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Animal Health, Live Stock

The facility produces non-medicated feed and supports Cargill and Provimi branded animal nutrition premixes

During a virtual event for producers, customers, and media, Cargill, the global food, agricultural, financial and industrial products company, announced recently the opening of its new premix animal nutrition facility in Lewisburg, Ohio. The 220,000 square-foot, future-ready facility is deploying advanced technology not previously used in animal agriculture or pet food production that allows the use of fewer resources to produce feed while ensuring the highest quality and traceability of its products for Cargill customers.

The Lewisburg West facility produces non-medicated feed and supports Cargill and Provimi branded animal nutrition premixes and products, along with additives and specialty and custom blends.

The facility includes a 160-ft steel premix tower, along with a new benchmark of automation and controls that provide precise measurements and traceability that exceed industry standards and significantly reduce cross-contamination risks. 

 

The highly automated production process with continuous human monitoring ensures accuracy and reduces the risk of injuries to employees. Among several new features, the facility’s humidity and temperature controls, strict management of ingredients, and plant access will further protect food safety as well as customers’ brands.

Each of the plants’ four segregated production lines can run a mix from start to finish in approximately one hour, providing increased capacity across Cargill’s network of feed facilities. As a non-medicated facility, it allows for more support to livestock and poultry operations raising animals without the use of antibiotics and opens new opportunities for the company within the pet food market. It’s estimated that Lewisburg West will produce 154,000 tons of non-medicated animal nutrition products and premix across its production lines each year.

The facility produces non-medicated feed and supports

Europe, R&D, Seeds

The Center in Aussonne is the first in Europe and the third worldwide. Expected to be operational in the first half of 2022 

 

 Corteva Agriscience has begun building a new Center of Seed Applied Technologies (CSAT) in south west France, with the goal of helping Europe’s farmers get their crops off to the best start and achieve a successful harvest. 

The Center in Aussonne is the first in Europe and the third worldwide. Expected to be operational in the first half of 2022, it will focus on service development, with strong scientific investment that will be part of new seed treatment solutions to help farmers meet the challenges of a changing agricultural sector.

Corteva Agriscience also offers a suite of Seed Applied Technology (SAT) solutions, which involve treating the seed, including Lumiposa™ and Lumivia™ for insecticide seed treatment, Lumisena™ and Lumiflex™ for fungicide seed treatment control, and Lumidapt, a seed applied growth nutrition for all hybrid crops.

CSATs act as a laboratory, testing centre and seed treatment plant, with rigorous processes in place for the discovery, formulation and real-world testing of seed applied technologies. This process enables seed treatments to protect and perform to solve on-farm challenges, delivering value for growers.

  “Corteva Agriscience is committed to innovation. That’s why we are investing almost €5m in this project as part of efforts to strengthen our seed offering. We are a company focused on those who produce and those who consume, and this Center will help farmers boost productivity while meeting consumer demand for a more sustainable agriculture”, said Andre Negreiros, Seed Applied Technologies Leader, Europe for Corteva Agriscience.

 

The Center in Aussonne is the first

Agro chems – Chemicals, Europe, Live Stock, Trade

Technical expertise and broad product portfolio will strengthen LANXESS’ position in growth market of animal hygiene 

 Specialty Chemicals Company LANXESS intends to further expand its Consumer Protection business and has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire the Theseo group. The French group, headquartered in Laval, is a leading manufacturer of disinfection and hygiene solutions in Europe and Latin America. The products are used in particular in livestock farming to prevent and control diseases. Subject to completion of the transaction, LANXESS will significantly expand its range of products for the animal hygiene and will in future also be able to offer products for the animal nutrition industry.

Prior to the execution of the envisaged transaction, the usual French employee information and consultation process will be followed. Furthermore, the transaction is subject to antitrust clearance. Thereupon, the parties expect the envisaged transaction to be completed in mid-2021.

“We are focusing on profitable specialty chemicals and here consumer protection products play an important role. Once we complete the planned acquisition of Theseo, we will yet again expand our high-margin business in this area,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.

LANXESS plans to finance the envisaged acquisition with an enterprise value of approximately EUR 70 million out of cash. In 2020, Theseo is expected to generate sales of around EUR 33 million and an EBITDA in the mid-single-digit million euro range. Within three years following the completion of the planned transaction, LANXESS expects an additional annual EBITDA contribution in the same amount from synergy effects. The envisaged acquisition will already be earnings per share* accretive in the first fiscal year after its completion.

