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E-commerce, R&D

Bayer will start rewarding farmers in Brazil and the U.S. for generating carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices 

 Bayer to reward growers to generate carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices and creating a new revenue stream on-farm / the initiative makes Bayer the first company to develop a transparent, science-based and collaborative approach to a carbon market in agriculture. 

Agriculture may now have another solution to positively impact climate change thanks to a new initiative launched by Bayer. Beginning this month, Bayer will start rewarding farmers in Brazil and the U.S. for generating carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices – such as no-till farming and the use of cover crops – designed to help agriculture reduce its carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Bayer’s industry-leading Carbon Initiative is the result of years of work validating a science-based approach and methodology to make this happen. It recognizes the pivotal role growers and their land can play in helping to create lasting, positive environmental impacts and is the latest in the company’s sustainability commitments specifically aimed at reducing field GHG emission by 30% in 2030. 

“Farmers are passionate environmentalists and stewards of the lands they farm,” said Brett Begemann, Chief Operating Officer of Bayer’s Crop Science division. Their lives and livelihoods depend on the weather, and they are some of the first to be affected by drought, flooding and extreme conditions. If anyone has a vested interest in battling climate change, it’s farmers and we are committed to developing new business models like this unique Carbon Initiative to help them in that fight.” 

Soil is one of the most effective ways of sequestering carbon. Incentivizing farmers to embrace no-till, precision nitrogen use or cover crops helps further sequester carbon into the soil, reduce fossil fuel usage and reduce greenhouse gases. While today farmers get rewarded solely for their food, feed and fiber production, those participating in the Bayer Carbon Initiative will have the opportunity to be rewarded for their best farm management practices and other sustainability efforts as well.

 The program’s 2020/2021 season will include approximately 1,200 farmers in Brazil and the U.S. In both countries, farmers will receive assistance in implementing climate-smart agricultural practices and Bayer will acquire the carbon removals created by those practices at transparent prices. The company is also collaborating with partners such as Embrapa in Brazil to build a viable carbon market for farmers. 

Bayer plans to expand the program in the U.S. and Brazil to other farmers and then later into other world regions with tailored approaches that will allow growers to choose what climate-smart practices and implementation works best for them. In Europe, we are exploring how this innovative approach could be adapted as part of the European Green Deal. In Asia-Pacific, our goal is to help increase productivity for smallholder farmers as well as reduce methane emissions from rice farming. 

“We are excited to partner with farmers through this new Bayer Carbon Initiative,” Begemann added. “We’re honoured to take this major step with farmers to create a carbon-zero future for agriculture, an important legacy that we can create with farmers to leave to the next generation.”

 

 

Bayer will start rewarding farmers in Brazil

Agro chems – Pesticides, E-commerce

The new insecticide is an import substitute to a similar Japanese insecticide. 

 

 Best Agrolife Ltd., a leading global player in agrochemicals sector and one of India’s largest manufacturers of agro-inputs is first in India to have granted license/registration for manufacturing *DIRON* (DINOTEFURAN 20 per cent SG), a super systematic insecticide with quick uptake and knock-down, that controls a broad spectrum of previous and invasive pests. With two formulations, it is super flexible when it comes to application. With quick action through contact and ingestion, resulting in robust pest control management. This product is an import substitute to a similar Japanese insecticide.

The features of this product include unique and new molecular formulation with systematic action, Broad spectrum insecticide, Indeed for Rice – Brown Plant Hopper and Cotton – Aphids, Jassids, etc., highly effective against resistant insect pests, long residual action providing longer protection thereby reducing number of sprays, and environment friendly.

 Owing to the launch of this new product, the outlook for the company remains positive, thereby increasing chances of higher revenue and profitability. The analysts also predict a growth in the company.

 Vimal Kumar, Director, upholds the mission to remain focused to deliver Research based customized agrochemical and biological tools for sustained productivity and  the company strives to provide one-stop Industrial solutions through quality and qualified professionals. He further adds, “Our company revenue for the current financial gear would increase by 100 crores only with the help of this product.” 

In a short span company has emerged among the top 20 companies in India and as with an emerging presence in international markets. 

Best Agrolife’s product portfolio comprises of more than 60 active ingredients and various formulations of pesticides and plant micro-nutrients for protecting and nourishing a wide range of crops. Its product range includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators etc. It sells under the brand name “Best”.

The company has four strategically located manufacturing plants, two in Uttar Pradesh & two in J&K. These plants are well equipped with state-of-art indigenous infrastructure for the production of high quality agrochemicals.

