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Agro Universities, Agrotech

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research develops two Tomato hybrids specially meant for processing industry as tomatoes are disease –resistant and cost-effective.


The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru has developed 2 tomato hybrids, exclusively for the processing industry. These tomato hybrids, Arka Apeksha and Arka Vishes, are disease-resistant. It is expected that these tomatoes will increase farmers’ incomes through higher yields. It also decrease the processing costs because of its higher total soluble solids (TSS) & lycopene content.

First Tomato hybrid for processing industry
According to A T Sadashiva, principal researcher at IIHR “It is for the first time that tomato hybrids have been developed for the processing industry. Growers can expect minimum 25% increase in yields at 50 tonnes / hectare, and the potential exists to harvest up to 100 tonnes / hectare under precision farming with the use of drip irrigation. While existing tomato hybrids give a minimum yield of 40 tonnes / hectare.”
Higher Yield
He further said that “Higher yields will reduce the cost of cultivation to the growers. Also, the new hybrids are resistant to disease like tomato leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt & early blight that help farmers reduce the number of sprays on the crop”.
Moreover, the total soluble solids or TSS in the new tomato hybrids is 10% higher. The lycopene content, the pigment, which lends colour to tomato, is about 25 to 30% more than the existing hybrids. Sadashiva said, “The industry prefers higher TSS because it reduces their energy consumption”.

Hybrid on trial basis
HS Oberoi, Head of Division of Post-Harvest Technology & Engineering, IIHR said that developed from existing lines, these new varieties are suitable for mechanised harvesting too. He also added that “We are hoping to release the new tomato hybrids for commercial cultivation by December 2019”.
Farmer producer companies like Sahayadri FGC have already planted the new hybrids on trial basis. IIHR is currently in consultation with processors like Sun Sip, Bector Foods Specialities and Jadli Foods etc. to facilitate linkage with farmers for promoting the new varieties.

Current  production of Tomato in India
Tomato production in India is estimated at 19.39 million tonnes in 2018-19, which is marginally lower than 19.759 mt produced in previous season. Over 90% of the tomatoes produced in the country are consumed fresh.
Tomato processors usually procure & process vegetable during the peak season in January to March, when rates are low. The processed tomato that is converted & stored in the form of paste is used as a base for products like sauces and ketchup. Around 7 kg of tomato is needed to produce 1 kg of tomato paste. According to industry sources, India needs about 1.2 lakh tonnes of tomato paste of which 70,000 tonnes is manufactured locally and the remaining is imported, mainly from China.

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research develops two

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, Types

Genetic Department of ICAR has developed new protein rich Wheat variety HD-3226(Pusa Yashwashi) for commercial cultivation in Rabi season.

New Wheat Variety HD 3226 has been released for commercial cultivation in North Western Plain Zone constituting of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan (Except Kota and Udaipur Divisions), Western Uttar Pradesh (Except Jhansi Division), Jammu and Kathua district of J&K, Una district and Paonta Valley of H.P and Uttrakhand (Tarai region) under irrigated, timely Sown Conditions. Farmers will be able to sow the new protein-rich wheat variety HD-3226 (Pusa Yashwashi) developed in the country this time in Rabi season. Farmers could buy its seed from PUSA Institute from October onwards. The average yield of new wheat variety per hectare is 57.5 quintals and it is resistant to Karnal bunt disease along with yellow rust, white rust.

While informing about the HD3226, Dr. Rajbir Yadav, and Principal Scientist of the genetic department of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute said that, farmers will get new variety of wheat HD-3,226 seeds from Pusa Campus from October, although quantity of the seed is limited this year Rabi. Yadav also informed that, recently we have done MoU with 30-40 private seed companies, so that farmers will get sufficient seeds from next year.

Enriched with Protein
Dr Yadav informed that the protein content in this wheat variety is highest i.e. 12.8 percent and the amount of protein in it is 0.50 percent more than other varieties. It has 12.8 percent protein while other varieties of wheat have 12.3 percent protein utmost.
Disease Resistant
This wheat variety is highly resistant to Yellow, Brown and Black rust. It is also resistant to Karnal bunt, Powdery mildew, loose smut and foot rot.
Yield
The average yield of HD 3226 is 57.5 quintal per hectare while the genetic yield potential is 79.60 quintal per hectare. This variety has high dry and wet gluten, good grain appearance with high sedimentation value, and high extraction rate
Irrigation:
According to Dr. Rajbir Yadav, first irrigation is done after 21 days after sowing and further irrigation as per need. Crop will be ready in 142 days .To boost its yield, the variety should be sown in second half of October. This variety is suitable for Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Terai region of Uttarakhand and parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. This wheat is also suitable for zero tillage method.