Theseo offers an extensive portfolio of disinfection and hygiene products for all areas of pig and poultry. Herein, LANXESS sees strong growth prospects due to rising biosecurity requirements. Theseo also has a well-positioned portfolio in water hygiene as well as animal nutrition. With the continuous drive towards antibiotic free meat, these products play an ever-growing role in livestock production.

 

 

 

 

Technical expertise and broad product portfolio will

AgroPolicy

FCI to set the highest standards for itself in serving the nation

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Railways, and Commerce & Industry inaugurated the newly constructed building of Divisional Office, Mysuru on the occasion of the 57th Foundation day of FCI on January 14, 2021.

The minister also complimented FCI for the all-time high procurement of Wheat and Paddy. Further, the minister said that the organization is not just a government establishment but a committed organization working in service of the nation and especially, the farmers.

Piyush Goyal, in his address, mentioned that FCI had procured 140 LMT Paddy and 390 LMT Wheat and about 305 LMT additional foodgrains were issued, during the pandemic, free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY). Most importantly, when PMGKAY was audited through a third party, the satisfaction level was found to be 94 per cent. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, during the lockdown, food and all essential products were made available to each individual, which in itself is a significant feat.

The minister also highlighted how a 50 per cent increase in the number of procurement centers has resulted in helping the farmers to efficiently and conveniently sell their produce.

The minister also highlighted the role of FCI in the procurement process and spoke about strengthening procurement through MSP to benefit the farmers. FCI is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the farmers, encouraging them to increase their production and at the same time, giving them the confidence of adequate procurement through MSP.

 

FCI to set the highest standards for

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Seeds

It includes six varieties of agricultural crops, four horticulture crops and one forestry crop. 

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has released 11 crop varieties which include six varieties of agricultural crops, four horticulture crops and one forestry crop. The release was based on the recommendation by the 51th State Variety Release Committee under the chairmanship of Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to the government Gagandeep Singh Bedi and TNAU Vice- Chancellor Dr N Kumar, a varsity press release said.

 There are three rice varieties for Tamil Nadu while small millet varieties Ragi ATL 1, Varagu ATL 1 for rainfed and irrigated conditions to enhance the nutritional security and to adopt eat right food. Blackgram Co 7 is resistant to serious devastating yellow mosaic viral disease and released for both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Among four horticultural crops, brinjal VRM(Br) 2, a spine-less variety, to replace spine variety VRM(Br)1 for northern districts of Tamil Nadu, gumless/latex free sweet jackfruit PLR3, Kodampuli/Malabar tamarind PPI(K) 1 for cooking and medicinal purpose and the nutria-health fruit wood apple PKM 1 are released for adoption.

 In forestry, MalaiVempu MTP3 is released for agro- forestry to increase the farmers’ income and the variety possesses industrial application of face veneer utility for plywood decoration. The government of Tamil Nadu and TNAU wish that the crop varieties can be cultivated by the farmers to promote their farm income and rural livelihood.

The university has released 854 crop varieties in the past 100 years and in addition 11 varieties released this year as Pongal gift. The varieties are suitable to different agro-climatic zones and meeting the demand of farmers. The farmers are requested to cultivate the varieties and take the benefit of new varieties, Kumar said in the release

It includes six varieties of agricultural crops,

Agro chems – Fertilizers

Innovative nutrient efficiency technology improves profitability while reducing environmental impact

California based Sound Agriculture’s flagship product, SOURCE, provides a new option for growers looking to support positive environmental practices and maintain or boost yield. SOURCE has been shown to provide the equivalent of 25-50 lbs of nitrogen per acre for corn growers, helping to optimize nitrogen application while improving return on investment (ROI).

Nitrogen is the most essential nutrient for plant growth, yet overuse of nitrogen fertilizers can have significant environmental consequences. Up to 30-50 per cent of applied nitrogen fertilizer is not used by the plant. Unused fertilizer can pollute waterways, degrade soil health, and contribute to climate change by releasing nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere, which has 300 times the heat-trapping effect of carbon dioxide. In addition, nitrogen fertilizer is the most expensive nutrient input for growers, costing $50-75 per acre for the average US corn farmer, up to 15 per cent of overall operating costs.

