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The technology will allow greenhouses to increase efficiency, eliminate transport bottlenecks, reduce operating costs, and alleviate labor shortages. 

Canada-based Cyberworks Robotics has announced the initial sale of 18 autonomous (self-driving) tow-tractors to Fernlea greenhouse. This represents the first deployment of autonomous tractors in an industrial greenhouse anywhere in the world. The order represents the first batch of up to 90 autonomous tractors expected to be delivered to Fernlea which is one of North America’s largest greenhouses with facilities in both the US and Canada. The tractors are used to tow trailers of produce from growing areas to processing areas. The technology will allow greenhouses to increase efficiency, eliminate transport bottlenecks, reduce operating costs, and alleviate labour shortages.

Greenhouse production output levels continue to increase, requiring adjustments to workforce productivity. The agricultural sector already faces chronic labour shortages and has difficulty attracting and retaining workers in some regions. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the industry’s vulnerabilities to labour shocks, which had an impact on the supply chain. The financial impact of the labour shortages in this industry includes lost sales due to planting and harvesting delays and losses, and delayed expansion plans. The innovative solutions provided by Cyberworks Robotics are lowering the cost and improving the productivity of greenhouse operations while allowing existing labour resources to be used in the most effective way possible.

The technology will allow greenhouses to increase

It aims to enhance the fish stocks in the Beel, improve the fish yield rate and provide livelihood support to the fishers post-COVID-19. 

As a part of the implemented Project “Small Scale Fisheries in Wetlands for livelihood and nutritional security”, in collaboration with the WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia, the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata demonstrated its technologies (ICAR-CIFRI Pen HDPE® and Fish Stock Enhancement)c in the selected floodplain Wetlands (Beels) of West Bengal and Assam with community participation. 

As a part of Project’s Assam Component, Borkona Beel, the Institute selected a seasonally open floodplain wetland located near Sarthebari in Barpeta District, Assam for the technology demonstration. The Beel managed by Bampara Fishery Co-operative Society has 65 active members belonging to Scheduled Caste community and a total of 350 fisher families who depend on the Beel for livelihood support.

 Borkona Beel is an unstocked beel with low fish production (average fish yield rate: 180 kg ha-1 yr-1). The ICAR-CIFRI initiated the Supplementary Stocking with Fingerlings of major and minor carps (40,000) in the Beel for the first time on December 28, 2020. The main objective of the programme is to enhance the fish stocks in the Beel, improve fish yield rate and provide livelihood support to the Beel Fishers post-COVID-19.

It aims to enhance the fish stocks

Tata Consumer Products received an A-, placing the company in CDP India’s leadership band for the second consecutive year, out of a universe of 9600 global companies that were rated this year.

Tata Consumer Products, the focused consumer products company, uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella, has been recognized for its actions towards protecting the environment and preventing climate change across the globe by CDP India 2020 Climate Change Report. Tata Consumer Products received an A-, placing the company in CDP India’s leadership band for the second consecutive year, out of a universe of 9600 global companies that were rated this year.

CDP is a global non-profit that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts. Companies scoring within the leadership category are recognized for their transparent and comprehensive disclosure of climate data, thorough awareness of climate risks, demonstration of strong governance and management of climate risks, and demonstration of market-leading practices. 

Tata Consumer Products took several Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction initiatives including investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The company has been able to bring down its carbon footprint by 26 per cent between 2010-20.

 

Tata Consumer Products received an A-, placing

Dr. Singh led several key projects in South Asia such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)-funded IRRAS project in Bihar, the World Bank-funded APART project in Assam. 

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) announced last week the appointment of Dr Sudhanshu Singh as the new Director of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dr Singh took on the role on January 4, 2021.

IRRI Director General Matthew Morell said of the selection and appointment to this strategic and coveted assignment in South Asia for the Institute, “Dr Singh brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge, and demonstrated a track record to his new role. This will be pivotal to maintaining, consolidating, and pushing the boundaries of quality outcomes and impact of IRRI’s Research for Development agenda.”

Dr Singh, a native of the Samenda village of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, is an IRRI alumnus who did his Ph.D. in Agronomy in its headquarters in the Philippines and post-graduate and graduate degrees from Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya. Dr. Singh led several key projects in South Asia such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)-funded IRRAS project in Bihar, the World Bank-funded APART project in Assam, the European Commission- and International Fund for Agriculture Development-funded projects on abiotic stresses, and the USAID and BMGF-funded CSISA project across South Asia.  He was also a key contributor to the BMGF-funded mega project STRASA.