 

Genetic Department of ICAR has developed new

R&D

“Securing the Biolab enables us to continue our innovative research on increasing food production. Our crop protection and yield enhancing technologies will eliminate the need for pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics, creating a healthier environment.”

Pebble Labs USA Inc., the biotechnology company developing solutions to safely and sustainably increase natural crop yield and food security, finalized the purchase of the New Mexico Consortium Biological Laboratory (Biolab) in Los Alamos, New Mexico, for $11.5 million.

“Pebble Labs is grateful to the State of New Mexico and Los Alamos County for making our acquisition of this world-class research center possible here in New Mexico,” said Michael Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, Pebble Labs. “Securing the Biolab enables us to continue our innovative research on increasing food production. Our crop protection and yield enhancing technologies will eliminate the need for pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics, creating a healthier environment.”

“Collaborating with the New Mexico Consortium Biolab provided Pebble Labs with access to top-tier facilities and equipment, and allowed us to focus on research and attracting premier talent from the very beginning,” said Dr. Richard Sayre, Chief Science Officer, Pebble Labs. “We love being in Los Alamos and could not be more pleased that we’re staying here and expanding our technologies to address critical global needs, like vector-borne disease and sustainable food supply.”

Public-Private Partnerships Grow Biotechnology Industry in New Mexico

Strong public-private collaborations by state leaders, regulators, and businesses, share a commitment to advanced science and the economic growth of New Mexico. In July, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes pledged $4 million in Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funds to facilitate the expansion of Pebble Labs in Los Alamos. 

“Technology transfer success stories like Pebble Labs in Los Alamos are a great example of innovation taking root in New Mexico,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “I’m proud to have invested state economic development support in a vibrant start-up like Pebble Labs that exemplifies the kind of cutting edge job creators that will expand and diversify the state’s economy.”

“By investing in promising industries like biosciences and technology, we are creating sustainable, high-paying jobs, and growing our local economies,” said Secretary Keyes. “This is exactly the kind of business expansion and industry growth that will diversify the state’s economy and keep talent here in New Mexico.”

“Los Alamos has a documented history of attracting highly talented scientists who create globally influential technologies,” said Sara Scott, Los Alamos County Chair. “We celebrate Pebble Labs long-term commitment to Los Alamos County, and look forward to continuing to work together.”

Pebble Labs today employs more than 40 scientists and 40 technical staff from 20 countries. The biotechnology start-up expects to reach 100 workers by the end of 2019. 

Pebble Labs Economic Impact to New Mexico

According to independent economic impact analysis conducted in 2019 by Columbus State University, the direct economic contribution of Pebble Labs to the State of New Mexico is estimated to reach $300 million within four years. Total direct and indirect state economic impact of current and future operations could top $1 billion.

“The New Mexico Consortium is delighted to have helped Pebble Labs develop since its founding in 2016,” said Steve Buelow, Chief Executive Officer, New Mexico Consortium. “Now that the Biolab is operating at full capacity with Pebble Labs researchers, it makes sense to sell the building to them and move to a new facility planned for occupancy in mid-2021. And most importantly, we will continue our role in supporting economic development in New Mexico.”

"Securing the Biolab enables us to continue

Organic

Organic herbal wellness company innovates new supply chain model

For the second year, ORGANIC INDIA USA has earned the “Best for the World Overall” B Corp designation, placing it in the top ten percent among all certified B Corps. 

As a “Best for the World Overall” B Corp, ORGANIC INDIA USA has broken new ground in proving that non-exploitative business models can be successful. Candidates for the award are evaluated for social and environmental performance, labor practices, governance, environmental sustainability, and community contribution. 