 The company caters to several Bluechip Corporates for P2P which include UPL Ltd., Jubilant, Indo Gulf Fertilisers, Mahindra Summit Agriscience, Bharat Rasayan, etc.

The boost to the agro sector by the current government will increase demand of agro chemicals and insecticides. This will lead to increase in revenues and profitability of companies such as Best Agrolife Ltd. According to a recent survey, the estimated size of Indian agro chemical market is USD 3 Billion, which is a positive for such companies. Best AgroLife Ltd. aims to become a Rs. 2000 crore company by 2022.

 

 

The new insecticide is an import substitute

India, Sustainable Energy

Key focus on renewable energy, power distribution

The National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC has signed an MoU with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, NIIF, acting through National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited, NIIFL, to explore opportunities for investments in areas like renewable energy, power distribution among other areas of mutual interest in India.

This MoU, signed on July 16, 2020, is aimed at furthering India’s vision of building sustainable and robust energy infrastructure in the country. The partnership will bring together NTPC’s technical expertise and NIIF’s ability to raise capital and bring in global best practices by leveraging its existing relationships with leading players.

With a total installed capacity of 62110 MW, NTPC Group has 70 Power stations comprising 24 Coal, 7 combined cycle Gas/Liquid Fuel, 1 Hydro, 13 Renewables along with 25 Subsidiary & JV Power Stations. NTPC’s goal is to generate 30 GW of its overall power generation capacity from renewable energy sources by 2032.

The MoU was signed via video conferencing between Sangeeta Kaushik, GM (BD-Domestic), NTPC and Rajiv Dhar, Executive Director& Chief Operating Officer, NIIFL.

Key focus on renewable energy, power distribution The

Agrotech, R&D

Prof Prabhu Pingali has made seminal contributions to agricultural economics research in the areas of technology change and the impact of pesticides on the environment and health 

 Prof Prabhu Pingali, Founding Director of the Tata-Cornell Institute and a Professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, has been inducted as the Pravasi (Expatriate) Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India on July 21, 2020. Earlier during 2019, Prabhu Pingali was elected as a Fellow of the Academy after a multi-level process following his nomination by an existing distinguished Fellow plus review process conducted by Sectional Committees. 

An internationally renowned Agricultural Economist with highly acclaimed research accomplishments, Prof Prabhu Pingali has made seminal contributions to agricultural economics research in the areas of technology change and adoption, the impact of pesticides on the environment and health, diet change and nutrition, and foresight studies. Previously, he has also been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences as a Foreign Associate in recognition of his research contributions. He was also elected as the President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists and Fellow of the American Association of Agricultural Economists.

Pravasi Fellowship of the Academy is accorded to Persons of Indian origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who are eminent for their knowledge and contributions to agricultural science, and have contributed or can contribute to the progress of science in India.

Crediting his students and collaborators across the world for making the science happen, Prof Pingali said, “Thanks to all my terrific students, research fellows, postdocs and collaborators who have jointly contributed immensely in achieving the desired results in our research studies. My gratitude to existing NAAS members for reposing their faith in me. It is an honour to be a part of the Academy and I hope the platform helps me even more in contributing to India’s agricultural growth to the best of my knowledge and capabilities.” 

Prof Pingali has published 13 books and over 120 journal articles and book chapters. His work has been cited approximately 24,000 times in the academic literature, and has influenced the national food and agricultural policy and donor funding of several developing nations. He has also held senior management positions in the CGIAR System, FAO, and Gates Foundation.

As the Founding Director of the Tata-Cornell Institute at Cornell University, Prabhu Pingali leads TCI’s long-term research initiative that is focused on addressing the chronic problems of rural poverty and malnutrition in India and identifying food and agriculture-based solutions that can create transformative change.

Prabhu Pingali has had a very long and impactful association with Indian Agricultural Research Institutes, right from the late 1980s when he was an Economist and Program Leader at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), till today. 

Prof Prabhu Pingali has made seminal contributions

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

It can be used over-the-top weed control across crops like soybeans, cotton, corn, canola and sugarbeets 

 

 

UPL, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to amend the label language of INTERLINE herbicide from use in the “LibertyLink system” to all systems that contain “glufosinate-resistant traits.”

“The expansion enables INTERLINE to be used on all glufosinate-resistant production systems, in addition to the LibertyLink systems,” says Tom Mudd, UPL marketing manager for corn and soybean herbicides. “Farmers today need flexibility to achieve their production goals, with products they can trust. INTERLINE offers best-in-class performance for business-minded growers.” 

INTERLINE is now approved for use on Enlist E3 soybeans as well as LibertyLink-GT27 soybeans. The new label will give growers additional options to meet EPA herbicide requirements in these crops and help retailers manage inventories for their grower-customers.

