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Acts & Schemes – Centre, Agro Universities

It will strengthen the exchange of scientific and technical information and need based research for one district one product initiatives.

A MoU has been signed in the presence of Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Food Processing Industries between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

The partnership between the two organizations will strengthen the activities of capacity development, exchange of scientific and technical information and need based research for one district one product initiatives and other products under the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

The Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme is being implemented by MoFPI under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to support micro level food entrepreneurs, FPOs/SHGs/ Cooperatives. The scheme includes four major components for support to individual and groups of micro enterprises; branding and marketing, strengthening and setting up robust project management frameworks and development by incubation centres for common processing and training to entrepreneurs. The provision of seed capital of up to Rs 40, 000 for working capital and purchase of tools to members of SHGs and others engaged in food processing is also provided.

The ICAR with 103 research institutions, 11 Agriculture Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and 721 KVKs deals with crops, livestock, fisheries, natural resources management, agricultural mechanization, farmers outreach and higher agricultural education. 

It will strengthen the exchange of scientific

Transportation

Sagarmala Development Company Ltd to support the initiative by providing equity to the project in SPV framework

Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) have been working continuously for the promotion of Coastal Shipping under the Sagarmala Programme. The Sagarmala program is the flagship program of the Ministry to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 Km long coastline and potentially navigable waterways. 

MoPSW, through the Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), is desirous of facilitating the companies to operate RO-RO, RO-PAX, and Ferry services on various routes across the nation and provide the required support to make the project operational.

MoPSW has recently, successfully implemented one of such ferry routes by deploying RoPAX vessel ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha. This ferry service has reduced the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km and travel time from 10 to 12 hours to about 5 hours. This will result in huge savings of fuel (approx. 9000 liters per day)

To replicate the success of the above business model, MoPSW now encourages the private operator to identify the routes, which offers potential to commence the RO-RO, RO-PAX ferry service based on the localized demand to promote the supplementary and sustainable mode of transportation through coastal/inland water. 

Sagarmala Development Company Ltd to support the

Agro Universities, R&D

Research project to explore innovations in crop protection against insects

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of its latest Consolidator Grant competition, with a total of €655 million awarded to Europe’s top researchers to aid in the development of their research projects.

Dr Bos, a principal investigator in the Division of Plant Sciences and the James Hutton Institute based in Invergowrie, and her project, APHIDTRAP, will explore and develop new ways to provide crop protection against insects. The grant, worth almost €2 million, will allow her research team to take new directions to answer important questions on how insects such as greenfly and blackfly, commonly known as aphids, are such successful pests.

Current aphid control relies almost exclusively on insecticides, which are costly, damaging to the environment and to which aphids develop resistance. Dr Bos and her team are interested in understanding the molecular dialogue that takes place between plants and aphids to come up with new solutions.

“This project is building on years of work by members of my team, past and present, and without them this would not have been possible,” said Dr Bos. 

“The key questions that drive APHIDTRAP are building on previous findings that aphids can actively promote host susceptibility using effector proteins. The function of these effector proteins is based on association with host proteins and modification of their activity. The next step is to try and understand how these protein-protein interactions take place, and what the downstream consequences are with regards to susceptibility”, Dr Bos added.

Research project to explore innovations in crop

North America, Poultry

America’s largest originator of 100% free-range and pasture-raised eggs marks mass expansion

Egg Innovations, America’s largest originator of 100% free-range and pasture-raised eggs, has announced the acquisition of innovative, protein-centric fresh snacking brand PECKISH in an all-stock deal. PECKISH joins the family of brands, which includes recently launched Blue Sky Family Farms eggs, marking mass expansion on the horizon.

PECKISH was founded by Jon Sebastiani, and is Sonoma Brands’ third incubated concept, giving the humble hard-cooked egg a modern makeover delivering a convenient, ready-to-eat whole food protein option to compete in the fast-growing fresh snacking category. Sonoma Brands will continue to be involved in supporting the brand’s expansion, while also partnering with Egg Innovations in growing the Blue Sky Family Farms brand and supporting its retail expansion.