While ORGANIC INDIA USA won high scores in all sectors, of particular significance are its exceptional scores for “Supply Chain Poverty Alleviation.” Also called “Global Value Chains,” international supply chains traditionally offer the highest benefits to buyers but perpetuate poverty for suppliers in third world countries. Research shows that profits for buyers do not translate to economic advantages for suppliers or alleviate poverty in the global trade environment. 

During the 1960s, India underwent a national campaign to industrialize agriculture, called the “Green Revolution.” The introduced seeds, fertilizers and pesticides brought disastrous environmental and economic results — so catastrophic that tens of thousands of farmers were ruined by debt and poverty. 

In the early 1990s, ORGANIC INDIA USA began innovating strategies to upgrade its value chain by working with farmer partners to return their land to certifiable organic status and acquire their crops at fair market value. After 18 years, these methods have brought sweeping economic, cultural, and environmental recovery and significant social change, such as equal pay for women — unheard of in India. 

ORGANIC INDIA USA dedicates this year’s award to our first farmer partner, Kailash Singh. When the ORGANIC INDIA founders approached farmers with a proposal to cultivate Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, the farmers were deeply suspicious, remembering the disasters of the Green Revolution. Singh embraced ORGANIC INDIA’s vision of environmental and economic recovery despite the risk. The following year, one more farmer asked to participate — when asked what changed his mind, he said, “I have seen birds return that I haven’t seen since I was a child.” ORGANIC INDIA now works with over 3,000 farmer partners.

With a mission to be a trusted, innovative global leader in true wellness solutions for healthy conscious living, ORGANIC INDIA offers a full line of teas, infusions and whole-herb supplements, all USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified Kosher. ORGANIC INDIA goes beyond sustainable by regenerating environmental, cultural and economic ecosystems. All ORGANIC INDIA products are ethically sourced and sustainably cultivated by 3,000 small family farm partners in India. ORGANIC INDIA, a certified B Corp, was named a 2019 “Best for the World Overall” Honoree.

 

Organic herbal wellness company innovates new supply

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy, Finance, Schemes - Govt

SABC requested Union Finance Minister to exempt GST on farm in-puts like fertilizers, pesticides, tractor, micro- nutrients and agricultural equipment to decrease the financial burden of smallholder farmers

The South Asia Biotechnology Centre, a not-for-profit scientific organization reached out to the Union Finance Minister  Nirmala Seetharaman to request exemption of Goods and Service Tax (GST) on-farm inputs such as botanical, biological, pheromone trap & lure, micronutrients, fertilizers, pesticides, tractor, drip/sprinkler irrigation systems or other agricultural equipment.

GST status of smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers engaged in the production of cereals, pulses, edible oilseeds, fruits & vegetables and other commodities pay about Rs 14,500 crore of GST annually on-farm inputs. These farm commodities feed 135 crore Indians and also contribute significantly to the export of agriculture and processed food products. Unfortunately, farmers are the only businesspeople today who cannot claim tax credit input and cannot set it off on the sale of his/her produce. The input tax credit is a GST mechanism that allows the manufacturers/producers to adjust GST tax on inputs against tax liability on output.

Mechanism for input tax credit
“The inability of farmers to claim input credit tax paid on-farm inputs violates the spirit and foundational principles of the GST system in India,” pointed Bhagirath Choudhary, founder-director of South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), New Delhi.
“The smallholder farmers should, therefore, be provided with fair treatment in virtue of GST principles as they purchase farm inputs for raising crops, and do not consume them as final goods. Therefore, there must be a mechanism for availing input tax credit”, added Choudhary. This is in line with the GST principle that goods and/or products consumed as intermediaries are eligible for the input tax credit. Hence, the GST exemption on farm inputs shall be exempted in line with an exemption granted on seeds, animal & poultry feed – other two critical farm.

Apparently, the issue of GST came into light while implementing the project on fall armyworm, a voracious pest that has become a serious threat to maize production in India.

 

SABC requested Union Finance Minister to exempt

Live Stock, Poultry, R&D

The company will present poultry solutions to specifically designed to resist extreme heat and adapt to varying humidity conditions in India.

 

 Agrotop, a leading global player in poultry and livestock turnkey projects, will present poultry solutions that have been specifically designed to resist extreme heat and adapt to varying humidity conditions at Poultry India 2019 , which will take place November 27–29 at Hitex, Hyderabad, India.


