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Agro Universities, R&D

 The project aims to assure the higher prices to the farmers than the Minimum Support Prices (MSP). 

 

 

 

The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai launched a Pilot Project for trading of the seed cotton on the basis of lint realization or Ginning Percentage (GP) in recent. The project has been launched in association with the major Cotton Mandi of Central India that is, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), HinganghaCt, Wardha, in Maharashtra.

 The Pilot Project is being implemented under the leadership of Dr. P.G. Patil, Director, ICAR-CIRCOT, and Mumbai through the Institute’s Ginning Training Centre at Nagpur. 

Conventionally, the seed cotton is traded irrespective of the lint percentage that is a major price deciding component. With an aim to empower the farmers with the additional benefits, the ginning percentage in the project will be determined on laboratory model ginning machines supplied by the ICAR-CIRCOT before auction in the APMC. The premium rates are offered over and above 34% ginning percentage. One percentage increase in GP will fetch minimum additional premium rate of Rs. 100/-per quintal.

Around 200 farmers were present during the launching of the Pilot Project.

 The project aims to assure the higher

E-commerce, R&D

In dryland or under irrigation, FibreMax Cotton seed brings high yield potential and good fiber quality potential.

 

 Over the past year, as part of the BASF Agronomic Performance Trial (APT) program, growers have been testing cottonseed varieties on their farms to help meet some of their most difficult challenges. BASF announced at its second annual APT Summit this week the advancement of one new FiberMax cotton seed variety for the 2020 season – FiberMax 2202GL. 

“In dryland or under irrigation, FM 2202GL brings high yield potential and good fiber quality potential, even under pressure from Verticillium wilt,” says Kenny Melton, Western Region agronomic manager with BASF. “With good tolerance to drought and outstanding Verticillium wilt tolerance, this new variety will be an excellent fit in the High Plains.”

 In addition to the advancement of FM 2202GL, BASF wants to remind growers of the three new Stoneville cotton seed varieties released in mid-2019: ST 4990B3XF, ST 5610B3XF and ST 4480B3XF.

“We’ve seen some really great performance in the 2019 season with all three varieties, both across the Cotton Belt and in more regional-specific areas,” says Scott Asher, Eastern Region agronomic manager at BASF.

As growers enter the 2020 season, selecting varieties with good seed quality and early season vigor are important considerations to help ensure a strong start to the season.

 “ST 4990B3XF is a variety that we see fitting a broad footprint across the Cotton Belt,” says Asher. “It has shown strong performance on the high-producing ground in the Delta, across to the Mid-Atlantic and down to the Southeast. It’s also performed well in the Rolling Plains of Texas and on irrigated ground in Oklahoma.” Asher says for growers on high-production ground, the variety is easy to manage in terms of growth and development, even under intense management on these acres. ST 4990B3XF also provides the strong emergence and early-season vigor growers have come to expect from Stoneville varieties, which is crucial when planting early or when establishing a stand under stressful conditions.

 “ST 4990B3XF is a variety that we see fitting a broad footprint across the Cotton Belt,” says Asher. “It has shown strong performance on the high-producing ground in the Delta, across to the Mid-Atlantic and down to the Southeast. It’s also performed well in the Rolling Plains of Texas and on irrigated ground in Oklahoma.”

Asher says for growers on high-production ground, the variety is easy to manage in terms of growth and development, even under intense management on these acres. ST 4990B3XF also provides the strong emergence and early-season vigor growers have come to expect from Stoneville varieties, which is crucial when planting early or when establishing a stand under stressful conditions.

 

For those in the full-season, non-irrigated areas of the Southeast where limited moisture can often occur, ST 5610B3XF has demonstrated the yield stability a grower is looking for under those stressful conditions. The variety has also shown the ability to produce a good stalk under difficult and dry conditions, but has also responded well to management when more favorable conditions occurred.

 

“With its plant type, boll type and maturity, ST 4480B3XF is suited well for the shorter growing season areas of West Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas,” says Melton. “However, in testing it has also performed well in the Northern Delta, especially in areas where late planting occurred and its early maturity helped to produce a successful crop.”