“With the acquisition of the PECKISH brand, Egg Innovations continues its leadership in the premium ethical egg case. We are very excited to establish a relationship with Jon Sebastiani and Sonoma Brands, who has a career track record in brand development,” said Egg Innovations President and CEO John Brunnquell.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Egg Innovations as it allows PECKISH to harness Sonoma Brands’ expertise in brand building and innovation while leveraging Egg Innovations’ market leadership in ethical farming practices and competitive advantage through vertical integration,” Sebastiani says.

 

 

America’s largest originator of 100% free-range and

E-commerce, IT, Supply Chain

Partners with food delivery platforms like Swiggy Grocery and Zomato Market for better service

 Kolkata based Keventer Agro- one of the fastest growing food & beverages companies from eastern India has announced the launch of online food & beverage platform- Keventer eStore App.

With the launch of Keventer eStore, customers can now order from a wide range of nutritious Keventer products from the safety of indoors and get it home delivered at just a few clicks of a button. Giving a convenient shopping experience to the customers, they can choose from an array of products like UHT Milk, Beverages, Ice Cream, Packaged Drinking water, Fruit Snacks, Frozen Foods etc. Since sanitation and hygiene is of major concern for customers today, to have more control on these aspects while delivering the products, Keventer Agro in addition to maintaining high standards of hygiene at the warehouses, has hired people across Kolkata to set up their own delivery network

 “From launching unique propositions like Store Locator on the website to help the citizens find their daily supply of milk and banana to partnering with food delivery platforms like Swiggy Grocery and Zomato Market for serving Kolkatans with wholesome nutrition, our focus has been on adapting to digital in making food and dairy products available to the customers without the need for them to step outside. “,  said Mayank Jalan, Chairman & Managing Director, Keventer Agro Ltd. in the release.

Partners with food delivery platforms like Swiggy

Agrotech, Start ups

A joint endeavor with The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation and the GoI

The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation and Cisco, in association with the Government of India, has announced the ’Cisco Agri Challenge’, aimed at mobilizing agri-tech startups to innovate solutions that have the potential to positively impact at least 10 million small farmers. With a prize purse of Rs 2 crores, the challenge will run in stages over twelve months. It will support participants in developing, testing, and scaling solutions that help alleviate the issues of low income and diminishing profitability farmers in India are facing. 

Prof K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the GoI who is co-hosting the challenge, said, “The Government of India strongly believes that public investment in both traditional science and frontier technology, will empower India to leapfrog in developing sustainable solutions for biodiversity preservation, environmental sciences, climate change, and regenerative agriculture.”

Harish Krishnan, Managing Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Engagements, Cisco India and SAARC, said, “Farmers are a critical part of India’s socio-economic fabric, but they continue to face the challenge of low profitability, exacerbated by the pandemic. We are not only incubating agritech start-ups, but also bringing together a powerful ecosystem of investors, domain experts, and government stakeholders to galvanize action and bring to market scalable solutions that can help boost farmers’ incomes and improve their decision-making.”

A joint endeavor with The/Nudge Centre for

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy

In the 100-page e-booklet ’Putting Farmers First’, the Govt has made clear the ’truth’ about the farm reforms 

 

As farmers intensify their protest seeking repeal of three farm laws, the government has launched an e-booklet highlighting the success stories of farmers who have benefited from contract farming after enactment of these legislations.

In the 100-page e-booklet ’Putting Farmers First’, the government said it has made clear the ’truth’ about the farm reforms and has mentioned ’what will happen’ and ’what will not happen’ for farmers. It also asserted that reforms in the farm sector were undertaken step by step in the last six years keeping in mind the needs of farmers.

The government asserted that the three farm laws were enacted in September after ’two decades of consultations.’ Farmers have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for three weeks against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Farmer leaders have threatened to completely block the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida to press for their demands.

The new laws have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country. However, protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the laws will pave way for eliminating the safety cushion of minimum support price (MSP) and do away with the mandis, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

Highlighting briefly the success stories of farmers who have benefitted from the new laws, the government said: ’There are many success stories already for such market access across various states.’ ’Nearly 1,300 farmers in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh recently entered into an agreement with Fortune Rice to produce export quality paddy and are earning 15-20 per cent higher income,’ it said.

