India could soon produce urea using little more than water, air, and sunlight.

Urea is the fertiliser Indian farmers rely on most. While its widespread misuse has contributed to soil infertility and to air and water pollution, it is equally true that without urea, India would struggle to sustain food production for a population of 1.45 billion and growing. India therefore needs to do two things simultaneously: optimise urea use in its fields and ensure that farmers get it without disruption.