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Agrotech

BT will help Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds focus on being a market leader

BT has recently announced an extension of its long-term strategic agreement with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading agricultural technology companies.

Syngenta helps improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. As part of the extended strategic agreement, BT will support Syngenta’s requirements for flexible and adaptable consumption of services covering advanced networking, connectivity and security solutions, while aiming to create additional opportunities for joint innovation.

Through highly reliable services that enable collaboration and communication, BT will help Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds focus on being a market leader with world-class science and innovative crop solutions that help farmers sustainably grow more from less.

BT will continue to provide a full range of networking and communication services, as well as cloud security, to support Syngenta’s operations across more than 400 locations in 60 countries. These include key agriculture markets in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, China, India, Egypt and Ukraine.

In addition, this renewal provides the foundation for an ongoing relationship and the potential to explore new ways BT could enable Syngenta’s growth and sustainability ambitions.

BT will help Syngenta Crop Protection and

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Trade

India Chem is one of the largest composite events of the chemical and petrochemical sector in the Asia-Pacific region

DV Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizer will inaugurate the 11th edition of India Chem-2021 on March 17, 2021 in the presence of Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Independent Charge) and Chemicals & Fertilizers.

India Chem is one of the largest composite events of the chemical and petrochemical sector in the Asia-Pacific Region. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, in association with FICCI, is organizing the 11th edition of India Chem- 2021 during 17-19th March 2021 in New Delhi.

During the India Chem-2021, events such as Global CEOs Round Table, Conclave on Global Chemical Industry: Special focus on Specialty Chemicals, Conclave on Global Petrochemical Industry in collaboration with GCC, Conclave on Global Agrochemical Industry, Capital Goods, Plant Machinery, Pumps & Valves and Processes Roundtable will be organized.

India Chem-2021 with the theme of “India: Global Manufacturing Hub for Chemicals and Petrochemicals” will showcase the tremendous potential and supportive government policy for sustainable growth in the sector and provide a platform for domestic and international investors and other stakeholders to interact and forge alliances. 

India Chem is one of the largest

Dairy

GIS-enabled android application for the benefit of dairy cooperatives and producers-owned organisations

While delivering the keynote address at NDDB’s webinar on ’Dairy Surveyor – Taking Technology to the Dairy Network’ on 15 March 2021, Varsha Joshi, Joint Secretary (Cattle & Dairy Development), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying), Govt of India and Chairman, NDDB said that in line with the Govt of India’s vision of Digital India, NDDB has developed “Dairy Surveyor” – a GIS-enabled android application for the benefit of dairy cooperatives and producers-owned organizations.

Senior officials from NDDB, Jharkhand Milk Federation, MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd and DRMU, Barauni (Bihar) shared their experiences on features/utility of this app, infrastructural mapping, monitoring & survey and procurement & marketing aspects in the webinar. The webinar linked 132 CEOs/Senior officials from milk federations and unions across India through Google Meet and YouTube.

Joshi conveyed, “Dairy Surveyor application will provide a robust locational database that can be used by the policymakers to formulate or review effective policies & programs related to the dairy sector.” It can capture “real-time” location-based information to strengthen decision-making. The app is capable of geotagging and mapping infrastructure, real-time tracking of field projects, monitoring milk procurement and sale-related activities. It will bring in transparency and also help in saving time, effort and cost.

NDDB is constantly working to ensure information sharing and get a diverse set of experts on digital platforms to delve on developments in the dairy sector.    

GIS-enabled android application for the benefit of

Organic

The brand is also closely working with farmers and women in making them aware of the benefits of growing organic produce

The pandemic has made people realise the importance of eating healthy and nutritious food. Keeping the same in mind, Sharmila Oswal, a seasoned social agriculturist along with her son Shubham Oswal, a trained professional in water conservation and agricultural industry has recently launched their organic food brand – 1Organic with the aim of providing high-quality organic products at the most affordable costs. 1Organic which is a farm to fork brand is breaking the myth of organic foods being expensive and are bringing it to the masses tables rather than restricting it only to High Networth Individuals by closely working with more than 2000+ farmers.

The brand is also closely working with farmers and women in making them aware of the benefits of growing organic produce and also help them sell their produce at the best rates. It is already making a big mark in the Social Entrepreneurship space and has provided employment to numerous women and men in villages spread across India. 1Organic manages the entire supply chain of the products right from delivery of the seeds to the farmers to buying their produce and taking it to the market.

Their state-of-the-art certified organic processing & packaging facility helps maintain the integrity, quality and affordable pricing of the organic produce. By cutting middle-men and directly working with farmers enables 1Organic to sell their produce at 10-15 per cent less of the market rate. 1Organic will have a range of products like pulses, millets, spices, hand-pounded brown rice, grains, wood-churned cold-pressed oils to name a few.

 

The brand is also closely working with

AgroPolicy

It is a first-of-its-kind attempt to cater to the needs of Indian Expatriates in the United Kingdom

Under a joint venture by the ICAR-National Research Centre on Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam, Kochi, Kerala, a consignment of 10 Tonnes of farm-fresh Nendran Bananas was shipped to London on March 8, 2021. It is a first-of-its-kind attempt to cater to the needs of Indian Expatriates in the United Kingdom.

In his address, Dr Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR hoped that reduced shipping costs by sea to one-tenth of that required for air cargo will make Nendran Bananas cheaper for the Indian Expatriates from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He highlighted the emerging opportunities for the Indian Banana Exporters due to the decline in yields and exports from the other banana producers like Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador due to flood, drought, and fusarium wilt.

The Agricultural Production Commissioner, Government of Kerala mentioned the potential for exports of 2,000 Tonnes of Nendran per year from Kerala via sea in the future and the plan to set-up a pack house in Wayanad District for up-scaling the processing, packaging and exports of fruits and vegetables.

The shipment is expected to reach London well in time for sale in the markets of the UK and Scotland during Vishu, the Malayalam and Tamil New Year to be celebrated on April 14, 2021.

The ICAR-NRC on Banana imparted hands-on-training to the Banana farmers from Thrissur District on the scientific cultivation of Nendran following Good Agricultural Practices to produce export quality Nendran Bananas.

 

It is a first-of-its-kind attempt to cater

IT, Machinery – Post-harvesting

YOUNIVERSE is a bespoke platform that uses cutting-edge technology, designed specifically for farmers, contractors and dealers

CNH Industrial has devised an exceptionally innovative way of reconnecting with its customers, the world’s farmers and the wider public. YOUNIVERSE, the first digital agricultural machinery fair designed around the protagonist ’you’ is not just another live streaming event or virtual showroom, rather a totally immersive, infotainment experience like no other. 

 YOUNIVERSE is a bespoke platform that uses cutting-edge technology, designed specifically for farmers, contractors and dealers – you – to provide a virtual gateway to CNH Industrial’s global agricultural brands: Case IH, STEYR and New Holland Agriculture as well as sister powertrain brand FPT Industrial and CNH Industrial’s accelerator for tech start-ups, AgXtend. YOUNIVERSE is easily accessible through both an interactive website and all mobile devices enabling ’you’ to stay connected, cultivate and grow networks.

The CNH Industrial brands will each welcome visitors into their own individually ‘branded’ universes, where a series of virtual landscapes and products will lead them on a journey of progressive discovery. This intuitive and leading-edge platform will enable users to explore each world, discover product ranges, learn about technological agricultural trends, interact with brand specialists and even “meet” industry experts. A series of engaging webinars, exclusive interviews and keynote speeches will be broadcast on the dedicated, online YOUNIVERSE TV channel. This will include content from company experts, leading agricultural institutions, such as CEMA, (European Agricultural Machinery Association), the DLG (German Agricultural Society) and agrifood representatives.

YOUNIVERSE is a bespoke platform that uses

Live Stock, R&D

CSL solutions focus solely on climate change adaptation

The livestock sector is a major contributor to climate change, it is estimated that the sector emits about 7.1 giga-tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2eq.), about 18 percent of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (FAO, 2006). Climate-smart livestock (CSL) solutions can contribute to a reduction of GHG emissions through improved livestock productivity, efficient use of natural resources, carbon sequestration, and integration of livestock into the circular bioeconomy. Other CSL solutions focus solely on climate change adaptation.

