About us
Leading the way for cultivation at sea!
About the Company
In 2007, Mr Abhiram Seth established AquAgri with a singular goal to revolutionise seaweed cultivation. What started out as a corporate social responsibility initiative has now transformed into a private enterprise facilitating farmers to cultivate seaweed. We support seaweed cultivation and process it to create value-added products for industrial and agricultural use.
At AquAgri, we are committed to creating a better tomorrow for the coastal communities. With our technical insights and ground support, we provide the resources that the farmers need for efficient seaweed cultivation. It is their endeavour that has made AquAgri the leading manufacturer of seaweed-based products in India.
Mission
To establish Aqua-Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood option for the coastal communities by creating viable and scalable business models which are benefiting society while having a positive impact on the environment.
Vision
Using our in-depth knowledge and revolutionary technology, we envision becoming a global leader in marine algae cultivation and processing for value-added products.
1998
Initiation of Seaweed business exploration
Mars collaborates with PepsiCo. India in order to explore seaweed farming as an opportunity to leverage their contract farming experience.
2005
Collaboration between PepsiCo. & CSMCRI
PepsiCo. India collaborates with CSMCRI (Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute) for technology and planting materials and establishes an enduring relationship.
2007
Formation of AquAgri Pvt. Ltd
AquAgri Pvt. Ltd. establishes itself and later purchases PepsiCo’s seaweed holdings and its technology. This created an enterprise for scaling up seaweed cultivation and setting up processing facilities.
2008
Commencement of industrial production
CSMCRI licences integrated methods of production of carrageenan and sap to AquAgri and commences its industrial production of seaweed liquid bio-stimulant.
2009
AquAgri plant construction
AquAgri initiates the construction of its semi-refined carrageenan plant at Manamadurai, Tamil Nadu.
2011
Project sanction
The CSIR, New Delhi, approves a multi-institutional pan-India project to research the efficacy of seaweed extract in improving crop growth and yield.
Certification
AquAgri receives two major certificates from Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), USA and NPOP Organic certification from APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India.
2012
AquAgri received DSIR approval for in house R&D lab
AquAgri secures approval from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt of India, for in-house R&D laboratories on algal research.
2016
Addition of another Plant Bio-stimulant
The Honourable Union Minister of Science and Technology, Government of India, launches another plant bio-stimulant named IFFCO Sagarika based on CSIR-CSMCRI technology.
2017
IFFCO eBazar took a major stake in the company.
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) takes a 50% stake in AquAgri through its wholly-owned subsidiary (IFFCO eBazar Limited).
2018
Enhanced product reach covering 21 states in India by being the most competitively priced and indigenous bio-stimulant.
2021
Exponential increase in IFFCO Sagarika market share accelerated by farmers’ trust in the product.
2022
Driven by product demand, AquAgri expanded capacity by 5 times.
Main factory
Manamadurai, Tamil Nadu
(Seaweed Liquid Extract and Powder Manufacturing Unit with the capacity of 5000 KL liquid and 100 MT)
Uttar Pradesh
Rajasthan
Gujarat
West Bengal
Bihar
Jharkhand
Cultivation Site
Rameshwaram
(25 km long red seaweed cultivation site)
sustainable
solutions for the world
13 Manufacturing Plants
7+ Indian states
Awards and Achievements
Our Team
Mr. Abhiram Seth
Abhiram Seth is the Managing Director of Aquagri since 2008. Aquagri is an enterprise focused on promoting Aqua Agriculture through self-help groups, amongst the coastal communities. He is carrying forward the work originally initiated by Pepsico for manufacturing bio-stimulants for Agricultural application and Carrageenan an ingredient used by the food processing industry from the sea plants grown locally.
Till March 2008 he was the Executive Director – Exports and External Affairs for PepsiCo India. Starting in 1993 he led Pepsico’s exports and agricultural development efforts in India. In this role he worked on creating backward linkages with the farmers for sourcing raw material by leveraging a unique Public-Private partnership built with the Punjab Government and Punjab Agricultural University. Pepsi’s Contract Farming model is now acknowledged as a major private sector initiative in the field of agriculture. He initiated Pepsi’s foray into Citrus cultivation and Seaweed Farming, which are unique models of backward integration.
In 2001, at Pepsico he took on additional responsibility of driving the sustainability agenda and external affairs. In this period, Pepsi made great strides in the area of Water Management and Waste Disposal. The positive water balance initiative launched in year 2002 is now being emulated by many industries and the Zero Waste Centre initiative is widely being acknowledged as a best practice.
He started his career with Hindustan Lever Limited in 1975 where he worked for seven years in the Sales and Marketing function. During this period worked on hair and skin reparations range and helped hair products range consisting of Sunsilk and Clinic shampoos attain market leadership position. He then moved on to the MGF group, where he looked after the industrial gases business. He also helped put together a joint venture for the group with Citi Bank for factoring.
Abhiram graduated in Economics from Delhi University, and then went on to do his Master’s in Management studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute, Bombay University with specialization in marketing. He was a member of the QRT team constituted by ICAR to review post-harvest technology work being done by various research establishments.
Abhiram has Chaired the Water Committee of FICCI, has chaired Food Regulatory Committee of CII and has also been the president of CIFTI. He is also actively associated in the Foreign Trade and Agriculture/Food Processing work of various apex bodies of Chambers of Commerce.
Mr. Tanmaye Seth
As a Director of a company in the agriculture and aquaculture industry, Tanmaye Seth is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the field. The organisation has immensely benefited from his strategies to drive growth and expansion. Tanmaye, who is a Master’s in Economics from the University of Nottingham, stays focused on emerging trends, anticipates market changes, and adapts the company’s strategies accordingly.
Tanmaye Seth has strong leadership skills, excellent business acumen, and a deep understanding of the agriculture and aquaculture industries. He would need to be able to identify emerging trends, anticipate market changes, and adapt the company’s strategies accordingly.
Tanmaye has a passion for sustainability and the environment and provides stewardship in these areas. He is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices and to developing innovative solutions that reduce the environmental impact of food production.
Tanmaye Seth is a key figure in driving the company’s mission of promoting sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices worldwide.