 “As the industry continues to evolve, UPL continues to provide unique product solutions for all U.S. growers. Through this expansion of the label registration, INTERLINE Herbicide can be used on a broader percentage of U.S. row crop acres for the convenience of growers,” he adds.

The updated label directs application of INTERLINE for over-the-top weed control across several crops, including soybeans, cotton, corn, canola and sugarbeets. This label revision is approved for many key states in the High Plains region.

 

It can be used over-the-top weed control

R&D, Trade, World

The tool has been created for data-driven evidence-based decision-making in the food and agriculture sectors.

Hand-in-Hand geospatial platform, a tool to create more resilient food systems post COVID-19 with a large and rich set of data on food, agriculture, socioeconomics and natural resources has been launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The tool has been created for data-driven evidence-based decision-making in the food and agriculture sectors. It supposedly contains over one million geospatial layers and thousands of statistics series with over 4,000 metadata records, bringing together geographic information and statistical data on over ten domains linked to food and agriculture – from food security, crops, soil, land, water, climate, fisheries, livestock to forestry.

It also includes information on COVID-19’s impact on food and agriculture. The data has been obtained from FAO and other leading public data providers across the UN and NGOs, academia, private sector and space agencies. It also incorporates FAOSTAT data on food and agriculture for over 245 countries and territories from 1961 to the most recent year available.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said the platform will help to create interactive data maps, analyze trends and identify real-time gaps and opportunities along with helping to find new ways of reducing hunger and poverty through more accessible and integrated data-driven solutions.

 

The tool has been created for data-driven

AgroPolicy, Warehousing

Need to address bottlenecks vis-a-vis land and capital, technology and infrastructure

At a recently concluded webinar by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, FICCI  entitled, ‘Opportunity to reinvent Agriculture @Policy Reforms’, saw leaders discuss the pros and cons of the three ordinances that were recently introduced by the GoI to usher in major agricultural market reforms.

Nandita Gupta, Joint Secretary (Storage and PG), Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India said that a synergy between various stakeholders and ministries is required for proper implementation of the agricultural ordinances.

She also highlighted the importance of warehousing, said that creation of small warehouses at the farmgate itself could save a farmer from distress sale of his produce and also assist in providing financial assistance to the farmers, by making it mandatory for the primary agricultural cooperative societies to register their warehouses with the WDRA (Warehouse Development Regulatory Authority).

However, Pravesh Sharma, Advisor, FICCI & Co-founder & CEO, Kamatan Farm Tech Pvt. Ltd, said “The present set of agriculture reforms are of course welcome, but they should be seen as the starting point and not the destination of the journey. Much needs to be done to address bottlenecks in factor markets such as land and capital, technology and infrastructure upgradation before Indian agriculture can become globally competitive, ecologically sustainable and socially inclusive.”

Need to address bottlenecks vis-a-vis land and

Animal Health, North America

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) last week announced that the company has received unanimous approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its acquisition of Bayer Animal Health, a division of Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN). The FTC decision represents the final antitrust clearance needed to complete the transaction, which continues on track for closing at the beginning of August.

This approval marks the near-final step in fulfilling our vision of bringing together two dedicated animal health companies focused on delivering innovation and an expanded portfolio of solutions to farmers, veterinarians and pet owners around the globe,” said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco. “As we approach closing and look toward putting our integration plans into action, I want to thank everyone who has worked so tirelessly on this transaction, especially during these challenging times. Their hard work has positioned the combined company for success, and we look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to Elanco in the very near future.”

The complementary transaction strengthens Elanco’s Innovation, Portfolio and Productivity strategy by combining Elanco’s long-standing focus on the veterinarian with Bayer’s direct-to-consumer expertise, proven even more important as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the transaction will advance Elanco’s intentional portfolio transformation, creating a balance between the farm animal and pet health businesses. It also expands Elanco’s omnichannel approach, substantially diversifying its pet health business into the retail and e-commerce channels allowing Elanco to reach pet owners and serve veterinarians with a multi-faceted approach.

Elanco continues to expect necessary worldwide divestitures to be in the previously announced range of $120 million to $140 million of annual revenue to help advance regulatory reviews. The FTC’s approval is conditional on the following proposed divestitures:

  • Worldwide rights for Elanco’s Osurnia®, a treatment for otitis externa in dogs, being sold to Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON: DPH).
  • U.S. rights for Elanco’s Capstar®, an oral tablet that kills fleas in dogs and cats, being sold to PetIQ, Inc. (Nasdaq: PETQ).
  • U.S. rights for Elanco’s StandGuard®, a pour-on treatment for horn fly and lice control in beef cattle, being sold to Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG).

