Indian Sri Biotech Lab receives US $8.7 million investment for crop protection and nutrition

AltAssets reports that Rabo Equity Advisors, an Indian agribusiness-focused private equity firm, has invested nearly US $9 million in Sri Biotech Laboratories India, a company which manufactures and markets bio-organic agri inputs for crop nutrition and crop protection. Sri Biotech also produces seeds, multi-micronutrients, and biologically enriched organic manures. The company supports Integrated Crop Management and sustainable crop approaches.

The investment, made through Rabo Equity Advisors’ India Agri Business Fund – a $100 million fund targeted at the expansion of Indian food and agribusiness companies – will go to strengthen in-house R&D. The focus will be on seed research and development of new molecules for crop protection, as well as putting some money towards infrastructure.

Sri Biotech, which sells its products through a strong dealer network in six Indian states, plans to establish a stronger network in those states as well as open up new states and exports, according to the firm. The Agri Business Fund will gain two seats on the company’s board of directors.