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Agro chems – Fertilizers, E-commerce, R&D, Trade

HURL is Joint Venture Company promoted by the three Maha Ratna Companies – Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited. 

 Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has recently launched the APNA UREA – Sona Ugle brand of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) at a function in New Delhi.

  While talking about HURL, Gowda said, with the objective of making the country self-reliant in Urea, Prime Minister had directed for the revival of five major sick or shutdown fertilizer plants. 

He said, in 2016, Government had approved the revival of three sick Urea plants located at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni, which have been undertaken by HURL. Gowda said the other two plants at Ramagundam and Talcher will also commence production soon. He said the country is importing 70 to 80 Lakh metric tonne of fertilizer every year. 

The Minister said, after the commissioning of these five units, the total production of Urea will increase by over 63 Lakh Metric tonnes per annum. He said the revival of five Urea plants will reduce dependence on imports.

HURL is a joint venture company promoted by the three Maharatna companies; Coal India (CIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) as the lead promoters with Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFCL) as other two partners. 

With the objective of making the country self-reliant in urea, the Government had approved in 2016 the revival of three sick urea plants located at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni. The task of the revival of these three units has been undertaken by HURL. “The Prime Minister has directed for the revival of five major sick fertilizer plants, three of which have been undertaken by HURL. The other two plants at Ramagundam and Talcher will also commence production soon,” said Gowda. “We are importing 70-80 LMT fertilizer every year. After the commissioning of these five units, the total production of urea will increase by 63.5 Lakh Metric Tonnes Per Annum (LMTPA),” he added. 

About HURL

The HURL is being looked as a major emerging player in urea market due to revival of the three closed units in 2021 having total installed production capacity of 38.1 LMT of neem coated urea per annum. The company will establish and operate state-of-the-art environment friendly and energy efficient natural gas based new fertilizer complexes with the annual installed capacity of 1.27 MMTPA urea at each of the three locations which are expected to be commissioned in February 2021 (Gorakhpur, UP) and May 2021 (Barauni and Sindri). The feedstock to the plants i.e. natural gas will be supplied by GAIL under the pooled price mechanism. 

The commissioning of the HURL’s three units in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand will open forward and backward linkages for business activity in the eastern part of India. It will be instrumental in opening new avenues for generation of income and employment in the eastern part of our country.

 

 

 

HURL is Joint Venture Company promoted by

E-commerce, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, R&D

 The aim of planting machine is to reduce the burden on farmers by reducing the need for manpower in the process of planting rice.

Kubota Corp. has recently announced that it will release a rice-planting machine with automated driving functions in October.

The purpose of the first such machine in the industry is to reduce the burden on farmers by reducing the need for manpower in the process of planting rice.

The rice planter first creates a map of the rice field using GPS while being driven by a human around the perimeter of the field. It will then calculate its rice-planting route based on the map and automatically plant rice seedlings, according to the major Japanese agricultural machinery-maker.

 A human driver is not necessary in the planting process, but the machine does need to be monitored by a person with a remote controller. Rice-planting is usually done by two people — one to drive a planting machine and an assistant to keep it filled with seedlings. The automated rice-planter reduces the number of people needed for the process to one as the person monitoring the machine can also refill it with seedlings. 

Demand for self-driving farming machinery is high because of manpower shortages and the aging of farmers. Kubota has already launched tractors and combine harvesters with self-driving functions.

Autonomous tractor

Kubota has recently unveiled a futuristic concept autonomous tractor called the X-tractor. The battery-powered, tracked machine was first shown at a new product exhibition in Kyoto City, Japan.

In a press release, Kubota claims the concept is a zero-emission vehicle, using a combination of lithium-ion and solar batteries. The company claims artificial intelligence allows for “stable autonomous driving, even on wet paddies and uneven terrains.”

The X-tractor can change height to either lower the center of gravity or raise the operating platform above crops.

The X-tractor unveiling comes 50 years after Kubota unveiled its first concept, the Dream Tractor exhibited at the Japan World Exposition in Osaka in 1970. According to the Kubota press release, the Dream Tractor boasted “superior functionality, great driver comfort and easier operability.”