 The company is participating in  South Asia’s biggest international poultry exhibition for the 12th time, will highlight a full line of solutions for poultry construction projects. The company will present poultry farming projects demonstrating its tailor-made solutions which integrate engineering, construction and technological disciplines.


Tailor-made Poultry Solutions


Agrotop has acquired extensive experience in successfully completing complicated projects in difficult climatic zones, including India and neighbouring countries. The company has undertook a project for growing 150,000 broilers at a farm located near Hyderabad in an area with extreme weather conditions and unreliable electric infrastructures. Another project included building a farm for 600,000 layers and 200,000 pullets in West Bengal. Each house contained 100,000 birds. The company will present its full line of vertical integration poultry solutions, which are highly regarded in the fast-growing Indian market.

Vertical Integration projects


The company also completed a project which included the design and building of a climate-controlled, deep-litter heavy breeders’ farm. The farm, in Devadanam, Tamil Nadu state, was built for Venkys (VHL), the largest breeding company in India.
“India has undergone rapid development in the last two decades, turning it into one of the world’s largest producer of eggs and broiler meat. Agrotop is well positioned to serve this fast-growing market and Poultry India will serve as an ideal opportunity for us to meet with Indian farmers and investors who wish to launch vertical integration projects”, said Benjamin van Dijk, Head of International Business Development at Agrotop.

Agrotop is a leading global player in livestock turnkey projects. The company provides a full range of services for realizing poultry, livestock and agro-industry construction projects, while focusing on its clients’ visions and maximizing their business results.

The company will present poultry solutions to

E-commerce

Agro-sciences Company ,PI Industries Ltd has signed an agreement with Italian company Isagro S.p.A to acquire its Asian subsidiary, Isagro Asia. The PI Industries will acquire Isagro Asia for Rs 345 crore.

 

PI Industries will acquire 100% shareholding held by Isagro S.p.A in Isagro Asia, either directly or through a subsidiary. The acquisition will help meet growing demand from international customers by getting access to additional manufacturing capacities of Isagro Asia, it added. PI Industries has stated that it sees growth opportunities across its businesses and is looking strengthen its position in Indian market.

The proposed transaction is expected to be completed by the end of December, subject to finalisation of definitive agreements, customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The company remains confident of integrating Isagro Asia’s operations with itself in FY20.

Founded in 1947, PI Industries produce complex chemical solutions in agri-sciences. There are three formulation facilities and nine multi-products plants located across three manufacturing locations owned by PI industries. PI Industries has announced the acquisition from Isagro S.p.A. Isagro Asia operates in India and is engaged in contract manufacturing, local distribution and exports of agrochemicals.

Isagro Asia generated revenue of Rs 300 crore in FY19. Of this, 65% was contributed by the domestic formulation business and balance came in from the contract manufacturing business. In the domestic formulation business, Isagro sells in-licensing products, generics products and proprietary patent products. PI intends to leverage its distribution network and firm up its position in the domestic market by leveraging the complementary product portfolio of Isagro Asia.

Agro-sciences Company ,PI Industries Ltd has signed

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, E-commerce, Inputs

Fortune India 500 has once again ranked IFFCO as the leading company in Fertilizer & Agro Chemicals Industries in the nation. In addition, in overall companies ranking IFFCO was at 68th positions in the fortune India 500.

 

IFFCO Managing Director has announced that the company’s achievement was greeted by a barrage of congratulatory messages. The company has proved it again that from domestic soils to the international platform it remains unassailable by its competitors. UPL & National Fertilizer stood at second and third positions in the Fortune list.

While announcing the news, MD, Dr. U S Awasthi who has been working hard to take the cooperative giant to greater heights in a tweeted that “Happy to share that IFFCO is again ranked number one, the top place in the Fertiliser & Agrochemicals industries in India by Fortune Magazine. Fortune India 500 list IFFCO is in top 100 & ranked 68th in overall all companies ranking. IFFCO is committed to farmers and cooperative service.”
It is important to mention that the rankings are based on several factors like innovation, people management, and financial soundness, use of corporate assets, long-term investment & global competitiveness.
The company has been consistently maintaining its top rank in the list of Fortune 500 companies in India. Recently, in a global report by World Cooperative Monitor of International Cooperative Alliance, IFFCO stood number 1 out of 300 global cooperatives.

