As covered in a recent article by Refresh Miami, the University of Miami is quietly becoming a hub for high-impact innovation at the intersection of science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
One standout example is SmArT, a nanotechnology startup emerging from the university’s ecosystem with a bold vision for the future of agriculture. At this year’s eMerge Americas pitch competition, SmArT captured attention—and the $125,000 grand prize—for its breakthrough approach to one of farming’s most persistent challenges: how to grow more with less, and do it sustainably.
Source: refreshmiami.com.
Co-founded by PhD candidate Shruti Choudhary and engineering dean Dr. Pratim Biswas, SmArT developed a nano-fertilizer system that delivers nutrients to crops with surgical precision—cutting fertilizer usage by up to 45 times while boosting yields by as much as 80 percent. Their aerosol-based method reduces environmental damage from runoff and chemical overuse, directly addressing the ecological and economic pain points farmers face.
The idea was born from the convergence of Choudhary’s family roots in agriculture and business, and Biswas’s prior success in environmental monitoring startups. Together, they tested their system across greenhouses and farmland in multiple states, partnering with organizations like the Illinois Farm Bureau. Their mission: to equip farmers with smarter, more sustainable tools to feed the world without harming the planet. Farmers, they found, were eager collaborators, motivated by both productivity and environmental stewardship.
Now, with fresh funding and momentum from eMerge Americas, SmArT is entering its next phase: scaling operations and launching more field trials—starting with tomato growers in Homestead, Florida. The founders, including co-founder Ramesh Raliya, aim to bring the technology to broader markets while reinforcing their core belief that engineering and entrepreneurship go hand in hand to solve real-world problems.
Sources:
