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Finance, North America, Supply Chain

Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, other investors included investors Initialized Capital and Haystack Ventures.  

 Cloud-based supply chain streaming platform Silo has raised a $9 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors in the round include investors Initialized Capital and Haystack Ventures. This brings its total funding to $12 million since launching in 2018.

 

San Francisco-based Silo is hoping to help streamline the food supply chain to mitigate food waste. Although loss happens throughout the supply chain from the farm gate to consumers’ kitchens, Silo finds the production and distribution segment particularly wasteful.

 

“The market potential for an innovator like Silo to reduce waste and improve margins is enormous and we’re excited to support its efforts as the system of record for food distribution in the United States,” said Anish Acharya, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, in a statement announcing the funding. “Silo is well-positioned to scale beyond the west coast to help more customers modernize and transition their operations from pen and paper to software.”

 

The round came together organically at the end of last year, according to co-founder and CEO Ashton Braun. And while there are a plethora of food waste start-ups in the market, Braun believes that investors understand the enormity of the problem and are not bored of it.

Its goal is to replace traditional systems with advanced technology to mitigate the loss of products and product rejections.

“We have built a lot of software to help a lot of folks. It digitizes workflows to make sure that all the internal systems and processes that they’re trying to run are connecting and communicating,” Braun told AFN. “From there, we were able to allow them to use data to make better decisions and have more time to manage operations more efficiently.”

 

Silo’s cloud-based online platform is accessible anywhere for growers, distributors, and suppliers in the perishable food system. Using machine learning-powered tools, it can automate operations and manage relationships between buyers and sellers. This includes retailers, wholesalers, distributors, food service companies, packers, processors, and freight providers. It also helps users discover new partners throughout the supply chain in real-time.

 

Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, other

AgroPolicy, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, R&D

Machines can now be tested from any location

The ‘Centralized Farm Machinery Performance Testing Portal’ was launched by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on September 24, 2020. The portal was developed by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare to improve services of farm machinery testing institutions and create transparency in the process of testing and evaluation of machines.

It will facilitate manufacturers in applying, communicating and monitoring the progress of testing of their machines in a seamless manner from any location. Tomar said on the occasion that there has been a significant increase in adoption of agricultural machines which has resulted in large scale expansion of cropped area, crop diversity and the country’s agricultural production.

Testing of farm machines is an important aspect of agricultural mechanization which benefits both farmers as well as the manufacturers of agricultural machinery. Testing and evaluation of agricultural machinery improves their quality and functional suitability.

Recognizing the importance of testing and evaluation of agricultural machinery and to meet the increasing demand for testing, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, in addition to the existing four Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, has identified and authorized 35 institutions under the State Agricultural Universities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the State Governments.

Machines can now be tested from any

Dairy

UK’s 1.9 million cows are the second most productive in the world

A recent analysis by Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) of the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) has shown that UK dairy cows are world-class, producing over 200 per cent more milk than the global average.

Of the top milk-producing nations, the UK’s 1.9 million cows are the second most productive in the world, producing 15 billion liters of milk every year.

AHDB’s Lead Dairy Analyst Chris Gooderham said: “It’s important to note that dairy production differs greatly across the globe, influenced by cattle breeds, environmental constraints such as climate, socio-economics and culture. However, UK cows are showing that it is theoretically possible to produce the same amount of milk from just 83 million cows as opposed to the current 265 million.”

Such dramatic reductions would inevitability have an impact on dairy’s environmental impact, such as methane emissions and land use.

Over the last 25 years, impressive production rates have contributed to the UK dairy herd shrinking by almost 30 per cent, while UK production has increased by four per cent. Such successes are primarily due to the industry’s investment in genetics and improvements in cow health, according to AHDB’s Head of Animal Genetics Marco Winters.

The UK dairy industry continues to identify ways to improve efficiency on-farm by optimizing resources and reducing waste. The industry is also continually committed to enhancing cow health and welfare.

UK’s 1.9 million cows are the second

Agro chems – Chemicals, E-commerce, North America

AMVAC® has recently announced two new herbicide products for corn available for the 2021 growing season

AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® company, is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection management, turf and ornamentals management, and public safety and animal health applications, which continues to innovate with SIMPAS™ has recently announced two new herbicide products for corn available for the 2021 growing season.

IMPACT CORE™: A postemergence corn herbicide that controls grass and broadleaf weeds with punishing takedown and lasting residual.