In dryland or under irrigation, FibreMax Cotton

R&D

ADAMA and Tel Aviv University Collaborate to Establish a First-of-a-Kind Research and Teaching Center for the Development of Innovative Crop Protection Solutions

ADAMA Ltd. leading global crop Protection Company and Tel Aviv University (“TAU”) launched a unique research and teaching program on active substance delivery and formulation, an innovation and growth driver in the worlds of agriculture and crop protection. The innovative study program will be taught at The ADAMA Center for Novel Crop Protection Delivery Systems at Tel Aviv University.

The collaboration between ADAMA and TAU will combine the worlds of industry and academia, training advanced degree research students of chemistry, life sciences and engineering in the delivery and formulation of active crop protection substances, a field in desperate need of more experts.

Dr. Elad Shabtai, VP Innovation, Development, Research and Registration at ADAMA, explains that to date, specialization in delivery and formulation could only be acquired by people already working in the industry and could not be studied as a profession, or experience acquired, in academic institutions anywhere in the world, leading to a growing shortage of experts in the field.

ADAMA will also be investing in a world-class research laboratory that will be established in the School of Chemistry, where the program’s research and experiments will be carried out. ADAMA will award scholarships to 25 students from a range of disciplines such as chemistry, materials engineering, plant sciences and others, who will earn their advanced degrees with specialization in delivery and formulation. Students will have access to ADAMA’s state-of-the-art laboratories to conduct experiments and will receive practical training from the Company’s research people.

This initiative is also tied to ADAMA’s vision for the next generation of crop protection formulations. These products are anticipated to deliver better efficacy to control crop disease, combat resistances and enhance farm yields and food supply while requiring less usage of crop protection active ingredients thus reducing their footprint on the environment and in the food chain.

Chen Lichtenstein, President and CEO of ADAMA says, “ADAMA recognizes that its success in the competitive global market relies on research and development capabilities as a driver of strategic growth. The international delivery and formulation research center we are inaugurating at Tel Aviv University will enable us to together train the finest researchers in the field, thus preparing them to join the ranks of the agrochemical industry for the benefit of the development of groundbreaking products that deliver a response to the challenges currently facing world agriculture.”

“This collaboration will contribute significantly to the advancement of research and teaching in the spheres of chemistry, food, agriculture and crop protection, which will be a great boon for Israel,”
says Prof. Ariel Porat, TAU President.

Prof. Roey Amir of the School of Chemistry and Head of the ADAMA Center for Innovative Crop Protection Solutions at TAU added, “In the past few years there has been a demand for the development of smart agriculture, which will help minimize quantities of crop protection substances while enhancing their efficacy through novel delivery systems, similar to what is currently taking place in biomedical research. Establishment of the Center will enable us to work, together with ADAMA, on training the future generation of scientists who will lead the field in Israel and worldwide.”

ADAMA and Tel Aviv University Collaborate to

Acts & Schemes – Centre, E-commerce, Oilseeds, Trade

An importer will require license for import the RBD Palm Oil and RBD Palmolein as per imposed restriction.

 Considering repeated demands from solvent processors to protect the interests of domestic refiners, the Centre on Wednesday placed restrictions on the imports of refined palm oils.

The Central government on Wednesday imposed restrictions on imports of refined palm oil.

According to a notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), “import policy” is amended from “free to restricted” for refined bleached deodorized palm oil and refined bleached deodorized palmolein. The decision applies to RBD Palm Oil and RBD Palmolein imports under the HS code of 15119010 and 15119020 category.

What is Imposed restriction?

Putting the commodity in restricted category means an importer will require license for import the RBD Palm Oil and RBD Palmolein. India imports about 70 per cent or 16 million tonnes of its annual 24 million tonnes of edible oil requirements. The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) President Atul Chaturvedi issued a statement thanking the government on the decision.

 Current Oil Import Scenario

India, the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils, buys nearly 15 million tonnes annually. Of this, palm oil comprises 9 million tonnes and the rest 6 million tonnes is soybean and sunflower oil.

