Innoterra empowers farmers with insights, infrastructure, markets, and capital
Innoterra is an Indo-Swiss agri-tech platform that creates a digital marketplace to connect buyers and sellers of farm products. It supports them with tools for order management, lead generation, logistics, distribution and route optimisation.
In an interview with ET Digital, Yashasvini Kumar, COO, Innoterra, says that the company ensures farmers have access to essential resources such as information, insights, infrastructure, markets and capital. Kumar also says that Innotera aims to build India’s first digital B2B marketplace and fulfilment solution based on orchestration and agile trading. Edited excerpts:
The Economic Times (ET): How is India’s agriculture sector placed? Yashasvini Kumar (YK): India’s agriculture sector is poised between contradictions — simultaneously massive in scale and opportunity yet lagging behind in infrastructure and investment. There are exciting consumer trends coming into play, including superfoods, nutraceuticals and a focus on regenerative agriculture, but balanced out by concerning trends in climate change and water reserves. The sector is ready for growth, investment and talent.
ET: What technologies and solutions does Innoterra offer to help agricultural businesses for developing sustainable farming and supply chains? YK: Innoterra offers a range of technologies and solutions aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability in agriculture and supply chains. Our Farmlink app connects farmer producer organisations (FPOs) with modern and general trade retailers, including kirana stores, to facilitate the supply of high-quality fruit. This platform creates a digital marketplace that links buyers and sellers of consistent quality farm products, supported by tools for order management, lead generation, logistics, distribution and route optimisation. Additionally, the company has developed bespoke software that manages and tracks procurement and supply in dairy business. Innoterra also focuses on combating agricultural diseases through patented bioformulations to protect against Panama disease and provides disease-resistant banana plant varieties.
ET: How does Innoterra ensure that farmers have easy access to information, insights, infrastructure, people, markets and capital? YK: Innoterra supports farmers by ensuring they have access to essential resources such as information, insights, infrastructure, markets and capital. For example, through our dairy business, MilkLane, Innoterra has built a community of over 10,000 dairy farmers, providing them with education, financing options and access to high-quality cattle feed. Farmers also benefit from transparent digital payments, short-term loans and opportunities to diversify into other crops. Recent initiatives include the distribution of over 6,000 stainless steel cans to improve the sustainability and hygiene of milk collection. These efforts aim to strengthen and support farming communities.
ET: How are you working towards connecting buyers and sellers in the agri-food ecosystem? YK: Consumers and retailers in India do not always have access to consistent high quality and healthy farm produce. Of the produce being cultivated, close to 40% is wasted before even reaching the retailer. We are aiming to build India’s first digital B2B marketplace and fulfilment solution based on orchestration and agile trading.
This is a working-capital-light scale up approach with a strategic focus on high gross margin categories and SKUs. We are able to unlock up to 25% value within the supply chain through our efficiency.