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Agro chems – Chemicals

Biox-M is a product manufactured and registered by the French company XEDA International

Following the acquisition of Belchim Crop Protection NV by Mitsui & Co Ltd., the Andermatt Biocontrol Group was approved by the European Commission (EC) to become remedy taker of the divestments package related to the distribution of the product Biox-M in Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Biox-M is a product manufactured and registered by the French company XEDA International.

The product is based on mint oil and acts as a plant growth regulator to control the sprouting of potatoes. The distribution of Biox-M fits very well to the key competence of the Andermatt Biocontrol Group of providing products and services for organic crop protection.

The Andermatt Biocontrol Group has been successfully commercializing Biox-M in Switzerland for several years and therefore has thorough knowledge about the product and its application fields.

The Distribution of Biox-M by the Andermatt Biocontrol Group is effective from 6, May 2021 and will be handled through the local entities of the Andermatt Biocontrol Group; in Germany by Biofa GmbH, by Andermatt Polska in Poland, and Andermatt Biocontrol AG in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. 

 

Biox-M is a product manufactured and registered

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech

The expert will help the WBF to achieve its goal of encouraging collaborations between all stakeholders throughout the bioprotection industry to facilitate innovation and commercialisation. 

Three world-leading experts have joined the Advisory Committee of the World BioProtection Forum (WBF), to ensure the Forum offers the best possible advantages for its members. In order to help its members, navigate the challenges and opportunities of the post-COVID, post-Brexit world, the WBF is proud to have three world-leading experts join its new Advisory Committee. Dr Willem Ravensberg is well known in the industry, with past posts including President of IBMA. With 30 years of experience in registration affairs, he is now Corporate Sr Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Manager at Koppert Biological Systems.

Professor Zhibing Zhang, from the University of Birmingham (UK) has built an international reputation for developing original work on micromanipulation of single micro-/nanoparticles and encapsulation/bioencapsulation. How work has already been applied to bioprotection products to enhance shelf life.

Dr KRK Reddy is a leading innovator with several patents to his name. He is the Founder of Sri Biotech Laboratories in India, and he also serves as President of BIPA (Bio-agri Input Producers Association).

These experts join the existing team of Advisors to help the WBF achieve its goal of encouraging collaborations between all stakeholders throughout the bioprotection industry to facilitate innovation and commercialisation. They will also help our sector to take advantage of the opportunities offered by recent changes in the balance of global power.

Of particular relevance right now is the political climate following Brexit. The UK Government now has the opportunity, freedom (and relative agility for a change) to reform the regulatory environment for biopesticides. The WBF has undertaken the task of leading a dialogue with the UK government, to drive reform in matters most important to our members. The organisation is working to lead an initiative calling for meaningful reform to the regulatory process for biopesticides in the UK and to develop an environment that supports and nurtures this sector. This could be a first step to encouraging more rapid reform across the EU.

“We have a unique opportunity to effect change to the UK regulatory system,” declared Dr Minshad Ansari, Chairman of the WBF. “We are inviting everyone with an interest in this area to contact us and add their names – and their weight – to the campaign. We are asking as many companies as possible to please join us in this effort and be part of the change you wish to see in the biopesticide sector.”

 

The expert will help the WBF to

Agrotech, Finance, IT

The Seed round was co-led by At One Ventures, and the Industrial Innovation Venture Fund of BDC Capital, with participation from Fulcrum Global Capital and Golden Opportunities Fund.

Precision AI, a computer vision and robotics company empowering sustainable farming practices, announced the closing of $20 million in equity and grant funding. The Seed round was co-led by At One Ventures, founded by GoogleX co-founder Tom Chi, and the Industrial Innovation Venture Fund of BDC Capital, with participation from Fulcrum Global Capital and Golden Opportunities Fund, with supporting non-dilutive co-investments from Sustainable Development Technology Canada and Protein Industries Canada.

The financing will support the advancement of a disruptive precision farming platform that deploys swarms of artificially intelligent drones to dramatically reduce herbicide use in row crop agriculture.

Precision AI’s drone-based computer vision technology enables surgically precise application of herbicide to individual weeds in row crop farming. By spraying only weeds and avoiding the crop, yields can be maintained at a fraction of the chemical cost.  Ultimately, the company’s vision is to deploy hives of intelligent drones that will automate the crop protection process throughout the entire growing season, optimizing every square inch of farmland on a per-plant basis.