SINATE™: Controls herbicide-resistant and important driver weeds in LibertyLink® corn with outstanding crop safety.

IMPACT CORE field studies have shown extended residual weed control and control of emerged annual grass and broadleaf weeds, including several herbicide-resistant weeds.

“IMPACT CORE delivers postemergence control of the toughest weeds and grasses in corn with the active ingredient found in Impact® Herbicide, along with an industry-leading level of acetochlor for extended residual control,” said Marketing Manager for Corn, Soybean and Sugar Beets, Nathaniel Quinn.

SINATE is the first herbicide of its kind to combine another effective mode of action with glufosinate for postemergence weed control in LibertyLink corn.

“SINATE provides a needed one-two punch of the active ingredient found in Impact Herbicide plus glufosinate on herbicide-resistant weeds like waterhemp, Palmer amaranth and giant ragweed in LibertyLink corn,” Quinn said. “The fast acting and wide spectrum of weed control with this product is undeniable.”

AMVAC® has recently announced two new herbicide

Agro chems – Pesticides, E-commerce, Finance, Trade

It will strengthen BIL’s ability to deliver innovative crop protection products  

 

 

 New Delhi based company Bharat Insecticides Limited, specializing in agrochemical products, is now associated with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., (“Mitsui”, Head Office: Tokyo) and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd., (“Nisso”, Head Office: Tokyo). Mitsui and Nisso have acquired 56% stake in BIL through a special purpose company co-founded by Nisso and Mitsui.

The BIL’s promoters will continue to hold balance shares in BIL. As a result of this transaction, BIL has become a group company of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., The new relationship with Mitsui and Nisso will further strengthen BIL’s ability to deliver innovative crop protection products and support the sustainable growth of India’s agriculture sector.   

Speaking on the announcement, S N Gupta, Founder Promoter, BIL said, “This is a momentous occasion for us, BIL was started 43 years back with just 2 products and since then, BIL has come a long way. We hope that being part of Mitsui group will take BIL to the next level.” The other promoters, M P Gupta and R P Gupta expressed their excitement on this development and are confident that this tie-up will help BIL to grow at a faster pace.  

On this occasion, Dharmesh Gupta, who has assumed responsibility as Managing Director, BIL said, “BIL’s strong presence in the agrochemicals market in the country will be complimented by Mitsui and Nisso’s diverse experience in the agriculture space. With this alliance, BIL will be in a unique position to leverage the synergies in area of product development with access to Mitsui’s global assets and Nisso’s world class R&D capabilities. The alliance will not only help BIL to grow in Domestic market but will also enable to expand its presence in International markets”.

As part of this association, there are few additions to the BIL’s leadership team, Kimihide Kondo, GM – Mitsui has joined BIL as Joint MD and Masanori Katsura has joined as the CFO and are based out of New Delhi. Kimihide Kondo shared Mitsui’s vision and confidence on consumption led growth story of Indian economy and mentioned,

“Although Mitsui has been active in the rapidly growing Indian agrochemical industry, this investment into BIL provides us the exciting opportunity to contribute in mainstream manufacturing and distribution of plant protection products in India. Japan and India share a strong cultural and business relationship and in the same spirit, we are committed to bringing more products and technologies to Indian agriculture through our global footprint. BIL, through its aggressive business approach, committed employees and strong industry relationships allows us to gain a strong base in India as India expands its influence on global agrochemical industry.”

 

It will strengthen BIL’s ability to deliver

Agro Universities, Agrotech

It aims to promote innovation in farm mechanization with special emphasis on women friendly equipment 

 In order to promote potential technology solutions for enhancing farm mechanization with special emphasis on women friendly equipment, a hackathon named “KRITAGYA” has been planned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP). Students, faculties and innovators/entrepreneurs from any university / technical institution across the country can apply and participate in the event in the form of a group.

 

Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General, ICAR told that in one group maximum 4 participants can compete, with not more than one faculty and / or more than one innovator or entrepreneur. Participating students can collaborate with local start-ups, students from technology institutes, and can win Rs. 5 lakhs, Rs 3 lakhs and Rs. 1 lakh as first, second and third prize. The registration for event has already been started from 15th September 2020.