Indonesia and Malaysia are the two countries which supply palm oil. Malaysia produces 19 million tonne of palm oil in a year, while Indonesia produces 43 million tonne, the trade data showed.

 

 

 

 

An importer will require license for

Agro chems – Pesticides, E-commerce, Trade

Acquired three insecticide brands will help the company to generate an additional revenue of about Rs 50 crore annually.

Agro-chemical firm Crystal Crop Protection Ltd  has recently  stated that it has acquired three insecticide brands from US-based Corteva  Agriscience, which will help the company to generate an additional revenue of about Rs 50 crore annually.

The company has seven manufacturing plants in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana. It posted a net profit of about Rs 130 crore over a turnover of around Rs 1,400 crore during the last financial year. 

“We have acquired three premium insecticides brands Dursban, Nurelle-D and Predator brands in India from Corteva Agriscience”, said Ankur Aggarwal, MD Crystal Crop.This is Crystal’s fifth acquisition in last two years and is part of the company’s strategy to diversify product portfolio and widen its market presence, he added.

Startegic Aquisistion

“This acquisition is a part of Crystal’s strategy to add value to its business and ensure growth for all its stakeholders. We believe such strategic acquisitions would improve our competitiveness, further help in diversifying our product portfolio and thus strengthen our market presence across India,” Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal also added that these three brands would give Rs 40-50 crore revenue annually.

 Corteva Agriscience is a major American agricultural chemical and seed company. Originally an agricultural unit of DowDuPont, it later became one of the major stand-alone agricultural organizations in the world.

About CrystaI Crop

In 2018, Crystal acquired a specialty chemicals manufacturing facility at Nagpur from Cytec India. After that it acquired Indian grain sorghum, pearl millet and fodder sorghum seeds business from Syngenta India, followed by the acquisition of four brands namely Furadan, Splendour, Affinity Force and Metcil from FMC India Limited.

Crystal also bought three brands from Syngenta, namely Tilt, Proclaim and Blue Copper. In 2016, it had signed an agreement with Germany’s BASF SE to acquire the brand Bavistin for use in India.

Crystal Crop Protection had acquired Hyderabad based company Rohini-Seeds and Rohini Bioseeds and Agritech in 2011.

 

Acquired three insecticide brands will help the

E-commerce, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, Trade

The company has observed a 132.5 per cent growth in exports by shipping 2,358 units, and secures a market share of 32 percent, during the month under review. 

Sonalika Tractors, one of the world’s leading integrated tractor manufacturing com witnesses an uprising growth in its sales. The company’s domestic sales grow 20.7% to 7,320 units in the month of December, 2019. The homegrown brand Sonalika tractors freighted 6,066 units in the same month last year. 

Raman Mittal, Executive Director of Sonalika Group sharing the tales of their spectacular growth journey said, ” The overall market share of 14.7 per cent along with volume growth of 20.7% is an indication of the improving consumer sentiments and our strong foundation of market activations, strengthening channel presence and new product launches, Together with our channel partners and employees, we shall continue to achieve new milestones of market share in the times ahead.” 

“With the onset of the new year, we anticipate a positive consumer demand and industry to rebound on the back of rising alternate usage of tractors, ease of finance availability coupled with government’s rural thrust,” Mittal further added.

The company has a global presence in 120 countries and some of its most demanded categories across the world are Sikander series, MM series, and DI/RX series.

The company has observed a 132.5

Agrotech

Cocoa for Generations is how Mars intends to step-change efforts, lead the way and invite others to partner with them in a new approach to increase farmer income, protect children and preserve forests today, and crack the code on a model of modern sustainable cocoa farming for tomorrow

Global demand for cacao is expected to grow at an annual rate of approximately 5% for the foreseeable future.   In the past, increasing demand has been met by increasing the total acreage under cacao cultivation.   However, this approach has come at a high cost in terms of deforestation and environmental degradation. As part of its Cocoa for Generations strategy, Mars Incorporated has committed to meeting  its future cacao needs through a 100% sustainable supply-chain.   