SOURCE is a microbiome activator that unlocks both nitrogen and phosphorus to increase nutrient use efficiency. SOURCE stimulates the soil microbes that fix nitrogen and solubilize phosphorus, making optimal use of existing nutrients and providing a new option to growers looking to maximize profitability while supporting environmental wellbeing.

Four years of field trials show that growers can improve ROI multiple ways using SOURCE:

  • Those who use nitrogen fertilizer efficiently can add SOURCE to increase corn yields an average of 7.5 bushels per acre with an 83%-win rate.
  • Those with less efficient nitrogen fertilizer practices can use SOURCE to provide the equivalent of 25-50 lbs of nitrogen per acre while maintaining yield, greatly reducing input costs.

Innovative nutrient efficiency technology improves profitability while

North America

everyvine relaunched under new ownership, with a new site and presence for 2021

At the 2021 Dollars and $ense Virtual Conference, one of the North Coast’s longest-running and most widely attended wine industry tradeshows for grape growers and vintners, everyvine relaunched under new ownership, with a new site and presence for 2021.

“everyvine is a classic website that deserves to continue to be enhanced and updated for past and future vintages,” said Keith McCall, CEO of everyvine. “Accessing one site that incorporates detailed GIS topography, climate and soil data with vineyard block maps helps wineries acquire the best grapes and to produce the best wines.”

Since 2012, US-based everyvine has offered enhanced mapping of wine regions, vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms throughout the world, powered by comprehensive tools that enable managers to quickly update information on their properties, wine grape varietals, with the goal of improving the production of great wines.

Today’s vineyards use everyvine to market and sell their wine grapes to wineries for wine production, and to advertise their wines to consumers.

everyvine relaunched under new ownership, with a

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, R&D

First sales for Axalion-based products expected by 2023 in Asia Pacific and by 2026 in the European Union

 BASF has started the global registration for a new insecticide active ingredient. The company submitted the regulatory dossiers for the Axalion™ insecticide in Australia and Korea. This step marks a key milestone in further expanding BASF’s global insecticide portfolio and the company’s position in providing sustainable innovations for agriculture. Further regulatory dossier submissions are planned for the European Union, Brazil and India in 2021 as well as other key markets in the coming years.

Axalion is the sole representative of a unique class of chemistry discovered by BASF. It quickly stops insect pests from feeding. This reduces nutrient loss for the plant and prevents the pests from transmitting diseases, resulting in healthier plants and optimal yields with higher quality. At the same time, extensive testing by BASF has demonstrated that proposed uses of Axalion are environmentally friendly with regard to soil and water organisms, beneficial insects including pollinators as well as birds. 

“Close exchange with our customers enabled the development of this new insecticide to address real farming challenges: the need for powerful solutions, environmentally friendly approaches and resistance management support,” said Neil Bentley, Vice President Global Strategic Marketing Insecticides at BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division.

Axalion will be registered for use in a broad range of crops in the fruits and vegetable markets, including grapes and potatoes. Additional row crop uses extend to soybeans and other legumes, cotton and cereals. The high-performing insecticide will also be available to flower and ornamental producers.

Pending regulatory approvals, BASF expects first market introductions of Axalion-based product formulations as early as 2023 in Australia and Korea, 2024 in India. The company anticipates market introductions in the European Union in 2026.

First sales for Axalion-based products expected by

Agrotech, Finance, Start ups, Supply Chain

 Company aims to extend post-harvest support to small and marginal farmers on storage, credit and market linkages at farm-gate. 

 Agritech start-up Ergos announced that it has received Rs 22.5 crore (USD 3 million) from the UK’’s CDC Group as the closure to its Series-A round, which constituted Rs 81 crore (USD 11 million). Earlier in March, the Ergos Series-A round of funds included Rs 35 crore (USD 4.9 million) investment from Aavishkaar Capital and Rs 23.5 crore (USD 3.1 million) from Chiratae Ventures, the company said in a statement.

“We are building Ergos primarily to extend post-harvest support to small and marginal farmers on storage, credit and market linkages at farm-gate. We are leveraging technology to empower farmers and enable them to be key decision-makers with respect to their crop produce,” Company said.

