Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research

What Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research does

ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana, is a constituent research institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Originally established as the All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds (AICORPO) in 1967 and elevated to Indian Institute status on 3 February 2015, the institute holds the national mandate for basic, strategic, and applied research on six oilseed crops: castor, sunflower, safflower, sesame, niger, and linseed. It coordinates a 24-center All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) network across the country and operates three research farms totaling 74.7 hectares (Rajendranagar, Narkhoda, and ICRISAT campus farms).

The institute's core outputs are improved cultivars, production and protection technologies, and breeder seed. Its R&D pipeline covers plant breeding, genetics, agronomy, plant pathology, entomology, crop physiology, soil science, biochemistry, and biotechnology, including genome editing (CRISPR-Cas9), molecular markers for purity assessment, and a newly inaugurated Speed Breeding Facility. The cumulative cultivar portfolio includes 75+ castor varieties/hybrids, 49+ sunflower, 33+ safflower, and 80+ linseed varieties. The institute holds 4 granted patents (Trichoderma production, insecticidal microbials, thermotolerant Trichoderma, polymer composition), 2 filed patents, TilhanTec trademarks, germplasm registrations, and copyrights on mobile applications and publications. AI-enabled mobile applications for crop disease and pest identification are deployed for farmer advisory.

IIOR operates on a government-grant revenue model, with ICAR/DAC plan and non-plan funding as the primary revenue source, supplemented by fee-based analytical services (soil, plant, water, oil profiling), consultancy, paid training programs, and licensing/royalty income from commercialized technologies (ICH-5 castor hybrid, SUNH-1/2 sunflower hybrids, Til 1 sesame, ISF-764 safflower, and patented bio-control formulations). Primary end-beneficiaries are Indian small and marginal oilseed farmers, reached through 1250 annual Front Line Demonstrations, biennial Farmers' Mela (1200-1500 participants), Rythughosti events, and the AICRP center network. Secondary stakeholders include State Agricultural Universities (25+ MoU partners), public and private seed companies, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and SC/ST communities served through SCSP and TSP programs.

Name

Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research

Legal name

ICAR - Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research

Website

https://icar-iior.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICAR-IIOR is a Government of India research institute under ICAR, headquartered in Hyderabad, that conducts basic and applied research on six mandate oilseed crops (castor, sunflower, safflower, sesame, niger, linseed), coordinates a 24-center national AICRP network, develops improved cultivars and breeder seed, and disseminates technologies to Indian farmers through demonstrations, training, and digital advisory tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Oilseed (except Soybean) Farming (111120)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Oilseed & Pulse Seeds (Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Pea, Lentil, Chickpea) (AFABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Oil & Wax Crop Farming (Castor, Jojoba, Oil Palm for industrial uses) (AFAGAGAL), Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Oilseed crop breeding
• Plant genetic resources
• Agricultural extension programs
• Seed production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ICAR/DAC): Primary revenue source through ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and DAC (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation) funding for research projects, breeder seed production, frontline demonstrations, and operational activities
2. Analytical Services: Fee-based analytical services for soil, plant, irrigation water analysis and oil analysis including oil content, fatty acid profiling, iodine number, acid value, saponification value
3. Consultancy Services: Paid consultancy services including seed production in oilseeds, development of molecular markers, integrated nutrient management, insect pest and disease management, and database management
4. Technology Commercialization: Revenue through technology transfer including ICH-5 Castor hybrid, SUNH-1 and SUNH-2 Sunflower hybrids, Til 1 Sesame variety, ISF-764 and ISF-300 Safflower varieties, Trichoderma formulations, and polymer compositions
5. Training Programs: Fee-based training programs including skill development training, entrepreneurship development programs, and specialized technology training for farmers and agriculture officials
6. Breeder Seed Production: Production and supply of breeder seed of improved varieties and parental lines of hybrids for seed multiplication chain

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research conducts basic, strategic, and applied agricultural research on six mandate oilseed crops (castor, sunflower, safflower, sesame, niger, linseed) and delivers improved cultivars and hybrids, production and protection technologies, breeder seed, analytical laboratory services, training programmes, and patented bio-control formulations to Indian farmers, seed companies, state agriculture departments, and research universities. It coordinates the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) network of 24 centres across India and commercializes technologies such as TilhanTech-branded hybrids and bio-formulations through licensing and MoUs.