 

Dr Mohapatra said that the development and promotion of women friendly equipments through innovative technology solutions and right collaborations with stakeholders would play an important role in enhancing the farm productivity and profitability, which has also been emphasized by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on several occasions.  Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has also stressed upon the need of enhancing the innovation in farm mechanization in several meeting and provided the overall guidance in organizing this event.

 

Dr. R. C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General, ICAR and National Director, NAHEP told that this event will give an opportunity to the students, faculties, entrepreneurs, innovators and other stakeholders to showcase their innovative approaches and technology solutions to promote farm mechanization in India. The initiative undertaken by NAHEP along with Agricultural Engineering Division of ICAR will also help in enhancing the learning capabilities, innovations and disruptive solutions, employability and entrepreneurial drive in Farm Mechanization sector. Besides, the event will also help in taking forward the vision of high-quality higher education with equity and inclusion as envisaged in NEP-2020.

 

He also told that in view of increasing women participation in the field operations mainly due to migration of men for better prospects in non-farm opportunities, the ICAR has felt it necessary to organise this event with the overall aim to enhance automation and mechanization to increase the farm productivity and profitability and also to reduce the drudgery.

 

 

It aims to promote innovation in farm

E-commerce, IT, R&D

App is based on environmental parameters collected from farmers’ cloud-connected weather stations linked to the biology and life cycle of the disease

 

ADAMA Ltd., a leading global crop protection company, today announced it has signed a global partnership with Pessl Instruments, providing ADAMA unlimited access to its vast portfolio of disease models for dozens of key crops around the world.

Pessl, a leader in the development and distribution of hardware and software for smart agriculture applications, develops disease model algorithms based on environmental parameters collected from farmers’ cloud-connected weather stations linked to the biology and life cycle of the disease to predict the onset and progression of diseases in crops. Utilizing the Company’s digital mobile platforms, ADAMA’s customers around the world will be able to access customized insights about the specific diseases to which their crops are most vulnerable to base on local environmental conditions. This will enable more effective and efficient, environmentally conscious application of crop protection solutions.

“Pessl’s impressive library of disease models speeds us towards delivering on our goal of providing customized, effective solutions to our customers and significantly increasing the value we bring to farmers by arming them with a tool that supports more timely application of crop inputs,” said Georgiana Francescotti, ADAMA’s Head of Global AgTech & Digital Services.

“We’re delighted that Pessl can help us add a new dimension to the support we provide our customers and look forward to unlocking a better understanding of disease development. This will enable farmers to make timely applications with better efficacy and improved crop yields” added Danny North, ADAMA’s Head of Portfolio Strategy at ADAMA.

ADAMA can use the Pessl disease models to deliver pinpointed advice to farmers, allowing them to treat plant diseases earlier in their development and identify the most effective product for each point in the disease cycle. In this way, Pessl increases the efficacy of ADAMA products, increases crop yields, and improves resistance management.

“After expanding our partnership with ADAMA in 2018, we are more than excited to take it another step further. In agriculture, where many factors can drastically impact the end results, it is especially important to constantly develop new solutions that help mitigate these impacts,” explains Gottfried Pessl, CEO and founder of Pessl Instruments.

App is based on environmental parameters collected

E-commerce, IT, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

Its online marketplace for buying and selling new and used wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, cranes, lifts, trucks, trailers, tractors in cost-effective manner 

Dubai based Plant & Equipment announced the launching of a new industry category, Agricultural Equipment, on its online marketplace. This new section would help farmers find adequate farm equipment such as tractors, mowers, harvesters, and many more farm machinery at the right price.

 

Off the company’s recent successful launching, Zayd Kuba, Managing Director at Plant & Equipment, said: “This launching is an added success to the marketplace which has closed a large number of deals taken place over the past eight months. More than 50,000 equipment of different categories across the globe have been sold and bought.” 

Kuba continues: “Global agriculture equipment market size value is expected to increase to more than USD 140.0 billion in 2025 according to annual studies and reports conducted. Innovative technologies have played a pivotal role in enhancing crop quality and increasing profitability. Following this high demand, we developed this new category to facilitate the process of buying and selling farm equipment.”

Farmers can find adequate farm machinery for their needs based on their budget at PlantAndEquipment.com. Some of the benefits: 

  • Connected to the global marketplace which allows them to sell and buy across countries
  • Search for the adequate farm machinery according to certain specifications (price, mileage, model, used, new, etc.)
  • Direct sales, no hidden fees 

Plant & Equipment is an easy-to-use and trusted online marketplace for buying and selling new and used heavy equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner. The top equipment categories on the marketplace include wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, cranes, lifts, trucks, trailers, Tractors, and comprising of brands such as Caterpillar, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, JCB, Komatsu, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Scania, and more online.