 

 

 The aim of planting machine is to

E-commerce, R&D, Trade

Vahdam Teas is only Indian brand to be included in the list of ‘Oprah Winfrey’s Favourite Things’ for 2018 and 2019.

 

The four-year-old start-up, Vahdam Teas was announced the ‘winner of the Global SMB of the Year’ award at Amazon Sambhav Summit in New Delhi recently.

 “It was the proudest moment of my life, particularly because I’ve always been inspired by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and receiving the award from him still feels like a dream”, said Bala Sarda, founder and CEO of  Vahdam Teas. 

Vahdam Teas’ in-house blends have been winning international awards and acclaim. It was the only Indian brand to be included in the list of ‘Oprah Winfrey’s Favourite Things’ for 2018 and 2019.The start-up sources the teas directly from farmers, makes the blend (adds value) and sells it directly to end consumers.

 Bala also mentioned that, “The country, despite being the second largest tea producer in the world, has always depended on bulk exports for its sustainability. We changed this scenario in 2015 with the launch of Vahdam, leveraged technology and cut out all middlemen.” 

Bala also added that the company has always focused on markets abroad such as the US, Europe and South Asia for offloading its premium teas. “The market is huge and they understand the value of Indian Orthodox teas. We have till date shipped more than 100 million+ cups of tea to consumers across 93 countries”, he said.

Launching export of premium teas

Vahdam Teas and Super Foods, a home-grown tea brand focused on export of premium teas, is set to launch its products across India. The company did a soft launch in the country recently.

“The awareness level for premium single-estate blends is still low in India. We have just commenced the sale of our range of teas in the country. We will, by the end of the next quarter build an online presence across the top four metros. We are trying to build an omni channel to route our products,” Bala Sarda, founder and CEO, said.

While taking pride in Vahdam’s growth journey, Bala voiced concern over the state of affairs of the industry in India. “We have some of the finest teas in the world. Yet, we are not able to capitalize on our strength. Foreign brands shift from one sourcing region to another to compete on price points. Darjeeling teas, for instance, were quoting at least 35 per cent lower than the rates last year. This is sad considering that millions of farmers struggle to get the right price for the leaf and are facing an uncertain future.”

Vahdam Teas is only Indian brand to

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Trade

The event, hosted by the World BioProtection Forum, will address major global challenges in sustainable pest and disease management

After the success of first Biopesticide Summit & Awards, the executive and steering committee of the Biopesticide Summit is delighted to announced that the second Biopesticide Summit & Awards will take place on 19-20 May 2020, at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Biopesticides can no longer be viewed as a niche market or an ‘alternative’ to conventional pesticides. Rather, they are the part of a range of plant protection products – that include conventional pesticides – which need to be adopted by farming communities to maintain season long control of pests and diseases, integrate with biological pest control programmes and manage potential issues relating to crop residues.

The global biopesticide industry is projected to grow at more than 14% over the next five years[1], in response to a perfect storm of challenges facing growers, including the damaging side-effects of toxic chemicals, a growing resistance to chemical insecticides, regulatory removal of chemical products and increasing consumer demand for sustainable practices. The Summit agenda will seek to anticipate and address future requirements with more sustainable solutions.

The Summit aims to connect industry and academia to create novel ideas and services, next generation formulations and delivery systems and provide support for accessing investments to commercialise novel products.

The event brings together the international bioprotection community, including innovators, academics, commercial providers and end-users, to discuss and address the most pressing issues in crop protection and pest control.

The Summit is one of the largest events in the biopesticide industry outside of the US, by number of delegates. The NEC is Great Britain’s largest conference venue, and the ideal central location for national and international visitors to this second annual event.

Delegates will hear from world-leading scientists, researchers, key industry stakeholders, government organisations, investors, policymakers and integrated pest management practitioners.