Product overview

ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR) is a premier agricultural research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, dedicated to advancing oilseed crop technologies. The institute operates as a platform organization with core products centered on six mandate crops: castor, sunflower, safflower, linseed, sesame, and niger. Its portfolio includes approximately 75+ castor varieties/hybrids, 49 sunflower varieties/hybrids, 37 safflower varieties/hybrids, 80+ linseed varieties, and numerous sesame varieties released state-wise. The institute offers a technology transfer layer through ITMU services, including patented bio-control formulations (TilhanTech brand), mobile applications for crop advisory, and production/protection technologies. Research programs span plant genetic resources management, genetic enhancement, molecular breeding, biotechnology, seed technology, and extension services through AICRP network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Castor Cultivars (Hybrids and Varieties)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ varieties and hybrids developed and released nationally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), RanchisupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership for Jharkhand's first flaxseed processing centre and seed hub warehouse. IIOR, along with Union Ministry of Agriculture, funded the Rs 35 lakh project with BAU hosting the facility.
• PJTSAU (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), HyderabadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student research including Ph.D. and M.Sc. thesis work. PJTSAU is a key partner in the AICRP-Safflower and AICRP-Sunflower network with centers at Tandur and Tornala respectively.
• ANGRAU (Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University), HyderabadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for PG/Ph.D. student research and internship. ANGRAU centers at Ananthapuramu, Nandyal, and Tirupati participate in AICRP-Castor and AICRP-Sunflower programs.
• UAS Bengaluru (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student research. UAS-B is a major AICRP-Sunflower center with significant breeding and agronomy research programs.
• TNAU (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), CoimbatorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student research. TNAU hosts AICRP-Sunflower center at Coimbatore and AICRP-Castor center at Yethapur.
• JNKVV (Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya), JabalpurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student research including Ph.D. thesis work. JNKVV is a major research partner for linseed and other oilseed crops in central India.
• KLEF (KLE Technological University), HyderabadsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for research and student projects. KLEF students developed cross-platform application for identification of oil seeds and pests using computer science expertise.
• ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research relationship with farm facilities at ICRISAT campus. IIOR acquired 16.2 ha farm at ICRISAT in 2001 for Vertisols research on safflower.
• Sri Bioaesthetics Pvt. Ltd.supportingTechnology or IntegrationGeneral MoU for technology transfer and commercialization of IIOR-developed technologies.
• M/s T Stanes Company Pvt. Ltd.supportingTechnology or IntegrationGeneral MoU for technology transfer and commercialization of biopesticide formulations and other technologies.
• South Asia Biotechnology CentresupportingTechnology or IntegrationGeneral MoU for biotechnology research collaboration and knowledge sharing in agricultural biotechnology.
• ICAR Institutes NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with other ICAR institutes including DGR Junagadh, DRMR Bharatpur, IISR Indore, IIRR Hyderabad, IASRI New Delhi, NAARM Hyderabad, CRIDA Hyderabad for research projects and capacity building.
• Government of India PortalssupportingOthersIntegration with Digital India, Parichey (e-office), CGHS, PM-KISAN, and other government digital platforms for administrative and service delivery.
• VNMKV Parbhani (Vasantdada Patil Maharashtra Agricultural University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student training and postgraduate research. VNMKV hosts AICRP-Safflower center at Parbhani.
• GIET UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student training, postgraduate research, and joint research and extension activities in oilseed cultivation.
• Kaveri UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student training, postgraduate research, and joint research and extension activities.
• ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing funding, policy direction, and institutional framework. ICAR governs IIOR through its Research Council (IRC), Research Advisory Committee (RAC), and quinquennial reviews.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bayer Crop Science: Global agribusiness leader in seeds and crop protection with extensive oilseed breeding programs (canola, sunflower, soybean). Represents the large private-sector counterpart whose commercial breeding capacity IIOR's public research aims to complement.
• Corteva Agriscience: Major agricultural input company with Pioneer brand seeds including sunflower and canola hybrids. Commercial peer competing for the same farmer segments that IIOR serves through public breeding programs.
• USDA-ARS (Agricultural Research Service): US federal agricultural research agency conducting oilseed research including sunflower breeding. International government research peer with similar mandate for public-sector crop improvement and germplasm development.
• ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI): India's premier national agricultural research institute under ICAR, with broader mandate across crops including oilseeds. Functions as the parent ICAR institution with significantly larger resources and broader scope than IIOR.

Direct peers

• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center): International CGIAR research center focused on wheat and maize breeding with global breeding programs. Peer international agricultural research organization with similar breeding, germplasm, and multi-location trial capabilities.
• ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (DRMR): ICAR institute that was delinked from IIOR's predecessor in 1993; conducts parallel oilseed research with focus on rapeseed-mustard. Closest direct peer within the ICAR system for oilseed crop improvement research.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research (IISR): ICAR institute focused on soybean research and breeding; delinked from IIOR's predecessor in 1987. Direct peer in oilseed research with similar institutional structure, government funding, and AICRP coordination mandate.
• PJTSAU (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University): State agricultural university with active oilseed breeding programs and AICRP-Safflower/Sunflower coordination centers at Tandur and Tornala. MoU partner with IIOR for student research and serves as regional peer for oilseed crop improvement.
• ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics): International agricultural research institute also located in Hyderabad, focused on dryland crops including groundnut and other oilseeds. IIOR leases 16.2 ha of ICRISAT farm for safflower research, indicating direct operational overlap and complementarity in mandate crops.
• ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research (DGR): ICAR institute delinked from IIOR's predecessor in 1979; focuses on groundnut research and breeding. Peer within ICAR network for oilseed research, with similar mandate structure for a single oilseed crop.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icariior
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indian-institute-of-oilseeds-research

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research