For most people, creepy crawlies evoke a sense of fear, if not disgust. And yet, bugs and insects form necessary links in food chains. They feed directly on plants and convert their food into protein and energy–and when they are, in turn, eaten by birds, small mammals and fish, these predators absorb this plant protein that would otherwise remain inaccessible to them. Insects are also pollinators for over 80% of flowering plants in the world–many of which have no way to self-pollinate: their existence depends on insects.

Some insects may even contribute to solving a looming global issue: waste disposal. As populations increase, so does waste generation—but the land to absorb all of it remains finite. With a projected 1.6 billion demographic rise by 2050, most dwellings in India are strewn with mountains of garbage along the peripheries of urban centres. It only makes the urgency more apparent: how we do away with organic trash needs to be rethought.

A lack of waste disposal isn’t just an eyesore: it also poses severe damage to citizens and the environment, by way of issues such as respiratory and gastric illnesses and contamination of groundwater. Currently, waste disposal, particularly in India, is mostly through landfills–which quickly become hotspots for methane emissions, given the fact that almost 40% of an urban dweller’s waste is composed of organic materials. A 2021 report by the NITI Aayog estimates that urban India produces between 130,000-150,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste everyday, with each person disposing 330 to 350 grams. 

And while large-scale waste treatment and disposal policies are in play, one unexpected solution may be buzzing around the waste itself: flies. Though we typically associate flies with a lack of hygiene, the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) may just be able to do the opposite–consume and treat organic waste, especially food scraps and even manure, without the release of any emissions. They even do this faster than conventional methods of management.

Also read: Why neem oil is the OG pest buster 

What is the Black Soldier Fly? 

Known as the Hermetia illucens in the scientific community, this South American bug species can be found across the globe now. According to a research facility in Dimapur, it is the larvae of BSF that ingest the waste (up to 4 times waste than their body size) and convert it into protein, reducing the weight of the waste by 50%. The waste that these flies can’t consume includes wood, high-cellulose materials and plastics.

The life cycle of the Black Soldier Fly is about 45 days. The larvae themselves mature over a period of two weeks–after which, some of them are kept aside to repopulate the colony, and the rest are used as feed for livestock–they are an excellent source of alternate food for poultry like chicken. This nutrition sustains them when they reach adulthood. An adult fly can live for 5-8 days, and the females can lay up to 800 eggs!

Rearing Black Soldier Flies creates little waste. On the other hand, it encourages the maintenance of natural ecosystems. These flies are quite unique: unlike the usual fruit fly which may be a carrier of disease, the black-soldier fly is a non-invasive species, which is not a vector. They’re also not damaging to crop health. 

The future of insect farming

For small-scale farmers, who are stretched for both land and resources, rearing insects can be a creative solution. Densely populated and requiring little energy, they occupy little land and consume even less feed. They’ve even been raised in humble two-bedroom apartments. For this reason, reports by the UN have suggested that these bugs may define farming in the coming decades. Just one kilogram of larvae can consume up to 30 kilograms of waste, approximately four times their body matter in organic waste. Even their byproduct is useful: the excreta, called frass, is a nutrient-rich biofertiliser that aids soil enrichment.

The role of BSF as feed for poultry and livestock cannot be overlooked either. India is actually one of the largest suppliers of this feed. These flies convert compost and waste into vitamin-rich fodder, given their high waste-to-biomass conversion efficiency. The feed has even been correlated with higher productivity and well-being in chickens, as it promotes better gut health. Requiring high temperatures and moderate humidity to rear, Black Soldier Flies grow best in around 27°-30°C with 70% humidity. Ideal conditions such as these decrease the larvae harvest period from 45 days to 38 days. Fluctuations in this, though, don’t spell disaster–they just aid in mirroring natural habitats. 

In Europe, insect-feed has a much larger consumer base than in India, which has led to the development of the world’s largest facilities there. EU food regulation allows at least nine species of insects to be used for animal feed purposes. The industry as a whole is expected to grow in the future, given the increasing consumption of fish and meat. However, it remains nascent in India, attributed to little government involvement, knowledge gaps within the scientific community as well as religious beliefs. 

Also read: The 'plant' doctor will see you now

Rising industry in India 

The rearing of BSF larvae has been discovered by many agriculture and ecology enthusiasts in India. In Dimapur, Waste to Protein has utilised insects to break down household organic waste in Imphal, the state capital of Nagaland. 

