Nutrient-Enriched Medicinal Herbs : A Bio-fortification and Hydroponic Approach

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Project Objective
  1. To develop biofortified edible vegetables with enhanced micronutrient content using hydroponic farming techniques.
  2. To design a cost-effective, automated hydroponic farming model with self-regulating nutrient monitoring and adjustment capabilities.
  3. To create robust Analytical methods for analyzing the nutrient content and quality of biofortified vegetables.
  4. To evaluate the efficiency and scalability of the automated hydroponic system in various environmental settings.
Issues / Challenges Involved in the Project
  1. Nutrient Optimization and Bio-fortification Consistency Achieving and maintaining precise micronutrient concentrations in hydroponic systems is challenging, as nutrient imbalance directly affects plant growth, nutrient uptake, and the quality of bio-fortified vegetables.
  2. Automation and Real-Time Monitoring Complexity Developing a cost-effective hydroponic system with automated nutrient monitoring and control requires reliable sensors, seamless hardware–software integration, and robust system design.
  3. Scalability, Validation, and Adoption BarriersEnsuring consistent system performance across varying environmental conditions, validating nutrient enrichment through analytical methods, and addressing cost and skill barriers pose challenges for large-scale adoption.
Team Lead
  • Dr Shashikant B. Bagade, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, NMIMS Shirpu

shashikant.bagade@nmims.edu

Team Members
  1. Dr Vishal Gokul Beldar, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, NMIMS Shirpur
    2. vishal.beldar@nmims.edu
  2. Mallikarjun Dhotre. Assistant Professor (Horticulture), SVKMs School of Agriculture, Tardi, Shirpur.
    3. mallikarjun.dhotre@nmims.edu