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Indian-origin aerosol scientist develops nano-fertilizer
Her startup engineers nanoparticles small enough to be absorbed through plant leaves.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 16, May 2025
- 16:05 EDT
- 12
Shruti Choudhary / University of Miami
An Indian-origin doctoral student at University of Miami has developed a nano fertilizer that is absorbed by crops more efficiently.
Shruti Choudhary, a researcher in aerosol science at the University’s College of Engineering, developed a zinc-based nanofertilizer through her startup, Smart Aerosol Technologies (SmArT), which helps farmers grow more food with fewer resources.
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The nanoparticles she engineered are small enough to be absorbed through plant leaves. Unlike conventional fertilizers—which often washed away and polluted water systems—the nano-fertilizer was designed to maximize absorption and minimize waste.
“We call it nanofertilizer, and it’s the next generation of plant food but without the drawbacks,” Choudhary said of the technique.
Previous field studies conducted by her mentor, UM Engineering Dean Pratim Biswas, demonstrated the effectiveness of zinc nanoparticles in improving the growth of crops like mung beans, corn, and soybeans. “The farmers saw immediate results compared to the conventional fertilizer they were using,” Biswas said.
The nano-fertilizer also showed potential for improving crop nutrition. In one study, tomatoes treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles recorded a 113 percent increase in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
Choudhary secured $125,000 in funding through the eMerge Americas Startup Showcase, along with a $100,000 grant from the University Startup Accelerator, and plans to begin testing the product on crops in Florida.
Her interest in agriculture comes from her grandfather’s farming experiences in drought-prone Rajasthan, India, which shaped her understanding of the urgent need for sustainable farming solutions. “Nanofertilizers could help protect what little precious water supplies regions like Rajasthan have,” she said.
Beyond agriculture, Choudhary, an aerosol scientist, also contributed to research on the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and worked on developing advanced sensors capable of identifying both the amount and composition of particulate matter in the air.
Choudhary earned her undergraduate degree in electronics and telecommunication engineering from the Army Institute of Technology in Pune, India. She went on to complete a master’s in energy, environmental, and chemical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis before pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of Miami.
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