ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) to study the agricultural potential of iron ore tailings. According to reports from ANI, this partnership was announced on Tuesday and represents a significant step in exploring sustainable mining byproduct utilization. The MoU was formally signed and exchanged 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, ICAR-IARI, and other senior officials from both institutions. This collaboration builds on encouraging preliminary studies initiated in 2024 between AM/NS India and ICAR-IARI to explore the suitability of Iron Ore Tailings in agriculture since the byproducts were found to contain naturally occurring minerals such as silica, iron oxides, alumina, calcium and magnesium. As per AM/NS India, the partnership represents a pioneering effort to unlock the potential of iron ore tailings through science-led research.
The iron ore tailings contain minerals such as silica, iron oxides, alumina, calcium and magnesium, along with other micro and beneficial nutrients. As reported by ANI, these byproducts are currently stored in the mining sector, creating environmental footprint concerns. The study will focus on how these minerals can be utilized in agricultural applications, with initial laboratory and field studies conducted at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, and near AM/NS India's beneficiation facility in Kirandul, Chhattisgarh, demonstrating promising results for utilizing Iron Ore Tailings as sources of essential and beneficial mineral nutrients for crops including paddy, wheat and vegetables. According to AM/NS India, the research indicated potential for utilizing Iron Ore Tailings as sources of essential and beneficial mineral nutrients for crops including paddy, wheat and vegetables, with the iron ore tailings generated during beneficiation containing naturally occurring minerals that can be leveraged for crop production and sustaining soil health. Through this long-term collaborative programme with AM/NS India, we aim to generate comprehensive scientific data on agronomic performance, environmental safety and nutrient dynamics, which can help develop evidence-based pathways for responsible utilization of iron ore tailings, particularly for quenching the Fe deficiency of poor degraded soils and improving the Fe concentration of farm produce to support biofortification efforts.
The research will examine the use of iron ore tailings in crops such as paddy, wheat and vegetables, with the present MOU focusing on long-term scientific studies to be conducted at IARI, New Delhi, and at AM/NS India, Kirandul, over multiple seasons to evaluate crop response, nutrient availability, Phyto-toxicity, leaching characteristics, and overall environmental impact. According to AM/NS India, the research aims to establish robust scientific evidence that could enable and ensure a safe and beneficial utilization of the Iron Ore Tailings in agriculture, which will help in reducing the need for long-term storage of this mining byproduct. Both entities intend to develop and validate technologies for the safe and beneficial use of iron ore tailings, while promoting natural resource conservation, sustainable waste management and reducing reliance on imported chemical fertilizers. As per Dr. Bhupinder Singh, Principal Investigator, preliminary studies have shown encouraging indications regarding the potential use of iron ore tailings in agricultural systems, particularly for quenching the Fe deficiency of poor degraded soils and improving the Fe concentration of farm produce to support biofortification efforts.
"The initiative is aligned with AM/NS India's broader sustainability strategy focused on resource efficiency, waste valorisation and circular economy practices," said Hiroo Ishibashi, Director and Vice President – Technology, AM/NS India, as reported by ANI. "If successful, this initiative can create a win-win outcome by reducing the environmental footprint associated with by-product storage while supporting sustainable agriculture and resource conservation," he emphasized. The collaboration aims to address both environmental concerns from mining waste storage and agricultural sustainability through innovative resource utilization. The research will generate comprehensive scientific data on agronomic performance, environmental safety and nutrient dynamics, which can help develop evidence-based pathways for responsible utilization of iron ore tailings, helping minimize waste, reduce the import of chemical fertilizers, and support the one health approach in agriculture while creating value and wealth possibilities from materials that would otherwise require long-term storage. This initiative reflects AM/NS India's commitment to advancing circular economy solutions that benefit both industry and society.