They begin by collecting Black Soldier Flies from the forests, after which the eggs laid by the female flies are placed in a mix of wheat bran and water, to hatch. Then, the larvae feed on food waste. Some continue to reproduce while others become feed for livestock. Once the organic waste is reduced rapidly by the larvae–around 80 kilograms in 15 days–the remains can be used as compost or fertiliser. Though Waste-to-Protein may be a small project, it has processed at least 1.2 tonnes of waste monthly in 2023.

Two years ago, the biotech startup LoopWorm–which raised $3.4 million in its seed round–also cemented this process. They started small, by rearing Black Soldier Flies in a small flat. Eventually, they expanded to a facility in Bangalore, producing over 2000 tonnes of insect protein. Their focus is more on the production of poultry and aqua feed.

The founders Abhi Gawri and Alok Bagaria believe that India has the trappings to develop a symbiotic and beneficial relationship between insects and farming, given the tropical temperatures and abundance of organic waste. While both agree that mastering the production process has a steep learning curve, they argue that India is suited to insect rearing by virtue of its natural ecosystem and humidity levels, unlike North America and Europe, where such conditions have to be mechanically regulated and tend to account for a significant portion of input costs. 

This makes the process of setting up significantly more cost-efficient in South Asia.

The process has been used at a larger scale–as seen with the Kochi Corporation’s Brahmapuram plant, where alternative waste management is being explored. The facility reported in 2024 that around 8,000 tonnes of food waste was consumed by larvae in just 6 months–the remnants can be sold as fertiliser and the process emits zero greenhouse gases like methane. However, for independent and commercial insect-for-feed ventures, it has been difficult to find funding and then ready consumers–given the traditional mindset of Indian livestock businesses as well as a lack of regulatory frameworks for insect farming on the policy end.

Hence, they look to foreign markets and cut corners by relying on manual labour. The lack of government incentive for investment R&D has discouraged much competition in the industry – looking at the heavy subsidies offered in turn for fertilisers, the aim seems to be to kill insects, and not to protect them. 

BSF farming may signify a cleaner, more hygienic future for India. With public urban spaces being slowly engulfed by trash and garbage, the need for a sustainable method of waste management becomes more urgent. Moreover, as rural India still reels under the pressures of a non-existent waste management system, insect farming in particular, points to the possibility of a holistic approach to disposing of organic waste, which is in sync with agriculture.

Also read: Do-nothing farming: The Masanobu Fukuoka story

Ducks populate fable and lore—the idyllic scenery of nature always features a flock of ducks. Ducks are also an integral feature of farms where they are reared for their eggs and meat. Beyond poultry, this bird remains a favourite of farmers who cultivate paddy in several regions across the world. But how did the mighty duckling come to swim in rice fields? The answer lies in a Japanese polycultural practice developed in the 1980s, which promotes sustainable rice production. 

Japanese farmer and social entrepreneur Takao Furuno conceptualised ‘Aigamo’, meaning a cross-breed of two species of ducks. It was originally developed in the late 1980s to simplify pest control and weeding, until Furuno crystallised it in his book, The Power of Duck: Integrated Rice and Duck Farming (2001). Committed to the practice of organic farming after being inspired by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) which criticised indiscriminate use of pesticides, Furuno re-discovered duck-farming and decided to pivot from hand-weeding. It calls for the introduction of young ducklings and the planting of paddy seedlings to simultaneously increase the rice yield and minimise the excessive application of pesticides.

At a time when we’re witnessing erratic climate conditions and an excessive reliance on chemical-use farming, small farmers could reinvent traditional practices such as Aigamo, that use natural symbiosis and available resources for food and financial security.

Also read: Why neem oil is the OG pest buster

The “little helpers”

The ducklings are introduced to the field at a young stage, which allows them to mature along with the paddy crop. They protect the crop from pests and weeds by consuming them and fertilising the soil with their organic waste. Their movements and wading also improve nitrogen absorption and ameliorate soil quality, in addition to aiding oxygenation. According to a 2020 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this method has been proven to increase yields by 20%. This saves time and money – farmers are freed from manual weeding, and natural pest control reduces cost, a boon for small-scale farmers.

However, deploying natural mechanisms isn’t the only benefit; it’s the fact that this contributes to ecosystem formation. As rainfall patterns become harder to predict and resources become scarce, the food supply has become insecure. But duckling-peddled paddy farms encourage economic and nutritional security—once the paddy has matured, ducks are moved out and instead used for the supply of meat and eggs. Moreover, ducks have also been linked with more weather-resistant crops; they constantly peck at seedlings and help plough the soil, increasing oxygen absorption.