Cocoa for Generations is how Mars intends to step-change efforts, lead the way and invite others to partner with them in a new approach to increase farmer income, protect children and preserve forests today, and crack the code on a model of modern sustainable cocoa farming for tomorrow. Achieving a 100% sustainable supply-chain  will not be an easy task – especially since the cacao crop will increasingly compete  with other crops such as oil palm and rubber for available farmland.  Improved agronomic practices will help achieve this goal, but alone will not be sufficient.  

The key will be to significantly increase the  genetic potential of cacao to produce higher yields and improved quality on the same or even less farmland.  With this goal in mind,  Mars has engaged Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP) in a collaborative project to accelerate the development of new cacao varieties with higher yields, increased disease resistance and improved quality. 

Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP)  is an advanced optimization analytics company located in New York, USA and Chiapas, Mexico; and dedicated to the conservation,  evaluation and utilization of natural genetic resources to deliver  high performing plant materials and creating value and efficiency through innovative and  sustainable cutting-edge technologies for the global community. 

Cocoa for Generations is how Mars intends

Agro chems – Pesticides, E-commerce, R&D

ProJini Agchem Ltd., a new company focused on developing a platform technology to develop novel pesticides with new modes of action. 

 

 The Bayer Trendlines Ag Innovation Fund (“the Fund”), set up by Bayer CropScience LP (“Bayer”) and The Trendlines Group Ltd. (“Trendlines”) (SGX: 42T) (OTCQX: TRNLY), announced the establishment of ProJini Agchem Ltd. (“ProJini Agchem”), a new company focused on developing a platform technology to develop novel pesticides with new modes of action. 

Pesticides are the main tools the farmer uses to control pests. Pests (insects, diseases and weeds) cause up to 40% yield loss in agriculture, according to FAO estimations [1]. The pesticide market in 2018 reached an estimated US$55B in annual sales [2].

 Current solutions are insufficient, due to increased resistance, as well as regulatory pressure. Additionally, despite the investment of billions in R&D per year by agchem companies, innovative solutions based on novel modes of action is limited. 

ProJini Agchem is developing a solution focused on new type of molecular targets: protein-protein interactions. While such interactions are at the core of any organism, it is very challenging to develop inhibitors for such systems via conventional approaches due to their spatial and chemical characteristics.  The platform, developed by scientists Maayan Gal, PhD and Itay Bloch at the Migal Galilee Research Institute Ltd., leverages a combination of computational-biophysical methods to tackle this significant challenge. ProJini Agchem received an exclusive license to use this platform to develop novel pesticides with new modes of action. 

“Discovering new active ingredients and modes of action remains a top objective for agriculture in the future” said Axel Trautwein, Head of Small Molecules, Crop Science division of Bayer. “Establishing ProJini Agchem with Trendlines is a prime example of how our ’open innovation’ model works in Crop Science R&D, with the aim of supporting farmers to always achieve better standards in protecting their harvests”,  said Allen Christian, Head of Open Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Crop Science division of Bayer.

 “The need to develop new crop protection technologies to enhance food security is of high importance. Not only are known pesticides ineffective due to resistance, they are also of environmental concern. ProJini Agchem has risen to the challenge of developing new modes of intervention to provide the market with novel, more effective crop protection methods,” says Steve Rhodes, Chairman and CEO of Trendlines. Because protein-protein interactions are species specific, we expect the company to discover targeted pesticides that will be less harmful to the environment.  ProJini Agchem is the third company established by the Fund and boosts Trendlines’ growing ag-bio sector of portfolio companies.”

The Bayer Trendlines Ag Innovation Fund 

The Bayer Trendlines Ag Innovation Fund was established in April 2016 as a collaborative partnership between The Trendlines Group and Bayer to invest in agricultural technologies. The partnership agreement includes a US$10 million investment from Bayer. Bayer’s decades of experience in agricultural science, innovation and regulatory affairs, alongside Trendlines’ specialization in investing in innovative, early-stage medical and agricultural technologies, form the base of this strong alliance. 