 

In the 100-page e-booklet ’Putting Farmers First’,

R&D, Warehousing

The accreditation spans over 13 food categories with 9 authorized signatories & 13 approved samplers. 

NBHC ProComm, a division of National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC), India’s leading provider of integrated post-harvest value chain services, is announcing the accreditation of its laboratory at Vashi, New Mumbai under the Integrated Assessment Scheme of NABL covering FSSAI (Food Safety Authority of India), APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Foods Authority of India) & IOPEPC (Indian Oilseed and Produce Export Promotion Council). This Accreditation of ProComm Laboratory spans over 13 Food Categories with 9 Authorised Signatories & 13 Approved Samplers.

ProComm has already been accredited with ISO 17025 (NABL), ISO 22000 & ISO 9001 and approved by GAFTA for Quality Testing of Agri-commodities. This New Accreditation marks NBHC’s foray into the Third Party Inspection & Testing Services Business. With its wide reach covering over 1100 locations, rich experience of agri-commodities & strong relationships with over 2000 customers across India; NBHC expects to widen the access of India’s farm community to Value-added Food Processing and Agricultural Exports through its ProComm Service Offerings.

NBHC ProComm provides specialized type of Testing and Sampling to Manufacturers, Importers, Exporters, Retailers and HORECA Industry across the country; to meet their requirements for safety, superiority and reliability. It has advanced industry-wide review criteria which are effectively implemented through continuous training to its employees & robust governance processes. NBHC ProComm Quality System and its Digitally-enabled Processes commit best-in-class, agile & on-time quality inspection & testing services to its customers.

Ramesh Doraiswami, Managing Director & CEO, NBHC, said, “NBHC is admired as one of the most professional organizations in the post-harvest supply chain for agri-commodities. ProComm is poised to be a significant enabler to India’s farm community, as it seeks value-added food processing & export opportunities to meet enhanced customer standards. ProComm will help NBHC consolidate its leadership position in the post-harvest agricultural value chain with a wider portfolio of offerings to customers through its Audit, Assessment, Testing & Inspection Services; leveraging its synergies with other divisions of NBHC”.

 Ajit Lagoo, Business Head & VP, NBHC, said, “The Inspection & Testing Services Market is expected to grow significantly, especially because of the Make in India Campaign and Government’s key initiative towards Agri Exports along with India’s Approach towards integrating more with the global market and regulatory / customer standards.  It is vital for NBHC ProComm to realize that these services will resolve core problems like overuse, low-value testing, and improper use of high-cost testing, rejections at importing country ports and supplier confusion over best test choice. One of our core values is Service Excellence marked by accuracy, agility and safety. We believe that these services will assist key growth sectors like export, retail, commodities, trade, healthcare, foods to name a few. We are optimistic about our 3rd Party Inspection & Testing Services to provide Total Quality Assurance to our Customers.”

 

The accreditation spans over 13 food categories

Agrotech, China

Pinduoduo recently announced it will invest in developing a smart logistics system suited to agriculture

Pinduoduo, China’s largest agriculture-focused technology platform, will explore deploying smart agriculture solutions developed by the winners of a competition organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to working farms, giving young agripreneurs an avenue to test their business ideas at scale.

The agricultural sector is facing the enormous challenge of feeding a projected 9.6 billion people who will inhabit the planet by 2050, which will require a 60% increase in food. The COVID-19 pandemic put the global food system through severe stress, disrupting regular logistics and sales channels at a time of surging demand for agricultural products.

FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol, who served as the chairman of the judging committee for the Global Agrilnno Challenge, said the contest was timely given the importance of finding ways to improve the efficiency of agricultural production and distribution, and attracting more young people to take part in agriculture. Echoing her view, Zhejiang University Professor Wei Baolong said that digital agriculture required continuous investment, just like any other scientific field.

Pinduoduo has adopted a systems-based approach to addressing the inter-related issues of how to grow, move, and sell food. The company has trained more than 100,000 e-commerce-savvy New Farmers to help bring more farming communities aboard the digital economy. It is working with Singapore’s A*Star research agency to develop portable test kits for contaminants to safeguard food safety. Pinduoduo recently announced it will invest in developing a smart logistics system suited to agriculture that can provide next-day delivery at a low cost.

