ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, ICAR-IARI sign MoU to explore sustainable use of iron ore tailings in agriculture

**ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India and ICAR‑IARI Sign MoU to Study Agricultural Use of Iron‑Ore Tailings**

*New Delhi, India – 1 September 2026* – ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR‑IARI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct joint research on the sustainable application of iron‑ore tailings (IOTs) in agriculture.

The MoU outlines a multi‑year programme that will involve field trials at IARI’s New Delhi campus and at AM/NS India’s mining site in Kirandul. The studies will span several crop seasons and will evaluate crop response, nutrient availability, phytotoxicity, leaching behavior and broader environmental impacts of incorporating IOTs into soils.

According to a company statement, the partnership aims to generate “robust scientific evidence that could enable and ensure a safe and beneficial utilization of the iron‑ore tailings in agriculture,” potentially reducing the need for long‑term storage of the mining by‑product. The collaboration also seeks to develop and validate technologies that promote natural‑resource conservation, sustainable waste management and a reduced reliance on imported chemical fertilizers.

The MoU builds on preliminary investigations launched in 2024 by AM/NS India and ICAR‑IARI, which indicated that iron‑ore tailings contain minerals such as silica, iron oxides, alumina, calcium, magnesium and various micronutrients. Researchers suggest these constituents could support crop production and improve soil health.

“Hiroo Ishibashi, Director & Vice President – Technology at AM/NS India, said, ‘Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand. This collaboration represents a pioneering effort to unlock the potential of iron‑ore tailings through science‑led research. If successful, it can reduce the environmental footprint of by‑product storage while supporting sustainable agriculture and resource conservation.’”

Bhupinder Singh, the project’s Principal Investigator at IARI, added, “Through this long‑term collaborative programme 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 addressing iron deficiency in degraded soils and enhancing the iron content of farm produce.”

The initiative aligns with AM/NS India’s broader sustainability strategy, which emphasizes resource efficiency, waste valorisation and circular‑economy practices. Both parties intend to disseminate findings that could inform policy and industry guidelines for the safe reuse of mining residues in Indian agriculture.

Article and image source: japanherald.com