About The Trendlines Group

Trendlines is an innovation commercialization company that invents, discovers, invests in, and incubates innovation-based medical and agricultural technologies to fulfill its mission to improve the human condition. As intensely hands-on investors, Trendlines is involved in all aspects of its portfolio companies from technology development to business building. Trendlines’ shares are traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX: 42T) and in the United States as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) on the OTCQX (OTCQX: TRNLY).

 

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros.

ProJini Agchem Ltd., a new company focused

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy, Agrotech

The participant farmers were assessed and certified as Group Farming Practitioners under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, under the Skill India Mission.

 

Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) has been recently felicitated by the World Record Union as one of the top 20 record holder achievers for the year 2020 for the incredible record on the theme of “Maximum Number of Farmers assessed on a single day”. Editors of seven countries Record Books have participated – India, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam, USA, and UK & Bangladesh. The Record was also selected to be placed in the Indonesian Record Museum (Largest record museum in world) as a part of World Record Holders’ meet which recently held at New Delhi.

 

This record was created on World Skill Day – 15th July 2019 wherein Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) undertook to create an Asia and National Record under India & Asia Book of Records simultaneously.  There is no previous record in any of the national record books where “Maximum Number of Farmers assessed on a single day”.

 

The record was created when in a single day in 4 districts at 19 locations in Maharashtra, 3000 Farmers from 33 villages from 11 Blocks were assessed which included men, women and youth from various social categories. Majority of the candidates participated in the event were women who were assessed, post-training, thus empowering women and providing them an opportunity to become decision makers.

 

 

The feat was an attempted to mark the fourth year of the National Skill Development Mission which was launched on the 15th of July 2015 by the Government of India (GoI). The participant farmers were assessed and certified as Group Farming Practitioners under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, a flagship program of the Government of India under the Skill India Mission.

 

Agriculture Skill Council of India has embarked on several other initiatives with state governments Pan India, to improve the livelihoods of farmers, farm and wage workers, self-employed and extension workers engaged in various agriculture segments.

The participant farmers were assessed and certified

Agrotech

The pain points are many from outdated farming practices, to lack of scientific innovation and poor policymaking

For decades, agriculture has been a cornerstone of the Indian economy. Once an agrarian economy Indian markets driven mostly by massive urbanization and buttressed by a growing middle class have now matured beyond agriculture. However approximately 70 per cent of India’s rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. Furthermore, India’s agricultural exports account for about 12-13 per cent of India’s exports.

While the agricultural revolution of the 60’s addressed India’s food security, modern demands from this sector far exceed simple self-sufficiency. And herein lies the problem. India’s farm productivity has largely stagnated. Agriculture’s contribution to India’s GDP has reduced over the years, from 50 per cent in 1950 to 17.3 per cent in 2016. From being the largest contributor to the country’s GDP, agriculture is now in real danger of becoming an also-ran or worse still an Achilles heel in a growing economy.

The pain points are many from outdated farming practices, to lack of scientific innovation and poor policymaking. As policy-makers and funding agencies wake up to this challenge, the need of the hour is to increase agricultural productivity through focused research and need-driven innovation.

For instance, Bengaluru based Sea6energy Pvt Ltd, a young bio-energy company, is working on developing an end-to-end solution to replace fossil fuels and fossil fuel derivatives in our daily lives including in agriculture. Sea6 Energy is guiding its efforts towards low-cost, large scale cultivation of red seaweed on the ocean and developing salt water based biotechnological processes to produce a plethora of 100 per cent natural and organic value-added products from red seaweed. For example, an agricultural biostimulant, a plant immunity booster, animal and human food additives, bioplastic and other such applications of the seaweed isolate phycocolloids. They have commercialized two products as of now and both have shown tremendous capabilities in increasing farm productivity and improving disease resistance.

Another startup FIB-SOL Life Technologies, based out of IIT-Madras, has developed low-weight biodegradable and low-cost biofertiliser technology. The product is a water soluble, nano-fibre based mesh which can be embedded with beneficial microbes that boost soil quality parameters. The technology can be easily diversified to support fertilisers, pesticides and biostimulants. The simplicity and affordability of the solution means immense potential for integration and impact.