Its online marketplace for buying and selling

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, AgroPolicy

This would  hurt the interests of the farmers in terms of increasing cost of farming and non-availability of the newer innovative products. 

 

 

 CropLife India, an association of 15  research and development driven crop science companies in the country, has expressed concern at the recent proposed move of the government to double Customs duty on agrochemical formulations to 20 per cent. This would severely hurt the interests of the farmers of the country, in terms of increasing cost of farming and non-availability of the newer innovative products.

 

It is clear that the idea of doubling Customs duty is being proposed based on misleading information; in the last couple of months, about the huge formulation imports in the country. However, the actual data of import proves otherwise.

 

Asitava Sen, chief executive officer, CropLife India, said, “The idea is ill-conceived and not based on ground realities. Imported pesticide formulations constitute Rs 1,800 crore, which is hardly 20 per cent of total agrochemicals imported in India. The proposal to enhance Customs duty on formulated products will set to reduce ‘Ease Of Doing Business’, highlight uncertainty of Indian policies and send out wrong signals to investors in this sector; apart from not achieving either any significant financial benefit for the exchequer or increasing local manufacturing; while hurting the farmers’ interest.”

 

 “While our association fully supports Make in India, it should not come at the expense of our nation’s farmers to compete globally. The products being imported are not being manufactured in India, anyways. Once these solutions get adopted by the farmers, local manufacturing commences for long term objective which supports ‘Make in India’,” he added.

 

Pesticides are like medicines for agricultural crops, and protect them from the ravages of pests’ diseases and weeds (crop losses to pests presently are pegged at 15 to 20 per cent). Farmers invest huge sums by way of seeds, fertilisers, water and labour, to undertake farming, and pesticides act as an insurance that protect their crops and investments. Indian farmers need newer molecules for this purpose: the changing cropping patterns, climate change, invasion by invasive pests and extremely narrow existing product portfolio makes it essential that farmers are provided with a bigger and better range of products.

 

Almost all pesticides formulations that are being imported are based on newer, safer and better chemistries; and provide farmers’ with a whole new range of products for fighting the newer challenges posed by pests and diseases. As such imported formulations largely pertain to new molecules that lend better sustainability, pesticides’ resistance management, environmental fate and safety to the users. Taxing them at higher rates will discourage introduction of newer chemistries, leading to loss of viable newer options at the hands of the farmers.

 

The company strongly urged the government not to differentiate formulations from the active grade pesticides for the purpose of levying Customs duty.

 

This would  hurt the interests of the

E-commerce, New Zealand, Trade

Both organizations are completely aligned to making Rockit™ a success in this market.

Rockit Global Limited the innovative New Zealand apple company has recently announced a key partnership with Suri Agro Fresh, India.

Suri Agro Fresh is one of the largest fresh produce companies in India, importing quality fruit and vegetables from across the globe and distributing it into the sub-continent.

Rockit Global’s GM of Global Sales, Grant Walsh, said, “We at Rockit Global are very pleased and proud to have entered into an agreement to partner with Suri Agro Fresh in India.” He added, “The values and ambitions of both organizations are completely aligned to making Rockit™ a success in this market.”

Rockit Global has had its eye on the discerning Indian consumer market for some time, and earlier this month signed a global ambassador agreement with Kiwi cricketer and Indian Premier League sensation Kane Williamson, who will promote Rockit™ on his bat during the 2020 IPL season.

The agreement between Rockit Global Limited and Suri Agro Fresh was inked on 19th September 2020.

Both organizations are completely aligned to making

Agro Universities, E-commerce, Live Stock, R&D

 Vaccine assures lifelong immunity with a single shot in calf-hood 

 

 

 Hester has signed the agreement towards receiving the indigenously developed technology from ICAR-IVRI (Indian Council of Agriculture Research – Indian Veterinary Research Institute), for developing the Brucella Abortus S19 Delta Per vaccine. The agreement was signed through video conferencing on 22 September 2020.

