Bayer and Natur-Tec India to trial compostable seedling cups in nurseries
Bayer and Natur-Tec India have agreed to develop biodegradable and compostable seedling cups designed to replace single-use plastic in nurseries. Pilot trials will begin in vegetable and fruit nurseries across India.
Bayer and Natur-Tec India, a subsidiary of Northern Technologies International Corporation, have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop biodegradable and compostable seedling cups. According to GlobeNewswire, the project is aimed at changing nursery practices and reducing the use of single-use plastic in agriculture.
The partners said the new cups are being designed to remain compatible with widely used nematicides and fungicides. At the same time, they want the cups to support seedling development during the early growth stages even when crop protection treatments are applied. The stated goal is to preserve germination rates, root development and seedling vigour without forcing growers to choose between agronomic performance and sustainability.
Waste reduction is another central target. The compostable cups are intended to break down naturally within transplant cycles, removing nursery plastic waste after planting and supporting a more circular production model. The release presents the effort as a combination of Bayer’s crop science capabilities and Natur-Tec’s materials expertise in compostable biopolymers.
Pilot trials are due to begin in vegetable and fruit nurseries across India. During those trials, the companies plan to measure germination performance, growth parameters and yield outcomes. If the results are positive under commercial conditions, the partners say they intend to scale the technology first across India and later into other markets.
Simon Wiebusch, head of Bayer’s Crop Science Division for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, said the collaboration reflects a push for practical and cost-effective solutions that benefit farmers and strengthen farming ecosystems. Natur-Tec vice-president Vineet Dalal said the project goes beyond replacing conventional plastic by trying to build nursery systems that work more closely with natural processes.
The announcement matters because it addresses a specific pain point in intensive crop production: plastic use in seedling propagation. If the material proves compatible with crop protection products and economically viable for growers, it could become a practical input innovation for horticulture and fruit production, where transplant quality has a direct effect on final yields and production costs.