Dr Singh said, “I will focus on its strong positioning as the preferred partner of governments and other NARES organizations in the region by aligning its priorities with the national and regional strategies through demand mapping. We will also work on widening the R4D partnership with key international agencies to make IRRI SARC a center of choice for them. Moreover, tapping of unexplored private & public sector partnership and building a strong linkage with the industry to mobilize resources, scale innovation, and strengthen and leverage successful multi-CGIAR projects and networks for sustained innovations and joint resource pulling will be on top priority agenda for us in 2021.”

Dr. Singh led several key projects in

Focus should be more on Interest subsidy on agriculture credit, Irrigation and increased funding on research and development

 In order to channelise the growth of agriculture sector, Deloitte India has conveyed its pre-budget expectations note. The Union budget for FY2021 will be presented in the parliament on February 1 by Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister.

To improve the sector’s productivity, the budget should allocate more for the following thrust areas:

Interest subsidy on agriculture credit for long-term loans – To help farmers with long-term investment on equipment, irrigation, or infrastructure creation related to farming, rather than focusing on recurring expenditure, such as weeding, harvesting, sorting, and transporting

Crop insurance – To help farmers mitigate the challenges posed by the frequent climatic changes and unpredictable weather; low levels of coverage currently can be attributed to low awareness levels amongst farmers; and higher allocation can bring a large section of farmers under the ambit of this scheme and enable adequate coverage

Irrigation – To help address the issues related to availability of water and incentivise adoption of drip irrigation

Introduction of new scheme on vertical farming, given the scarcity of land, support can be designed for promotional campaigns and incentives on investments such as new equipment, systems, and allied infrastructure.

Allocations should be increased for quality maintenance, monitoring, and upgrading. In this regard, focus should be given on maintaining soil health through the balanced use of urea and other fertilisers. The increased allocation may be focused towards creating mobile soil testing labs that can benefit a large section of the small and marginal farmers who might not have testing labs near their regions. Increase in outlay can help modernise the existing testing labs and create new ones, given the increasing thrust on food safety and stringent norms imposed by importers.

Increased funding on research and development should be a priority in this budget. Given India’s significant dependence on imports of major commodities (such as vegetable oils and pulses), enhancing the domestic production of these commodities is important and additional funds might be allocated for this purpose.

It is important to note that livestock farming is one of the key pillars for augmenting farmers’ income through non-farm related activities. While the sector has immense potential, one of the big impediments for development is the prevalence of various diseases that affect mortality, productivity, and overall production. Supply of vaccine is not adequate to address the increasing demand. Funding for developing vaccines and creating necessary infrastructure would be required in this budget.

 

 

 

 

 

Focus should be more on Interest subsidy

Central teams deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation 

 

After confirmation of Avian Influenza positive samples from ICAR-NIHSAD in poultry (two poultry farms) of Panchkula district, Haryana, positive cases of Avian Influenza in migratory birds were reported in Shivpuri, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Agar, Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, Zoological Park, Kanpur, Uttar Pradeshand Pratapgarh and Dausa districts of Rajasthan. The Department has issued advisory to the affected States so as to avoid further spread of disease. So far, the disease has been confirmed from seven states (Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh).

Reports of unusual mortality of birds have been received from State of Chhattisgarh in poultry and wild birds in Balod district, Chhattisgarh. The State has constituted RRT teams for emergency situation and also sent the samples to designated laboratory.

Further, reports of unusual mortality in ducks have also been received from Sanjay lake, Delhi. Samples have been sent to the designated laboratory for testing. Samples of dead crows have also been sent to NIHSAD from Mumbai, Thane, Dapoli, Parbhani and Beed districts of Maharashtra for confirmation of AI.

Meanwhile culling operations have been completed in both the affected districts of Kerala and Post Operational Surveillance Programme (POSP) guidelines have been issued to the State of Kerala. Central teams deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation have reached Kerala.

 DAHD requested State Animal Husbandry departments to ensure effective communication and coordination with Health authorities for close vigilance of the disease status and avoid any chances of jumping of the disease into humans. Besides increasing surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. proper disposal of carcass, and strengthening of bio-security in poultry farms have to be ensured. States were also requested to be prepared for any eventuality of Avian influenza and were requested to ensure sufficient stock of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations.

Central teams deployed to visit the affected

Calysseo’s plant will supply Asia, the world’s largest aquafeed market

Calysseo, a joint venture between worldwide animal nutrition leader Adisseo and protein innovator Calysta, is building the first facility in Chongqing, China, which is expected to become the world’s first commercial-scale production facility of single-cell protein.