Ardhendu Sekhar Chatterjee, the founder of Development Research Communication and Services Centre ​​(DRCSC), a West Bengal-based non-profit, explains the technicalities of the low-cost process, which requires the paddy seedlings to be planted around 15 centimetres apart for the ducks to wade through and for the field to retain rainwater. It is argued that this raises yield by around 10% to 20%.

Aigamo has become an inventive way for farmers looking to manage costs and create sustainable farm networks, as seen in the case of this Vermont-based farmer, inspired by Hokkaido’s rice production despite cold temperatures through the development of cold-resistant rice varieties. This isn’t to say the method is foolproof; ensuring the right breeds of ducks and rice crops are utilised, the removal of the birds from the fields at the right time, as well as ensuring duck health, all these factors determine whether this ecological process done manually will succeed or fail.

Also read: Do-nothing farming: The Masanobu Fukuoka story

Befriending the climate-friendly

In the Indian context, efforts to promote the use of ducks in rice farming are mainly concentrated in eastern states such as Odisha and Bengal, as well as Kerala. The widespread application of rice-duck farming is more suited to the environment and more effective for marginal land owners.

A 2021 report by the National Rice Research Institute in Cuttack aims to promote paddy-duck farming, particularly in the lowland regions of eastern India, where rice is an agricultural mainstay but with the addition of fish. Indian farmers are encouraged to adapt the technique to regional contexts, utilising livestock efficiently. The process is referred to as rice-fish duck integrated farming or RFDIFS. The system aims to alleviate the lives of marginal and tribal farmers by synergistically combining the three components while also considering the efficient use of available resources to mitigate the impact of climate change. 

There are examples of how rice-duck farming allows marginal groups with limited financial means to find success. The Basak sisters have adopted this method in the Keotal village of Uttar Dinajpur in Western Bengal. The duo has broken into paddy farming despite patriarchal barriers of agrarianism and widespread family criticism. The practice proved fruitful when it delivered about 35-40 quintals of organically grown paddy in 5 bighas of land during their harvest in 2018.

More women in regions surrounding Keotal, like the Dohole and Balaoul villages, have taken to sustainable agricultural production under the collective of Narishakti Jaibochasi Mahila Dal or Woman Power through Organic Farming. They combine their resources and land to cultivate chemical-free paddy. Though the total area cultivated amounts to only 45 bighas, the zero input cost allows them to profit more per bigha.

The practice is a part of local agrarian tradition in the Thrissur-Ponani Kole wetlands in Kerala, where local duck farmers and paddy cultivators collaborate for rice production – for ducks as well as migratory birds the fields offer an excellent source of food. 

However, cutting corners isn’t the only incentive. Farmers seem aware of the hazardous nature of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, which deteriorate soil quality and decrease water retention. Of the 234 registered pesticides in India, at least 24 have been identified as potential carcinogens by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ecological sustainability is just as important as financial sustainability for those involved in agriculture. The issue of methane emissions, released in large amounts during rice cultivation, is also resolved by the symbiotic process of duck use in growing paddy.

With the threat of  food insecurity looming due to shifting rain patterns, ecology experts like Nira Ramachandran argue, the question isn’t just about alleviating financial burdens, but applying holistic techniques that don’t make ecology bear the brunt of efficiency. While rice-duck farming has little evidence of widespread application and may even be ill-suited for particular areas lacking adequate markets for duck meat, it signifies a need to make the best use of what we have.

Also read: The 'plant' doctor will see you now

Growing food is a risky venture that comes with a tight profit margin. The need to protect the crops goes hand in hand with the need to use chemicals for resistance against pests and pathogens. But on farms across India, a powerful organic solution is popular among farmers who want to keep chemicals away from their land: Beejamrutha. This natural seed tonic is an easy-to-make alternative for a broad spectrum of seed-borne pathogens. An ancient organic formulation, Beejamrutha is a four-ingredient, cost-effective method that has proven to enrich seeds before they are sown.

This exercise is not uncommon–modern agricultural practices call for seeds to be sprayed with or dipped in chemicals before being sown, to improve germination and maximise the seed’s potential. But chemical seed treatments are harsh on the soil; they disrupt the microbiome that thrives in the earth, as well as harm the health of the soil. Farmers are no strangers to these side-effects of chemical seed treatment, and it thus comes as no surprise that many choose to nurture their seeds with a natural seed tonic like Beejamrutha for its more healthful properties.

‍What is Beejamrutha?

