Nutrifresh: From Two Friends to India’s Hydroponic Revolution
In the early 2010s, two friends in Pune—Sanket Mehta and Ganesh Nikam—found themselves confronted with the uncomfortable truth behind many so-called “organic” produce claims. They recognized that in India, the word “organic” was often loosely used, with little traceability, and that many conventional farming methods relied heavily on pesticides, soil depletion and unpredictable yields. The breakthrough came when they explored hydroponic (soilless) cultivation—a method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water solutions under controlled conditions. Hydroponics offered precision, traceability and control over inputs like water, nutrients, atmosphere and pest management. As Mehta remarked: “It is more controlled, precise, and traceable.” With this conviction, in 2019 the duo founded Nutrifresh in Pune, with the aim of offering residue-free, pesticide-free, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to India’s growing health-conscious population. TheKredible From Seed to Shelf Nutrifresh’...