Livestock productivity can be improved either by increasing the output (e.g. increased milk production) or by decreasing inputs while maintaining the same output, for example by using higher quality feed rations. It is estimated that improving livestock productivity will reduce emissions per unit of livestock product by 20 to 30 per cent.

There are specific livestock feed products that can lower GHG emissions, but it is unlikely that these will be available and affordable for smallholders in Asia and the Pacific any time soon. Examples of CSL solutions focusing on the efficient use of natural resources include higher yields per hectare, higher water productivity, efficient use of low carbon energy, and the reduction of waste along the value chain.

CSL solutions focus solely on climate change

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Agrotech

Around 1, 60,000 advanced fish fingerlings comprising IMCs, Labeo bata and L. gonius were released at the rate of 40,000 fingerlings in each Beel. 

The four Wetlands of Assam namely Borboi Beel (Bongaigaon District), Ghorajan Beel (Kamrup Rural District), Rupahi Beel (Nagaon District) and Dandua Beel (Morigaon District) have been adopted by the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, and Kolkata for carrying out the fish stock enhancement. The activities were carried out by ICAR-CIFRI, Regional Centre, Guwahati, Assam under the Institute’s NEH component. 

Around 1, 60,000 advanced fish fingerlings comprising IMCs, Labeo bata and L. gonius were released at the rate of 40,000 fingerlings in each Beel from 6th to March 10, 2021. The Institute also organized the Awareness Programmes to sensitize the fishers about the role of supplementary fish seed stocking in Beels. The Stocking-cum-Awareness Programmes were organized in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Assam and Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd., Guwahati, Assam.

 Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata and Dr. B.K. Bhattacharjya, Head, ICAR-CIFRI, Regional Centre, Guwahati, Assam were also present during the occasion. The main objectives of the Stock Enhancement Programmes were to create awareness on the importance of fish stock enhancement in Beels and at the same time, improving their livelihood through increased fish production and income.

A total of 2,491 fisher families of four Beels are expected to get the benefits of supplementary stocking programmes.

Around 1, 60,000 advanced fish fingerlings comprising

Europe, R&D

Green Headlands acts as a potential barrier to hold up pest species from infesting or infecting crops 

 Green Headlands create the opportunity to enhance the numbers of beneficial predators in the field, as well as a potential barrier to hold up pest species from infesting or infecting crops, advocates Syngenta Insecticide Technical Manager, Dr Max Newbert.

Over 330 hectares of the Syngenta Operation Pollinator Green Headland seed mix was planted in 2020, an equivalent of over 550 km of six-meter margin.

That had doubled the area from previous years and demonstrated growers’ interest in enhancing soil health and harnessing the opportunity for IPM benefits, he said.

“The original concept behind Green Headlands, instigated by Syngenta with ASDA, IPL and Kings Seeds, was to utilise uncropped areas around potato and vegetable fields to protect soils, increase fertility and increase biodiversity.

“Through extensive research we’ve demonstrated it ably achieves all those objectives, as well as a potentially important role in IPM.”

Detailed entomological monitoring of Green Headlands in 2020, including analysis of 10,000 insects, revealed the areas were a magnet for flying insects, including many pollinating and beneficial predator species. The work has shown it can significantly enhance what is naturally in the environment.

“From the monitoring it has shown the mix typically holds a ratio around of 3:1 of species that might be considered pests, to those that are known predators. However, since each predator would eat 100-120 pests that is a very good balance in the natural environment,” advised Dr Newbert.

Dr Newbert has also carried out trials on the potential of Green Headlands to mitigate virus transmission from aphids, essentially acting as a barrier to intercept aphid migration. Some of those aphids would be caught by predators, whilst others held up in the mix would lose the propensity to transmit non-persistent virus.

Research had shown evidence the technique could prove effective in carrots, and another potential tool in the armoury for potato growers, he reported.

