Dr. Reddy’s and Dr. Reddy’s Foundation announce the launch of Soil Testing Resource Centre in Hyderabad

• Only 5-20% of India’s cultivable land undergoes soil testing. The centre addresses this gap with crop-specific, cost-effective recommendations, boosting yields by 20-30%
•  Advanced instruments and systems ensure accurate analysis of over 18 parameters, capable of processing up to 200,000 samples annually

Hyderabad : Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited and Dr. Reddy’s Foundation today inaugurated a unique Soil Testing resource centre in Hyderabad.  Spreading across 14,750 sq.ft., the centre is designed to provide fast, accurate, and affordable soil testing services to a diverse range of beneficiaries, including farmers, agronomists, agricultural researchers, and institutions, with the goal of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing productivity.

Degradation of land is one of the major challenges to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability in India. Factors such as soil erosion, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and poor land management have led to declining soil fertility. Accurate soil testing plays a critical role in addressing these challenges by helping assess the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil. This data empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions on fertilizer application, crop selection, and sustainable soil nutrient management, thereby improving yields, reducing costs, and enhancing environmental outcomes.

Equipped with advanced technology and instruments such as Thermo Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer, ICP-OES 5800, MP-AES Agilent 4210, Dionex ICS-6000 HPIC System, Infinity HPLC, Foss KEL Plus Kjeltec 8400, the centre offers comprehensive chemical, biological, and physical testing of soil testing of over 18 parameters, including primary, macro, and micronutrients, as well as heavy metals in soil, water, and plants. The centre has capability to process up to 2,00,000 soil samples annually. The centre offers cost-effective and detailed soil health evaluations including nutrient composition, pH levels, organic matter content, and other critical parameters.

Only 5-20% of India’s cultivable land undergoes soil analysis, leaving a significant gap in soil health understanding. Soil Test-Based Recommendations (STCR) outperform General Recommendation Dose (GRD) by optimizing nutrient use, increasing crop yields by 20-30%, and enhancing farm income. The Soil Testing Resource Center (STRC), aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application of regenerative agriculture practices by offering precise, timely and affordable soil analysis. With the current capacity to process up to 75,000 soil samples annually, STRC will not only empower farmers with actionable insights to improve soil health and productivity, but at the same time would provide tailored recommendations benefiting the RA ecosystem as a whole.

Speaking about the initiative, Suman S, Head of Climate Action and Rural Livelihoods initiatives, said, “The soil testing resource centre is a significant step and part of our evidence-based scientific initiatives to promote sustainable development and empower communities. It reflects our commitment to addressing critical agricultural challenges through innovation and community-focused solutions.  Through this centre, we aim to bridge the gap in access to reliable soil data, benefiting farmers, researchers, and agronomists alike. With the focus on affordability, accessibility, and technological excellence, the centre is poised to become a valuable resource for a wide range of stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem. By enabling precise and timely decisions, we hope to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and long-term productivity gains.”

The inauguration ceremony witnessed participation from esteemed leaders across agriculture, sustainability, and social impact sectors. Prominent attendees included Dr. Markandeya Gorantla, Executive Chairman & Managing Director, ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. ML Jat, Global Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT; and Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Vice Chancellor of Kaveri University and Former Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU. Other notable guests included Suhas Joshi, India Carbon Lead, Bayer Crop Sciences; Dr. KRK Reddy, Managing Director, Sri BioAesthetics Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. Kavitha Sairam, Founder & CEO, FIB-SOL Life Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; and Ram Kaundinya, Partner at Klorofil Biologics LLP and Former CEO of Advanta India.

Additional dignitaries included Vijay Gopal Reddy, General Secretary, KVK-Jammikunta; Dr. Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture; Dr. Mahendra Rajaram, Disaster Risk and Resilience Officer (South India), UNICEF; Mr. Tarak Dhurjati, COO of Sri BioAesthetics Pvt. Ltd.; Swati Agarwal, Sales Director and Account Manager, GreatFour Systems Inc.; Dr. Paparao Chintalapudi, Founder & Coach, UPot; Muralidhar G, Co-lead, Mentor & Senior Advisor – Natural Farming, RySS-Government of Andhra Pradesh; and Anwar Shaik, Lead – AP & Telangana, Azim Premji Foundation. Dr. Divya Veluguri, Executive Director of the Deccan Development Society, also graced the occasion.

The event was further enriched by the presence of key leaders, including Satish Reddy, Chairman of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; G. Anuradha, Founder & Trustee, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation; Shamik Trehan, CEO, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation; and Pranav Kumar Choudhary, COO, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation. Their presence underlined the shared commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through collaborative efforts.