Beejamrutha, also called "Beejamrit," is a treatment solution prepared from the following natural ingredients: cow dung, cow urine, lime, soil, and water. Each ingredient has a role here: their individual properties help improve the biological activity of the seeds. Also, when used over a period of time, cow dung and urine paired with other food items have shown to gradually change the soil health, too. 

Cow dung (also called manure) is a key ingredient of the solution: not only is it required in the largest proportion, it also forms the base of the solution. The quality of the cow dung is highly dependent on the fodder fed to the cows, because it’s made up mostly of digested grass. The higher the nutritional value of the grass the livestock feeds upon, the more effective the cow dung. Researchers have pointed out time and again that manure from indigenous Indian cow breeds contains higher amounts of calcium, phosphorus, zinc and copper than the cross-breed cow.

Cow manure has proven to be near wondrous for agriculture. It has 3% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus, and 1% potassium—3-2-1 NPK, making it a suitable fertiliser for almost all types of plants and crops. This is due to the nutrients’ ability to naturally restore balance to the earth. Nitrogen (N) is the rockstar nutrient for leafy growth, making crops green. Phosphorus (P) is the root booster and helps the crop develop a strong foundation. Potassium (K) is the star of nutrition, ensuring your plant is nutritionally healthy. 

The next ingredient, cow urine, has excellent germicidal power, and also hosts antibiotics and antimicrobial activity. It can, therefore, kill a variety of germs as well as boost immunity. 

Lime powder is added to this, to adjust the pH level of the mixture and create a more alkaline environment–this is considered optimal for the beneficial microbes present in the cow dung and urine, allowing them to flourish and effectively colonise the seeds when used as a seed treatment. 

Also read: Humus 101: Why this organic matter is crucial

These ingredients, often available on farms, combine to create a potent mix of Beejamrutha–a formulation that not only boosts seed germination rates but also protects young roots from fungal infections and diseases, particularly during the rainy season. Other natural seed tonics offer similar relief to the soil and plants, and this hasn’t gone unnoticed. According to the National Mission on Natural Farming, approximately 18.75 lakh farmers are using inputs such as Jeevamrit, Beejamrutha, and other natural tonics. In Andhra Pradesh, data from the NITI Aayog shows that 40–50% of farmers practicing natural farming use seed tonics. Through the Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative, over one million farmers have adopted these methods. In Maharashtra, too, an estimated 50–60% of natural farmers use seed tonics. The reliability and efficacy of Beejamrutha is further amplified by the fact that a large section of farmers use such seed tonics, even though they aren’t subsidised or standardised by the regulatory frameworks that oversee natural and organic farming in India–whereas fertilisers are.

Why use Beejamrutha?

Among other benefits, seeds treated with Beejamrutha gain immunity against soil-borne pathogens, ensuring a strong start for crops like rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables. It also works wonders for saplings of fruits such as mango, banana, and apple. Additionally, Beejamrutha improves soil quality by enhancing its microbial activity, helping plants absorb nutrients more effectively.

A study on pea seed germination showcased its remarkable efficiency: seeds treated with Beejamrutha had a 92% germination rate, while untreated seeds stood at 56%. 

Also read: Can nitrogen-fixing plants replace synthetic fertilisers?

How to make Beejamrutha

Despite its benefits, Beejamrutha is surprisingly easy to prepare. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Start with cow dung: Take 5 kilograms of fresh cow dung and place it in a cloth bag.
2. Soak the bag: Hang the bag in 20 liters of water for 12 hours.
3. Prepare lime water: Dissolve 50 grams of lime in 1 liter of water and let it sit overnight.
4. Mix it all together: The next morning, squeeze the cow dung bag into the water to extract its essence. Add 5 liters of cow urine, 1 kilogram of soil, and the lime water to the mixture. Stir well.
5. Ferment: Let the mixture sit for 48 hours before using it, to allow the beneficial microbes to develop fully.

How to use Beejamrutha

To treat seeds, soak them in Beejamrutha and stir gently for about two minutes. Then, spread the seeds under shade to dry them for six hours, before they are planted. For the best results, treat seeds in the morning and sow them in the evening. If you have extra tonic on your hands, store it in a cool, dark place to preserve its potency and prevent spoilage. 

Saplings, too, can benefit from this process. Before transplanting them, dip the roots of the saplings in Beejamrutha to give them a protective boost.