The Biopesticide Summit & Awards 2020 will:

  • Bring together leading innovators and practitioners in biocontrol industry.
  • Assemble a large and high-quality community of academia, industry and investors to encourage collaboration.
  • Provide meaningful discussion on the challenges facing the industry between growers, customers and biocontrol professionals.
  • Provide pragmatic insight into commercialisation and investment fundraising for new biocontrol ideas.
  • Provide opportunity for 1-to-1 networking, exhibition, and speaker slots.
  • Celebrate the best and brightest new ideas at the Gala Dinner and Awards

Dr Minshad Ansari, Summit chairman and CEO of Bionema said: “By helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry on the one hand, and commercial providers, growers and buyers on the other, this Summit can address the issues that really matter for the biopesticide industry: namely, where is the next generation of commercially viable innovation coming from, and how will they be financed?”

He added, “The Awards and gala dinner offer a truly unique opportunity to recognise the achievements of the latest and most innovative new products on the market, the best research projects and the brightest start-ups that the global bioprotection industry has to offer.”

AgroSpectrum , Strategic Planning  Manager on this collaboration added  , ” The event also provides the opportunity for companies to exhibit and delegates to network with peers, innovators and investors ” .

 

 

The event, hosted by the World BioProtection

Poultry

Unique combination of phytogenics and probiotics helps manage enteric challenges

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has launched VANNIX™ C4, a novel phytogenic feed additive that joins the comprehensive lineup of poultry gut health solutions from Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – North America. VANNIX C4 is a proprietary formulation of natural, gut-health-fortifying ingredients designed as a cost-effective solution for producers to minimize the impact of enteric challenges on poultry performance.

Over the last decade, changes in antibiotic usage have led to significant research and development of alternative products to manage enteric challenges, such as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis, which were traditionally managed with antibiotics. Independently published research has shown that select phytogenic molecules can reduce the impact of enteritic pathogens – such as Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens – on poultry performance. Additionally, probiotics have been shown to promote a healthy intestinal microbial balance in poultry which may support the overall health and performance of the animal.

“With more than 50 percent of commercial poultry raised without antibiotics today, producers are challenged to manage flock health with fewer tools, avoid overuse of current solutions and maximize their long-term efficacy,” said Rachel Tonda, Associate Product Manager, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – North America. “As a novel phytogenic feed additive, VANNIX C4 offers producers a new tool to support and rotate into gut health management programs, helping to promote performance and preserve the efficacy of current products.”

VANNIX C4 differs from conventional phytogenic feed additives on the market today:

  • Unique formulation of tannins, phytogenic molecules, probiotics and beta-glucans
  • Standardized active ingredients to ensure consistent response
  • Tandem performance support in combination with coccidiosis vaccination

VANNIX C4 joins the existing line of “Knock Out” solutions in the Kemin Gut Health Triple Check: CLOSTAT®, CLOSTAT® WS and KEM SAN®. Knock Out solutions are designed to support intestinal balance by inhibiting or eliminating harmful pathogens for healthier and better-performing flocks.

Unique combination of phytogenics and probiotics helps

E-commerce, Finance, Start ups, Trade

Ninjacart will look to expand its customer base, expansion in new cities, and to enhance the efficiency of the local fresh produce ecosystem

 

Agritech Startup Ninjacart has secured Rs 71.83 crore ($10 million) in a Series C funding round led by Flipkart India and Singapore-based GEC3 along with participation from Minu Kataria.

 This capital is the first tranche of the $50 million investment committed by retail giant Walmart in August last year. This funding round was announced in last month, but the amount was not disclosed by the company. 

Post the deal, Ninjacart will look to expand its customer base, expansion in new cities, and to enhance the efficiency of the local fresh produce ecosystem. Prior to the latest investment round, the firm had secured $90 million from Tiger Global in April last year. 

Founded by Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Kartheeswaran K K, Ashutosh Vikram, Sharath Loganathan and Vasudevan Chinnathambi, Ninjacart enables retailers and restaurants to source fresh produce directly from the farmers at competitive prices and get it delivered at the doorstep. 

