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Environment, World

53 companies around the world have now committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040

 

Amazon and Global Optimism jointly announced that 20 new companies from all over the world have signed the Climate Pledge, including ACCIONA, Colis Prive, Cranswick plc, Daabon, FREE NOW, Generation Investment Management, Green Britain Group, Hotelbeds, IBM, Iceland Foods, Interface, Johnson Controls, MiiR, Ørsted, Prosegur Cash, Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad, Slalom, S4Capital, UPM And Vanderlande.

With the addition of the new contracting organization, 53 companies from 12 countries covering 18 industries have pledged to work towards zero carbon emissions globally-and may significantly reduce corporate carbon emissions overall. In the process of achieving zero carbon emissions, each organization is at a different stage, but all 53 contracting organizations are committed to achieving the ambitious goal set by the Climate Declaration, which is to reach the Paris Agreement 10 years in advance) aims.

The contracting organizations of the Climate Declaration unanimously agree:

  • Regularly measure and report greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Realize a low-carbon strategy in line with the Paris Agreement through practical business changes and innovations, including improving efficiency, using renewable energy, reducing raw material consumption, and other strategies to eliminate carbon emissions.
  • Neutralize any remaining carbon emissions through additional, quantifiable, real, permanent and socially beneficial compensation to achieve annual net zero carbon emissions by 2040-10 ahead of the 2050 target set by the Paris Agreement year.

The 20 newly signed organizations represent different economic sectors, covering energy, agriculture and financial services.

53 companies around the world have now

Europe, IT, R&D

Rust Locator 2021 uses an interactive map to record the locations of yellow rust infections, along with the variety affected  

 Syngenta UK has launched a new web-based service to help UK wheat growers and agronomists stay a step ahead of unpredictable yellow rust outbreaks.

Rust Locator 2021 – available at www.syngenta.co.uk/rust-locator-2021 – uses an interactive map to record the locations of yellow rust infections, along with the variety affected, its yellow rust resistance rating and drilling date.

Having a regional picture of where infections are appearing gives growers and agronomists’ added information to help head off outbreaks before they become more damaging, said Syngenta disease control specialist, David Ranner

 Ranner also added that information for Rust Locator 2021 is provided by Syngenta field staff. But we’re also encouraging growers and agronomists around the country to submit their own yellow rust sightings, with a chance to win a branded Elatus Era tube scarf for those who do.

By having more people uploading ‘eyes-on-the-ground’ sightings, we want Rust Locator 2021 to be for everyone’s collective benefit. Yellow rust can cause yield losses of up to 50%. Like Septoria tritici, it is a disease that is better prevented, rather than trying to cure it once established. But we have seen over recent years how quickly infections can escalate, and how quickly variety resistance can decline.

Also, many varieties don’t have juvenile plant resistance to yellow rust, and adult plant resistance may not take effect until the middle of the season.

“Having an early warning that yellow rust is active underlines the need to manage it appropriately in your own crops. We are encouraging as many people as possible to play an active part in Rust Locator 2021,” Ranner adds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rust Locator 2021 uses an interactive map

AgroPolicy

Over the last 7 years, the Government of India has taken many initiatives for transforming agriculture

The PM-Kisan scheme, launched with an aim to ensure a life of dignity and prosperity for farmers has completed two years today.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said, “On this day, 2 years ago the PM-Kisan scheme was launched with an aim to ensure a life of dignity as well as prosperity for our hardworking farmers, who work day and night to keep our nation fed. The tenacity and passion of our farmers are inspiring.”

PM also said, “Our government had the honor of ushering a historic increase in MSP. We are doing everything possible to double the income of farmers.” 

Over the last 7 years, the Government of India has taken many initiatives for transforming agriculture. From better irrigation to more technology, more credit and markets to proper crop insurance, focus on soil health to eliminating middlemen, the efforts are all-encompassing.

You can find insightful content on the NaMo App, offering a glimpse of the work done for farmers.

The launch of PM Kisan Nidhi is completing two years. The changes in the lives of crores of farmers and siblings have been inspired by this scheme dedicated to the welfare of donors.  

2 years ago the PM-Kisan scheme was launched with an aim to ensure a life of dignity as well as prosperity for our hardworking farmers, who work day and night to keep our nation fed. 

 

 

 

Over the last 7 years, the Government

Agro chems – Chemicals, AgroPolicy, R&D

National awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industry, aims to develop and maintain the petrochemical industry as a globally competitive industry

Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, D V Sadananda Gowda, presented the 10th National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industry to the Awardees at a function held on February 23, 2021, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary (C&PC) also graced the occasion. Apart from the awardees, Senior Government officials, representatives of industries, academia and R&D institutions were present on the occasion.

In line with the National Policy on Petrochemicals announced in April 2007, the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC), Government of India has set up an Award Scheme to incentivize meritorious innovations and inventions in the field of polymeric materials, products, process areas of national and social importance. The ultimate objective is to develop and maintain the petrochemical industry as a globally competitive industry using eco-friendly processes & technologies. Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), an autonomous organization under DCPC has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the scheme of the National Awards for Technology Innovation.

Speaking on the occasion the Union Minister said that India has the potential to become global petrochemicals hub. He said that the thrust of the Government of India to promote key end-use sectors, through PLI schemes under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, such as pharmaceuticals, telecommunication & networking equipment, automobiles, electronics, mobiles, medical devices, textiles etc. will drive the demand for chemicals and petrochemicals in the country further.

 

National awards for Technology Innovation in

Agrotech, Supply Chain, Warehousing

The program brings together 54 FPOs & 15 Agri corporates for capacity building and field support 

54 Farmer Producer Organizations representing 44,000 farmers across 6 states in India and 15 leading agribusiness corporations came together for Samvad for Safalta – Conversations towards inclusive agribusiness.

As a part of a COVID resilience initiative, ARYA has implemented a comprehensive program aimed at capacity building and field support to 54 FPOs from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Funded by CDC Plus (the CDC Group’s technical assistance program) and supported by Omnivore, Members of these FPOs have undergone a detailed program designed by Arya for readiness to undertake post-harvest interventions as part of Omnivore and CDC’s Technical assistance program.

 Harsh Bhanwala, Ex-Chairman, NABARD emphasised that FPOs enable access to all these and can alleviate the status of smallholder farmers. He added that private participation is a key to providing farmers with technology interventions, access to trading platforms, value chain & storage innovations, advisory services, mechanized services.”

15 large private companies and 54 FPOs interested in value chains of Grains, Pulses, and Spices interacted extensively. FPOs and corporates shared their interest in partnering for more inclusive value chains. Expression of interest was obtained for about 600 tonnes of purchase of commodities, even in the first virtual interaction. During the interactions between agribusiness corporates and FPOs, various challenges such as quality parameters, and gradation of commodity and storage were discussed. The discussion brought out the necessity for a package of practices that could help FPOs align their production to market requirements.

Rajesh Sharma from Reliance Retail said, “These practices would improve focus on quality output, improve their productivity and ensure better returns for the commodity.”

Sarah Marchand, Director, CDC Plus said, “ We are very pleased to have supported this initiative and that Omnivore and Arya share our vision of integrating farmers and FPOs into the agribusiness value chain and forging ahead with an inclusive sector.”

“Omnivore has always worked towards encouraging new technology in Agriculture and ensuring it reaches farmers on the ground level for their economic growth. We have great hope that with the coming together of farmer organizations and corporate houses a lot of solutions can be developed and we will continue to work towards Impact,” mentioned Subhadeep Sanyal from Omnivore.

 

 

 

The program brings together 54 FPOs &

Agrotech, R&D, Seeds

It aims to transfer NRGene’s India-based 8-year-old crop breeding program of maize, rice and chili-pepper to Foragen Seeds.

Israel based Genomics AI Company,NRGene  has signed an agreement to transfer its India-based 8-year-old crop breeding program of maize, rice and chili-pepper to Foragen Seeds.

NRGene is focused on developing software genomics solutions for the ag-tech industry. Therefore, it selected Foragen Seeds as its Indian partner to advance the field breeding program of elite seed development and product commercialization.

Since 2012, NRGene has carried out broad molecular breeding projects for the Indian market. NRGene has applied genomics artificial intelligence to map complex traits, segregating in the actual breeding population, and developing DNA markers for those traits. The germplasms and breeding materials will significantly help in developing a robust commercial product pipeline suited to the various climate zones in India and other tropical and sub-tropical countries.

“We look forward to see our elite germplasm commercialized and cultivated across India, providing Indian farmers with extra yield and quality” said Dr Gil Ronen, NRGene’s CEO.

This agreement will enable Foragen Seeds Pvt. Ltd., the market leaders in forage crops in the country, to amplify its domain expertise, strengthen its standing in the forage business and rapidly expand its footprint. Leveraging these strengths, Foragen intends to foray into the Rs 2000 crores (USD 274M) plus potential field crops business. This new move brings in extensive R&D capabilities including broad molecular breeding, mapping of complex traits, segregation of the actual breeding population and developing DNA markers for those traits. The germplasms and breeding materials will significantly help in developing a robust commercial product pipeline suited to various climate zones in India and other tropical and sub-tropical countries.

Foragen Seeds is a leading genetics-based forage seed start-up and is currently focused on offering dairy farms value-added products. Majority of its forage products are indigenously developed at its R&D stations in Hyderabad and Bellary.

“Foragen Seeds is aiming to be a top notch forage seed company in the next three to five years, this agreement augments our position in the field crops business. After evaluation of the NRGene’s germplasm and the creation of hybrids in the coming seasons, Foragen Seeds will be set to launch new commercial products for the Indian market”, said Prabhakar Babu. Gunturu, CEO & Co-Founder, Foragen Seeds Pvt. Ltd.

 

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It aims to transfer NRGene’s India-based 8-year-old

Dairy, E-commerce, IT

MoU to cover villages in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan in first phase 

 

 

 

Leading dairy-tech start up, Stellapps announced it has signed an agreement with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to digitize the dairy milk procurement value chain and promote banking facilities at milk collection centres.

As part of the memorandum of understanding, a pilot project has been launched in 4 villages with 200 farmers at a Greenfield dairy in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Through the tie-up with IPPB, Stellapps is aiming to bring dairy farmers in the financial mainstream across villages in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan in the coming months.

One of the major challenges faced by small dairy farmers in rural areas is the non-availability of cash and lack of other banking & financial services. IPPB will provide access to cash and other banking services like deposits, Aadhar enabled payment services (AePS), domestic money transfer, bill payments, and other related services. Under the tie-up, Stellapps is leveraging IPPB’s expansive last-mile distribution network of over 136,000 post offices and nearly 190,000 postmen and Grameen Dak Sevaks, equipped with smartphones and biometric devices.

Speaking on the tie-up, J Venkatramu, MD & CEO, India Post Payments Bank said, “This strategic partnership aims to create significant opportunities and expand access to a range of financial services for millions of unbanked and underbanked dairy farmers. With a robust interoperable digital doorstep banking ecosystem in place, and leveraging the last mile network of India Post, IPPB today has the ability to serve various customer segments. With dairy supply chain being an important part of the rural economy, IPPB is committed to empowering dairy farmers.”

 Rahul Mallick, CEO – FinTech & Value Added Services, Stellapps, “ Stellapps has leveraged AI/ML solutions to build an alternate credit score based on the milk pouring of over 2 million farmers on its database, and this can help them get credit from the formal financial system. The partnership with IPPB will help drive us closer to our vision of enabling financial inclusion and economic empowerment of dairy farmers even in the remotest of villages.”

“Our focus at Stellapps has been to create a digital ecosystem that small farmers can leverage. Financial services are an important catalyst on our digital platform that can enable farmers to become dairy entrepreneurs. The partnership with IPPB will help us enfold more farmers with credit and insurance services and get the digital economy to Indian rural villages,” said Ranjith Mukundan, CEO – Stellapps.

 

MoU to cover villages in Tamil Nadu,

Agrotech, Animal Health, Dairy, Live Stock

WAMUL’s cattle feed supplements aims to augment milk productivity and reduce production cost for dairy farmers.

 

 

West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd. (WAMUL), famously known as Purabi Dairy, launched Purabi Pashu Pushti, a range of cattle feed supplements to augment milk productivity and reduce production cost for dairy farmers.

As a part of the planned product line-up, WAMUL has started production of the region-specific mineral mixture & by-pass protein meal at its cattle feed plant located at Changsari in Kamrup district of Assam. Assam Cooperation minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya inaugurated the plants in presence of a host of dignitaries.

On the occasion, Meenesh Shah, chairman of the WAMUL management committee, highlighted that WAMUL has been propagating and promoting scientific feeding measures like Ration Balancing Programme (RBP) and breed up-gradation via Artificial Insemination (AI) programme.

These projects are supported & funded by the Assam government via Project for Agri-Business & Rural Transformation (APART), with WAMUL being the End Implementing Agency (EIA) for the formal dairy Sector. Providing region-specific mineral mixture for productivity improvement is a vital component in the feed regime, especially for the productive and reproductive health of the cattle. Purabi Dairy is the apex dairy cooperative of Assam. It is one of the fastest-growing indigenous dairy brands in entire Northeast India.

 

 

 

 

WAMUL’s cattle feed supplements aims to augment

Agrotech, Machinery – Post-harvesting, North America

Solectrac is taking reservations for its 40 HP-equivalent eUtility tractor and the 4-wheel drive 30 HP-equivalent CET

Solectrac Inc., North America’s first manufacturer and distributor of quiet, zero-emission electric tractors came to the attention of the marketplace last year with their very successful crowdfunding campaign, followed by double investments from Ideanomics.

Solectrac is taking reservations for its 40 HP-equivalent eUtility tractor and the 4-wheel drive 30 HP-equivalent compact electric tractor (CET). Both tractors are built to outperform their diesel counterparts by eliminating exhaust and noise and with the benefit of instant torque at low RPM.  Solectrac tractors accommodate existing implements and are perfectly suited for farm and utility operations, as well as in livestock and equestrian environments where noise is an important consideration. Additionally, the low noise level and absence of exhaust makes electric tractors desirable in any environment by improving workers’ health and safety.

Solectrac’s electric tractors can be charged either from the utility grid or from renewable energy, like solar and wind. Electricity is cheaper than diesel fuel and Solectrac tractors only have one moving part in the motor. Consequently, maintenance and fuel cost over the lifetime of the electric tractor is estimated to be one-third that of a diesel tractor. Using solar or wind energy in the charging infrastructure completely eliminates fossil fuel inputs thereby reducing the users’ carbon footprint and helping meet climate goals.

 

Solectrac is taking reservations for its 40

Agrotech, IT

The project will benefit over 50,000 farmers in the region by enhancing their productivity and income.

Nokia and Vodafone India Foundation have announced deploying a Smart Agriculture solution that aims to improve the productivity of farmers in India.

Nokia and Vodafone India Foundation have launched a pilot project in 100 locations in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The project will benefit over 50,000 farmers in the region by enhancing their productivity and income.

The project by Nokia and Vodafone India Foundation provides ‘smart agriculture-as-a-service’ solution, which utilizes Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) solution, and can ensure that precise and practical data is sent to farmers enabling them to enhance productivity. As part of the project, over 400 sensors have been deployed over 100,000 hectares of farmland to collect various data points which are then analysed by a cloud-based and localized Smart Agriculture app. The app provides local language support as well as weather forecast and irrigation management information. The sensors generate insights that help to improve soy and cotton crop yields.

Crop management through WING can include smart irrigation, smart pesticide control, proactive information sharing frameworks on crops and weather, as well as a platform for commodity exchange. The use case can also employ Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) technology or drones instead of traditional sensors for crop management.

Smart Agriculture is a leading use case that India is exploring in the 5G era. The complete end-to-end solution from Nokia WING is supported by deep domain expertise and an agriculture partner eco-system. Combined, it will help Vi CSR improve agricultural practices by introducing IoT-based solutions.

The project will benefit over 50,000 farmers

Agro chems – Fertilizers

Develops new way to precisely monitor fertilizer movement and salt levels in the soil

 

CropX, a global leader in soil analytics for agriculture, recently announced a significant advancement in soil sensing technology: the ability to accurately and continuously monitor soil fertilizer and salt levels. Adding another level of data insight to its ag analytics platform, CropX scientists have created a solution to precisely detect fertilization events, salt concentrations, and fertilizer movements throughout the soil.

Both over and under application of fertilizers can decrease crop yields and crop profitability, while fertilizers that leach below the root system do not support crop health and may even cause nitrate pollution by reaching groundwater. However, to date, soil sensors have not been able to fully support fertilization management initiatives as they have been limited to measuring the bulk soil electrical conductivity (EC) rather than the electrical conductivity of the soil solution.

The new technology uses machine learning algorithms that learn the unique hyper-local electrical conductivity trends for each specific sensor location. With the CropX system, growers will be able to know the exact concentration of pore water salinity in the soil, detect if excess fertilizer has accumulated in the soil, and distinguish fertilization concentrations at several soil depths. These new in-soil data insights will empower growers to:

  • Make adjustments to their fertilizer management plans during the crop season based on data
  • Better target the amount of fertilizer used based on actual crop needs;
  • Save on expenses from extensive soil sampling for laboratory salinity measurements;
  • Monitor and document fertilizer movements in their soil over time; and
  • Minimize fertilizer loss through leaching.

Develops new way to precisely monitor fertilizer

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Trade

The net worth of Goa Plant for the Financial Year 2019-20 was negative Rs. 65,015.38 lakhs.

The Board of Directors of Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited at its meeting held on 22nd February, 2021, subject to the approval of shareholders and such other necessary approvals, consents, permissions and / or sanctions of the appropriate authorities, institutions or bodies as may be required, has approved the sale of Company’s fertilizer plant at Goa and associated businesses of the Company to Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) as a going concern, on a slump sale basis for an agreed enterprise value of USD 280 million as defined in the Business Transfer Agreement and for entering into necessary Business Transfer Agreement with PPL.

The revenue contributed by Goa Plant for the Financial Year 2019-20 was Rs. 199,923.39 lakhs which was 98.89% of the total revenue of the Company. The net worth of Goa Plant for the Financial Year 2019-20 was negative Rs. 65,015.38 lakhs.

The Enterprise Value of USD 280 million subject to customary adjustments for capex, cash, debt, cash-like items, debt-like items and working capital changes based on certain agreed parameters.

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) is a group company. PPL is the subsidiary of company’s Joint Venture Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited.

PPL plans to fund the acquisition amount partly (approx. Rs 1000 crs) from Public issue and balance from loans & internal accruals. Outstanding amount by the Company to PPL and any loans of the Company that get transferred to PPL, would be reduced from the closing consideration.

The net worth of Goa Plant for

Agrotech, North America

The new platform enables farmers to enter the carbon market to help boost farm profitability

Gradable, a leading technology and services provider for scoring, sourcing, and pricing Low-Carbon Grain from farm-to-fork, has announced that it has launched Gradable Carbon, a groundbreaking offering that empowers farmers to generate carbon credits, and gives them flexibility over when and where they sell them.

Gradable Carbon is unique compared with other carbon programs in several distinct ways:

Gradable Carbon provides increased flexibility for farmers to capture the value of their practices

Gradable believes opportunities like its existing low-carbon biofuels pilot program with POET, which pays premiums to farmers for their environmentally-friendly grain, will expand over time.

Gradable Carbon does not lock farmers into fixed prices at the time of enrollment

Farmers are able to participate in potential price appreciation and even bank credits for a period of time, with the security of a fixed price floor at $20 per credit in the first year. Gradable retains a portion of each credit generated to cover insurance, administration, and fees.

Gradable Carbon supports farmers in maximizing their carbon credit potential

Additional services include personalized analytics and crop nutrition plans to support farmers’ transition to sustainable agriculture while enabling the farmer to maximize return on investment (ROI).

Gradable has developed the platform to generate credits on the behalf of farmers.

As part of Gradable’s program to help farmers maximize their returns on carbon credits, Gradable will offer agronomy support to farmers looking to adopt regenerative practices, known as Gradable Plan.

Gradable’s technology-forward solutions will help farmers understand where they are today and how to most effectively improve farm sustainability outcomes.

The new platform enables farmers to enter

E-commerce, R&D

NRGene will offer to license the autoflower trait and linked DNA markers to breeders and growers around the world 

 

 

Israel based NRGene, a leading genomics AI company, and Kayagene, an innovator in Cannabis breeding, signed an agreement that grants NRGene a world-wide, exclusive license to commercialize the Cannabis autoflower trait and DNA markers linked to it. Utilizing NRGene’s proprietary genomic tools and Kayagene’s proprietary germplasm and breeding knowledge the two companies recently identified the markers associated with the trait. The DNA markers will enable breeders to develop elite autoflower varieties quicker and more efficiently than before.

NRGene will offer to license the autoflower trait and linked DNA markers to breeders and growers around the world, while Kayagene will be responsible for delivery of the seeds and pollen harboring the trait.

“Day-length insensitivity, like the “autoflower” trait, was an important milestone in the domestication and cultivation of many crop plants and its identification in Cannabis is a significant step towards creating commercially viable varieties of hemp and marijuana”, said Dr Christopher Hohn, Kayagene’s Director of R&D.

Cannabis (hemp and marijuana) plants harbouring the day-neutral or “autoflower” allele flower when they are 3-4 weeks old, independent of day length. Thus, varieties with this trait can be grown year-round in greenhouses or fields without the necessity to manipulate day length, which is cost-efficient when producing multiple flower or seed harvests each year.

In contrast, the current greenhouses and warehouses used to grow Cannabis flowers have a fully controlled environment in which day length is determined artificially via light and shading systems. Such systems are very expensive and limit overall production capacity.

NRGene estimates that following the development of DNA markers for the autoflower trait, it will now be possible to integrate this trait into any Cannabis variety (hemp or marijuana) within 12 to 18 months.

“We are delighted to offer the cannabis and hemp community the autoflower trait and DNA markers identified using our world leading genomics tools”, said Dr. Gil Ronen, NRGene’s CEO and Co-Founder.

NRGene will offer to license the autoflower