Recognising the bio-stimulant benefits of this tonic, the Tamil Nadu Department of Seed Certification and Organic Certification is now urging farmers to adopt Beejamrutha. According to K. Kannan, a Seed Certification Officer in Madurai, this fermented solution’s ability to promote healthy crop growth makes it a vital tool for sustainable agriculture. “It’s cheaper, environmentally friendly, and easy to prepare,” he explains.

While some farmers may prefer the convenience of chemical seed treatments, Beejamrutha offers an affordable and more sustainable alternative. With just a bit of effort, it can be made at home, avoiding the cost and environmental impact of synthetic chemicals.

Also read: How biochar keeps soil alive for centuries

Why it matters

Nagesh, a vegetable farmer based in Tiptur, Karnataka, who has been preparing Beejamrutha for the last four years explained its preparation in great detail, highlighting what is required for a one-acre farm.

“It doesn't take much time to make Beejamrutha,” he says. All you need, Nagesh explains, is a 100 litre barrel–it can be cement or plastic but a metallic one should be avoided. Preparing the solution for a one-acre piece of land calls for 50 litres of water, 50 kilograms of cow dung (ideally sourced from local breeds like Hallikar and amritmahal), 5 litres of urine and 50 grams of lime powder. Apart from adjusting the pH levels of the solution, lime also contains calcium which blocks the transfer of disease from seeds to plants.

All of the ingredients need to be mixed thoroughly. Then the seeds which one wants to sow should be dipped in the solution for not more than five minutes and dried in shade. Once ready, the solution lasts for 2-3 days; it needs to be prepared freshly.

As climate change continues to disrupt traditional farming practices, solutions like Beejamrutha are more relevant than ever. Not only do they reduce dependency on chemicals, but also look after the soil and ensure its long-term fertility. For farmers grappling with the challenges of erratic weather, Beejamrutha provides an additional layer of protection to maintain crop immunity when it’s needed most.

Around 2010, between ads for soft drinks and malty chocolate drink mixes, the iconic beige Yakult bottle began to appear on our TV screens. A 30-second clip raised a question which had not been asked on Indian television before: “Why should I drink bacteria?” This refrain, echoed enthusiastically in the Yakult ad, was one of the first instances of gut health being talked about in the Indian public domain—the first glimpse of the benefits of probiotics. 

Probiotics are not new to us. Indians, especially, have added probiotic food and drinks to their diets for overall health since the Vedic times. It’s just that the term now had a marketable face, a name and a neatly packaged form in a tiny plastic bottle.

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics defines probiotics as "live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." This scientific phrasing belies the millennia-old relationship humans have had with fermented foods, which are bustling with microorganisms. Long before scientists in white lab coats identified and named bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, people across cultures were cultivating bacteria in yogurt, pickles, and bread. Probiotics, the microorganisms, became a thriving industry in the 20th century, their promise bottled, branded, and sold–starting with the well known, red-capped Yakult bottles.

Probiotics have a multitude of benefits, but primarily, they improve your gut health by supporting and adding to the millions of “good” bacteria that line your gut. However, a healthy gut isn’t achieved only by adding more bacteria—it also requires you to nurture what is already present in the linings. This is where prebiotics come in the picture.

The human gut is much like a processing unit, a workplace to some 40 trillion microbial bacteria from hundreds of different species. These microscopic workers influence digestion, immune function, and even help maintain a person’s mental health. Probiotics, which are very similar to these in-house bacteria or the human microflora, are what smoothly run this ecosystem; prebiotics are the nutrients that help sustain them.

Simply put: probiotics are the organisms, prebiotics are their food.

Probiotics can be consumed by adding whole foods that house them in your diet, or as supplements. Probiotic supplements, while popular, contain only a handful of bacterial species, whereas a well-balanced gut microbiome requires a diversity. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are often misunderstood as just another supplement. In reality, this term is simply a way to describe dietary fiber–the kind found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. While not all fibers are prebiotics, all prebiotics are fibers, and they repopulate the growth of bacteria needed for your incredibly fragile gut ecosystem.

The gut, a complex microbial ecosystem, is very sensitive to the body’s diet. It contains both “good” and “bad” bacteria. The good microbes in your gut help your body in multiple ways, uch as aiding in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. In fact, you should know that your gut is the body’s largest immune system organ, containing up to 80% of your body’s immune cells. These cells help clear out pathogens from your body daily, the good microbes help the cells filter out the harmful ones from your body and in doing so, build immunity. These gut bacteria also produce short-chain fatty acids, which, again, help your immunity and keep inflammation at bay. Mainly, it’s useful to remember: a good gut = a healthy, strong body. But the gut is also swathed in bad bacteria, which can cause digestive issues, weak immunity, inflammation and gut dysbiosis–an unhealthy imbalance of bacteria. Further, bad bacteria grow fast, especially without resistance from the good ones.