 Daniel McCann, CEO and founder of Precision AI said, “Using artificial intelligence to target individual weeds is a quantum leap in efficiency and sustainability over today’s practices of an indiscriminate broadcast application of herbicide. Herbicide spraying is one of the least efficient agricultural activities, with over 80 per cent wasted on bare ground and another 15 per cent falling on the crop.  While competitors have focused on high-value, low acreage crops, Precision AI’s disruptive approach to drone swarming allows for application on large acreage crops at a much lower cost than traditional large farming machinery. It holds the promise to reduce pesticide use by up to 95 per cent while maintaining crop yield and saving farmers up to $52 per acre per growing season”.

“We were immediately struck by Precision AI’s unique combination of drone technology with precise chemical application. Not only can it minimize toxic runoff to protect waterways and downstream ecology, but also reduce farmers’ operating costs and increase their revenue with a zero-chemical residue label,” said Laurie Menoud, Partner at At One Ventures and member of the Board of Directors.

” Precision AI’s technology, by applying Artificial Intelligence technologies in the field, will reduce reliance on crop inputs and enable benefits to farmers, the broader food supply chain, and the environment. We are hopeful that Precision AI can be among the next generation of Agtech solutions that change the industry,” said Joe Regan, Managing Partner, Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, BDC Capital, who will be joining the Board of Directors.

The Seed round was co-led by At

Dairy

The company has found that dairy cows that were fed their optimised diet experienced a 4-8 per cent increase in production efficiency

In two separate studies, Boveta Nutrition has found that dairy cows that were fed their optimised diet, experienced a 4-5.5 per cent increase in milk yield with a 4-8 per cent increase in production efficiency. The result was the Boveta diet increased income over feed costs as much as $1.05 per head per day.

Boveta Nutrition uses a patent-pending algorithm to identify diet deficiencies and create a better-formulated diet, incorporating targeted proteins that meet cattle’s energy and amino acid requirements.

The Boveta Nutrition studies were conducted on two privately owned, commercial dairy farms in Michigan and were executed in the first six months of 2020. The cows were divided into two equal groups on each farm and balanced based on breed, parity, stage of lactation, mean milk production, and milk components. One group was fed its current diet and the other received the Boveta optimised diet. The day-to-day implementation and execution of the trial were overseen by farm management and each farm’s nutritional consultant.

In each of the studies, the Boveta formulation program was used to evaluate the current diet and then make adjustments to align the dietary profile of essential amino acids with dietary content and animal requirements.

Boveta Nutrition’s feed formulation ensures nutrients are being delivered more precisely so animals consume less feed yet maintain, or even increase, their gain or milk production. With a reduction in feed intake, less manure and methane gas are produced in the dairy or feed yard. Further, by implementing the Boveta Nutrition diet and reducing fibrous feed, methane can be reduced by as much as 10-40 per cent.

 

The company has found that dairy cows

R&D

The partnership will advance understanding of the most beneficial and scalable regenerative practices agriculture can employ to meet the challenges of tomorrow

UPL Ltd. has recently announced a two-year agreement with the Soil Health Institute (SHI), a non-profit organisation whose mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement. With this collaboration, SHI will evaluate the soil health at selected UPL research and development field stations around the world (including UPL’s OpenAg Farm in Brazil), provide soil health training for UPL field agronomists, and help establish R&D protocols for evaluating the impacts of management practices on soil health.

Soil is the basis of our world’s agroecosystems that provide food, feed, fiber, and fuel. By 2050, the world will be challenged to feed 9 billion people while also managing limited natural resources and the impact of climate change. UPL, with its mission to make every food product more sustainable, collaborates with partners, farmers, and key stakeholders to meet the future demand of agriculture, and improving soil health will be essential to achieving that goal.

The partnership with SHI will advance understanding of the most beneficial and scalable regenerative practices agriculture can employ to meet the challenges of tomorrow, while at the same time, improving productivity and farmer livelihoods.

 

 

The partnership will advance understanding of the

Agro Universities, R&D

New bean crop can conserve more water and maintain growth under drought conditions for longer than other types of bean 

 

Scientists from the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food have engineered beans that could use up to 40 per cent less water, taking a huge step forward in the hunt to find ways to help agriculture to thrive in a rapidly changing climate.

Beans provide high-quality nutrition across Latin America, but the climate crisis is causing drought and heatwaves in the region. As a result, scientists around the world are in a race against time to create stronger, climate-resilient bean crops to support food security in the area; especially as legumes are an important staple food group in the region.

