AltM: An Indian biomaterial startup transforming agricultural residue into sustainable products
In India, harvest seasons leave behind more than 683 million tons of agricultural residue. While some is repurposed as fodder or fuel, an estimated 87 million tons of residue is burnt on croplands, negatively affecting soil productivity, contributing to air pollution, and creating a public health crisis. A 2023 global survey revealed that 26 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India, with crop residue burning, urban pollutants, and seasonal fireworks exacerbating the problem.
According to a WHO global air pollution and health expert, there has been a 30-40% increase in the last 10-15 years of patients exhibiting breathing problems every year during October and November, which coincides with the post-harvest burning season. For instance, Delhi’s infamous smog during this season was shown to be partially linked to agricultural waste burning in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana. This correlation has been verified by satellite images showing a sharp increase in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), which measure the extent to which aerosol particles block solar beams, preventing them from reaching the ground.
Since 2010, the Indian government has introduced several directives to manage and prevent agricultural waste burning. The 2014 National Policy for Management of Crop Residue (NPMCR) outlined key objectives, including monitoring crop waste burning through satellite imaging, promoting and subsidizing technologies for agricultural waste optimization, and enforcing farming best practices. Despite significant efforts, only one objective—satellite-based monitoring—was achieved in some provinces. This limited progress highlighted the need for more effective waste management, creating an opportunity for private sector intervention.
In 2022, Apoorv Garg and Yugal Raj Jain founded AltM, which researches, develops, and manufactures alternate materials, focused on scalable biochemicals and biomaterials, in pursuit of its mission to “enable industries [to] reduce their carbon footprints and improve circularity in their supply chains.” The startup uses as its raw material upgraded lignocellulosic agricultural residues, which can be used to produce products such as paper, biofuels, and polymers. These are supplied to organizations in AltM’s target industries of CPG/FMCG, pharma, textiles, industrial chemicals, and packaging. This practice offers farmers a productive alternative to burning their crop residue, instead monetizing it by creating high-value products that create economic returns.
In 2023, AltM secured a US$3.5 million seed funding round. The company is working on establishing its production capacity, maturing their product pipelines, and executing commercial trials. As bioenergy and biomaterials startups like AltM gain increasing attention from funders, the supply chain connecting the agrifood ecosystem with other industries can be strengthened to boost revenues for smallholder farmers and reinforce circular economy principles.