Clearly, your gut is delicate–and for it to have a diverse microbial environment, both probiotics and prebiotics are necessary. 

Also read: Antibiotic overuse is turning your gut against you

Where can you find probiotics?

A good trick is to remember that any fermented food has a lot of probiotics, because of, of course, the host of bacteria that have aided the fermentation process in the food or drink.

• Yoghurt is one of the most popular sources of probiotics in India. The fermented dairy product contains lactic acid bacteria, which helps maintain a healthy gut. Moreover, Indians have found ways to effortlessly weave yoghurt into our plates with the likes of raita, lassi, and kadhi.
• South Indian delicacies like idli and dosa are made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal, another great source of probiotics. The overnight fermentation optimises their nutritional content, making them rich in probiotics. It enhances the flavour, but also makes these food items easier to digest.
• Mosaranna (curd rice) and dosas feel incomplete without a dash of pickle or chutney on the side of the plate. Lucky, because many Indian pickles and chutneys undergo a fermentation process, which introduces beneficial bacteria into them–again, a delicious source of probiotics. 
• While curd and pickles have managed to dominate our households, Kombucha, a variation from our diet, is a fermented beverage that has become popular for its probiotic factors. This fermented tea is another popular choice for its ability to increase the good bacteria in our gut. 
• Kanji is another dish which has multiple variants across the country (kanni, panta bhaat, ganji). This rice porridge is an age-old remedy to improve digestion as well as gut health. It prevents the growth of bad pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and others.

Also read: DIY kombucha: A simple, delicious guide to brewing

Feeding your gut 

High-fiber fruits like bananas, particularly when unripe (rich in resistant starch), apples (packed with pectin, a soluble fibre), and guavas (fiber powerhouses) naturally support a flourishing microbiome. Root vegetables such as carrots and beetroots, as well as integral legumes like lentils and chickpeas, further nurture gut health. Whole grains, too, play a part: brown rice offers resistant starch, while jowar (sorghum) contributes to the thriving microbial diversity.

And these are all prebiotics!

Probiotics help regulate the immune system and alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, though they are not particularly effective for weight loss, metabolic health, or lowering blood sugar. Prebiotics, on the other hand, offer a metabolic advantage, with strong evidence supporting their role in reducing blood sugar levels and improving overall metabolic function.

Like probiotics, prebiotics also influence the immune system and serve as a source of fuel for intestinal cells known as short-chain fatty acids. Interestingly, despite producing these acids, prebiotics are not highly effective at relieving gastrointestinal discomfort. If dealing with yeast overgrowth or Candida infections, incorporating both probiotics and prebiotics may help. A well-functioning gut ecosystem requires not only pinpointing the imbalances but also strengthening the good bacterial populations.

Science and speculation

The science of gut health remains a work in progress–a rabbit hole that scientists just can’t help going down farther and farther. The consensus suggests that rather than adding probiotic strains, the existing bacterial populations can be well-maintained through diet– suggesting that a shift can be made from supplement-driven solutions to the one that recognises the role of food, lifestyle, and microbial diversity.

So, should you be taking probiotics or prebiotics? As with most things related to health, is: it depends. A diet rich in fiber and fermented foods may do more for your gut than any bottle from the pharmacy aisle. But scientists do agree that a good balance of microbes is what’s key for your gut; prebiotics and probiotics both aid in this, and are complementary to each other. For a healthy gut, add probiotics; for healthy probiotics, add prebiotics. And find as much of it in whole foods as you can.

After all, what you put on your plate can offer more solutions to your body’s problems than you can imagine. 

Biochar, a form of charcoal used as a soil amendment, is an ancient agricultural technique that is seeing renewed interest today. More than just burnt plant material, biochar is gaining popularity for its ability to improve soil health, enhance crop yields, and sequester carbon—thus, helping combat climate change. While it has been used for centuries in conventional farming, researchers and policymakers are now looking at its potential for large-scale application, particularly in a country like India, where soil degradation and climate change pose serious threats to food security. There is serious interest—but what are the stakes?