 Ninjakart which is  founded in 2016 claims that it has a network of more than 200 collection centers and 1,200 warehouses in India. It  also claims to move over 1,400 tons of fresh produce daily from more than 40,000 farmers and supplies to over 60,000 stores across seven cities – Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Pune. 

The Bengaluru-based company buys directly from the farmers and through its network of collection centers and distribution hubs, it supplies straight to the retailers. Accel Partners, Steadview Capital, Syngenta Ventures, Qualcomm ventures, and Nandan Nilekani are the other investors in Ninjacart.

Ninjacart will look to expand its customer

E-commerce, Finance, R&D, Seeds, Trade

The consortium, led by Corteva Agriscience and includes Bunge, a leading canola processor, and Botaneco, will invest $14.05 million, with a $13.6 million investment from Protein Industries Canada.

Protein Industries Canada, along with industry partners, announced an investment of more than $27 million into a canola breeding project focused on making canola hybrids that produce high protein meal for downstream use. Higher protein canola meal will result in new, diversified, higher value markets for canola meal creating economic benefits across the entire value-chain.

 “It is great to see the Protein Industries Supercluster build further momentum through new projects and even more investments. This project especially will help produce canola that commands premium value – both at home and in international markets. This will help growers become more profitable and create more jobs in the agri-food sector”, said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. 

In this project, genetics from Corteva’s breeding programs and public sector sources, such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will identify genes that result in high protein and reduced fibre.  High protein products delivered from breeding will be scaled up to provide seeds for processing by Bunge and Botaneco to generate meal and high value canola protein products, that are more competitive with other plant-based protein sources for human and monogastric markets, including poultry and pork. 

“Canola is one of Canada’s most important crops, and this project will have significant impacts along the entire value chain,”said  Bill Greuel CEO of Protein Industries Canada . “By investing in breeding to improve protein and reduce fibre, we will increase the value of Canadian canola and open up new markets for food and feed applications, resulting in higher demand and prices for the meal.” 

“We’re pleased to announce our significant investment to revolutionize Canadian canola, which will open new, higher-value markets and create economic benefits across the entire canola value chain and agriculture industry,” President of Corteva Agriscience Canada Bryce Eger said. “In addition to our focus on important agronomic input traits for farmers, high protein seed genetics will transform Canadian canola to be both a high value oil and a high value meal crop.”

 

Bunge will process the high protein canola, resulting in high protein meal to be used in poultry and swine feeding studies to quantify animal performance.  New end-use markets will also be evaluated using the meal processed by Bunge.  In parallel, high protein canola will be used in Botaneco’s novel processing platforms to produce protein concentrates for use in aquaculture studies, and protein isolates for human food testing. 

“The industry will generate more value from high protein canola meal, ultimately, creating new opportunities for growers as the high protein/reduced fibre meal will allow us to sell into local feed markets where we currently struggle to compete,” North America Canola Commercial Manager at Bunge Ryan Law said. 

“Development of high protein canola hybrids will change the future of canola,” Chief Operating Officer for Botaneco David Dzisiak said. “This is an important project that will create new value for the Canadian canola industry across the value-chain and provide new companies like Botaneco the ability to better create novel downstream end-use products opening significant new markets.” 

“Continued innovation in Canadian canola by enhancing the protein in the seed will help us create more sustainable growth and opportunity for the canola value chain,” President of the Canola Council of Canada Jim Everson said. “The federal government’s support for research in plant proteins through Protein Industries Canada is very important for Canadian canola growers.”

 

Protein Industries Canada currently has 24 projects being evaluated for investment. The projects represent potential investment of more than $130 million and include projects from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.        

The consortium, led by Corteva Agriscience and

E-commerce, R&D, Trade

Herbert Solutions will become a product brand within the Key’s overall portfolio of potato and vegetable solutions.

Key Technology, a leading global designer and manufacturer of digital sorting, inspection, conveying and other processing equipment, and a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, has acquired Herbert Solutions, enhancing its portfolio of potato and vegetable equipment solutions.