The Pod Yield Project examined the differences between the common bean and the tepary bean, a variety that has been naturally grown in Mesoamerica and Mexico for thousands of years. With its ability to be grown in semi-desert environments the team observed how the tepary bean is better suited to its environment, including its less dense stomata, the microscopic valves on its leaves which are used to control water loss and carbon dioxide intake for photosynthesis.

By manipulating the size and density of stomata, researchers at the Institute for Sustainable Food were able to engineer bean crops that can conserve more water and maintain growth under drought conditions for longer than other types of bean; making them ideal for cultivation in hotter climates.

Professor Julie Gray from the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food said, “Modern agriculture uses a lot of water – about 70 per cent of the global freshwater – but this resource is diminishing under climate change, and we desperately need to find new ways to allow farmers to reduce irrigation and still provide enough food for our growing population. We hope that our work will produce crops that use less water and are better suited to future warmer and drier climates.”

New bean crop can conserve more water

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, R&D

The laboratory is housed with State-of-the-art equipment, viz., Greenhouse Gases Analyser, CHNS Analyser, etc. for the research related to aquaculture and climate change.

 Dr Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR virtually inaugurated the ’State-of-the-Art Aqua-Climate Laboratory’ at the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai on April 27, 2021.

The Laboratory is housed with State-of-the-art equipment, viz., Greenhouse Gases Analyser, CHNS Analyser, Carbon Fractions Analyser (TOC, IC and TC), Ion Chromatograph, Cyclic Voltameter, Kjeltec Nitrogen Digestion and Distillation System, etc., for the research related to aquaculture and climate change.

In his inaugural address, Dr Jena emphasized on the importance of aquaculture for food security in the scenario of climate change. He also released two products developed by the ICAR-CIBA, viz., ICAR-CIBA Oxyplus, Dissolved Oxygen Enhancer and ICAR-CIBA-Nodavac-R, Recombinant Viral Nervous Necrosis Vaccine.

Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR also virtually participated in the event. Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai highlighted about the partnership by the ICAR-CRIDA and ICAR-CIBA on the important area of climate change and the development of the facility of International standard.

 

Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad applauded the Institute for the achievements under the NICRA Project and completing the facility within the stipulated time. Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. M. Muralidhar, Principal Investigator, NICRA Project at ICAR-CIBA briefed about the establishment of the Aqua Climate Laboratory facility.

 

The laboratory is housed with State-of-the-art equipment,

Agrotech, China

Pinduoduo has gone from zero to almost 800 million customers in just six years, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer internet companies in the world.

Pinduoduo Inc., China’s largest agricultural platform, is deepening its efforts to transform the way food is grown, transported, and sold by connecting millions of farmers directly to consumers.

Pinduoduo has been able to aggregate demand and generate large volumes of orders for farmers by making recommendations to consumers based on the company’s understanding of their shopping preferences, the Nasdaq-listed company said in its annual 20-F filing covering the 2020 financial year. By facilitating direct sales by small-scale farmers to consumers, Pinduoduo helps the growers to reduce their dependence on distributors and increase their earnings, which can be reinvested in the farms and technology to improve productivity.

Pinduoduo has gone from zero to almost 800 million customers in just six years, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer internet companies in the world. The company has described its model as “Costco + Disney”, in reference to the combination of value-for-money offerings and entertainment. It is unique among other large internet companies to make digitizing the agriculture industry a core, strategic priority.

Under its “Internet + Agriculture” strategy, Pinduoduo coached farmers on setting up stores online, provided them with access to end demand, and helped them to increase their household income. By training young men and women from rural areas to become e-commerce savvy “New Farmers”, many of them became champions for digital inclusion, often catalysing a multiplier effect and wealth creation for their local communities.

Pinduoduo’s efforts in combating poverty through digital inclusion were recognized by China’s central government in February 2021, where it was one of three technology companies commended for their outstanding contributions to China’s poverty alleviation drive. Pinduoduo will deepen its efforts to promote digital inclusion of rural communities in 2021.

 

Pinduoduo has gone from zero to almost

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech

It will focus on regulatory challenges and calls for reform to create a regulatory environment that nurtures and supports the bioprotection industry.

The Biopesticide Summit, taking place via a virtual platform on Tuesday 6th July this year, will focus on regulatory challenges and calls for reform to create a regulatory environment that nurtures and supports the bioprotection industry.