A brief history

Biochar’s origins can be traced back 2,000 years ago, to the Amazon Basin, where indigenous communities created Terra Preta, or “black earth” by folding charcoal from low-temperature fires and organic waste material into the soil. They noticed that unlike surrounding nutrient-poor soils, Terra Preta remained remarkably fertile for years—and as scientists later studied, for centuries, thanks to the high carbon content of biochar. Similar practices have been observed in conventional Indian agricultural models, where farmers have long used charred organic matter and waste to enrich and preserve soil beds. However, with the rapid rise of industrial farming, urbanisation and chemical fertilisers, these age-old techniques are at risk of being a relic of the past.

Also read: Humus 101: Why this organic matter is crucial

The science behind biochar  

Biochar is produced through pyrolysis, a process in which organic material such as crop residues, wood chips, or animal manure is burned in a low-oxygen environment. This prevents complete combustion, leaving behind a porous, carbon-rich substance. When added to soil, biochar provides several benefits, one of which is carbon sequestration–the ability to trap carbon at its most stable for centuries together. Usually, when organic matter decomposes, it releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Biochar, however, locks carbon away in the soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and thus ultimately aiding in mitigating climate change.

Biochar is also responsible for enhancing soil fertility: it’s known to improve soil structure, enhancing microbial activity and nutrient retention. Unlike chemical fertilisers that deplete over time, biochar remains effective for years, making it a sustainable and ecologically-friendly soil amendment. Furthermore, with its porous structure, biochar helps soil retain moisture, making it especially beneficial in drought-prone regions across India. This is crucial for Indian farmers who are dependent on erratic monsoons and untimely weather conditions. 

Not only is it a sustainable fix, it also doubles up as a zero-waste solution—producing biochar provides a way to repurpose agricultural waste, such as rice husks and sugarcane bagasse, turning it into a valuable resource rather than allowing it to rot and release methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.

Also read: Why the ground beneath our feet matters

In the Indian context

India faces multiple agricultural challenges, including declining soil fertility, desertification, and unpredictable rainfall. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), nearly 30 percent of India’s soil is degraded. The overuse of chemical fertilisers has further exacerbated this issue, leading to nutrient depletion and soil acidification. 

For small-scale farmers, biochar offers a way to restore soil health without relying on expensive synthetic inputs. In regions like Rajasthan and Bundelkhand, where soils are poor and water is scarce, biochar’s water-holding capacity could help increase crop resilience. Studies have shown that incorporating biochar into sandy soils improves yields of staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize.  

While the benefits of biochar are clear, its widespread adoption in India is not without its challenges. Large-scale biochar production requires controlled pyrolysis units, which small farmers may not have access to. Low-tech kilns and community-level production models, though, could make it more accessible.

However, if we were to integrate biochar widely, we must know the constraints and implications that it carries. First, for farmers to use biochar in all their practices and make a profit from it, they must build distributed systems with low transportation requirements. One emerging concern is also that emissions of methane, nitrogen, soot or volatile organic compounds combined with low biochar yields may negate some or all of the carbon-sequestration benefits. The general agreement within the community is that though biochar is splendidly useful, there needs to be proper research on the production and application of biochar if we want to use it for both soil amendment and climate change abatement. Otherwise, we may end up doing one, but not the other. 

With a glaring discrepancy among Indian farmers unaware of biochar’s benefits, the solution is multi-pronged. Government extension programs and NGOs need to play a crucial role in both producing low-tech models assisting farmers and disseminating knowledge about its application. This cannot be achieved without policy wide support, unlike chemical fertilisers, biochar lacks strong policy backing and subsidy support in India. Incentivising its use through carbon credits or sustainable farming programs could encourage wider adoption. 

India’s agricultural policies are slowly shifting towards sustainable practices, with initiatives like the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promoting organic inputs. Some pilot projects have already shown promising results. For example, researchers at IIT-Kanpur have experimented with biochar in paddy fields, finding that it improves soil carbon levels while reducing methane emissions from flooded rice cultivation.  

Large-scale efforts at subsidising biochar use can revolutionise waste reduction. India generates 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, much of which is burned openly, contributing to severe air pollution and the expansive blanket of deteriorating air quality, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana. In fact, biochar has been suggested as a “solution” to oft-blamed stubble burning-led air pollution. 

Turning this waste into biochar could provide a dual benefit—pulling down the lethal levels of air pollution while enhancing soil health for a long, long time.

Also read: Regenerative farming: Solution to climate change?

Chemical pesticides may effectively eliminate pests, but their collateral damage is hard to ignore. From links to neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease to unintended harm to ecosystems, chemicals have sparked public health concerns. 