 Herbert has established itself as a leader in serving the root crop and fresh produce markets with an assortment of industry leading sorting, washing and handling solutions. They are headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The acquisition further strengthens Key’s position in its core potato and vegetable market segments.

 “The combination of Herbert’s expertise in handling and sorting whole products and Key’s strong presence in processed potato and vegetable solutions creates a complimentary fit between our two companies,” said Louis Vintro, co-president at Key Technology. “It will enable us to offer an even broader set of integrated solutions that will benefit our customers’ product quality, production efficiency and overall yield.”

 Mark Verschuren, Herbert’s former owner, sees the partnership delivering strategic advantages to customers worldwide. “Both companies have always had a strong focus on customer relationships. Herbert customers will now get access to Key’s strong global footprint and sales network. For service and technical support, they can now rely on Duravant’s global SupportPro organization.”

 Mark Verschuren will move into the role of Product Sales Manager for Herbert and continue to lead Herbert’s commercial efforts as well as play a prominent role in the development of new product solutions.

Herbert Solutions will become a product brand

E-commerce, R&D, Trade

The integration of the unique dataset of Arable Lab with Xarvio’s FIELD MANAGER will allow optimized crop production decisions. 

Arable Labs and xarvio Digital Farming Solutions by BASF have agreed to come together and integrate Arable Labs’ in-field measurements into Xarvio’s Crop models and recommendations. An experience of decades in the field of crop production and protection helped BASF build an effective digital platform. With the integration of Arable’s hyper-local crop and weather data, BASF’s platform will enable more precise in-field decisions. 

The acoustic disdrometer allows the Arable’s Mark device to provide unique value, eliminating the complex maintenance requirements of the traditional tipping bucket. Mark’s real-time insights and multi-spectral sensing capabilities provide us an insight into how plants are responding to observed field conditions. 

Arable supports the latest generation of wireless internet connection LTE-M, which is housed in a durable casing reinforced with nanotechnology protection. Fit-for-the-farm tech provides over 40 additional in-field measurements like weather measurements and plant health parameters, which makes it a one-of-its-kind solution integrated into xarvio FIELD MANAGER. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Jim Ethington, CEO, Arable Labs, said, “We are excited to announce this partnership that helps farmers by powering xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s recommendations with Arable’s unique data and analytics.” With a global network of 25 research-grade calibration and validation sites over 12 climatic zones, Arable’s machine learning models are continuously enhancing and thereby, ensure accurate and reliable data delivery. “Ultimately, our customers need integrated technologies that work seamlessly together, and that’s what the xarvio and Arable partnership provide,” added Ethington. 

Jeff Spencer, BASF Digital Farming’s Head of Technology, said, “Our customers expect more accurate and precise recommendations. We have extensively tested Arable’s Mark over the last two years and are convinced that with this integrated solution we will support our customers to be more profitable and sustainable.”

The integration of the unique dataset of

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

The total transaction is valued at Rs 345 crore plus surplus cash on closing date subject to final adjustments for net working capital.

  PI Industries has recently  completed the process of acquiring Isagro (Asia) Agrochemicals Private Ltd from Isagro Spa and its affiliates. The deal was signed in October 2019. PI Industries is a leading name in the field of agro science and has an integrated approach towards agri sciences business. 

The total transaction is valued at Rs 345 crore plus surplus cash on closing date subject to final adjustments for net working capital. Isagro Asia is engaged in contract manufacturing, local distribution and exports of agrochemicals. The company has reported revenue of Rs 314 cr and a net profit of Rs 23 cr for the year ended 31st March 2019. It has a 30-acre manufacturing site including production plants for agrochemical technical and formulations adjacent to PI’s manufacturing unit in Pinoli. 

Elaborating on the acquisition, Mayank Singhal, VC & MD of PI, says, “I am pleased that our team has successfully completed the transaction within the targeted timelines. This acquisition is one of the strategic initiatives that PI has taken to sustain its growth momentum. We are excited to welcome new members to PI family and will focus on value creation by leveraging both manufacturing and distribution capacities and capabilities of Isagro Asia.”