Green Headlands acts as a potential barrier

Japan

This is quite a unique self-driven system taking advantage of natural physical phenomena

NATUREDYNE INC. of Tokyo, Japan, will launch worldwide on March 15, 2021, a mobile-type micro-farming system, named ’SoBiC’ (an acronym of Solar pneumatic Bio-Cycle), that works without using any electronic or mechanical devices. This is quite a unique self-driven system taking advantage of natural physical phenomena, such as changes in atmospheric temperature and air pressure caused by solar heat. Such natural power activates an autonomous water-circulating pumping mechanism of the system, maintaining well-conditioned soil by nature’s balancing function, and consequently plants grow faster and bigger in healthy conditions.

The 21st century will be called ’the virus century’ as it has witnessed many contagious illnesses such as SARS/MERS/bird flu/swine fever/new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since around 2000. Because the present society has been built on the sacrifice of nature such as environmental destruction and pollution, mere campaigning like the call for SDGs and reduction in CO2 emissions is meaningless for natural recovery.

However, SoBiC can reduce anxieties over the stable food supply, to say the least. And if SoBiC spreads globally, increased food production and CO2 absorption will proceed at the same time, creating healthy new industries on huge food demand and expand employment accordingly as well. This exactly achieves two or three things simultaneously. It is also possible to create such a ’chain of virtuous circles’, making it possible to rebuild a prosperous and sustainable society without difficulty.

 

This is quite a unique self-driven system

AgroPolicy, Trade

The conclave aims at discussing various issues relating to promotion of agri-exports from Gujarat. 

 As part of the nationwide celebration of 75 years of India’s independence or ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organised an Exporters Conclave in association with Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited (GAIC).

Discussions were held on export potential of Gujarat and the financial assistance scheme of APEDA and the state government. The conclave was inaugurated by K.S. Randhawa, Managing Director, GAIC.  R Ravindra, Regional Head & Deputy General Manager, APEDA elaborated on role of APEDA in promoting agri-exports from India. A technical session was also organized during the Conclave.

 Abhay Jain, Additional General Manager explained about the schemes initiated by GAIC for promoting agro industries in Gujarat. Shri Prashant Waghmare, Assistant General Manager, APEDA made a detailed presentation on APEDA’s Financial Assistance Schemes and initiatives taken by the authority to promote agri-exports. After the technical session, an interactive session was organized for exporters for discussing various issues relating to promotion of agri-exports from Gujarat.

Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav is being held from 75 weeks prior to Independence Day 2022 and would continue till Independence Day 2023. The event has been kicked off with a 25-day celebration, beginning March 12, 2021 (anniversary of launch of Dandi March) with the launch of opening ceremony by Prime Minister  Narendra Modi in Gujarat and concluding on 5th April, 2021 (conclusion of Dandi March). The Mahotsav will be celebrated as a peoples’ movement across the country. APEDA is planning a series of activities during the period of Mahotsav in different parts of the country.

 

 

 

The conclave aims at discussing various issues

Acquaculture, R&D, Start ups

The product had already got patents in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia and South Africa. 

 A new era in agriculture has started with the government recognizing Biostimulants as a valuable plant growth promoter and granting the country’s first patent on Biostimulants to home-grown start-up, Sea6Energy, Bangalore.

“We are proud to have been granted this patent by the Indian Patent Office (IPO) after rigorous examination procedure,” said Shrikumar  Suryanarayan, Managing Director of Sea6Energy. The product had already got patents in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia and South Africa.

The Indian patent was granted last week based on Sea6 Energy’s application  filed in May 2015 and is for ‘A biostimulant formulation for improving plant  growth and uses thereof” and is valid for 20 years. Sea6 energy has discovered and patented some unique molecules from cultivated red seaweeds that can specifically bring about these effects in plants and these compositions are the subject of their granted patents.

Recognition of Biostimulants as a new category of products was possible in India only after the government announced the Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Amendment Order 2021, on February 23, 2021. The  amended order, recognizing the new products states that “biostimulant”  means a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary  function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate  physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth,  yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress, regardless of its  nutrient content, but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators  which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.