As the air thickens with warnings about the damage caused by chemical pesticides, a quiet hero emerges from the Indian subcontinent: the neem tree. Often referred to as the “botanical marvel” or the “village pharmacy,” neem has interested scientists, environmentalists, and farmers. 

Scientifically known as Azadirachta indica, neem is also popularly known as the “gift of nature”. Its adaptability to poor, degraded soils and its resilience in the harshest environments make it an agricultural favourite. Its uses extend beyond providing just shade or firewood. For centuries, neem has been tapped for its medicinal and insecticidal properties. Therefore, time and again, its potential as a natural pesticide has come into sharp focus, too.

The potency of neem extract is not a new area of interest for researchers. A 1992 report points out that Indian scientists jumped on the bandwagon to study the tree much after the West began to see it as a solution to the problem of modern agriculture. Starting in the 1980s, a patent controversy ensued between the researchers from the West who tried to patent neem and Indian activists who fought to protect traditional knowledge. The latter won in 2005. 

Farmers have long battled the fall armyworm, a savage pest species that attacks cereals like maize. As savage as the name, the pests have caused one of the deadliest pest epidemics in the Indian subcontinent in 2018-19. The usual synthetic solutions have proven beneficial but are highly problematic as pests sometimes resist them. On the other hand, neem compounds work on the insect's hormonal system, not on the digestive or nervous systems, and therefore, do not lead to the development of resistance in future generations. Its extracts have been shown to affect nearly 300 insect species, including aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and thrips, known menaces amongst Indian farmers. 

Several methods were used to extract the beneficial chemicals from neem seeds and leaves. The chemicals were then tested on various crops, from cardamom to mangoes.

Also read: The 'plant' doctor will see you now

‍A multitasking plant

The plant’s resourcefulness as a natural pesticide is buried in its seeds, specifically the kernel, which bears an oil rich in insecticidal compounds. Neem oil contains sulfur and other bioactive components that work like a charm against pests. It can be transformed into powders, granules, and emulsifiable concentrates, creating a wide range for farmers to choose from. But no matter how you use it, neem oil requires patience. It takes four to seven days to show results, and repeat applications are often needed.

Its strength, however, lies in its versatility. It targets pests and eggs that hide through winter as a dormant spray. Moreover, timing is essential; pick a dry, calm day when the temperature is above 4°C, and avoid using it if a frost is coming.

It can be applied directly to leaves as a foliar spray, keeping pests and diseases away during the growing season. For more stubborn issues, one can try a soil drench. This involves mixing neem oil with water and pouring it into the soil, where the plant’s roots absorb it. Once inside, the neem does its thing, tackling fungus gnats, soil-borne fungi, and pests hiding in the dirt. Whether dealing with houseplants or an outdoor garden, neem oil is a simple way to protect plants.

Distinct from chemical pesticides

Unlike chemicals, which kill indiscriminately, neem oil acts as an “antifeedant,” deterring insects from feeding and ultimately starving them. This modus operandi ensures that neem-based treatments target only pests while sparing beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies when used adequately. Research has consistently highlighted neem’s efficacy. In rice fields, for instance, neem oil sprays and soil amendments have proven effective against pests like the rice leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis). The larvae’s growth and development are stunted when incorporated into their food. Neem’s reach extends beyond rice; it protects pulses, cotton, groundnuts, brinjals, okra, and even bananas. 

Neem oil is a godsend for organic gardeners. A simple mixture of two teaspoons of neem oil, one teaspoon of mild liquid soap, and almost a litre of water can transform into a potent spray. This concoction repels pests and fights fungal infections like powdery mildew. With neem, gardeners and farmers have an eco-friendly ally that is biodegradable and non-toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife.

But neem’s appeal isn’t just its effectiveness; it’s also its sustainability. Unlike chemical pesticides, neem doesn’t accumulate in the soil or water. Pests don’t develop resistance to their bioactive compounds (i.e., elements found in miniscule amounts that support the fundamental nutritional needs of any living organism), which is a chronic problem with synthetic chemicals. Moreover, neem can be combined with other natural oils for enhanced potency. 

But despite its many advantages, neem isn’t a band-aid solution. Its effectiveness is gradual, often requiring repeated applications to achieve significant results. It also struggles to tackle fungal and bacterial infections in plants. Yet, ‘The Wonder Tree’s’ strengths far outweigh its limitations, particularly when viewed through the lens of long-term ecological health.

Discovering neem’s usefulness as a pesticide reminds us that nature often holds the solutions to its own challenges, provided we pay attention and listen.

Also read: Natural vs organic farming: What you need to know