Indian farmers usually do not wear any protective gear while spraying chemical-based pesticides in fields. This exposes them to harmful toxins, especially neurotoxins, causing severe health impacts and even death in extreme cases. Bengaluru based Sepio Health Pvt Ltd has developed a protective gel that when applied on skin can can neutralize toxins in pesticides, insecticides and fungicides. Once deactivated the chemicals do not cause harm to internal organs like brain and lungs even if absorbed topically. The group has also developed an active mask to deactivate pesticides.  

All three of these exciting startups are from C-CAMP which is home to over 150 startups in life sciences including agriculture. However, despite these success stories, we are yet to see a boom in the agriculture innovation sector. This could be because, agri-related problems are not clearly articulated or discussed in socio-scientific circles to attract innovator or even market attention. Even the technology advances that have happened have not been properly integrated on the ground. This situation thus poses a tremendous scope for science-driven innovations in agriculture and actual implementation of these solutions.

In August 2018, Department of Information Technology & Biotechnology, and Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Karnataka launched a Centre of Excellence for Agri-Innovation, in collaboration with C-CAMP. The CoE is a concerted effort to galvanize the agriculture innovation arena in India in the same vein as the healthcare domain and bring about transformational changes in the agro-economy of the country. The Centre’s activities have kicked off with a six-month Agri-immersion scheme to identify critical gaps in agriculture spanning the whole agri value chain. The program will identify key sectors/pain points in agriculture by bringing innovators on the same table as farmers and other stakeholders in Agriculture.

 

Dr Neelanjana Janardan, Senior Program Manager, Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru

The pain points are many from outdated

Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

With more than thirty years of specialization in the designing and marketing of coffee processing machines and plants,

STA Impianti also boasts a long experience in upholding sustainability standards. The Bologna based company has always been focused on energy savings and now it has reinvented itself with a portfolio of better performing, technologically advanced and energy-efficient roasting machines.

When less is best

STA Impianti has always been manufacturing machines with combustion chambers
completely made of heat resistant steel. After the latest technology upgrade, the
company has completely removed the ceramic fiber, which was used for the
combustion chamber’s thermal insulation and to protect workers in accordance with
safety regulations. STA decided to implement this new technology after years of
research, as it guarantees excellent results and a never before seen flexibility in the
roasting process. Such an innovative choice allows the company to uphold high
operational security standards and sets the company apart from every competitor that
still uses insulating materials such as cement, firebricks, ceramic fiber or other similar
products which can leave harmful residues. The path STA has chosen allows the
customers to improve the quality of their coffee both from an organoleptic and security perspective.

Certified savings for customers and the environment

Many clients are already employing the new STA solutions, thanks to which they have
considerably improved roasting uniformity and yield, while dramatically lowering the
preheating and roasting times, all of which translates in significant gains in term of
energy, gas and labor needed for the process. Using the latest roasting machines,
clients can achieve global energy savings of between 20% and 25% over the most
common devices on the market. Such data can be constantly verified from electricity,
gas and time meters installed on our roasting machines; this data is then recorded in
the work sheet of the product. Thanks to this technological evolution. the client is able
to obtain a higher quality product, uncontaminated by polluting material residues, as
well as emissions from combustion recirculation, being also capable of tracking useful
metrics in real time in order to calculate processing costs.
Not just hardware


The company’s mechanical innovations are complemented by software innovations,
which allow the full control of all roasting machine’s parameters through
comprehensive customization and the deployment of specific interfaces for plant
management. The software was developed by STA and, together with next-generation
electronic components, allows for the automatic tracking and creation of production
batches, thanks to the machines’ ability to communicate with the business database.

STA Impianti s.r.l.

VAT Number 00662411206 – Codice fiscale 3793920376 – R.E.A. N. 316403 – Iscrizione Tribunale BO R.I.N. 49752
management of the plant and, ultimately, better production efficiencies and a higher
quality product.