Fortune India 500 has once again ranked

Agro chems – Pesticides

iblon™ technology delivers excellent disease control leading to healthy-looking and consistently higher yielding cereal crops

Bayer has announced that its latest fungicide innovation marketed under the iblon™ technology brand has received first registration worldwide from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. iblon™ technology is based on the active ingredient isoflucypram, a member of a new subclass in the family of the highly valued SDHIs.

It provides excellent disease control resulting in healthy-looking crops that deliver consistently higher yields compared to currently available market standards. The product will be available in New Zealand for the 2019/2020 cereal growing season. Further product launches for iblon™ technology fungicides are expected in other important cereal producing countries once regulatory approval has been completed.

Cereal farmers need innovative and tailored solutions to tackle their daily challenges like limited natural resources, volatile commodity prices and climatic change while feeding a growing world population with high-quality cereals. “The world cereal market requires higher grain quality and production. In addition to the pressure of climatic hazards such as drought, fungal diseases can cause significant yield losses and quality reductions,” said Hartmut van Lengerich, global Head of Crop Protection Asset Management at Bayer. “We’re excited that our newly-registered iblon™ technology will provide cereal growers in New Zealand with a new and powerful tool to sustainably support increased cereal production”

Isoflucypram has an outstanding and long-lasting efficacy against major economically important fungal diseases: Field trials showed excellent efficacy against major leaf diseases such as leaf blotch, net blotch, yellow rust, and brown rust. The outstanding disease control results in an extended period of green leaf retention, setting the crop up for maximum yield potential.

“Bayer’s position as a leading innovator in agriculture has given us the unique opportunity to offer cereal growers in New Zealand the best-in-class SDHI fungicide,” explained Neil Waddingham, Customer Marketing Manager at Bayer New Zealand. “We are very proud of our new iblon™ technology. Products powered by iblon™ technology have delivered increased yield compared to competitor standards in field trials conducted under New Zealand conditions. In the 2018/19 season the average yield increase in wheat was 0.5 t/ha and in barley 0.25 t/ha. It empowers our customers to be more efficient and sustainable at all levels of their business.”

Isoflucypram offers cereal growers long lasting protection against fungal activity, allowing for a prolonged grain-filling period. It is expected that further products powered by iblon™ technology will be released in the future, providing New Zealand farmers with even further opportunities to optimize their farm production. iblon™ technology delivers all of these benefits at low application rates in wheat, barley, triticale and ryegrass; more information on operator and environmental protection, diseases controlled, and application timing is included in the product label.

iblon™ technology delivers excellent disease control leading

Finance

Initiative offers financial support for novel approaches and enabling technologies in crop research

Bayer announced that it has opened the application window for its Grants4 initiative. First introduced in 2015, the initiative offers researchers financial and scientific support to develop ideas for novel solutions, including gene editing targets,that will help to achieve higher yield and safety in crops as they face increasing pressure from weeds, insects, diseases, and unfavorable climate conditions. Deadline for submissions is November 15, 2019.

“Our research and development platforms are bolstered by our ‘open innovation’ model,” said Phil Taylor, Corporate Innovation and R&D Business Partner for the Crop Science division. “Grants4Traits exemplifies that approach, providing outside researchers the resources to create solutions to control existing crop threats and get ahead of emerging ones.”

“At Bayer, we have a multidisciplinary research and development team focusing solely on biological solutions – but we can’t do it alone,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologicals at Crop Science. “We also count on strengthening our crop protection portfolio by forming collaborations with innovative partners, which is one reason why we created Grants4Biologicals.”

Bayer is looking for novel approaches that could lead to innovative solutions in five categories: Yield enhancement, Pest control, Disease control, Weed control and Enabling technologies.

There are two types of grants that will be allocated by Bayer, depending on the approach/trait described, the scientific data provided and the maturity of the proposal. Support grants from 2,000 Euros to 10,000 Euros are for proposals that are at a very early stage of discovery, and focus grants from 10,000 Euros to 50,000 Euros are for more advanced proposals to support promising research towards fully validated solutions. The size of the individual grant will depend on the target specifics and the state of development and validation.

Initiative offers financial support for novel approaches

E-commerce

The Multi-lingual Mobile App CHC Farm Machinery is already available to custom service providers

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare have recently launched two mobile apps- CHC Farm Machinery and Krishi Kisan App for Geo Tagging’ in New Delhi recently.