Delegates gathered at the site for a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction, which will deliver 20,000 tonnes of FeedKind protein in its first phase. A second phase will bring extra tonnes of capacity to the market to meet market demand. The plant will supply the Asian aquafeed market, which represents more than 70 per cent of the world’s aquafeed market.

The plant is being built by Calysseo in the Changshou National Economic and Technological Development Area, Chongqing City. The strategic partnership between Adisseo and Calysta will directly address one of the most important opportunities in aquaculture – to provide high-quality seafood without adding extra pressure to the environment.

The global aquaculture market is experiencing strong growth and is expected to become the third-largest animal protein source, with the production representing more than 100 million tonnes.

FeedKind is produced by fermenting natural gas with naturally occurring bacteria, producing a non-GMO feed ingredient, a safe, nutritious, traceable and affordable protein. The alternative protein will also help to reduce pressure on wild fisheries. If used instead of fishmeal, 100,000 tonnes of FeedKind could mean that between approx. 420-450k tonnes of wild-caught fish could be saved. Used instead of soy, the same quantity of FeedKind could free up as much as 535 km2 of land and would save 9 billion liters of water.

Calysseo’s plant will supply Asia, the world’s

To date, the programs have helped more than 40 communities in Sumatera and Kalimantan

Leading palm oil-based agribusiness, Indonesia based Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), has recently increased focus on food security and livelihoods programs to support communities where the company operates.

New farming techniques introduced to help farmers generate more income

GAR collaborates with several partners, including world-renowned Wageningen University, to deliver its Alternative Livelihoods and Integrated Ecological Farming Programmes. The programmes provide workshops for villagers in different communities to increase soil fertility using organic fertilizer, resulting in healthier crops.

Local farmers and smallholders are taught good agricultural practice and given access to modern agriculture experts. Farmers are also encouraged to sell in the local market to generate income and helping them fulfil their daily needs.

To date, the programmes have helped more than 40 communities in Sumatera and Kalimantan upgrade their agricultural practices and grow cash crops, ranging from organic vegetables to coffee.

GAR also focuses on environmental protection

GAR is teaching rural communities, farmers and smallholders how to farm with sustainable practices in mind – reducing pressure on forest lands, eliminating the use of fire to open areas for cropping, focusing on water management and implementing regenerative agriculture techniques to maintain healthy soils. 

To date, the programs have helped more

SMART’s discovery is a useful tool in precision agriculture to improve crop yield through sustainable farming

Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) have recently designed a portable optical sensor that can monitor whether a plant is under stress. The device offers farmers and plant scientists a new tool for early diagnosis and real-time monitoring of plant health in field conditions.

Precision agriculture is an important strategy for tackling growing food insecurity through sustainable farming practices, but it requires new technologies for the rapid diagnosis of plant stresses before the onset of visible symptoms and subsequent yield loss. SMART’s new portable Raman leaf-clip sensor is a useful tool in precision agriculture allowing early diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency in plants, which can be linked to premature leaf deterioration and loss of yield.

While the study mainly looked at measuring nitrogen levels in plants, the device can also be used to detect levels of other plant stress phenotypes such as drought, heat and cold stress, saline stress, and light stress.

The team believes their findings can aid farmers to maximise crop yield, while ensuring minimal negative impacts on the environment, including minimising pollution of aquatic ecosystems by reducing nitrogen runoff and infiltration into the water table.

 

SMART’s discovery is a useful tool in

For expanding exports of agricultural and processed food products exports to neighboring SAARC country

In a bid to boost exports potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products exports, APEDA had organised a Virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) in association with Indian Embassy in Bhutan, on January 7, 2021. The meet brought together key stakeholders from the respective Governments and trade on a common platform for strengthening strategic cooperation between India and Bhutan in Agri Food Sector.

During the Virtual-BSM, presentations were made by Food Corporation of Bhutan Ltd (FCBL), Ministry of Agriculture & Forests, Bhutan and Trade Associations from India (Vegetables& fruits Exporters Association (VAFA), All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA), All India Meat & Livestock Exporters Association (AIMLEA), The Rice Exporters Association (TREA)) on exports of potential agri products to Bhutan. 

The Virtual BSM was joined by Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Dr M. Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA, Ugyen Penjor, Director General, Department of Agriculture & Marketing Cooperatives,Ministry of Agriculture & Forests, .Ann Haokip, First Secretary(Pol & Com) EoI,Thimpu,Mr.Sonam Yonten, Bhutan Agriculture & Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA),  Naiten Wangchuk, CEO, FCBL and Senior Officials of APEDA and Embassy of India, Bhutan.

Ever since the COVID pandemic, there is an increased shift of focus towards Middle East, SAARC, South East Asia and Western trade partners by India for creating new opportunities for alliance in agricultural and processed food sector.