In addition to FTC approval, Elanco has received antitrust clearance for the transaction from the European Commission (EC), as well as in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Further, Elanco fully secured financing in the first quarter of 2020 through its equity issuance and pricing of its Term Loan B, which will fund at deal close. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) last

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, Trade, World

DDT plays a key role in worldwide malaria control programs

Hindustan Insecticides Limited, (HIL), India has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of DDT 75 % WP to South Africa for their Malaria control program on July 20, 2020. HIL, India is  a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and the sole manufacturer of DDT globally. 

The Department of Health, South Africa shall be utilising DDT  in three provinces adjoining Mozambique which are highly affected with Malaria. There are reports of maximum morbidity and mortality due to the disease in recent years. 

Malaria continues to be one of the major public health problems globally. In 2018, an estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and most malaria cases and deaths (93 percent) were reported from African Region.

India accounts for the majority of cases and death in the South East Asia region, where spraying of insecticides inside the human habitants has proven to be an effective mosquito control tool.

HIL, India was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture and supply DDT to the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for malaria control programmes. In 2019-20, DDT was supplied to 20 States in the country.

DDT plays a key role in worldwide

Foodgrains, Live Stock, North America, Oilseeds

The US meat export federation’s study helps promote global demand for American red meat

The United States Meat Export Federation, (USMEF) has released an updated version of the independent study aimed at quantifying the value red meat exports provide to U.S. corn and soybean producers.

Since 2015, indirect exports of corn and soybeans through beef and pork exports have been the fastest-growing category of corn and soybean use. In 2019, beef and pork exports used 480 million bushels of corn and corn revenue generated by pork exports was $1.8 billion.

Pork exports used 2.12 million tons of soybean meal and soybean revenue generated by pork exports was $751.7 million. Beef and pork exports also used about 3 million tons of distiller’s dried grains which generated $411.8 million in revenue for ethanol mills’ co-products.

With total production of 13.62 billion bushels, the value of pork exports to the U.S. corn crop was $6.26 billion. With total production of 3.55 billion bushels, the value of pork exports was $2.7 billion to the soybean crop.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said quantifying the value delivered by beef and pork exports is reassuring to corn and soybean producers, who provide critical support for USMEF’s efforts to increase global demand for U.S. red meat.

 

The US meat export federation’s study helps promote global

Schemes - Govt

Invites suggestions to develop a model to provide help and finance

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Road & Transport  stressed on the need to provide financial help to micro/small businesses/works such as fishermen, ferry walas, rickshaw pullers, vegetable vendors, poor and self help groups through adequate policies and models.

He was addressing the ‘Pan IIT Global E-Conclave on reimagining MSMEs and Livelihoods’ on July 20, 2020 and said a large population of the country is involved in very small enterprises like fishing, bee-keeping, bamboo production, among others. “They are economically and socially backward without adequate financial support”, he added.

With enough technological, financial and marketing support they can grow their business/work which in turn will give impetus to creation of more employment opportunities in rural, agricultural and tribal areas.

He has invited suggestions to develop a model to help and finance these socially, economically and educationally backward entrepreneurs and believes such a model can support a lot of enterprises involved in bamboo, honey production, alternative fuels and other areas.

 

Invites suggestions to develop a model to

E-commerce, IT, Supply Chain

Mera Mobile Mera Marketing is an initiative for Indian farmers to sell products online totally free. 

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, when all APMC mandis are not operational, farmers and rural entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to sell their products and services due to various restrictions. At this time, Market Mirchi through ’Mission Mera Mobile Mera Marketing’  is helping them in finding customers online for their products and establishing direct market linkages.

Mera Mobile Mera Marketing is an initiative for Indian farmers to sell products online totally free. Recently Big Brands have also shown interest to join Mission MeraMobileMeraMarketing for procuring directly through farmers.

It is a disruptive bottom up approach for enabling digitisation of agricultural and rural marketing from rural stakeholders through their own mobiles.

 Pragati Gokhale a retired Dy. Director Mahatma Gandhi Institute For Rural Industrialization, National Institute under Ministry of MSME Govt. of India is the key person in MeraMobileMeraMarketing.

She is currently working as Advisor Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission, she is also National Resource Person for ministry of Rural Development Govt. of India.

Pragati Gokhale informed about Mera Mobile Mera Marketing to AgroSpectrum.

