ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct long-term research on the sustainable use of iron ore tailings (IOTs) in agriculture.
The MoU was signed by Dr Vishwanathan N., Head–Research & Development, AM/NS India, and Dr C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research), ICAR-IARI, in the presence of Dr Bhupinder Singh, Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator, and senior officials from both institutions.
The collaboration builds on preliminary studies launched in 2024 at IARI, New Delhi, and near AM/NS India’s beneficiation facility in Kirandul, Chhattisgarh. The studies indicated that IOTs, which contain silica, iron oxides, alumina, calcium, magnesium and other minerals, could potentially provide nutrients for crops including paddy, wheat and vegetables.
The new research will assess crop response, nutrient availability, phytotoxicity, leaching characteristics and environmental impacts across multiple seasons. The initiative aims to establish scientific evidence for safe utilisation of IOTs while reducing long-term storage requirements and supporting waste valorisation, resource conservation and reduced dependence on chemical fertilisers.
The development could attract attention in eastern India’s steel and mining-linked markets, particularly as the industry increasingly focuses on resource efficiency, by-product utilisation and circular economy practices.