The Global Agrilnno Challenge is the second agritech project that Pinduoduo has worked on together with the FAO.

 

Pinduoduo recently announced it will invest in

Agro chems – Chemicals, E-commerce, North America

Gowan expands its core product offering and allows the company to serve better the growers’ needs in crop production

The US-based Gowan Company, LLC announced that it has entered into agreements with Syngenta to acquire rights to the active ingredients prosulfuron and primisulfuron. The acquisition includes product registrations and trademarks, for Peak, Spirit, Beacon, and Northstar herbicides and related intellectual property and labels. The transaction closed December 15, 2020, although Syngenta and Gowan will work together over the next several months to facilitate an orderly transition to maintain quality customer service in all geographies. 

Prosulfuron is an HRAC/WSSA Group 2 post-emergent herbicide for use on field corn, sorghum and numerous cereal crops for broad-spectrum control of annual broadleaf weeds. Primisulfuron is also a Group 2 post-emergent herbicide for the control of problem grass weeds such as Shattercane- (Sorghum bicolor), Johnsongrass- (Sorghum halepense), Sorghum almum- (Sorghum alum), Quackgrass- (Elytrigia repens) & many broadleaf weeds in field corn and popcorn.

“The addition of prosulfuron and primisulfuron to the Gowan portfolio allows Gowan to advance more critical herbicide solutions for growers,” said Eric McEwen, Director of US and Canadian Marketing for Gowan. “This acquisition reflects our understanding and commitment to the needs of growers.”

Gowan’s Muddy Boots philosophy is to support growers and retailers in meeting the challenges of controlling destructive weeds, insects, or pathogens infesting crops. With the addition of prosulfuron and primisulfuron to the Gowan portfolio, Gowan expands its core product offering and allows the company to serve better the growers’ needs in crop production.

Gowan expands its core product offering and

Dairy, Finance

Investment will allow TurtleTree Labs to expand focus into functional components in milk

TurtleTree Labs , biotech company pioneering the method to produce milk using cell-based technology, has  announced the close of an oversubscribed $6.2 million Pre-A funding round from new and existing global investors including Green Monday Ventures, Eat Beyond Global, KBW Ventures, and Verso Capital. 

TurtleTree Labs, which has offices in San Francisco and Singapore, will use the funds to accelerate research and production of functional, bioactive proteins and complex sugars found in human milk. These high-value components have potential benefits in gut and brain health, which can be applied to both infant and senior nutrition. 

“The vision of TurtleTree Labs is to create a truly sustainable and cruelty-free food system,” adds Max Rye, Chief Strategist of TurtleTree Labs. “We are grateful to have the support of leading investors from every corner of the world.” 

The company announced that HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, a prominent global investor in the alternative protein sector through KBW Ventures, will join TurtleTree Labs as an Advisor. KBW Ventures first invested in TurtleTree Labs seed round announced in June 2020 and has committed additional capital to the latest round, the Pre-A raise.

 In his role as Advisor, Prince Khaled will shape new market growth plans, lend his expertise in the alternative protein and food tech spheres, and liaise closely with the founding team on other areas of the business. 

“TurtleTree Labs’ ground-breaking technology, which allowed our company to win The Liveability Challenge and Entrepreneurship World Cup, has certainly attracted interest from a global and diverse panel of investors and customers,” says Fengru Lin, CEO of TurtleTree Labs. 

“TurtleTree Labs’ technology is able to significantly reduce carbon footprint and address food resilience in the long term. This is a win-win for planet and for communities. We are happy that The Liveability Challenge is able to showcase sustainable ideas and innovations from around the world, and support winners like TurtleTree Labs and other innovators to secure funding and opportunities to further develop their solutions,” said Lim Hock Chuan, Chief Executive, Temasek Foundation Ecosperity.

 

Investment will allow TurtleTree Labs to expand

Agro chems – Chemicals, North America, R&D

Katagon is labelled for use in field corn grown for grain, silage and seed, that are herbicide-resistant, conventional or non-GMO hybrids. 

