affordability,andefficacy,Bionemaensuresthatits productsarescientificallyadvancedandaccessible andpracticalforreal-worldapplication.
AdviceforAspiringEntrepreneursinBiocontrol
Forthoselookingtomakeanimpactinthe biocontrolindustry,Dr.Ansariemphasisesthreekey principles.
First,thoroughresearchandmarketvalidationare essential—havinganinnovativeideaisnotenough; itmustaddressagenuineneed.
Second,successisbuiltonthestrengthofawellroundedteamwithexpertiseinscience,finance,and businessstrategy.
Finally,resilienceiskey—thejourneyislong,and regulatorychallengescanbedaunting,but persistenceandadaptabilitypavethewayfor success.
BalancingInnovationwithPersonalWell-being
Leadingapioneeringcompanyinanevolving industryisdemanding,butDr Ansariunderstands theimportanceofbalancingprofessionaland personallife.Familytime,physicalactivity,anda strongsupportsystemhelpsustainhisenergyand passionforthemission.Hisunwaveringdedication tosustainableagricultureisnotjustabout business—itisaboutcreatingalastingimpacton globalfoodsecurityandenvironmental sustainability
AFuture-ReadyVision
Biocontrolisnotjustthefuture—itisthepresent. Withgrowingregulatorysupport,increasing consumerdemand,andcontinuousscientific advancements,theindustryisonthecuspofa significanttransformation.UnderDrAnsari’s leadership,Bionemaisdrivingthischange,providing farmerswithviable,sustainablealternativesto harmfulsyntheticpesticidesandfertilisers.
Thevisionisbold,thejourneychallenging,butthe impact—ensuringahealthierplanetandamore sustainablefoodsystem—iswortheveryeffort.
Bionema is leading this evolution, assisting farmers in implementing sustainable pest and plant health management strategies that safeguard crops and protect our planet.
Leaders
Leaders
Transforming
Transforming
&Biotech Innovation Sustainable Agriculture
&Biotech Innovation Sustainable Agriculture
Theglobalagriculturallandscapeisundergoinga majorshift,drivenbytheurgentneedfor sustainablepracticesandscientificadvancement.At theheartofthistransformationareleadersand changemakerswhoarepioneeringinnovationsin biotechnologyandreimagininghowweproducefood. Theseindividualsandorganizationsarebuildinganew future—onethatprotectstheplanet,supportsfarmers,and ensuresfoodsecurityforgenerationstocome.
TheNeedforaSustainableAgriculturalRevolution
Theagriculturesectortodayisunderimmensepressure. Climatechange,resourcedepletion,andenvironmental pollutionarethreateningtraditionalfarmingsystems.
Unsustainablemethods,includingover-relianceon chemicalfertilizers,overuseofwater,andpoorland management,arecausinglong-termdamagetoecosystems. Theworldneedsanalternative—onethatsustainsboththe earthanditspeople.
Sustainableagricultureseekstobalanceproductivitywith environmentalresponsibility.Itfocusesonpreserving naturalresources,reducingemissions,andmaintainingsoil health.Thisholisticapproachensuresthatfarming continuestothrivewithoutcompromisingfuture generations'abilitytodothesame.
Biotechnology:ACatalystforChange
Biotechnologyhasemergedasacriticaltoolinthemission toachievesustainabilityinagriculture.Byharnessingthe powerofbiologyandtechnology,scientistsandinnovators aredevelopingsolutionsthatarebothhigh-impactand environmentallyfriendly.Geneticallyimprovedcrops, naturalbio-fertilizers,andclimate-resilientplantvarieties arejustafewexamplesofwhatbiotechcandeliver
Thisisn’tjustaboutincreasingyield—it’saboutreducing agriculture’senvironmentalfootprint.Withbiotech,farms canusefewerchemicals,conservewater,andproducemore foodonlessland.Theresult?Asmarter,cleaner,andmore efficientfoodproductionsystemthatalignswithsustainable goals.
Innovation-DrivenLeadershipMakingaDifference
Behindthescenes,visionaryleadersaresteeringthis transformation.Theseindividualsandteamscomefrom diversebackgrounds—science,agriculture,technology,and policymaking—butshareacommonpurpose:tobuilda moresustainablefuture.
They'redrivinginnovationinseveralkeyareas:
• PrecisionAgriculture:Leadersareusingdata,sensors, andmachinelearningtoguidefarmingdecisions.This technologyallowsfarmerstooptimizeresourceuse, monitorcrophealthinreal-time,andreducewaste.
• UrbanandVerticalFarming:Innovatorsareturning urbanspacesintoproductivefarms,usinghydroponic andaeroponicsystemsthatusesignificantlylesswater andspacethantraditionalmethods.
• BiologicalInputs:Insteadofrelyingonsynthetic fertilizersandpesticides,manyareturningto
biologicalalternatives—likemicrobesthatimprovesoil fertilityornaturallydeterpests.
• SupplyChainOptimization:Byintegratingblockchain, IoT,anddataanalytics,leadersaremakingfoodsupply chainsmoretransparent,efficient,andresilientto disruptions.
Theseinnovationsarehelpingshiftagriculturefrombeing oneoftheworld’smostpollutingsectorstobecominga championofenvironmentalstewardship.
PoliciesandPartnershipsPavingtheWay
Transformingagricultureatscaleisn’tpossiblewithout strongpoliciesandcollaborativeframeworks.Forwardthinkingleadersareworkingwithgovernments,NGOs,and privateinstitutionstocreateecosystemswhereinnovation canthrive.
