In its June 2026 issue, Shaastra features “Fields of green,” an article by Richa Malhotra exploring how startups are transforming agricultural waste into useful, commercially viable products. The article covers innovations ranging from banana-fibre leather by Banofi to advanced battery materials made from agricultural residues by Cancrie, biofuels and biochar from cashew-processing waste by MASH Makes, and plant-based leather developed by Avinya.
It also highlights Proleri, whose technology extracts RuBisCO, a high-quality plant protein, from discarded leaves. The startup tested its protein isolates with Venture Center’s technology incubator in Pune and is preparing to establish a pilot plant in the city. Together, these ventures demonstrate how waste can become a resource for new materials, energy storage and alternative proteins, while creating opportunities for more sustainable production.