STA Impianti – Facts and Figures
Established in 1988, STA IMPIANTI S.R.L. is specialized in the manufacturing

With more than thirty years of specialization

Packaging & Labelling, R&D, Supply Chain

These solutions are designed to inhibit postharvest microbial decay and extend the shelf life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days,

  StePac L.A., Ltd., who have been pioneering advances in pomegranate packaging since 2003, introduces its latest range of sustainable packaging solutions, perfect for preserving the freshness and extending the shelf life of pomegranates and their extracted arils. 

StePac has expanded its range to include new recyclable solutions, as well as packaging formats tailored to automation of both bulk and retail packing. These will be showcased at the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10. 

In spite of their tough exterior, whole fresh pomegranates host a range of challenges that arise with prolonged storage. In the absence of proper protection, the fruit can suffer significant dehydration and weight loss, causing it to shrivel. This may be accompanied by the development of skin blemishes and crown decay that eventually leaches into the fruit and impairs the quality and taste of the arils. 

From orchard to table

StePac’s pomegranate packaging portfolio incorporates long storage packaging formats to meet the requirements of growers seeking glut management solutions for post-harvest bulk storage.

Pomegranate growers and packers are now able to load fresh-picked pomegranates directly at the orchard and store up to 400kg of the fruit in each specialized StePac Xtend® bin liner for periods of three months or longer, with no negative effect on the fruit. 

This is in addition to storage liners for weight of 10-80kg that are already widely used in many countries. The Xtend line also includes unique carton liners that offer the ideal solution for maintaining fruit quality during the lengthy shipments to distant locations.

 Leaner flow pack packaging for whole fruits

StePac developed film structures containing a unique sealing layer that facilitates leaner packaging and induces savings of up to 40% in material use as well as reduced labor costs, by enabling pomegranates to be flow-packed in both bulk and retail formats.

100% recyclable retail packaging for arils

The company recently finalized development of fully recyclable Xgo™ lidding films and standing pouches to add to this category of retail-packaging products.These solutions are designed to inhibit postharvest microbial decay and extend the shelf life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days, preserving the fruit’s organoleptic properties. 

The lidding films are available in lean easy peel and resealable formats. The company’s comprehensive range of lean and sustainable packaging solutions is designed to maintain pomegranate freshness throughout all stages of the supply chain. 

The technology is based on a unique modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) system that reduces respiration rates and ethylene production for a combined effect of slowing down ageing and ripening. It also inhibits the proliferation of pathogens.

 Water vapor transmission technology enhances performance

StePac has developed a comprehensive repertoire of films with built-in abilities to regulate water-vapor transmission rates as well as provide optimal modified atmosphere conditions. The films incorporate distinct properties to cater to a range of pomegranate packaging applications. 

“During prolonged storage of this fruit, it is paramount to strike the perfect balance between eliminating excess free moisture to mitigate the risk of microbial decay and to concurrently avoid excessive product dehydration,” explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for StePac.

 Ward also added that such balance depends on multiple synergistic factors, including surface area to volume ratio, produce weight, supply chain length, and shipping and storage conditions.

“Pomegranates are in demand in every continent. The global reach of our technology is instrumental in addressing the challenges facing the pomegranate industry and for ensuring that both the whole fruit and the extracted arils reach the consumers— wherever they might be — in prime condition, while keeping waste to a minimum”, said Gary Ward.

“Our holistic vision and pragmatic approach are embedded in a range of complex structures and packaging formats that deliver the extended shelf life and sustainability principles our customers seek.” 

“This approach evolved from our deep-rooted understanding and 25-year history of researching fresh produce pathology and physiology and its interaction with packaging design.” 

About StePac

StePac specializes in functional packaging for fresh produce. Its globally recognized brands include Xtend®, Xgo™, Xflow™ and Xbloom™ modified-atmosphere/modified-humidity packaging solutions.

 These solutions reduce weight loss, slow respiration and aging, and inhibit microbial decay, while prolonging storability and shelf life. They are supported by a wealth of post-harvest expertise for enhanced performance and sustainability. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Matthey, plc, UK.

 

These solutions are designed to inhibit postharvest

Acquaculture, Live Stock

 Marine Biological Association of India, Kochi will host the third international symposium on marine ecosystems – challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) in Kochi from January 7 to 10. 