India is a large agricultural market and is Sea6’s home base, where its research and development is located in Bangalore. The company was started in 2010 in the Campus of IIT Madras by several IITM alumni as its co-founders. Sea6 also has a fully owned subsidiary in Indonesia where part of the manufacturing for this product is carried out.

“The grant of this patent in India, is especially significant in the context of the newly gazetted laws on Biostimulant in India,” said Suryanarayan. Biostimulants are an exciting new class of agricultural inputs that can improve the efficiency of nutrient usage and relive abiotic and other stresses in plants induced by climate change. India has taken a lead in this field and has been one of the earliest countries in the world to have formalized the regulations governing Biostimulant use in Agriculture. 

The product had already got patents in

R&D

Bayer has developed the first five-way stack of herbicide tolerance for soybeans

Bayer has recently announced pipeline project advancements and newly unveiled research in dedicated research and development (R&D) pipeline update for the Crop Science division. In 2020, Bayer’s pipeline commercialised ten crop protection formulations and advanced three key biotech products to launch while providing farmers around the world with more than 430 newly commercialised hybrids and varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton and vegetables. 

Delivering an industry-leading R&D pipeline in scale, productivity, and value

Bayer’s commitment to customers and the planet was demonstrated in 2020 by the breadth of pipeline product launches including ten new crop protection formulations, and three biotechnology traits advancing to the launch phase. These include Intacta 2 Xtend soy, which has gained all regulatory approvals and is expected to launch in Brazil by the end of the year.
In 2022 SmartStax PRO corn is expected to launch in the United States. 

Bayer’s ThryvOn Technology, a trait for lygus and thrips control in cotton is set for a stewarded Ground Breakers Program in the United States in 2021. In biotech first, ThryvOn Technology will meet an important need in the cotton market and is predicted to help better control and reduce insecticide use.

Leading the development of next-generation biotech traits

A key focus area for the R&D pipeline is to provide farmers with flexibility in weed control, through next-generation soybean traits. In the future, farmers can look forward to choosing the weed control options that best suit their operations, knowing that the varieties they’ve chosen offer premium genetics and the ability to manage weeds.

Bayer has developed the first five-way stack of herbicide tolerance for soybeans. Currently, in Phase 3 of development, this trait offering adds to XtendFlex’s three tolerances with another two modes of action; tolerance to HPPD and its own proprietary 2,4-D tolerance.

Bayer has developed the first five-way stack

Agro chems – Fertilizers

ClimateGard will be available for preorder through an Indiegogo campaign beginning March 9, 2021

Just in time for gardening season, Johnny Appleseed Organic has recently announced its newest product launch, ClimateGard, the first no-kill, premium, all-purpose, organic fertilizer with sustainable packaging. ClimateGard will be available for preorder through an Indiegogo campaign beginning March 9, 2021 and purchase through the campaign starting March 16, 2021, until April 22, 2021.

ClimateGard was designed for climate-conscious gardeners, small farmers, and home gardeners who care about the earth, where their food comes from, and want to aid in climate change reversal. ClimateGard’s no-kill formula sources essential micronutrients, humic acid, silica, living bacteria and fungi from the most ethical, sustainable sources available. ClimateGard’s blend of solar processed poultry manure, fossilized seabird guano, bat guano and sunflower hull ash provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium in their most bioavailable forms.

ClimateGard also offers sustainable packing and is delivered in an organic cotton bag with a compostable inner liner. By relying on reusable pallets made of recycled plastics, Johnny Appleseed Organic is doing its part to cut down any contribution to the waste stream.

ClimateGard is the first and only organic fertilizer scientifically designed to supercharge the soil-building effects of Climate Farming. Every fertilizer pellet contains a synergistic blend of micronutrients, living bacteria and fungi, to form the most complete plant and soil health package on the market. ClimateGard’s ingredients are derived from ethical and environmentally friendly sources, the unique formula combines all the amendments used in Climate Farming into a single, convenient package.

ClimateGard is more than a great fertilizer, it is a part of a bigger cause to battle climate change and alter the conventional agriculture growing practices through Climate Farming.  

ClimateGard will be available for preorder through