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Acquaculture, Agro Universities, R&D

The Start-up plan to collect all the kitchen waste rich in nutrients from the multi-storied residential apartments and use them for biological processing by Black Soldier Flies. 

The ICAR-CIBA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a team of young entrepreneurs to explore the possibilities of using Black Soldier Fly Meal (BSF Meal) as a sustainable ingredient in aquafeed today. New Start-Up initiative for producing “Black Soldier Fly Meal (BSF)” as an effective and sustainable fishmeal replacement source.

Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai emphasized that the effort will undoubtedly provide a cost-effective alternative to the fish meal, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness in the aquafeed sector, in the longer run.

Bhanu Prashanth, Leader of the Start-Up initiative outlined the plans for cost-effective production and scaling-up the BSF meal production using the “kitchen waste” from larger cities like Chennai.

Protein is the costliest nutrient in aquafeed. With the rapid expansion of aquaculture, there is a growing demand for high-quality protein in the aquafeed. In the present Start-Up, the remarkable nutrient-recycling capacity of the Black Soldier Fly has been used to convert the organic waste to high-quality protein in a short production time. For over a hundred million years, the fly species have been breaking down the waste material whilst providing food for fish, birds and animals higher up the food chain.

In the metro cities like Chennai, a massive volume of organic waste is generated every day which is expensive to dispose off and leads to harmful methane emissions. The Start-Up plan to collect all the kitchen waste rich in nutrients from the multi-storied residential apartments, available for free of cost, and subject to them for biological processing by Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens). This will yield high-quality protein and lipid-rich meal, while the residual material rich in inorganic nutrients available as a by-product can be used as an organic fertilizer for agricultural and horticultural purposes.

The Start-up plan to collect all the

Agrotech, Finance, Middle East countries

The funds will be used to accelerate our growth, expand the company’s market share and create long-term collaborations. 

Israel-based NRGene, an AI-based genomic company operating in the agricultural and livestock industry, announced that it has successfully completed its initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). NRGene raised NIS 100 Million (US$30 Million), with a post-money valuation of circa NIS 370 Million (NIS 420 Million on a fully diluted basis). Leading institutional entities in the Israeli market have invested in the current IPO.

“We are proud to join the TASE and thank the investors for their trust and support that led to a successful IPO. Going public is a significant milestone in the company’s plan for growth. The funds will be used to accelerate our growth, expand the company’s market share and create long-term collaborations. NRGene is operating in the rapidly growing plant and animal genomics market, which is expected to reach US$ 6.4 Billion by 2025”, said Asaf Levi, NRGene’s Chairman.

“NRGene’s ground-breaking technology has been already utilized in more than 250 projects globally, with leading agricultural companies such as Bayer and Syngenta. The company currently plans to expand its global activities and become an integral part of the optimization processes in agriculture and the food industry. We estimate that in the near future, NRGene will become a key player in this highly important and growing field”, said Dr. Gil Ronen, NRGene’s CEO and co-founder.

 NRGene develops Artificial Intelligence software solutions which analyse genomics big data to enhance plants’ and animals’ natural breeding processes, without genetic engineering. NRGene’s ground-breaking technology allows its partners and customers to accelerate plants’ varieties’ development, while achieving increased yield, disease resistance, climate resilience and higher nutrition values.

 

The funds will be used to accelerate

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy

The MSP for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of milling copra has been increased, by Rs.375 to Rs. 10335 per quintal for 2021 season 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of copra for 2021 season.

The MSP for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of milling copra has been increased, by Rs 375 to Rs 10335 per quintal for 2021 season from Rs 9960 per quintal in 2020. The MSP for ball copra has been increased, by Rs 300, to Rs 10,600 per quintal for 2021 season from Rs 10300 per quintal in 2020. The declared MSP ensures a return of 51.87 per cent for milling copra and 55.76 per cent for ball copra over the all-India weighted average cost of production.

 The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).The increase in MSP for copra for 2021 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all India weighted average cost of production which was announced by the Government in the Budget 2018-19. It assures a minimum of 50 percent as a margin of profit as one of the important and progressive steps towards making possible doubling of farmers’ incomes by 2022.

 The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India Limited (NCCF) will continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies to undertake price support operations at the MSP in the coconut growing States.

 For 2020 season, Government has procured 5053.34 tonnes of ball copra and 35.58 tonnes of milling copra benefiting 4896 copra farmers.

The MSP for Fair Average Quality (FAQ)

Agrotech, World

Farmers Edge strikes multi-year deal to work with Google Cloud

Farmers Edge, a global leader in digital agriculture, based out of Canada has recently announced that it has entered into a long-term strategic agreement with Google Cloud to market the AgTech company’s services and bolster the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics in its platform.

As part of the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program, the companies will launch a global co-sell initiative delivering the next generation of high-tech tools to farmers and agribusinesses around the world. Farmers Edge digital platform—FarmCommand will receive a series of enhancements to enable near real-time carbon and sustainability tracking simplified insurance reporting and claims management, and other advanced tools for retailers and financial providers.

“The opportunities to better serve the needs of all stakeholders across the digital agricultural ecosystem with Google Cloud are limitless,” says Wade Barnes, Farmers Edge CEO and founder. “By working together, we can digitize more acres, generate more impactful insights, create more value, and deliver on our commitment to building the most comprehensive, intelligent, and connected platform available.”

“The agriculture industry is increasingly looking to digitally transform business processes, particularly as organizations seek to minimize costs and maximize sustainability,” says Avanish Sahai, Vice President, Partnerships at Google Cloud.

Farmers Edge strikes multi-year deal to work

Agrotech

The fastest way to harvest cannabis plants compliantly

Trym, a pioneering cannabis cultivation software company founded in California has recently announced the release of Touchless Harvesting, a patent-pending technology that allows cultivators to compliantly and expeditiously scan, weigh, and record plant tags while harvesting cannabis plants via a mobile device. Trym is the only cannabis software to feature this method for effortlessly streamlining and automating the harvesting process.

Touchless Harvesting saves cultivators time by providing the most efficient method for recording each plant’s weight in accordance with state regulations without touching their mobile devices.

Touchless Harvesting helps growers:

  • save hours harvesting and remain in strict compliance with CDFA.
  • scan plant tags via a phone or tablet without touching the device.
  • complete harvests without ever logging into METRC.
  • automate weight recording via Bluetooth scale integrations.
  • keep sticky, trichome-covered fingers off their mobile devices.

Trym launched Touchless Harvesting with longtime partner and customer FloraCal Farms in Santa Rosa, CA. Using Trym, FloraCal Farms was able to harvest, weigh, and report 680 plants all before lunch. Efficiency and compliance are top priorities for the FloraCal team who harvest every week in their 20,000 sq. ft. cultivation facility.  

The fastest way to harvest cannabis plants

Cold Storage, Start ups

The current product portfolio consists of modular cold storage, instant milk coolers and bulk milk coolers

Inficold, a Noida-based start-up supported by Shell Foundation, an independent UK registered charity, that provides cold storage solutions has raised $900,000 in a funding round from RVCF and other undisclosed high net worth individuals as a part of their Pre-Series A fund closure. The funds raised will be utilized to expand the overall manufacturing, sales, and service capabilities of the company.

Founded in 2015, Inficold has developed a retrofittable thermal energy storage technology for storing cooling in a low-cost medium such as water to ice. The technology is designed to use solar electric energy to make ice, and later use it for cooling purposes. Inficold’s products enable the application of thermal storage for virtually any cooling needs, be it milk, cold storage, air conditioning, and vaccine refrigeration, without making any major modifications to existing cooling hardware. The current product portfolio consists of modular cold storage, instant milk coolers and bulk milk coolers.

The modular cold storage units store 5-100 MT of farm produce in the 4-16 C temperature range, whereas milk coolers cool 200-10,000 L of milk on a daily basis. The company’s future vision is to permeate in dairy, horticulture, poultry, meat, cold logistics, and air conditioning segments across India. The primary challenges addressed by Inficold are grid dependency, diesel, and unreliable electric batteries which make cold chain cost-prohibitive for developing countries.

The company has installations in more than 17 states of India with a strong presence in North-Eastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura. Inficold is aggressively ramping up its production capacity by over 10 times.

The current product portfolio consists of modular

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech

Shroff pioneered red phosphorus manufacturing in 1969, giving an impetus to the indigenous chemical industry

Rajnikant Devidas Shroff, Chairman, UPL is among ten recipients who would receive the coveted Padma Bhushan award for 2021, the third-highest civilian honour for his outstanding body of work in Trade and Industry. 

Born in Gujarat’s Kutch, Shroff pioneered red phosphorus manufacturing in 1969, giving an impetus to the indigenous chemical industry. In the 1980s, UPL started to launch a number of crop protection products and currently is among the leading total crop solutions providers globally.

A graduate of Chemistry from Bombay University, he established a novel process of manufacturing mercury salts in a plant at the U.K. and was paid a royalty for it by the British Company; a big achievement for any Indian way back in 1957. Soon after, he mastered red phosphorous and quickly moved on to the production of other chemicals like Aluminium Phosphide (fumigant) and Zinc Phosphide (rodenticide) for agriculture.

In the 1980s, UPL started launching an avalanche of crop protection products and is one of the leading total crop solutions providers in the world now. 

His dedication to his company and his causes is unwavering. His many awards are a mere testimony of his legend. Here are a few of them:

  • AGROW Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2015 in London
  • UPL listed by the World CSR Congress as one of the top ‘50 Most Caring Companies Award 2014’
  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (manufacturing) in 2013
  • Rolta Corporate Award 2010
  • Indian Chemical Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the entrepreneur in 2010
  • Lifetime Achievement Award by Chemexil in 2008
  • President’s Gold Shield Award for indigenous development of technology in 1972.

Shroff pioneered red phosphorus manufacturing in 1969,

Start ups

This Techathon has been organized to promote the participation of the youth of India in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ recently flagged off the Agri-Food Techathon at IIT Kharagpur and also laid the foundation for Agri-Business Incubation Centre, which will incubate innovative ideas in the agriculture and food technology domain for creating Agri-preneures. Addressing the first Agri-Food Techathon organized by NABARD and IIT Kharagpur, Union Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that the country’s agricultural sector, including our farmers, our villages, are the pillars of self-reliant India. If they remain strong then the foundation of self-reliant India will be strong and I believe that the role of agri-food startups will be very important in developing a self-reliant India.

This Techathon has been organized to promote the participation of the youth of India in innovation and entrepreneurship in various sectors of the agri-food sector. This agri-food techthon will identify new ideas for startup incubation in the region and help them become successful businesses. The main objective of this event is to find new solutions to agricultural problems through technical talks by encouraging academics and encouraging young farmers, besides spreading awareness is also an important objective of this program.

Talking about agri-food startups, the Union Minister said, Indian agriculture can be improved to a great extent with the help of advanced agri-technology. In this case, there is a huge scope for agri-food startups in India. In a decade, the indomitable spirit of launching educated youth, innovative ideas and advanced technical and business ideas has been given a new height to Indian agriculture.

Special emphasis will be given through action-oriented research to promote climate-resilient agriculture in vulnerable districts, agricultural value chains, promote farmers’ collectives, value addition, market-linkage, and risk management; also offering expert advisory services, policy advocacy including building up of human capital in rural areas.

 

This Techathon has been organized to promote

Trade

The spice recorded maximum growth in the first half of the current fiscal.

The export of small cardamom has recently shown an upward trend during the first half of 2020-21, with a volume of 1900 MT valued at Rs 56.52 crores, registering an increase of 483 per cent in value terms and 369 per cent in quantitative terms.

The small cardamom sector does face challenges, both at the production and export fronts, due to natural calamities and other factors. Though the collective efforts of stakeholders have helped the Indian small cardamom sector to manage the challenges to a certain extent.

The Board conducted a virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) recently to address the concerns of the small cardamom industry and to provide a common platform for the stakeholders to interact directly and establish effective business linkages. The BSM saw the participation of more than 130 stakeholders. The BSM would help in sourcing quality cardamom for export to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

Inaugurating the BSM, Adv Dean Kuriakose, Member of Parliament, Idukki, said that small cardamom is intertwined with the social fabric of the growers of Idukki and production and export of good quality cardamom will help to take this product worldwide.

Spices Board has been supporting the small cardamom stakeholders throughout the various stages of the supply chain. It has various programs/activities for assistance for area expansion, nursery management and post-harvest improvement, promoting good agricultural practices, integrated pest management (IPM) and use of bio-control agents, creating awareness through campaigns, training and other programs, promoting collaborative movements amongst growers through Spice Producer Societies (SPS), R&D support and so on.

The spice recorded maximum growth in the

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Poultry

Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP) has been issued for 1 epicenter for Kerala, 3 epicenters for Madhya Pradesh and 5 epicenters for Maharashtra.  

As on January 24, 2021 outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird flu) have been confirmed in 9 States which includes Kerala, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab for poultry birds and in 12 States of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab for Crow/Migratory/ Wild birds. 

Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP) has been issued for 1 epicentre for Kerala, 3 epicentres for Madhya Pradesh and 5 epicentres for Maharashtra.  Control and Containment Operations (Cleaning and Disinfection) are going on in the rest of the affected epicentres of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand.

 Compensation is paid to farmers whose poultry birds, eggs and poultry feed are culled/disposed of by the State as per the Action Plan. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India provides funds to states / UTs on a 50:50 sharing basis under ASCAD component of its LH & DC Scheme.

 All the States are reporting to the Department on daily basis regarding the control measures adopted by the States/UTs based on the Revised Action Plan for Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza 2021. The Department is taking continuous efforts to generate awareness about Avian flu through platforms including social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook handles.

Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP) has been

Agro chems – Pesticides, North America, Trade

It will offer customers increased marketing, sales and R&D support in countries currently served by Rovensa business units  

 

Rovensa, a Lisbon-based company, has acquired US based Oro Agri, Inc., a global leader in bio-rational crop protection and adjuvant technology. Oro Agri currently distributes its crop protection products in 85 countries around the world. The combined companies will offer customers increased marketing, sales and R&D support in countries currently served by Rovensa business units and also help establish Rovensa’s presence in countries not currently served by Rovensa business units. 

Rovensa has made numerous acquisitions in the organic and bio-rational crop protection market as part of its strategy to be a leading part of solving the global challenges facing agriculture today and in the future. Its acquisitions include Idai Nature, a manufacturer of OMRI-approved and bio-rational crop protection products, and Trade Corp, a manufacturer of humic- and kelp-based nutrients products.

Erroll Pullen, CEO of Oro Agri, sees the acquisition as a win for both organizations. “Oro Agri now can offer an extensive library of new active ingredients and crop protection products to our customers. We are particularly excited about Rovensa’s organic and bio-rational portfolio. It opens up great opportunities for the Oro Agri business. And, as we move forward, the commitment Rovensa has made to be a leader in this increasingly important market segment means Oro Agri will be able to offer our customers the cutting edge in bio-pesticide crop protection. For Rovensa and its related businesses, we can offer a turn-key sales and marketing team in important markets like North America, where it does not currently have a significant presence.”

It will offer customers increased marketing, sales

AgroPolicy

A target of 51 lakh has been fixed to cover summer season with pulses, oil seeds and nutri-cereals crops this season.

The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala had recently addressed the National Conference on agriculture for summer campaign, 2021 through video conferencing on 22nd January, 2021 This Conference is going to review and assess the crop performance during the last crop season and fix crop-wise targets for Zaid/Summer season in consultation with State Governments, ensure supply of critical inputs and facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies with a view to enhance production and productivity of the above crops.

 A target of 51 lakh  has been fixed to cover summer season with pulses, oil seeds and nutri-cereals crops this season. Further, as per 4th Advance Estimates (2019-20), total food grains production in the country is estimated at 296.65 million tonnes, and horticulture production 319.57 which will be an all time record in 2019-20. The pulses and oilseeds production is at 23.15 and 33.42 million tonnes, respectively. Production of cotton is being estimated at 354.91 lakh bales with which India is set to rise to the top producing countries in the world. On the production and productivity fronts, the horticulture sector has also outperformed conventional food grain crops.

Government will make all out efforts to make the agriculture sector self reliant and entrepreneurial mode by developing necessary strategies, improved production technologies, creating new market opportunities and developing agricultural infrastructure to take the Nation to a new Horizon under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A target of 51 lakh has

Agro Universities, R&D, Water

The approximately 24,000 litres of water that can be rejuvenated using ARP will be sufficient for almost 4 acres of agricultural land 

CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur has unveiled the first-ever Waste water Treatment Technology Model which purifies waste water for irrigation/farming purposes. Prof Dr Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI inaugurated the ‘Aqua Rejuv’ along with Subhendu Basu, Additional District Magistrate (Zila Parishad), Paschim Bardhaman and Additional Executive Officer, Paschim Bardhaman Zila Parishad  at CSIR-CMERI colony in Durgapur (West Bengal).

During his inaugural speech Prof Hirani said that he wanted the solution for the society from Carbon Dioxide, frequent chockage of the drainage system and the discharge of sewage water through application of basic sciences

Aqua Rejuvenation Plant (ARP) is an Integrated Waste Water Rejuvenation Model which has Six-Stage purification profile for comprehensive treatment of Waste Water, based upon diverse purification parameters. The approx. 24,000 litres of Water that can be rejuvenated using ARP will be sufficient for almost 4 acres of Agricultural Land (barring seasonal variations in water requirements). The used filtration media have been specially developed to handle Indian Sewage Water Parameters and based upon Geographical Variations they may be modified. The filter media is also locally source-able, so as to ensure that there would not be any stress in the Supply Chain for scaled-up Manufacturing of ARP. The treated water which is now being used for irrigation can be used even for drinking purpose also when little more time is given for settling.

 The system has dual benefit as while the treated water is being used for irrigation purpose, the filtered sludge generated is also utilized as manure / fertilizer. The bio char prepared from dry leaves falling in autumn season is also used for mixing in soil as it reduces the water requirement for irrigation thus saving precious water. The Institute was earlier also using alternate technologies like sprinkle system and others for reduced water requirement for such purpose. Prof. Hirani urged the different stake holders of the Society, Civic bodies, Governmental authorities, NGOs to come forward and work with the scientific community.

 

The approximately 24,000 litres of water that

Agro chems – Fertilizers

This project will generate employment as well as support the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan by way of generating import substitution by boosting the domestic mineral production of Potash and associated minerals.

A tripartite agreement was recently signed between Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited (RSMML), and the Department of Mines & Geology (DMG), Govt. of Rajasthan for taking up feasibility studies of Solution Mining of Potash in the state of Rajasthan.

The MoU was signed virtually in the presence of Union Minister for Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Arjun Ram Meghwal and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot. 

Prahlad Joshi said “MoU will pave the way to undertake feasibility studies for harnessing sub-surface salt deposits through solution mining, utilize Rajasthan’s rich mineral reserves, boost its economy and establish it as a hub of solution mining of potash, the 1st in the country”.

Rajasthan has huge Potash and Halite resources spread across 50,000 sq. km in the Nagaur – Ganganagar basin in the northwest. GSI and MECL have established 2476.58 million tonnes and 21199.38 million tonnes of Potash & Halite respectively. Potash & Sodium Chloride from the Bedded Salt are extensively used in the Fertiliser Industry and the Chemical Industry respectively.

MECL has been assigned as the program manager for taking up the feasibility study in the state with the help of an international consultant. Paving the way for the 1st Solution Mining project in the country, this project will generate employment as well as support the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan by way of generating import substitution by boosting the domestic mineral production of Potash and associated minerals.

This project will generate employment as well