Ergos founder and CEO Kishor Jha said, “We are excited to have CDC on-board and along with the continued support from Chiratae Ventures and Aavishkaar Capital. We intend to rapidly scale our geographic footprint and remain steadfast in our desire to cater to millions of farmers directly at farm-gate over the next few years.”

CDC Group Head (South Asia Private Equity Funds) Craig Gifford also said, “Investing to support small-holder farmers and improve their livelihoods is a strong demonstration of how we use our capital at CDC”.

 Company aims to extend post-harvest support to

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Webinar

There is a need to develop varieties of isabgol sustainable in adverse weather condition with high yield productivity so that industry can get more processed products. 

APEDA in association with South Asia Biotechnology Centre and DBT-SABC Biotech Kisan Hub, Department of Biotechnology, ICAR-DMAPR, Department of Agriculture and RSAMB, Government of Rajasthan organized a “Webinar on Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Processing and Value Addition of Isabgol (Psyllium)” for strengthening the supply chain of exporters of Isabgol products from Rajasthan.

 Dr Angamuthu), Chairman, APEDA in his inaugural address stated that Isabgol(Psyllium) is a unique product having multiple health benefit. It is very much in demand in the developed countries like the USA, Europe, Australia and China. He emphasized on development of production and export of the Psyllium products.  Dr. Om Prakash, Commissioner of Agriculture and Horticulture, Govt of Rajasthan expressed that Isabgol is a sensitive crop and gets damaged in dew or rain during harvesting period. There is a need to develop varieties of Isabgol sustainable in adverse weather condition with high yield productivity so that Industry can get more processed products. 

The program was further addressed by Dr Satyajit Roy, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat, Dr CD Mayee, President South Asia Biotechnology Center and DBT-SABC Biotech Kisan Hub for Western Dry Region, Dr. R. Nagaraja Reddy, Scientist, ICAR-DMAPR, Bhagirath Choudhary, DBT-SABC Biotech Kisan Hub, South Asia Biotechnology Centre, Jodhpur & Board Member, APEDA,  Jaideep Srivastava, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Jaipur.

 

The major issues emerged during the Webinar are: 

  • Requirement of organizing capacity building programs for farmers and FPOs in Rajasthan for seed production and management of Isabgol, good agronomic practices to be followed by farmers.
  • Isabgol is a sensitive crop and gets damaged in dew or rain during harvesting period. There is a need to develop varieties of isabgol sustainable in adverse weather condition with high yield productivity so that Industry can get more processed products.
  • Quality seed production, variety development for better yield and technical knowhow for farmers for protection of crops from disease.
  • Need for variety development, seed treatment, and crop protection from weed, fungicide and pesticide through seed replacement.
  • Increasing production through intercropping, GAP requirement for judicial usage of pesticide to meet international standard.
  • Need for promotion of FPO based aggregation in line with target set by Govt. of India for setting up of 10,000 FPOs in India.
  • Need of FPOs in value addition of Isabgol, hand holding, connecting with market and technical collaboration.
  • Bringing youth in setting up of food processing units, organic production and export.
  • Strategy for increasing demand of Isabgol products and their value addition.

More than 70 participants from various Central / state govt departments, DBT-SABC, NABARD, SFAC, Isabgol processors association, industries and exporters took part in the webinar.

There is a need to develop varieties

Trade

The proposed bill will boost the illegal cigarette trade in India and will severely impact the demand for homegrown tobacco

Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), a non-profit organization representing the cause of millions of farmers and farmworkers of commercial crops across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, etc., has appealed to PM Narendra Modi to recall the COTPA Amendment Bill as it will be a death knell for Indian FCV tobacco farmers.

The proposed Amendment Bill, 2020 will provide huge boost to the ever-growing illicit cigarette business in India and will adversely impact the legal cigarette trade. As a result, there will be a drastic drop of demand for tobacco grown by Indian farmers and they will lose their only source of livelihood. FAIFA has submitted its appeal to various concerned Ministries such as the PMO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Labour etc.

In the last few years, the Government has imposed harsh tobacco regulations such as increasing the size of pictorial warnings, imposing punitive taxation on Cigarettes with the tax burden more than trebling since 2012- 13, and has even withdrawn export benefits. Presently, India has become the 4th largest and fastest-growing illicit cigarette market in the world with illicit cigarettes representing 1/4th of the cigarette market.

