- Avio Smart Market Stack (ASMS) and UAL Biotech seek to address last-mile distribution challenges that hinder the adoption of bio-based agricultural inputs among India’s smallholder farmers.
- ASMS’s digital rural network covers over 5,000 villages, providing access to approximately 40 million farmers and enabling large-scale distribution of UAL Biotech’s biological solutions.
- The initiative aims to improve soil health, boost crop yields, reduce reliance on harmful chemicals, and promote sustainable agriculture by combining digital infrastructure with biotechnology.
India’s Avio Smart Market Stack (ASMS) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based UAL Biotech to solve the persistent last-mile challenge in bio-based input adoption in India.
“The core challenge being addressed is the last-mile distribution and adoption of bio-based inputs, which despite their benefits, remain inaccessible to smallholder farmers,” said Dr. Raja Krishna, head of agriculture business, ASMS.
ASMS’s rural digital network spans over 5,000 villages and can help UAL Biotech reach approximately 40 million farmers with their biological solutions.
“By combining digital infrastructure with biotechnology innovation, the initiative seeks to enhance soil health, improve crop yield, reduce reliance on harmful chemicals, and support long-term food security and rural economic growth. Essentially, ASMS provides the reach, and UAL Biotech provides the science,” said Krishna.
Growing interest, hesitant adoption
Speaking to AgTechNavigator, Krishna said demand for alternatives to conventional synthetic inputs was growing among Indian farmers.
“Bio-pesticides and bio-fungicides are gaining popularity, driven by government initiatives promoting organic farming and increased consumer demand for pesticide-free produce. Rising consumer preference for residue-free food, export requirements, and government support are driving interest in bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides.”
As a result, a hybrid model is common, with farmers combining biological inputs with conventional agrochemicals.
However, adoption has not become mainstream due to concerns around cost, awareness, product reliability, and yield risks, he added.
“The collaboration aims to bridge this gap by enabling scalable solutions, strengthening farmer trust through demonstrations, and improving access to effective, market-linked sustainable input systems across agricultural value chains,” said Krishna.
The company expects to see a shift from subsidy‑driven distribution to value‑driven adoption linked to soil regeneration, carbon credit potential and premium market access.
While it believes the demand for biological and regenerative inputs will grow further, it will not be consistent across farmer segments, with the challenge especially among smallholders.
“Mass-market adoption among smallholders still depends on effective last-mile delivery making digitally enabled rural distribution networks, like ASMS’s, a critical enabler of this growth,” said Krishna.
More than traceability
Beyond productivity and sustainability, the partnership also has implications for market access.
Collaborations like the ones between ASMS and UAL Biotech held “strong potential to unlock premium and export markets”, said Krishna.
He highlighted initiatives such as TraceNet 2.0, launched in 2025 by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which aimed to simplify organic certification and strengthen traceability throughout agricultural value chains.
“Global and urban Indian markets increasingly demand traceable, organic produce, offering export and premium opportunities especially for spices, tea, coffee, pulses, and traditional grains. Blockchain traceability now allows consumers to scan a QR code and trace exactly which farm a product originated from, down to harvest date and pesticide-test results a critical trust-building tool for premium buyers.”
However, certification costs are high, and it is exacerbated by farmers struggling to find buyers willing to pay the premium.
“Traceability alone isn’t sufficient without stronger market linkages and certification support,” said Krishna.
Future of the collaboration
The collaboration will measure success on multiple fronts.
At the farmer level, the ability to demonstrate consistent outcomes across regions and crop types will determine the model’s scalability.
“The market is consolidating around players who combine technological innovation, effective distribution, and credible agronomic outcomes, so proving the model across diverse regions and crop types is essential,” said Krishna.
Economically, success would mean farmers not only producing more sustainably but also accessing premium and export markets that reward regenerative practices, he added.
“Global and urban markets increasingly demand traceable organic produce, offering premium and export opportunities success means farmers actually accessing and benefiting from these channels for regenerative growth across ten states in India.”