 

Eminent marine scientists, oceanographers, fisheries researchers and marine biotechnologists from across the globe are expected to participate in the third international symposium on marine ecosystems.

  MECOS-3  which is organised by the Marine Biological Association of India,will serve as a platform for discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and an unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.

 Petri Suuronen, Programme Director, Blue Bioeconomy Natural Resources Institute, Finland, will open the symposium on Tuesday.  A renowned researcher in marine fisheries, Suuronen’s recent research paper on how to modify trawling without harming the ocean ecosystem, has received global attention.

 The four-day meet ,that  will be held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, holds significance in the backdrop of the recent spate of cyclonic storms and other climatic phenomena in the Arabian Sea.

 The meet will also focus on the UN’s sustainable development goal-14 (life under water), development of small-scale fisheries, recent developments in aquaculture, eco-labelling and green fishing technologies.

 “The aim of the symposium  will be reviewing the concerns involved in marine ecosystem and formulating strategies for the better and sustainable utilisation of marine wealth by enhancing livelihood options”, said Sunil Mohamed, Principal Scientist of CMFRI and Convenor of MECOS-3. 

He also added that ,healthy oceans, coasts and related ecosystems are crucial for economic growth and food production. Billions of people worldwide, especially the world’s poorest, rely on healthy oceans to provide jobs and food, underscoring the urgent need to sustainably use and protect this natural resource. 

 The symposium would come up with a roadmap to deal with the issues such as  depletion of resources, marine pollution, extreme weather conditions and rising sea surface temperature, among others, pose a threat to the sustainable utilisation of marine resources,he said.

 Marine Biological Association of India, Kochi will

Agrotech

AgriTalk Integrates Biotechnology, Iot, Big Data Analysis, and Ai to to solve the current agricultural problems

AgriTalk Tech Inc. was founded by Dr. Wen-Liang Chen, an associate professor at NCTU College of Biological Science and Technology. It integrates biotechnology, IoT, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence to develop a non-toxic agricultural disease and fertilizer regulation system called the “AgriTalk Management Platform.” AgriTalk’s “AgriTalk Management Platform” is capable of regulating factors like diseases, pests, soil fertility, moisture/humidity, temperature, and light exposure.

AgriTalk’s mission is to use technology to solve the current agricultural problems in Taiwan. This mission resonates especially well with Dr. Chen, who comes from a family of farmers in Yunlin. When he was a child, he witnessed the horrifying scene where his father almost died from poisoning while spraying pesticide. This is why non-toxic agriculture became his life’s pursuit.

Another common problem on farms is soil acidification caused by long-term pesticide and fertilizer abuse, which can cause soil fertility and crop yields to decline. Dr. Chen said that long before the establishment of AgriTalk Tech, his R&D team had already separated and developed biological pest inhibitors from 5,000 spider neurotoxins to deal with the soil acidification issue. They can kill specific pests but are harmless to humans and bees.

According to Dr. Chen, the most direct result of farm population migration and aging is labor shortage. Dr. Chen believes that encouraging young people to return home is the solution to this predicament. Taking Nanzhuang as an example, he mentioned the township mayor has been eagerly inviting AgriTalk to set up a local demo site. Since young people understand and identify with technology, it will naturally spark their interest in coming home.

AgriTalk’s automated, non-toxic, and precise fertilization system can reduce labor demand, maintain soil nutrients, and prevent loss of land productivity, which solves the soil acidification problem step by step. Dr. Chen mentioned that the most important thing is to attract investment from businesses and agricultural marketing channels. This is to build a more secure contractual business model for farmers, thereby opening an avenue that is connected to the upper, mid, and downstream, and provides long-term profit for the entire village and even the agriculture industry in Taiwan. This will encourage more young people to come home, and solve the issues of labor shortages and long-term care.

According to Dr. Chen, AgriTalk is actively seeking strategic partnerships to achieve mighty goals and hopes to link all the companies, resources, products, technology, and solutions into a value chain.

AgriTalk Integrates Biotechnology, Iot, Big Data Analysis,