For expanding exports of agricultural and processed

By K. Krishnan, Founding Partner, Thinksynq Solutions, Chennai

 Fund raising is a ’means to an end and not an end in itself’. Most start-ups who have raised funds will for sure relate to the statement. And for the wannabes looking for funding it is critical to appreciate this statement because the very approach to fund raising is dependent on this.

Thinksynq does not boast itself of ’blue ocean strategy making’ but someone who can think through and plan out ’executing on a strategy’. The operating word is EXECUTION. Easier said than done, 9 out of 10 start-ups have failed because they couldn’t get this piece done either in the pre-funding or even after post funding. Why is execution so critical for fund raising?

Investors today are acutely aware of the challenge that Execution poses and are interested in entrepreneurs who have not only thought through this well but have also showed initial successes in making things happen. With 100+ years of collective multi-functional experience our team is best placed to look at operationalizing the strategy from multi direction of finance, sales and people, hence coming up with an operating model that takes care of all aspects of business.

Ground up, practical operating model is why businesses succeed and the investors more than ever before are acutely aware of this and are willing to invest only if this is convincing.

We help build this operating model which will add more teeth to the promoter’s pitch. Will just the model cut ice? 

Nah, investors are looking for people who have the ability to get it done, not just doing it but doing it right. Initial years of start-up means managing too many moving parts and is not for the faint hearted. How about a team that can step in a takeaway a few of those critical moving parts leaving the promoter to do what his strengths are!!

Thinksynq is the partner for getting things done and in the bargain build the organization the way it should be so that over time it can become a self-sustaining one.

A pitch that has thought through a well-rounded strategy, a workable operating model and assembled a complementary team that has proven ability to execute. If anything that will convince an investor it is this – Passion to do coupled with built in ability to do it.

Getting audience with the investor is not surmountable but making the right pitch having factored in all the challenges is of paramount importance. That’s exactly thinksynq’s play area.

Reviving business in Covid times

Does anyone know when will this pandemic end? We are good 9 months into it and there is no clear end in sight, the goal post is getting shifted every day and there is a new complication emerging all the time. Un-settling, helplessness and lack of clarity is how all businesses are, for start-up’s where resources where always a constraint the times are even more worrying.

It’s easy to be frozen in times like these and just hope and pray things turn around, you are not be blamed if you are feeling like this because the situation is un-precedented and there is no play book in place for revival. Whom to reach out to for advice and what is to be done?

As said earlier these are times which no one has experienced and hence its new for all but for the experienced, priorities emerge quickly and with that the urgent and important gets segregated.

It’s unfair to say but it’s true that Covid has shown us the mirror and it probably is the best opportunity to take a hard look at current business and retool it to

  1. Survive the short term (sadly this is turning out to be not so short)
  2. Have the ammunition for growth, the right growth

Surviving the short term – Too many compulsions and issues colours thinking and hence businesses just freeze or cut the flesh to stop the bleed. However, this is the time to look at things from a distanced view and take objective routes for survival. Thinksynq because of its multi-function experience has helped its clients to cut through the clutter and provide the recipe for weathering the storm. It’s not a one size fits all solution but a context relevant one. The key components of the solutions are

  1. Reducing the cash burn
  2. Finding the right areas for cost cutting
  3. Alternative win-win solutions with vendors, partners including financial partners
  4. Making sure all governmental support is fully made use of
  5. Right sizing of manpower including conflict resolution
  6. Setting up processes for continued operations in these troubled times 
  7. Providing continuity by managing key processes thereby providing cost advantage and higher process expertise
  8. Making organization lean and ready for the leap

Making the business battle ready – Reflecting on your current business with an experienced third eye does spot the glitches and the change opportunity. Because of its strong execution bias and its ability to see the big picture the same time, our team helps start-up’s take a fresh look at their operating model.

With 100+ years of collective multi-functional experience we are best placed to look at strategy afresh and most importantly operationalizing the strategy from multi direction of finance, sales and people, hence coming up with an operating model that takes care of all aspects of business. The best time is to retool the operating model is now and it’s always good to have an experienced hand in helping navigate the maze of operations.

In doing so not only we would work with start-up’s in designing the model but actually handhold and skill build the team in getting it done. This would be done by defining the right measure of success, training and coaching people and also designing the right review mechanism. Going back to basics, reimagining your business and setting up a strong execution culture is the only way to succeed in these times and we offer is nothing but this for start-up’s.

 

By K. Krishnan, Founding Partner, Thinksynq Solutions,

The availability of cost-efficient growth factors will be essential for cellular agriculture to validate its economic feasibility.

