StrepUP
Team information
Category:
Mitesh Shrestha
PHD
Tribhuvan University
Subash Regmi
Master
Tribhuwan university
Samrat Panthi
Master
Tribhuwan University
Hasana Mahaju
Bachelor
Tribhuwan University
Alina Shrestha
Master
Tribhuvan University
Mitisha Shrestha
Master
Tribhuvan University
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About the team
Our diverse team comprises people from different educational backgrounds and experiences. Our team consists of six people: one female undergraduate student in microbiology, two male graduate students of biotechnology, one female graduate student of nutrition, one female graduate student of business studies, and one male PhD scholar currently pursuing his doctorate in applied microbiology for agriculture.
Our vision
Vision: To revolutionize sustainable farming by using microbial consortia as eco-friendly biofertilizers and biopesticides, enhancing nutrient uptake, soil health, and plant resilience while reducing chemical dependency. Problem Statement: The use of excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has resulted in poor soil health, disturbed ecosystems, and declining plant productivity over the years. Apart from this, it has also led to increased exposure to harmful chemicals, resulting in various ailments in humans and animals. Despite their global presence outnumbering other living organisms, the huge potential of microbes remains under-researched. This project aims to develop microbial consortia to address and mitigate the challenges caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides, providing a sustainable solution that promotes eco-friendly agriculture.
Our solution
Ubiquitous in distribution, microbes are one of the major biological players in maintaining soil health and productivity. We aim to develop a consortium of microbes that regulates nutrient cycling in the soil, helps plants in efficient nutrient uptake, and reduces damages caused due to different pests. Although individual bacteria and fungi have been developed for these purposes, a consortium has rarely been used. As these bacteria and fungi are naturally occurring, they can be produced indefinitely without damaging the environment as well as they tend to leave very little residues in the crops leading to safe food production. As people are moving towards nature-based sustainable solutions, microbial-based biofertilizers and biopesticides present a perfect solution to the ongoing problems with synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Although it is quite impossible to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides completely, it is possible to reduce their usage and supplement the gap with viable biological alternatives. Hence, biological agricultural inputs can help to reduce dependency on chemical inputs resulting in sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices.