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North America, Seeds

Corn and soybean seed treatment, VAYANTIS will help protect plant health and support farmers

Syngenta announced recently that its newest corn and soybean seed treatment, VAYANTIS fungicide, has received registration by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). VAYANTIS fungicide contains the active ingredient picarbutrazox, a completely new systemic fungicide seed treatment developed to protect seedlings from key blight and damping-off diseases, such as Pythium and Phytophthora, in many different cropping systems. This new registration will help protect plant health and support farmers to grow more productively and sustainably.

The introduction of VAYANTIS fungicide represents one more tool to help growers combat early-season disease with less inputs and offset variable environmental conditions associated with climate change. Reinforcing Pythium protection at the seedling stage, allows farmers to adopt reduced or no-tillage cropping systems, protect the soil and avoid costly replants. In addition, stronger emergence and stand establishment help maximize genetic yield potential.

“We are proud to offer VAYANTIS fungicide, a new seed treatment to the market confirming our position as a global leader in the seed treatment space” said Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Syngenta Seedcare. “Picarbutrazox, with its novel mode of action will strengthen Syngenta’s leading Pythium portfolio of MEFENOXAM technology and azoxystrobin in corn, soybeans, canola, oilseed rape, cereals and other crops. Discovered by Nippon Soda, this is a great testament to the fact that both companies identified the needs in the seed treatment space, and, with Syngenta Seedcare’s leadership, we now can bring a product to the market,” added Jonathan Brown.

Corn and soybean seed treatment, VAYANTIS will

North America

This investment in innovative research will give these family farms the tools for more sustainable, profitable and productive farming

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently announced an $11.5 million research investment to help ensure America’s small and medium-sized farms become more profitable and improve the quality of life in American farm communities.

“Few groups are as resilient and as determined as American farm families,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to creating a fairer, more equitable system for farms of all sizes to compete and remain profitable. This investment in innovative research will give these family farms the tools they need to be more sustainable, profitable and productive as they face agricultural and economic challenges. When American farmers have a chance to compete, they have a greater chance at succeeding.”

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded 24 grants to 20 universities and organizations through their Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These research efforts focus on alternative crop enterprises, marketing, and scaling up fruit and vegetable production to overcome marketing constraints.

By focusing on these key elements, small and medium-sized farm operators can increase their competitiveness in local markets and can provide greater access to food for their communities. This is extremely critical as we build back a stronger, more equitable food and farming system.

This investment in innovative research will give

Agro chems – Pesticides, North America

Rezuvant™ Herbicide is expected to be available in time for the 2021 spring wheat crop. 

 A new postemergence herbicide combining the next generation of broadleaf weed control with an industry-leading graminicide is primed to change the game for wheat and barley producers battling tough weeds. Rezuvant™ herbicide with Arylex® active has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval and is expected to be available in time for the 2021 spring wheat crop.

 “Rezuvant herbicide elevates cross-spectrum weed control performance for cereal growers by combining three leading active ingredients for application flexibility and proven performance in one convenient premix. Rezuvant herbicide gives growers a straightforward solution to keep fields clean”, said Brooklynne Dalton, U.S. Product Manager, Cereals Herbicides, Corteva Agriscience.

 With three powerful active ingredients — pinoxaden, fluroxypyr and Arylex active — Rezuvant herbicide provides consistent control of your toughest broadleaf weeds, including kochia, marestail and common ragweed. Rezuvant herbicide also controls problem grasses, such as Italian ryegrass, foxtail, Persian darnel and wild oats, including Group 2-resistant biotypes.

 

Rezuvant™ Herbicide is expected to be available

AgroPolicy, IT, Trade

The focus of BSMs have been to engage with all potential countries for providing a platform to connect exporters and importers in the agriculture and allied sectors. 

In a bid to strengthen the foot-print of India’s agricultural and processed food products export to Nepal, APEDA organized a virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) in association with Indian Embassy, Kathmandu.

Under the BSM, key stakeholders such as officials and trade representatives from India and Nepal came on a common platform to discuss the strategic cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector.

The BSM with Nepal is the seventeenth in the series of such virtual meets organized by APEDA in last few months. The focus of BSMs have been to engage with all potential countries for providing a platform to connect exporters and importers in the agriculture and allied sectors.

Officials from APEDA, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal and Nepal Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders participated in the virtual meet.Exporters from India and importers of Nepal had interactions with each other during BSM.

Since the COVID19 pandemic, there was a shift of focus towards India and neighbouring trade partners creating new opportunities for alliance between various countries. Since the two countries enjoy a long-term association, India continued to ensure the food and nutrition supplies to Nepal during the COVID19 difficult times.

In 2019-20, India’s- total merchandise trade with Nepal stood at USD 7.87 billion. APEDA products export to Nepal was worth of USD 670.6 million (volume of shipment 1,896,915 Metric Tonne).

India’s principal exports items during 2019-20 included Non-Basmati Rice, Cereal Preparations, Miscellaneous Preparations, Maize and Ground nuts etc. During the same period, India’s agricultural import from Nepal were processed items, cereal products, processed fruits & juices, alcoholic beverages and processed vegetables etc.

The focus of BSMs have been to

Finance, Start ups

Company plans to use the funding to strengthen its digital platform and expand in other important Indian silk like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. 

 ReshaMandi, an agritech startup digitizing India’s silk supply chain, announced today that it has raised USD 1.7 million (INR 12.25 crore) in seed funding. The round was led by Omnivore and Strive Ventures with participation from Axilor Ventures and Supply Chain Labs (Lumis). ReshaMandi is building a full-stack platform for organizing the silk supply chain, providing services including quality testing, technical advisory, high-quality inputs, and market linkages at each node of the silk supply chain.

ReshaMandi’s vision is to build traceability “from farm to fashion” by organizing the silk ecosystem comprising silkworm rearers, sericulture farmers, yarn reelers, fabric weavers, and retailers. For sericulture farmers, the start-up provides farm & rearing advisory (via mobile app) and high-quality inputs to produce premium cocoons. Reshamandi also provides an IoT system that is installed on farms to measure temperature, humidity, light and air quality in order to reduce silkworm mortality & improve % produce. Once cocoons are ready, farmers can sell them at the ReshaMandi marketplace using the app at competitive rates. Yarn reelers also have access to the ReshaMandi mobile application for one-click procurement of cocoon, quality testing services for yarn output & linkages. On similar lines, silk weavers also get access to ReshaMandi mobile app for one-click procurement of premium silk yarn & output market linkages. Additionally, ReshaMandi is exploring fintech opportunities to further buoy this sector. Recently, ReshaMandi launched their D2C brand Amraii, with the vision of selling silk apparel at reasonable rates.

 The founders’ plan is to use this funding to strengthen their digital platform and expand beyond Karnataka, establishing a presence in other important Indian silk hubs such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Based out of Bangalore, ReshaMandi was founded in April 2020 by Mayank Tiwari (CEO), Saurabh Agarwal (CTO), and Utkarsh Apoorva (CBO). Commenting on the investment Mayank Tiwari, Co-Founder and CEO of ReshaMandi said, “We are excited to bring the first technology-led disruption to India’s USD 10 billion silk industry. Our goal is to reduce the import of silk by helping Indian farmers improve their production capacity and quality.”

Subhadeep Sanyal, Partner at Omnivore, observed, “Despite India being the second-largest producer of silk globally, the industry is still unorganized and in urgent need of technology interventions across the supply chain. With sericulture farmers having very high smartphone penetration, it is an opportune time for a digital platform like ReshaMandi to address the existing inefficiencies.”

Siddharth Verma, Investment Manager at Strive Ventures, added, “ReshaMandi is enabling Indian sericulture farmers and other key players in the value chain compete with the Chinese mass silk manufacturing hubs. Through mobile apps, IoT devices and tech-enabled grading systems, ReshaMandi is enabling farmers to increase production, lower wastage, improve quality and get access to better pricing.”

Company plans to use the funding to

AgroPolicy, R&D, Seeds

This is a huge setback for science and technology in agriculture. Most importantly it puts the Indian farmer at the grave risk of becoming uncompetitive in the International markets

 Federation of Seed Industry of India expresses its disappointment on Hon’ble Minister Prakash Javadekar’s response in Rajya Sabha on transgenic crop trials. Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, Federation of Seed Industry of India and Alliance for Agri Innovation said, “We are disappointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s regressive decision to not go ahead with theccc or any other GM crop trials without considering the recommendations from States and UTs. This further complicates the already cumbersome process of conducting field trials of transgenic crops in India. As per the regulatory process, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) reviews the data submitted along with the application to conduct field trials and is the only body by law to review the safety of the submitted data and grant final approval of field trials. It is not possible for the states to review the data and make decision. GM crops undergo rigorous safety assessment and conducting scientific research trials is a crucial part of this safety assessment. The proposed process further puts a question mark for science to progress in agricultural biotechnology let alone commercialization and will lead to complete stoppage of GM research in India.”

Ram Kaundinya, Director General, Federation of Seed Industry of India and Alliance for Agri Innovation said, “This will jeopardise the huge investments made by the Indian private sector companies in this space as well as the investments being made by the government through public institutions. Careers of thousands of students studying biotechnology will be finished. If we do not use GM technology, we will also lose opportunities to save water and reduce fertilizer and pesticide consumption. This is a huge setback for science and technology in agriculture. Most importantly it puts the Indian farmer at the grave risk of becoming uncompetitive in the International markets. We need to ensure that farmers in India get access to the same technology that farmers in many other countries enjoy. Our Honourable Prime Minister has committed to the doubling of Farmers income and adoption of new innovations is a major component of the strategy to achieving this goal. Therefore, we urge that the science based regulatory process in the country be restored and all applications are assessed in purely scientific and time-based manner. In fact, we request that the Government develops a science-based biotechnology policy which would enable India to regain the leadership in biotechnology that we once enjoyed.”  

This is a huge setback for science

Agrotech, R&D

 Dr N Parasuraman  is the Principal Scientist at M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

 The Global EverGreening Alliance has recently announced the appointment of  Dr N Parasuraman as member of Technical Advisory Board for the South Asia Regional Restore Program. The Global EverGreening Alliance’s South Asia program aims to work with many organizations,  governments, and communities across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to massively scale-up  initiatives to restore the health and productivity of degraded forests, farmlands, rangelands, and  other communal lands.

Dr.N Parasuraman, Principal Scientist, holds a Ph.D. and is working since 1991 with M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai. He is currently engaged in the Youth Development Programme for Agriculture with IEC department. He contributes exclusively for attracting and retaining educated youth in farming.  He has been successful in promoting literacy among economically and socially underprivileged children. He has been closely associated with the programme “Every Child a Scientist” where students from Corporation schools learn Scientific Principles and Concepts through multimedia and field visits following the method of “learning by doing”.

Dr Raman played a major role in developing the “Touch and Smell Garden” for visually impaired students, to appreciate the beauty of nature and biodiversity. His major contributions were for education and nutrition and he is effectively putting efforts in bringing harmony and human security in all dimensions. Recently, he received three awards namely Education Excellence Award, Karmveer Puraskar and the Award for Best Citizen of India.

 

 

 

 

 

 Dr N Parasuraman  is the Principal Scientist

AgroPolicy, Organic

Gadkari assured all assistance from the Ministry of MSME for any scheme related to the promotion of bamboo

Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari addressed a virtual exhibition on Bamboo Technology, Products and Services through video conferencing on March 23, 2021. The exhibition was organized by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

Gadkari expressed hope that, with integrated efforts from all stakeholders, the bamboo industry in India will be worth 25-30 thousand crore rupees. Technologically proven, cost-effective and attractive product designing can establish and promote the use and demand of bamboo, which will encourage people to go for bamboo plantation. He assured all assistance from the Ministry of MSME for any scheme related to the promotion of bamboo. The Minister said that we need more research, more appropriate approach for product development, market support. He also said that he is trying to get 50 per cent subsidy from Railways for bamboo and bamboo sticks. He exuded confidence that by increasing the use and requirement of bamboo will lead to an increase in its plantation.

In his address, Gadkari said that there is a need to increase the demand for bamboo. He said that bamboo has the potential to be used as an alternative to coal and can also be used in construction. Gadkari said that use of jute and coir mattresses is soon going to be made mandatory for all NHAI roads. He advocated varied use of traditional materials like jute, coir and bamboo by developing them further. 

 

 

Gadkari assured all assistance from the Ministry

Acquaculture, Finance

This partnership will benefit 1.5 Lakh shrimp farmers across India. 

 

 

 The aquaculture tech pioneer ‘Aquaconnect’ has partnered with India’s leading insurance service providers ‘Alliance Insurance Brokers’ for an insurance program for shrimp farmers. After loan benefit, this is the next step towards the company’s vision to strengthen the financial inclusion of shrimp farmers. This partnership will benefit 1.5 Lakh shrimp farmers across India.

Under this partnership, Aquaconnect will provide risk management services to the insurance partners which include farm data collection, ground validation by Aquaculture officers and AquaCRED dashboard support. The partnership aims at making comprehensive insurance available for shrimp farmers to mitigate weather and disease-related challenges. In addition to this, farmers will also get an Aquaconnect farm advisory app and options to buy high-quality inputs (feed, healthcare products & farm equipment) from the Aquaconnect platform.

Combination of data inputs from ‘eyes in the sky’ (secondary data from satellite remote sensing solutions) and ‘boots on the ground’ (primary data from app), supported by machine learning algorithms, bring transparency and predictability to the entire process & helps lower risks associated with aquaculture insurance. Further, hassle-free, low cost financial & insurance products, incentivise the adoption of technology throughout the industry and de-risk the farmers.

On this partnership, Rajamanohar, CEO and Founder of AquaConnect said, “While Indian aquaculture is a multi-billion dollar industry, contributing to 20 per cent of overall agricultural exports, losses due to disease are the biggest impediments to further growth of this sector. We are happy to partner with Alliance Insurance Brokers to offer the insurance product that would help farmers mitigate the losses in shrimp farming”.

“As an organization driven by sectoral approach Alliance possesses functional expertise Underwriting, Claim and Advisory Services to ensure efficiency in the deliverables. Aquaculture farming and the Seafood industry being a niche sector we have developed a strategic partnership with Aquaconnect to help farmers and seafood industry clients to mitigate the risk. Seafood Industry is projected to be in excess of  Rs 50,000 crores, our focus is to bring tailor-made solution and try to structure a long-term sustainable insurance solution to this sector”, Aatur Thakkar, Co-founder, Alliance Insurance Brokers.

This partnership will benefit 1.5 Lakh shrimp

Agrotech, North America

This study sheds light for policymakers on how the food and agriculture sector fuels the US economy.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has served as a reminder of the critical role that the United States Food and agriculture industries still play in a resilient food supply chain, fueling our nation and ensuring that Americans are supplied with an abundance of safe food during this time of need. A new nationwide economic impact study, commissioned by 33 food and agriculture groups and available at www.FeedingTheEconomy.com, reinforces the significance of these industries as critical to day-to-day American life.

This study sheds light for policymakers on how the food and agriculture sector not only feeds Americans but also fuels the US economy.

The food and agriculture industries’ absolute vital role in feeding Americans is well known, but less talked about is their incredible impact in also feeding and growing the nation’s economy. This historic farm-to-fork economic analysis quantifies the impact of the jobs, wages, taxes, and exports the industry makes possible.

To measure the total economic impact of the sectors, the analysis also includes the indirect and induced economic activity surrounding these industries, which captures upstream and downstream activity.

This study sheds light for policymakers on

AgroPolicy, Japan, Water

This MoC was signed for the development of long-term cooperation in the field of water

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India and Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan in the field of Water Resources.

This MoC was signed for development of a long-term cooperation in the field of Water and Delta management, and Water technology in order to increase the exchange of information, knowledge, technology and scientific allied experience, as well as implementation of joint projects between the two countries. 

This MoC will help in achieving water security, improved irrigation facility and sustainability in water resources development.

This MoC was signed for the development

Machinery – Post-harvesting, Trade

This acquisition will see CNH Industrial become Augmenta’s strategic partner in crop sensing and machinery automation 

CNH Industrial announced that it has completed its acquisition of a minority stake in Augmenta, an agricultural technology company, focused on automating farming operations using computer vision and artificial intelligence ‘on the edge’, whereby data is processed in real time, directly by the system. This acquisition will see CNH Industrial become Augmenta’s strategic partner in crop sensing and machinery automation, and also foresees future joint research and development collaboration.

This partnership is further evidence of CNH Industrial’s ongoing commitment to investing in advanced agricultural technologies to strengthen its entire product range, thereby offering its customers rapid and easy access to breakthrough agricultural innovations, which enhance both farming productivity and bring sustainability benefits. Furthermore, it reinforces the product portfolio of AGXTEND, the Company’s accelerator for tech start-ups.

  Headquartered in Paris, France Augmenta’s  real-time precision farming solution uses a roof-mounted system, which contains multispectral 4K cameras that scan the field ahead during normal farming operation, and by using artificial intelligence calculates exactly what the crop needs in terms of fertilizer or crop protection products. This real-time variable rate application prescription is transmitted to the implement instantly, thereby reducing the quantity of such products required, lowering operating costs and enhancing sustainable practices. This advanced system, compatible with a broad range of crops, including small and large grains, cotton, rice and sugarcane, not only analyzes the crop condition – including detecting foliage status and various other visual patterns – but also compensates for environmental factors which may impact analysis, such as light levels. Furthermore, the data from the system is automatically transmitted to a cloud portal, for easy management and analysis, or can be exported in standard format to other farm management information systems.

This acquisition will see CNH Industrial become

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Water

Need to develop working model for efficient irrigation by using groundwater

 

 

 Addressing the 2nd Edition of the ‘National Summit on Investing in future through sustainable water use and management in agriculture’, organized by FICCI, Dr Alka Bhargava,Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India said that it is now time for us to get into the cross sectoral synergy and take the issue of increasing water use efficiency forward. “Increase in demand and productivity needs to be done within the consideration of sustainable use of natural resources, most important among which is water. This scenario becomes more complex as 86 per cent of our farmers are small and marginal. There needs to be a focus on the targeted approach of increasing efficiency through micro irrigation and change of cropping patterns in regard to agro climatic conditions”. 

 Dr Alka Bhargava, said that 90 per cent of the global food production increase required by 2050 is projected to take place in developing countries. “Land being finite, improved productivity in developing countries will be the key to ensuring food security and nutrition. All this becomes even more important as we get close to our SDG commitments,” she said.

She emphasised on the focus of efficient use of water in areas under canal irrigation that will not only increase crop productivity but will also increase its availability over large areas of land. “We are talking with the Department of Jal Shakti as to how micro irrigation can give the last mile connectivity to canal area development. We need to develop a working model for efficient irrigation by using groundwater,” she added.

Further, Dr Bhargava spoke about building farmers’ database that has been taken up by the ministry. “PM Kisan database is being linked with digital land records. We are also making efforts at state level to give real-time advisories to farmers that will help them be better prepared in dealing with exigencies,” she said.

 

 

 

Need to develop working model for efficient

Environment, Foodgrains

The L3 verification will enable LT Foods to use SRP verified logo on its packs

LT Foods has become the first company globally to be certified with the highest level of verification – L3, by UN-backed Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) ecolabel. This will enable the company to use the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) verified logo on the packs of Rice produced by verified 1,000 plus farmers growing sustainable rice. LT Foods works with farmers to grow sustainable and residue-free basmati rice as per the SRP standards under its Agri Program.

The L3 SRP certification is the highest level of verification for the sustainable cultivation of rice. A new ecolabel launched by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) will help shoppers reduce their environmental impact by identifying rice that has been sustainably produced.

By stocking SRP verified rice, food retailers can make a measurable contribution to sustainability and climate change targets. It is also seen that employing best practices in rice farming can reduce water usage by more than 25 per cent and methane emissions by up to 50 per cent. Switching to SRP practices can boost farm incomes by up to 20 per cent . Adoption of climate-smart agriculture and sustainable best practices in rice, not LT Foods Limited.

It has developed the ’SRP-Verified’ Label to reduce the environmental impact of one of the largest food crops in the world. SRP standards have stringent performance-based assurance schemes having indicators across environmental, economic, and social parameters.

 

 

The L3 verification will enable LT Foods