 TurtleTree Labs, the global leader in cell-based milk, today announced the launch of TurtleTree Scientific, dedicated to the growth of food grade growth factors. Despite the costs of producing cell-based meat declining over the years, the cell culture media and growth factors remain one of the biggest cost contributors, hindering the path to market.

 In early 2021, TurtleTree Scientific will be working with cell-based meat companies on the production of food grade growth factors.  TurtleTree Scientific, the new unit will work with ‘lab-grown’ meat and dairy companies to produce affordable food-grade growth factors and cell culture media, building on knowhow developed in house by its parent company while producing its own cell-based milk products. The prices are expected to be a fraction of pharmaceutical grade equivalents on the market. Singapore, as the first country in the world to approve the sale of cell based meat products, is strategic as the country is bound to attract the attention of more cell-based companies and has existing customers that it can scale with.

The availability of cost-efficient growth factors will be essential for cellular agriculture to validate its economic feasibility. In addition, Singapore is also a regional biotech hub where quality growth factors are in high demand for their use in the life sciences industry.

“Not only are we collaborating with local research institutes like NUS and NTU, but also global institutions like Wageningen University in the Netherlands. We have already started sending some samples to other cell based meat companies and aim to play a major role in this industry,” says Max Rye, Chief Strategist of TurtleTree Labs.

 

 

The availability of cost-efficient growth factors will

The Advisory Committee will essentially play the role of guide, mentor, and advisor to the IPGA Management. 

 India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the nodal body for India’s pulses trade and industry has announced an Advisory Committee with stalwarts from the agriculture sector of India to further enhance its standing as India’s leading think tank and knowledge hub on the pulses and grains industry.

The Advisory Committee will essentially play the role of guide, mentor, and advisor to the IPGA Management. The objective behind setting up this five-member committee is to help the IPGA Management gain further insights and understanding into the pulses sector, provide better support to its stakeholders, and provide more informed, nuanced, and effective policy inputs and recommendations to the government.

The Advisory Committee comprises of the following members:

  Ashish Bahuguna – Public Interest Director, Board of National Commodity and            Derivatives Exchange Ltd.; Former Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of            India; Former Chairperson, Food Safety & Standards Authority of Indi

Dr Jeet Singh Sandhu – renowned agricultural scientist and Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner Jaipur, Rajasthan

Dr Narendra Pratap Singh – Director of Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur and President, Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development, IIPR

 Yogesh Thorat – Managing Director, MAHA Farmers Producers Company Ltd.               (MAHAFPC).

Aashish Kasad – Chartered Accountant and Partner with a Big4, Indian Tax and Regulations Expert, Former Lead Partner to Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India 

Jitu Bheda, Chairman, IPGA said, “It is our pleasure to announce that IPGA now has an Advisory Committee with industry domain experts. It is indeed an honour to have the advisory committee members as part of IPGA. While extending warm welcome to them, we look forward to their guidance and meaningful interactions to craft a collaborative path forward with our key stakeholders.”

 

The Advisory Committee will essentially play the

Helmut Claas was a significant European agri machinery business personality.

 Helmut Claas, long-time Managing Director, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee of the CLAAS group, has died on January 5, 2021 at the age of 94.

His death has come as a great shock. Along with the family and all of the relatives, not only are well over 11,000 employees around the world mourning, but so too is an entire industry which, in Helmut Claas, has lost a significant European business personality.

Helmut Claas was born in 1926 in Harsewinkel. His parents, August and Paula Claas, managed a small agricultural machinery firm with a workforce of around 100. He completed an apprenticeship as a machine fitter after graduating from school. Practical experience followed in metalworking firms, and further practical training in casting. After a complementary study of agriculture in Paris, he took over the planning and establishment of a CLAAS distributor in France, which now operates as CLAAS France SAS. He joined his parents’ family firm in Harsewinkel in 1958. Here he applied himself initially to his particular area of expertise, which was engineering.

In 1962 he was made Managing Director. Helmut Claas accepted the position of Personally Liable Partner when the company was reconstituted as a general partnership in 1978. In 1996, as part of the restructuring of the firm into a joint-stock company, he changed from the role of Managing Director to the position of Chairman of both the Supervisory Board and the Shareholders’ Committee.

His special focus was always on developing pioneering products and mass-producing them economically. During his era, following the success of the combine harvester model DOMINATOR, came the completely new combine harvester construction the LEXION, which is today the most efficient combine harvester in the world. Also, the JAGUAR forage harvester and the large tractor XERION were developed under Helmut Claas, author of the success story.

Helmut Claas was a significant European agri