In the last one-and-a-half-decade illicit cigarette market in India has doubled from a level of 13.5 billion sticks in 2006 to 28 billion sticks in 2019. Illegal cigarettes do not use locally grown tobaccos and hence, an increase in illegal trade impacts the livelihood of tobacco farmers in the country as demand for domestic tobaccos reduces further.

 

 

The proposed bill will boost the illegal

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, AgroPolicy

The GST reduction will help bring three-fourth of the total farmers in India 

The Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI)  has demanded that the government in the forthcoming Budget should reduce GST to 5 per cent from the current 18 per cent on pesticides in line with other farm inputs like seeds and fertilisers.

That apart, the government should increase duty drawback (export benefits) of pesticides from the present 2 per cent to 13 per cent besides increasing import duty on technical and finished pesticides to 20-30 per cent to protect the domestic agro-chemicals industry, it said in a statement.

The PMFAI also urged the government to extend a financial support and other development assistance for developing technologies for intermediates and technical grade pesticides indigenously under ’Make in India’ programme.

These were four key demands the PMFAI — which represents over 200 small, medium, and large-scale Indian pesticide manufacturers, formulators, and traders — made in a representation submitted to the Fertiliser and Chemicals Ministry, it added.

’’The GST reduction will help bring three-fourth of the total farmers in India, who are outside the ambit now, protect their crops without causing any substantial loss to the central exchequer. This will help farmers harvest crops with minimal loss and secure better returns too,” PMFAI President Pradip Dave said.

Agriculture is the only sector which has shown resilience and grown 3.5-4 per cent in the last quarter. Considering the prevailing economic scenario, it calls for special focus and support for sustainable growth of Indian agriculture, he added.

 

 

The GST reduction will help bring three-fourth

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy

Sarangi briefed about the benefits of cage farming and other developmental schemes framed by the Government of India

Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India has launched a Project on “Cage Culture Demonstration of Indian Pompano (Trachinotus mookalee)” by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala at Bahabalpur, Odisha on Jan 10, 2021. The minister laid the Foundation Stone at Bahabalpur Fishing Harbour. The project was funded by the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad.

Lauding the efforts of the ICAR-CMFRI for conceiving the project, he stated that the Marine Cage Farm developed at Chandipur-Bahabalpur would become a model demonstration farm and help the farmers understand the benefits of cage fish farming.

Sarangi briefed about the benefits of cage farming and other developmental schemes framed by the Government of India under the PMMSY. He also visited the exhibition stall set-up by the ICAR-CMFRI and appreciated the Institute’s efforts in revolutionizing the marine capture fisheries and mariculture of the country.

Dr J Balaji, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India; Shri Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India and Dr C Suvarna, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad along with the other senior officials of Government of India, Government of Odisha and ICAR Institutes also participated in the event.

 

Sarangi briefed about the benefits of cage

Agro Universities, R&D

This is the 5th rust resistance gene reported from India

In a recent study done by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (ICAR-IIWBR) , Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla, H.P, an interesting resistance pattern of leaf rust resistance was observed while studying a local wheat collection for rust resistance.

The bread wheat, landrace Hango-2, collected in 2006 from the Himalayan area of Hango, District Kinnaur, in Himachal Pradesh, exhibited a low infection type (IT;) at the seedling stage to all Indian P. triticina pathotypes, except the pathotype 5R9-7 which produced IT 3+. Pathotype 5R9-7(16-1) does not infect bread wheat cultivars, however, is virulent on tetraploid wheat Khapli.

Genetic analysis based on Agra Local/Hango-2-derived F3 families indicated monogenic control of leaf rust resistance, and the underlying locus was temporarily named LrH2. Bulked segregant analysis using 303 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers located LrH2 in the short arm of chromosome 2D.

An additional set of 10 chromosome 2DS-specific markers showed polymorphism between the parents and these were mapped on the entire Agra Local/Hango-2 F3 population. LrH2 was flanked by markers cau96 (distally) and barc124 (proximally). The 90 K Infinium SNP array was used to identify SNP markers linked with LrH2.

This is the 5th rust resistance gene reported from India (others being Lr10, Lr48, Lr49, Lr57, and Lr58). Lr80, is being used to develop rust-resistant genetic stocks and wheat varieties. It will help in creating diversity and management of leaf rust in India.

 

This is the 5th rust resistance gene