The COVID pandemic affected all areas of scientific research. Biopesticide developers have been impacted by restrictions on practical research and funding, which have only added to pre-existing obstacles of regulatory hurdles, commercial uptake, and formulation challenges. On the other hand, COVID apparently led to surging consumer demand for organic produce with no chemical residues and, in the wake of Brexit, the UK government has declared a commitment to support science and technology, and an intention to expand partnerships across the globe.

The World Bioprotection Forum (WBF) is a non-profit organisation for encouraging collaboration across the biocontrol industry and academia. WBF which organises the annual Biopesticide Summit already engages with top-class academics and researchers, linking them with the biocontrol industry to facilitate innovation and commercialisation. This year, it has also undertaken the task of leading a dialogue with the UK government, to drive reform and create a regulatory environment that nurtures and supports the bioprotection industry.

Join us on 6th July 2021 to hear our first-class speakers present and debate the need for regulatory reform, their visions for a successful regulatory system, and how the WBF has been working towards process reform in UK biopesticide regulation.

Dr Minshad Ansari, Chairman of the WBF, commented “This is a very exciting time for the UK, politically, and I believe that we have a unique window of opportunity – post Brexit and post COVID – to engage with Government and really make the changes that we, as an industry, have been requesting for decades.”

Be part of the change you wish to see in the bioprotection sector. Visit https://biopesticidesummit.com/ for more information and to register your attendance.

 

 

 

It will focus on regulatory challenges and

Agrotech, Singapore, Start ups

It aims at identification of emerging technologies and start-ups of interest to their global integrated business enterprise

Trendlines Agrifood, an investment vehicle of The Trendlines Group, a leading Israel- and Singapore-based investment group focused on high-growth medical and agrifood technologies, announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) for the identification of emerging technologies and start-ups of interest to their global integrated business enterprise.

Organised into ten business groups, MC operations span virtually every industry, and it is actively exploring innovation coming from Israel, where the agrifood sector has seen tremendous development in the past decade.

Trendlines Agrifood holds a wealth of experience in scouting and evaluating agrifood technologies for investment and development. MC hopes to tap into this experience and together identify promising technologies that can be built and provide breakthrough innovation to global enterprises.

CEO Trendlines Agrifood Nitza Kardish PhD., remarked: “Collaborating with MC is synergistic. We gain invaluable market and industry insights from a global leader in their field, and MC leverages on our experience in technology evaluation and development.”

 

It aims at identification of emerging technologies

Agrotech, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

ITOTY Awards 2021, recognize and honor the Tractor and Agricultural Equipment Industry Innovation and Excellence 

 CEAT Specialty, presented the most prestigious awards of the Indian Tractor and Farm Implements industry- the 2nd Indian Tractor of the Year (ITOTY) Awards. Winners of these eminent awards, which signify the highest Product performance standards in the category, were presented the trophies in the presence of Industry veterans, visionaries, top executives and agri enthusiasts.

Reflecting its great design and popularity, Sonalika Tiger 55 was adjudged the “Indian Tractor of the Year 2021”, while Escorts Ltd “Farmtrac 60 PowerMaxx”  was awarded the “Best Tractor For Agriculture 2021”. In the Implements category, “Shaktiman Square Baler 165” won the “Machinery of the Year 2021” award.

ITOTY Awards 2021 is hosted by the Tractor Junction, India’s leading digital Marketplace for Tractors and Farm Equipment. Speaking on the occasion, Rajat Gupta, Founder of Tractor Junction, said, “We have received an overwhelming response from Tractor and Implements Manufacturers for ITOTY 2021. More than 18 manufacturers participated this year against the participation of 10 manufacturers in 2019. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic situation caused by Covid-19, we could not roll out the much-awaited 2nd edition in 2020 of ITOTY awards. However, with the new normal in effect, we have organized a virtual edition of ITOTY 2021. The event judged by leading industry experts and customers through an unbiased and transparent voting process and is based on factors such as fuel-efficiency, safety & performance, comfort, value for money, popularity amongst the farming community etc.

Commenting on the occasion, Vijay Gambhire, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, said, “We are happy to be associated with the ITOTY awards. ITOTY has become a forum to identify best products and is leading to increased mechanization in the Indian agriculture segment. With focus on design as well as performance, ITOTY recognizes the best creative minds in the Indian tractor industry. CEAT Specialty is happy to be associated with ITOTY and supports the effort in recognizing and promoting the development which will substantially contribute to the advancement of best practices in agriculture industry in India.”