“Indigenous, responsive web portal MarketMirchi.com highlights all rural and agro categories for free digital marketing of rural and agro products, SHG (self-help-group) products, rural services and rural jobs. This portal is completely mobile responsive but does not need downloading like an app. It is developed using latest progressive web technologies”, said Gokhale. 

Hands on sessions are conducted of rural stakeholders such as farmers, self-help-groups, farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and agro entrepreneurs, rural entrepreneurs among others on using this platform effectively for posting their own ads as well as searching and contacting buyers in search buyers section. These capacity building programmes are taken for them using their own mobiles .Various field level programmes are taken for creating these back-end linkages with support from various government and non-government players working in rural development sector. Videos on how to use the portal for your zero budget digital agro marketing is also prepared by Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation (MKCL) in Hindi and are distributed among farmers, SHGs over their WhatsApp. Detailed e-learning course on Zero Budget Detail Marketing for agro, rural sector is also made by MKCL. NABARD has shown interest to introduce this course for their beneficiaries, this also can be disseminated through Krishi Vidnyan Kendras (KVKs).

To find buyers for agricultural and rural products, various online and offline strategies which include Data Mining and AI techniques, leveraging social media channels, networking through agro supply chain events are taken up. 

Analysis of data generated is done by using open source business intelligence tools and these data analytics value are then back streamed in database of the portal. Also it can be used for empowering other rural development initiatives. Apart from increasing digital footprint of rural India, more than 60 percent direct market leads are generated by this free but effective humble effort. 

For getting real benefits of digital revolution at the bottom of the pyramid it is essential to have such disruptive integrated programmes. As per the latest reforms coming under Covid -19 stated FM Nirmala Sitaraman there will not be any control for farmers selling their products in open markets and fetching good revenue directly by bypassing APMCs. 

Interested individuals can contact Pragati Gokhale on: 9822719618

 

Mera Mobile Mera Marketing is an initiative

Agrotech, Finance, Start ups

Better Capital, Titan Capital, ITC agribusiness CEO Sanjiv Rangrass also participated in the round 

 

 

Agritech startup VeGrow has raised $2.5 Mn in seed funding led by Matrix Partners and Ankur Capital to invest in technologies that will improve farming, make the supply chain more efficient and help farmers achieve income stability.

Better Capital, Snapdeal founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal’s Titan Capital, ITC’s agribusiness CEO Sanjiv Rangrass, Cloudnine founder Rohit MA, Livspace founder Ramakant Sharma, and Park+ founder Amit Lakhotia, also participated in the funding round. 

VeGrow was founded in April 2020 by Praneeth Kumar, Shobhit Jain, Mrudhukar Batchu and Kiran Naik. The founders all have varying experiences in the Agri sector. While Kumar and Jain had started their careers at ITC’s agribusiness division, Batchu and Naik were directly involved in farming.

The company works with small-hold farmers on a profit-sharing model and aids them across the various stages of the farming cycle using technology. Its primary business is to provide farmers access to high-quality farm inputs, monitor their adherence to best farming practices and enable them to sell their harvest to the right buyers for the right price.

VeGrow’s Kumar said that “Our collective experience of working on multiple agri initiatives led us to realise that, with the right set of tech interventions, farming can be a highly remunerative business,” 

Meanwhile, Ritu Verma, cofounder and managing partner at Ankur Capital, said “The team’s depth of understanding the market, coupled with their approach to use technology to drive scale is what we feel sets them apart.”

Better Capital, Titan Capital, ITC agribusiness CEO

Agro Universities, Seeds

The hybrid is high yielding bold nut cashew hybrid and a progeny of the cross between NRCC-Sel-2 x Bedasi 

The ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the M/s Annai Velankanni Nursery, Tamil Nadu for the non-exclusive Licensing of new Cashew Hybrid – H-130. 

The MoU was signed by Dr M.G. Nayak, Director, ICAR-DCR, Puttur and Shri D. Xavier, Proprietor, M/s Annai Velankanni Nursery, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu on the behalf of their respective organizations.

 In his address, Dr M.G. Nayak stressed that the commercialization of high yielding new varieties shall help to bring more areas under the improved and promising varieties that can help in achieving self-sufficiency in cashew nut production in the country.

The Hybrid developed by the Directorate and released for cultivation during the Year – 2018 is a high yielding bold nut cashew hybrid and a progeny of the cross between NRCC-Sel-2 x Bedasi. This hybrid is highly precocious in nature and is unique in having both bold nut and cluster bearing character that is barely found in the popularly grown cashew varieties / hybrids. It has a long flowering duration of 4 to 5 months, that is, from December to April with early flowering habit. 

The officials of the PME, ITMU and ITMC were also present during the occasion

The hybrid is high yielding bold nut