 

While Hester is currently manufacturing the conventional Brucella Abortus S19 vaccine and supplying to all the states in India, the S19 Delta Per new generation vaccine technology developed by IVRI will be a step forward towards developing a Brucella vaccine with enhanced safety, immunogenicity, as well as assuring lifelong immunity with a single shot in calf-hood.  

 

The Government of India has planned to immunize 4 crore female calves in India in the first phase against Brucella through vaccination. Hester has been and commits to remain a part of the Government of India’s immunization program against Brucella in cattle. With this vaccine Hester hopes to reach new heights not only within India but also become a channel for immunizing cattle against Brucella, worldwide.

 

The technology is developed by Dr. Pallab Chaudhari and his team from ICAR-IVRI through their relentless efforts as well as support from Biotech Consortium India Limited and The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

Brucella is a disease of economic importance worldwide. Not only does it impact cattle, sheep, goat and swine, but it also gets transmitted to human beings. Incidentally there is no vaccine available to protect humans against Brucella. The animals need to be protected to protect mankind.

 

Immunization with Brucella vaccine also helps cattle to remain healthy, thereby improving their milk production. Hester hopes to launch the Brucella Abortus S19 Delta Per vaccine in 18 months.

 Vaccine assures lifelong immunity with a single

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Agro chems – Fertilizers

MSP hike will benefit farmers up to 106 percent on the price

 The two largest fertilizer cooperatives of India, IFFCO and Kribhco have welcomed the hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Rabi crops such as Wheat and Gram.

The development has come a day after the two crucial farm reform bills were passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. They are finally set to become new laws.

Welcoming the move, IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi tweeted, “In order to provide a good price for the crop to the farmers, the union cabinet has increased the MSP for Rabi Crops. Farmers benefit up to 106 percent on the price. Honestly, we welcome this decision”.

Later, Kribhco MD Rajan Chowdhry said on twitter,“KRIBHCO welcomes the Govt’s step to increase the MSP for six Rabi crops. It will help farmers and give them assured remunerative prices”.

The government hiked the minimum support price of wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975 per quintal to encourage farmers to increase cultivation of the crop.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was announced by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha.

 

MSP hike will benefit farmers up to

Agro chems – Fertilizers, China, India, Trade

Direct impact of Centre’s move to rely on domestic production capabilities

India’s imports from China during April-July 2020 decreased to USD 16.60 billion from USD 23.45 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. Atmanirbhar Bharat and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed changes in India’s import policy.

Of the 50 items exhibiting decline in imports includes residual chemical and allied products and fertilisers. Fertilizer import from China has dropped from USD 581.24 Mn in Apr July 2019-20 to USD 361.20 Mn in Apr July 20-21.

The Centre has also sensitized stakeholders to source critical imports from diversified sources. The full impact of these measures on the industry will be discernible as the global economy recovers, and recovers from the recessionary effects of the pandemic.

 

Direct impact of Centre’s move to rely

Agrotech, North America, R&D

Bio-experiment explores sustainable crop protection in space

In a recently published research study by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that beneficial insect-killing nematodes (small round worms) can be used in the future for natural control of insect pests when humans are growing crops in space.

The research objective was to study entomopathogenic (insect-killing) nematodes (EPNs) foraging and infection dynamics in space onboard the International Space Station (ISS) between December 2019 and January 2020.

These beneficial roundworms may have ‘what it takes’ for controlling pest insects that threaten crops grown aboard during long-term human missions in space. That’s the implication of findings from experiments conducted aboard the ISS and published in the journal ‘npj|Microgravity’.

EPNs are insect parasites used to naturally control insect pests that damage crops, that’s why investigating the efficacy of EPNs in a unique environment like the one provided by the ISS (e.g. an apparent state of weightlessness) could help establish successful agriculture and plant protection in space.

Here on Earth, insects have great abilities for finding, eating and multiplying in their favorite plants and crops. Nowadays, with a very dynamic world travel scene and extensive commercial activities, it is even easier for insects to move around globally and wreak havoc on crops. Now there is concern that these pests could extend their abilities (and appetite) to crops grown in space for long term travel or habitation.

“As we look into a future when crops will be grown in space, we expect that beneficial nematodes will offer one of a kind opportunities to establish agriculture for long-term space exploration.” said Dr David Shapiro-Ilan, ARS Supervisory Research Entomologist at the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station in Byron, Georgia and co-project director.

 

Bio-experiment explores sustainable crop protection in space In