While launching the same, the minister said, “Farmers will now have easy access to high value and technical agricultural equipments at their doorstep. Through CHC Farm Machinery App, farmers can select and order the required machinery at the rates feasible for them from the Custom Hiring Centers located in the radius of 50 Kms. The Minister added that till date more than 40,000 custom hiring service centers have registered on this mobile app for renting over 1,20,000 agricultural machineries & equipments.”

He also said that Krishi Kisan App will provide farmers the information of best demonstration of high-yielding crops and seeds in their nearby area. Any farmer with high quality of crops can utilise this platform to demonstrate best practices of cultivation to other farmers so that this will help other farmers also to adopt these methods. The App will also help in geo-tagging and geo-fencing of crop and give weather forecast message to farmers. The Minister requested every farmer to utilize these services for betterment of their cultivation methods and thereby ensuring higher agricultural productivity.

The Multi-lingual Mobile App CHC Farm Machinery is already available to custom service providers for registration and uploading with geo-reference photographs of agricultural machinery custom service centers and photographs of machinery available in it. Through this app, farmers, especially small and marginal farmers, will have easy access to high value and technical agricultural equipments which will facilitate optimum use of all types of inputs using these farming machines. This will not only increase the income of the farmers, but it will also take mechanization to maximum farm holdings in a short time frame. This app connects the farmers with Custom Hiring Service Centres in their area. The app can be downloaded on any android phone from Google Play Store.

Custom Hiring Centers/ Farm Machinery banks and Hi-tech hubs have been established under the various Schemes like Sub –Mission on Agricultural Mechanizatio, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Crop Residue Management Schemes of the DAC&FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare to provide Agricultural Machinery on rental basis to the Farmers, specially small & marginal farmers who cannot afford to buy the high value machinery & equipments.

 

The Multi-lingual Mobile App CHC Farm Machinery

IT

Glencore Agriculture Limited joins ADM, Bunge, Cargill, COFCO International and LDC in industry-wide initiative to modernize global agriculture commodity trade operations

The industry-wide initiative to modernize global agricultural commodity trade operations announced that another major partner, Glencore Agriculture Limited, has joined the effort.

“We’ve been interested in the initiative from the very early days and we’re excited now to join as a full partner,” said Glencore Agriculture Limited CEO David Mattiske. “The digital platform this group intends to develop will leverage the newest technologies and has the potential to revolutionize our industry, making contract execution processes more efficient, more accurate and more transparent. These advances are necessary for our industry to continue serving our critical global role efficiently and effectively, and the benefits will be felt by companies of all sizes along the post-trade value chain.”

The initiative, which now includes Glencore Agriculture Limited as well as Archer Daniels Midland Company (“ADM”), Bunge Limited (“Bunge”), Cargill Incorporated (“Cargill”), COFCO International Ltd (“COFCO International”) and Louis Dreyfus Company (“LDC”), is initially looking at new technologies – such as blockchain and artificial intelligence – to create digital solutions to automate grain and oilseed post-trade execution processes, reducing costs needed to move agricultural and food products around the globe. The group is projecting launch of the new platform in the second half of 2020 subject to regulatory approval.

“This effort is growing, and the reason is clear: we’re offering clear and tangible benefits for the industry, created by the industry,” the initiative participants said in a joint statement.  “Customers, partners and other industry participants appreciate both the potential that our platform offers, and the fact that we are partnering with them early in the process to ensure the entire industry’s needs are met.”

Since announcing the project in October 2018, the group has held workshops and roundtable discussions with a broad range of industry stakeholders, including shippers, charterers, buyers, service providers, financial institutions, trade associations, industry standards and regulatory authorities. By collaborating on critical issues such as security and data privacy, technology choices, business model, adoption strategy, and functionalities and capabilities, the group is ensuring that the new platform will meet the needs of the entire industry.

Next steps include development and execution, focusing on a pilot that will cover international bulk shipments of soybeans from Brazil to China. The group is also finalizing the selection of technology solutions providers and partners.