ITOTY Awards 2021, recognize and honor the

Machinery – Post-harvesting

Sonalika Tractors has already administered over 5,400 vaccines & counting at April’21 at its Hoshiarpur facility.

As a responsible corporate entity, Sonalika Tractors has already taken the full responsibility to arrange and bear expenses related to COVID-19 vaccination of its entire workforce including Pan India employees, channel partners and their teams. It is of utmost priority at Sonalika Tractors to safeguard its family from the pandemic and support India fight back to challenge COVID-19 wave.

Sonalika Tractors has already administered over 5,400 vaccines & counting at April’21 at its Hoshiarpur facility. The vaccination drive will continue at the plant and also at Pan India level in May’21 until the 100% of Sonalika employees and channel partners as well as their teams will be fully vaccinated. Moreover, Sonalika’s teams remain fully committed to develop robust quality products for the farmers across the globe and support them with our superior quality service for maximum uptime of our advanced technology powered products. Overall, Sonalika has sold overall 9,130 tractors in April’21 and has registered a staggering 851% domestic growth, thereby beating industry growth of est. 436% by a significant margin.

Sharing his thoughts on the tough prevailing conditions, Mr. Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, said, “India is witnessing one of the worst times in its history and it is time that we all join hands together to support our country rise up again. Today, everyone’s health is of prime importance and vaccination would help to win the war against the current challenging situation, where sales stands today to be secondary.”

“All expenses related to this vaccination drive to cover 100% workforce will be taken care by Sonalika. Even during the pandemic times last year, Sonalika Tractors had pioneered various initiatives which powered the company to emerge as the fastest growing tractor brand in the industry in FY’21, surpassing annual industry growth.”

Sonalika Tractors has already administered over 5,400

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains

Around 28.80 Lakh Wheat farmers benefitted from the ongoing RMS procurement Operations 

 In the ongoing Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2021-22, Government of India is continuing to procure Rabi crops at MSP from farmers as per existing Price Support Scheme .About 28.80 Lakh Wheat farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing RMS procurement Operations.

About Rs17, 495 Crore has already been transferred directly into Punjab farmers’ account during ongoing RMS 2021-22. This is for the first time that the farmers of Punjab have started receiving payments directly into their bank accounts against sale of their Wheat crop.

Wheat procurement is going on at brisk pace in the procuring States/UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other States with purchase of over 292.52 LMT upto 02nd May 2021. This is an increase of approx. 70 per cent against the last year corresponding purchase of 171.53 LMT.

Out of the total purchase of 292.52 LMT wheat, major contribution has been made by Punjab- 114.76 LMT (39.23 per cent ), Haryana- 80.55 LMT (27.53 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh -73.76 LMT (25.21 per cent ) upto 02nd May 2021.

About Rs 17,495 crore in Punjab and around Rs 9268.24 crore in Haryana has been transferred directly into farmers’ account corresponding to procurement up to 30th April 2021.

This year, a new chapter has been added in the history of public procurement when Haryana and Punjab also switched from indirect payment of MSP to direct online transfer of benefits to farmers’ bank account by all the procuring agencies as per direction of GOI, which is being rejoiced by the farmers of Punjab/Haryana as for the first time they are receiving direct benefits against sale of their hard toiled crops without any delay and cuts under “One Nation, One MSP, One DBT”.

Around 28.80 Lakh Wheat farmers benefitted from

E-commerce, Finance, Machinery – Post-harvesting

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during April 2021 were at 27523 units, as against 4772 units for the same period last year  

 

 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), a part of the USD 19.4 billion Mahindra Group, recently announced its tractor sales numbers for April 2021. Domestic sales in April 2021 were at 26130 units, as against 4716 units during April 2020. Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during April 2021 were at 27523 units, as against 4772 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 1393 units. 

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We have sold 26130 tractors in the domestic market during April 2021 with a growth of 454 per cent over last year. High growth witnessed in April 2021 is due to low base due to nationwide lockdowns in April last year. There have been disruptions in supply chain due to localised lock downs and availability of oxygen along with dealerships in few states getting closed impacting demand momentum. All agri related fundamentals continue to remain strong, with bumper rabi crop harvest and forecast of a normal monsoon. We expect that tractor demand will bounce back as farmers start preparing their land for Kharif crops in the ensuing weeks. We continue to monitor evolving Covid situation across the states with key focus on safety of our people and partners. In the exports markets, we have sold 1393 tractors, a growth of 2388 per cent over last year and have a strong order book.”

 

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during