Supportiveregulations,researchfunding,andpublic-private partnershipsareessentialtoadvancingsustainablepractices andbiotechapplications.Bycreatinganenabling environment,policymakersareempoweringfarmersto adoptnewtechnologiesandadapttochangingconditions.
Educationandcapacitybuildingarealsocrucial.Training programs,extensionservices,anddigitalplatformsare beingdevelopedtohelpfarmers—especially smallholders—understandandimplementsustainable methods.
AVisionfortheFuture
Thetransitiontosustainableagriculturethrough biotechnologyisnotjustatrend—it’sanecessity The challengesofthefuturerequireboldsolutionsand collaborativeleadership.Whetherit’sreducinggreenhouse gasemissions,conservingbiodiversity,orimprovingfood security,thepathforwardliesininnovationandresilience.
Leadersinthisspaceareshowingthatit’spossibletogrow foodsustainably,protecttheenvironment,andbuild strongerruraleconomies—allatthesametime.Theirwork isnotonlytransformingagriculturebutredefiningwhat’s possiblewhenscienceandsustainabilitycometogether
Why Leaders in SUSTAINABLE
Why Leaders in SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BIOTECH INNOVATION Are Struggling to Deliver &
BIOTECH INNOVATION
Are Struggling to Deliver &
Forallthehypearoundsustainableagricultureand biotechinnovation,thetruthis—noone’sreally winning.Despiteboldvisions,high-techtools,and anendlessstreamofoptimisticheadlines,theglobalpush towardagreener,smarteragriculturalsystemisfallingshort ofexpectations.Leadersaretrying,buttherealityonthe groundtellsadifferentstory.Farmers,consumers, environmentalists,andpolicymakersallseemtowalkaway withlessthantheyhopedfor.
SustainabilitySoundsGreat,ButImplementationStalls
Sustainableagriculturepromisesaworldwherefoodis grownresponsibly,theenvironmentisprotected,and farmersthrive.Soundsideal,right?Butinpractice,it’sa tangledmess.Manyfarmersarestuckbetweenoutdated practicesandnewsystemsthataretooexpensiveortoo complextoimplement.Thetransitionisslow,thecostsare high,andthepromisedbenefitsoftendon’tmaterializein realtime.
Meanwhile,consumersdemandorganicandeco-friendly food,buttheybalkatthehigherprices.Governmentspush sustainabilityagendas,butoftenwithouttheinfrastructure orlong-termfundingtosupportthem.Inshort,everyone wantschange—butnoonewantstopaytheprice.
Biotech:Overpromised,Underdelivered
Biotechwassupposedtorevolutionizefarming.Genetically enhancedcrops,climate-resilientseeds,andbiological inputspromisedtosavetheplanetandfeedbillions.Butthe fieldisboggeddownbyregulatoryhurdles,public skepticism,andmarketresistance.Manyfarmersremain waryofgeneticallymodifiedcropsduetoexport restrictionsorconsumerbacklash.
Atthesametime,biotechstartupsoftenoverpromiseand underdeliver.Fancytechsolutionslookgreatinlabsortest farmsbutfailtoscaleacrossdiverse,real-world environments.Thegapbetweeninnovationand implementationcontinuestogrow,andwithit,frustration amongbothdevelopersandend-users.
InnovationLeadershipFacingPushback
Whileleadersinthisspacecontinuetopushforchange, theireffortsareoftenmetwithresistance.Smallholder farmers,especiallyindevelopingcountries,struggleto accessnewtechnologiesorunderstandtheirbenefits.
There'salsoagrowingconcernthattheseinnovations benefitlargeagribusinessesfarmorethantheaverage farmer
Urbanfarmingprojectsthatoncepromisedtotransform cityscapesintogreenhubsoftenturnintoexpensivepilot projectswithlittleimpactbeyondmediabuzz.Precision agriculturetoolsareimpressivebutinaccessibletothose withoutmajorinvestmentcapacityortechnicaltraining.In short,theleadershipmaybeforward-thinking,butthe executionisoftendisconnectedfromreality
PolicieswithNoTeeth,PartnershipswithNoTrust
Governmentslovetoannouncegreeninitiatives,butthe follow-throughisusuallyunderwhelming.Policieschange withpoliticaltides,fundinggetscut,andlong-termvisions areabandonedforshort-termwins.Meanwhile, partnershipsbetweenprivatecompanies,publicinstitutions, andlocalcommunitiesoftenfallapartduetomisaligned goalsorlackoftrust.
Theresult?Farmersfeelunsupported.Innovatorsfeel stifled.Communitiesfeeloverlooked.Andtheenvironment continuestosufferwhileeveryonepointsfingersinevery directionbuttheirown.
AnUnfulfilledVision
Sustainableagricultureandbiotechinnovationare,without question,necessary.Theplanetneedsbetterwaystogrow food.Butasofnow,thedreamisstillfarfromreality. Despitetherhetoricandtheresourcesbeingthrownaround, nooneisfullygettingwhattheywant.
Consumersaren’tgettingaffordable,eco-friendlyfood. Farmersaren’tgettingthetoolsorsupporttheyneed. Innovatorsaren’tgettingwidespreadadoption.Andthe environmentisn’tgettingthereliefitdesperatelyrequires. It’sasoberingreminderthatgoodintentionsaren’tenough. Withoutalignment,accessibility,andaccountability,the promiseofsustainableagriculturewillremainjustthat—a promise.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