The acquisition provides access to additional manufacturing capacities, synergy benefits of adjacent manufacturing site, long term contract for export of products to Isagro Spa. It will also help PI strengthen its position in domestic market by leveraging complementary product portfolio and pan India distribution channel of the acquired entity.

 The leadership roles and organization structures are now clearly defined while the eventual structure and integration of the acquired entity is under process. A global consulting firm has also come aboard to support the integration process.

The total transaction is valued at Rs

E-commerce, Live Stock, Trade

The scheme is aimed at enhancing livestock farming across the globe.

The American fast-food company McDonald’s  and  PCF (Prince’s Countryside Fund) are jointly launching a new ‘Beef it Up’ scheme in 2020, which is aimed at enhancing livestock farming across the globe. It is also planning to start a series of workshops on the Farm Resilience Programme alumni network.

Workshop for farm business

The workshops designed to further strengthen the farm businesses will address topics such as animal health and welfare, farm safety, economic resilience, and environmental management.However, it is hoped to improve farmer’s practices and sustainability performance by introducing them to practical steps that can increase their production systems. 

“Our supply chain is absolutely critical to our success – we could not serve the food we are famous for without the support and hard work of 23,000 British and Irish farmers”, said Nina Prichard, head of sustainable and ethical sourcing at McDonald’s UK.

 “This partnership is an important move in supporting them and securing their future. Farming is part of the fabric of our society, and we are delighted to be working with The Prince’s Countryside Fund on this resilience program”, she added. 

Claire Saunders, director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund moreover added: “I am thrilled that the Fund will be working again with McDonald’s, in order to help us improve the prospects of family farm businesses across the UK at such a critical time.”

As per reports, The Prince’s Countryside Fund provides more than £1m in grants each year to projects across the UK. We have grants of up to £50,000 available for innovative projects that will provide a lasting legacy to the individuals and communities they seek to benefit.

Moreover, the Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme offers free business skills training to family dairy and livestock farms. Up to 300 farms can join the program each year and participate in a series of seven workshops that focus on different business skills to maximize profitability and resilience.

 

The scheme is aimed at enhancing livestock

E-commerce, Finance, Trade

Funding will help the firm double its base of small and medium enterprises (SME) food processors and farmer groups across the country.

Business-to-business (B2B) food commodity marketplace TechnifyBiz stated recently that it has raised over $2 million (Rs 14 crore) in its seed round of funding. 

The startup raised the funding from agritech-focused venture capital investor Omnivore and social venture capital fund Insitor Impact Asia Fund, TechnifyBiz said in a statement. 

Digital payment gateway startup Razorpay’s founders Shashank Kumar and Harshil Mathur also participated in the funding round, the statement added. 

Abhishek Agarwal, co-founder at TechnifyBiz, said that the funding will help the firm double its base of small and medium enterprises (SME) food processors and farmer groups across the country. The investment will also help it strengthen its supply clusters across Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jammu, and Orissa.

 Delhi-based TechnifyBiz was launched in 2017 by Agarwal and Akash Sharma. Agarwal, an IIT-Roorkee alumnus, was in the past associated with the National Service Scheme and Spic Macay. Sharma, an IIT-Delhi alumnus, had earlier co-founded logistics startup Delivree King and later worked with MobieFit Technologies.

TechnifyBiz enables farmers to sell non-perishable commodities directly to supermarket chains, processed food manufacturers and confectioneries. The platform offers items such as almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts and honey.

 

Sharma also added, “There is massive unmet demand for high-quality food commodities in India, which TechnifyBiz is helping to bridge by developing backend supply infrastructure and technology-enabled services”.

TechnifyBiz said it is recording a monthly revenue run rate of Rs 10 crore. The firm expects sales to cross Rs 75 crore this fiscal year ending March 2020 from Rs 15 crore last year. 

Current Scenario in segement

TechnifyBiz is one of several agri-tech startups that have raised funds in recent years, as entrepreneurs and investors look for solutions to solve the myriad problems in India’s agriculture sector. 