HELM Agro US, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-quality crop protection and fertilizer products today announced that Katagon™ herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Katagon is a next-generation HPPD premix herbicide for post emergence use in field corn, offering two modes of action with the added benefits of a low use rate formulation, crop safety profile and a wide application window.

A co-formulation of the active ingredients tolpyralate and nicosulfuron, Katagon delivers highly effective control of broadleaf weeds plus enhanced grass control when used in combination with atrazine.

Katagon and atrazine together in a tank mix also provides residual activity for longer-lasting weed control performance.

Katagon was developed by Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. earlier this year, HELM Agro US and ISK Biosciences Corporation, a subsidiary of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., agreed to collaborate regarding the distribution of Katagon herbicide for the U.S. crop protection market.

 

Katagon is labelled for use in field corn grown for grain, silage and seed, that are herbicide-resistant, conventional or non-GMO hybrids.

In product development trials, Katagon has demonstrated high performance ratings in crop safety and post emergence control of glyphosate, PPO, triazine and ALS-resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth, water hemp, ragweed, lambs quarters and foxtails.

According to Dave Schumacher, President of HELM Agro US, Katagon‘s unique co-formulation of tolpyralate and nicosulfuron is the first of its kind in the U.S.

“In field trials, we’ve seen Katagon perform equal to if not better than several market leading post products on broadleaves and stubborn grasses,” says Schumacher. “Katagon is an ideal solution to help break the cycle of resistance without limiting growers’ ability to rotate to soybeans the following season.”

Available to corn growers for the 2021 season, Katagon is classified as a Group 27 and Group 2 herbicide with a use rate of 2.3 to 3.4 fluid ounces per acre. It can be applied by itself or in combination with atrazine as an early to mid-season post emergence treatment.

 

 

 

Katagon is labelled for use in field

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Foodgrains, Trade

520 MT of regional rice flagged-off from Varanasi region

Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh is popularly known as the Bowl of Rice ’Dhaan Ka Katora of Uttar Pradesh’ for its non-basmati rice grown on the fertile lands of the Gangetic Plains. Considering the potential of rice export from Varanasi region, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) coordinated with leading exporters of India and provided a platform to ship the consignment from Varanasi region.

A flag-off ceremony of regional rice consignment was organised on December 16, 2020 at SandahaHarhua Ring Road intersecting point Sindhora Road Under Pass, Varanasi. The consignment of 520 MT of regional rice was flagged-off by Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA, Deepak Agrawal, Divisonal Commissioner Varanasi.

The program was joined by Dr Sudhanshu, Secretary APEDA, Dr C B.Singh AGM APEDA, Joint Director, Agriculture, Varanasi and other officials from State Horticulture and Agriculture Department, Department of Agri Marketing and Agri foreign trade.

The Chairman of APEDA said that considering the potential of increasing exports of rice from Varanasi region, APEDA will prepare a perspective Action Plan for increasing export of Rice from Varanasi Region to enable all concerned stakeholders for taking necessary action in a time bound manner for achieving the target. 

520 MT of regional rice flagged-off from

World

Pretoria Fields is focused on crafting a portfolio of products from high quality, Georgia grown ingredients

Pretoria Fields Collective, a farmhouse brewery, and CBD therapeutic manufacturer has recently announced the completion of their hemp crop harvest in Georgia which coincides with the company’s third anniversary. The celebration marks the first time hemp has been commercially harvested in Georgia in the modern era.

“Hemp has had a monumental influence historically in America, dating back to one of the earliest commercial crops in the new world,” said Albert Etheridge, Co-Founder and COO, Pretoria Fields Collective. “Once a staple for making paper and fabric, the crop has found new life in relieving pain and a key component to personal care products.”

As part of the first hemp harvest and third company anniversary, Pretoria Fields will celebrate at their Albany, GA brewery with special beer releases and a live band on December 19th.

Backed by five generations of farmers, Pretoria Fields is focused on crafting a portfolio of products from high quality, Georgia grown ingredients and raising awareness for the importance of sustainable agriculture. Industrial hemp was approved for cultivation through the Georgia Hemp Farming Act signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on May 10, 2019. According to the rules, industrial hemp is derived from Cannabis sativa L with a concentration of not more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis.

 

Pretoria Fields is focused on crafting a