Glencore Agriculture Limited joins ADM, Bunge, Cargill,

Finance

Recent field and commercial operations demonstrate >95% accuracy rate for FruitSpec’s yield estimation

FruitSpec, a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has completed an investment round of $4 million. Investors included AgVentures, a South African agtech investment company and Hubei Forbon Technology Co. Ltd., China.

Inaccurate fruit yield estimation from an early stage (especially in green fruit) remains a key problem in the food chain. The ability to accurately estimate a fruit yield has a major impact on key business decisions relating to crop maintenance/handling and sales projections.

Currently, yield estimations are mostly performed by farmers/workers using a visual “count” from the sampling of a few trees. Until now, the main technological challenge in providing early season fruit yield estimates is the inability to distinguish the green fruit from the green leaves in an image. FruitSpec solves this problem with its patented hyperspectral and computer vision algorithms, enabling the company to count the number of fruit and to estimate fruit sizes for accurate early season fruit yield estimation. In all recent commercial operations and field trials, FruitSpec demonstrated accuracy rates above 95% with its technology (at an impressive average of 97.3%).

FruitSpec is positioned to have a major impact on the fruit yield estimation market, with a calculated 47 million hectares (116 million acres) of fruit orchards globally standing to gain from these developments. This translates to a $3 billion market potential for FruitSpec, according to company estimates.

Commenting on the investment, FruitSpec CEO Raviv Kula said, “The investment from AgVentures and Forbon is a vote of confidence for the market problem we are solving with FruitSpec’s technology. The funding will allow us to expand significantly and broaden our service to our customers, offering them a valuable solution to one of the most urgent issues facing the fruit production chain.”

“FruitSpec seamlessly addresses a critical pain point within the fruit market value chain, and its value proposition is easily grasped by industry players. FruitSpec’s solution is not merely an incremental improvement to existing industry norms, but a total disruption of the inaccurate and labour-intensive methods currently used. We see this investment as a clear illustration of AgVentures’ vision of investing in scalable technologies that disrupt legacy business models within the agricultural and food industries. We look forward to our journey with FruitSpec and have full confidence in the team’s ability to roll the solution out across a global stage,” said Michael Prinsloo from AgVentures.

“We strongly believe that FruitSpec’s technology and services will not only change the current practices in orchard management and logistics, but revolutionize them,” commented Mr Renzong Wang, Chairman & CEO of Hubei Forbon Technology Co. Ltd. He added, “given the fact that in China apples are already traded as a future commodity in the exchange market, and more agricultural produce will be listed in the near future, the information provided by FruitSpec will be invaluable for the participants in the market. We are anxiously anticipating FruitSpec’s entry into the huge Chinese market with our support, to serve all the stakeholders who will benefit from their services – growers, packing houses, logistics, and sellers.”

Recent field and commercial operations demonstrate >95%

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Live Stock

The facility has been set-up for the benefit of clam fisherwomen.

J. Mercykutty Amma, Minister for Fisheries, Harbor Engineering and Cashew Industry, Kerala inaugurated the first Clam Processing Facility set-up by the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin at the Perumbalam Island in Kerala . The facility has been set-up for the benefit of clam fisherwomen.

Amma appreciated the ICAR-CIFT’s efforts for its successful technology intervention in fisheries to bring the livelihood security which can be a model for the other areas too. Ariff, Adv. Abdul Majeed, Member of Parliament, Alappuzha, Kerala was also present during the occasion.

Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director, ICAR-CIFT focused on the importance of clam processing facility. He stated “The project has been able to standardize the protocols for processing clam; develop and demonstrate value-added products; design and fabricate customized machinery required for the processing; build capacities of the local people and establish the clam processing facility.”


About Clam processing facility


The clam processing facility is a fully integrated. It includes the depuration tanks system for depurating clams. It also has separate spaces for each unit such as processing hall equipped with tables, flake ice machine, chill room; a cooking-cum-boiler unit for cooking and shucking the clams and a unit with a meat-shell separator for mechanically separating the meat from the shell. It ensures a clean, safe and well-packed product that can fetch a premium price in the market.

Funded by SEED


About 250 families of the village dependent on the clam fishery for their livelihood will be directly benefited from the initiative. The facility was set-up under a project funded by the SEED Division, Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi. The project implemented in a participatory mode involved the Perumbalam Gram Panchayat and the Haritha Farmers’ Club from the village.

 

 

 

The facility has been set-up for the