Agricxlab, Eruvaka, CropIn, Crofarm, LeanAgri and Ecozen Solutions are among the agri-tech startups that have also raised funding over the past year. 

The most notable startup in this segment is Ninjacart. The business-to-business agri-marketing platform raised $90 million from marquee US investment firm Tiger Global in April last year and an undisclosed amount from from US retail giant Walmart Inc and its Indian e-commerce arm Flipkart in December. 

Investors

Insitor is a social impact fund that backs companies that offer low-income families options for increased access to healthcare, education, affordable housing, water, sanitation, and clean energy. The fund invests in India, Myanmar, Cambodia and Pakistan. 

Omnivore is investing out of its second fund, which marked the final close at $97 million (Rs 679 crore) last year.In December, the firm participated in B2B agri-tech startup Bijak’s seed funding round. Its other recent investments include artificial intelligence-powered startup Fasal, online marketplace for farm products and services DeHaat and Chandigarh-based agri-analytics startup AgNext.

Funding will help the firm double its

Acts & Schemes – Centre, E-commerce, Trade

Government will also set up an academy that will study the viability of such business ventures and its international market.

 

 The Kerala government is forming a cluster featuring farmers and entrepreneurs of agro-based industries, said EP Jayarajan State Industries Minister.  Government will also set up an academy that will study the viability of such business ventures and its international market, he said in ASCEND 2020 Kerala Global Investors Meet recently held in Kochi.

While speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘Projects on Agro and Food Processing’, the minister said agro-based firms would be the future of industry in the State. “In fact, we are considering the establishment of coffee plantations that are devoid of carbon footprint,” he added after a snapshot presentation that walked through top project profiles in the field of agro and food processing. “The idea is to restore Kerala’s glory in coffee cultivation, more so in its homestead of hilly Wayanad.” 

Of late, Kerala has seen the birth of rubber firms that cater to the healthcare needs in hospitals. The KINFRA Park in Kanhangad (Kasargod district) is set to allot a two-acre plot for investors in firms manufacturing coconut products. There is a separate rice park for paddy-based products, the minister added. 

Santhosh Koshy Thomas, Managing Director , KINFRA emphasized the need for Kerala to have storage facilities for agro products, while Amalgam Food Group Chairman Abraham J Tharakan called for a system that restrained the use of pesticides in farming.

Government will also set up an academy

E-commerce, Foodgrains, Seeds, Trade

Increase in seed replacement rate and improved varieties of hybrid seeds for rice are likely to boost the growth of the rice seeds market. However, government regulation on genetic modifications is likely to hamper the profit boundaries. 

 

 

According to latest report of  ResearchAndMarkets.com ,the Global Rice Seeds Market accounted for $5.07 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $10.56 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 8.5%.

As a cereal grain, rice is the most widely consumed staple food in major parts of the world. Major cultivated species of rice are the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) and Oryza glaberrima (African rice). In terms of production, rice is the third highly produced crop after sugarcane and maize.

Cureent seed scenario

Currently 30-40% of the total seed demand in the region is being met by the organized seed production, while the rest is met by farm-saved seed. South America and Africa are the other two regions involved in the rice seed trade. Farmers in these regions need to be motivated to use quality seeds obtained from the organized seed production, instead of farm-saved seeds. 

Based on grain size, the long grains segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth due to changing consumer demand and limited application of short grain rice in the food industry. The production of long rice has been growing across the globe, particularly in the US and Asian countries. 

By geography, Asia Pacific is likely to have a huge demand due to the high adoption of commercial open-pollinated varieties and hybrid rice seeds over farm-saved seeds to increase rice yield in countries such as China, India, and Thailand. 

Some of the key players in the Rice Seeds market include Advanced Chemical Industries, Advanta Seeds, Bayer CropScience SE, China National Seed group, Dow-DuPont Inc., Hefei Fengle Seed Co. Ltd, Kaveri Seeds, Longping High-Tech, Mahyco Seeds, Monsanto, Nuziveedu Seeds, RiceTec Inc., SL Agritech, and Syngenta AG.

Increase in seed replacement rate and improved