Elmentoz Research, a biotech startup based in Bhubaneswar, is making waves in the world of sustainable agriculture and animal nutrition. The company was recently felicitated by India’s Minister of Industry and Supply, Piyush Goyal, for winning the Startup Mahakumbh Grand Challenge Award 2025—a prestigious recognition celebrating innovation that has real-world impact.
What’s the Big Deal About This Award?
The Startup Mahakumbh, held from April 3–5, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, is India’s largest startup event. It brought together:
- 10,000+ startups
- 1,000+ investors and incubators
- 50,000+ visitors from around the globe
The event served as a mega-platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies across industries like AgriTech, HealthTech, AI, FinTech, Defense, BioTech, and more. Amidst all the action, Elmentoz stood out for its breakthrough innovation in animal feed biotechnology.
What Makes Elmentoz’s Work Revolutionary?
At the heart of Elmentoz’s innovation is a vision to replace antibiotics in animal feed—a game-changer in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major global health concern. Overuse of antibiotics in livestock often leads to resistant bacteria that can infect humans, making treatments ineffective. Elmentoz is tackling this head-on.
Their Secret Weapon? The Black Soldier Fly (BSF)
Elmentoz uses Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert organic waste into high-quality, functional proteins, oils, and biofertilizers. This process:
- Turns waste into value
- Provides sustainable and nutrient-rich alternatives to soy and fishmeal
- Reduces reliance on antibiotics by using antimicrobial peptides naturally found in insects
These smart protein solutions are especially crafted for:
- Poultry
- Aquaculture (fish farming)
- Pet food
By improving gut health and immunity in animals naturally, Elmentoz’s feed helps reduce disease and dependence on synthetic drugs.
Meet the Mind Behind Elmentoz: Jayashankar Das
The company was founded by Jayashankar Das, a respected biotechnologist and visionary entrepreneur. His goal? To solve urgent problems in:
- Animal nutrition
- Food security
- Environmental sustainability
Under his leadership, Elmentoz isn’t just creating a product—it’s reshaping an entire industry. He’s using deeptech and biotech tools to move us toward a circular bioeconomy where waste becomes wealth.
Recognized for Global Potential
Elmentoz’s innovations have earned several patents and high-profile grants, proving their solution is both scientifically sound and globally scalable. Their achievements include:
- BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)
- Startup India Seed Fund
- NRDC-DSIR Tech Development Fund
- Indo-Israel I4F Grant
- HDFC Parivartan Eco-Innovate Grant
- MeitY Leap Ahead Cohort
These awards confirm Elmentoz’s reputation as a deeptech leader with a clear focus on climate resilience and sustainability.
Elmentoz is solving a huge problem: animals need nutritious feed, but antibiotics in that feed are causing health risks for humans. Their solution? Use a special insect (the Black Soldier Fly) to make natural, protein-rich feed that keeps animals healthy without drugs, all while cleaning up organic waste.
It’s eco-friendly, affordable, scientifically brilliant, and now nationally recognized. With support from the government, top investors, and biotech pioneers, Elmentoz is ready to transform animal farming not just in India—but around the world.
