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Invites global researchers to submit novel crop protection compounds through the new programme 

Bayer announced the launch of Testing4Ag, a new programme that allows research scientists from around the world to submit novel chemistries to Bayer for testing in hopes of identifying potential new modes of action to control fungal diseases, insect pests, or weeds. Testing4Ag, a part of Bayer’s Open4Ag partnership development and innovation approach, seeks to develop the newest generation of crop protection products that safely and sustainably address the changing needs of producers.

“Bayer is the leader in agricultural R&D and we are committed to driving the future of agriculture by delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to the problems facing farmers both today and tomorrow,” said Bob Reiter, Head of Research and Development at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Testing4Ag will combine the transformative ideas of pioneering researchers with Bayer’s knowledge, experts, and resources without taking ownership of the intellectual property participants contribute.”

Testing4Ag is executed in partnership with Halo and will help scientists learn more about their compounds through testing and transparent results. The submitted compounds will be assessed via state-of-the-art biological testing against a wide variety of plant pathogens, weed species, insect and nematode pests, and/or vectors. Test results will be shared back directly with participants who can freely use them in continued research. In further commitment to open innovation, researchers and their institutions will retain all rights to the potential intellectual property generated through the Testing4Ag programme.

“Testing4Ag is an ambitious programme because developing crop protection products that help farmers feed the world in the face of climate change, while further reducing the environmental impact of agriculture is an ambitious goal,” said Rachel Rama, Head of Small Molecules at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Individual researchers, universities, even small startups can help add to our understanding of solutions to the most important problems facing agriculture right now. We welcome them to participate in Testing4Ag.”

Invites global researchers to submit novel crop

StoreHippo’s agritech solutions are powered by MACH architecture which gives the agro-based brands freedom to experiment and implement hybrid business models.

Agritech is a booming sector and India alone is home to 1000+ Agro-based startups. However, the sector has its own challenges. StoreHippo, the next-generation e-commerce platform is offering agritech brands build next-gen solutions for their unique business requirements and move ahead of their competition.

StoreHippo’s agritech solutions are powered by MACH (Micro services, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless) architecture which gives the agro-based brands complete freedom to experiment and implement hybrid business models.

Some of StoreHippo’s exclusive offerings that facilitate agritech brands are:

  • Hyperlocal marketplace model to enable businesses to run hyperlocal marketplace powered by dealers who can streamline local deliveries more efficiently.
  • A complete solution to build and manage multiple storefronts from a centralised admin.
  • Multilingual website and admin panel to facilitate farmers and other stakeholders in doing business in their local languages.
  • Mobile apps and mobile-first solutions to reach sellers, dealers and customers on their mobile apps.
  • Complete B2B and D2C e-Commerce solutions to enable wholesale and retail business channels from a single agritech portal.
  • Seamless integrations with chosen payment channels, delivery partners, marketing tools, ERP, CRM, accounting software etc.
  • Inbuilt delivery boy solution so farmers and dealers can manage their own fleet of delivery boys.

According to Rajiv Kumar Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, StoreHippo, “The next agricultural revolution is happening in the digital space. Agriculture which contributes 20 per cent to Indian GDP needs a major facelift to align with the changing market and customer demands. Innovative agritech solutions are bringing data-driven insights to farmers for better yield, crop protection, sustainability and growth. The agriculture sector also needs easy and quick access to the market to help agri-producers and sellers get better ROI for their hard work. To connect the various tools and technologies for better agro-production, distribution and sale the agriculture sector needs uniquely designed cutting edge agritech solutions. StoreHippo offers broad-spectrum agritech solutions that can modernise and streamline agriculture as a profitable business for all stakeholders. The agile and flexible StoreHippo platform can be easily modified at the front-end and the back-end to accommodate the unique requirements of agriculture.”

StoreHippo’s agritech solutions are powered by MACH

The USDA approval would pave the way for exports from traditional mango production belts such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Central Government has secured the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the export of Indian mangoes to the US in the new season. Consumers in the US will now have access to excellent quality mangoes from India.

The export of Indian mangoes has been restricted by the US since 2020 as USDA inspectors were unable to visit India for inspection of irradiation facility due to restrictions imposed on international travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, according to the 12th India – USA Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting held on November 23, 2021, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have signed a framework agreement for implementing the 2 Vs 2 Agri market access issues.

Under the agreement, India and the US would follow joint protocol on irradiation for India’s mango exports and pomegranate exports to the US and import of cherries and Alfalfa hay from the US. 

A revised work plan has been worked out, including phase-wise transfer of oversight of preclearance of Irradiation treatment to India as agreed upon between both countries.

As part of the mutual agreement, India will be able to export mangoes to the US in the mango season commencing with the Alphonso variety of mangoes from March onwards. Notably, there is a huge acceptance and consumer preference of Indian mangoes in the US as India had exported 800 Metric Tonnes (MTs) of mangoes to the US in 2017-18 and the export value of the fruit was $ 2.75 million.

Similarly, in 2018-19, 951 MT mangoes of $3.63 million were exported to the US and 1,095 MT of $4.35 million of mangoes were exported to the US in 2019-20. As per estimates received from the exporters, the export of mangoes in 2022, may surpass the figures of 2019-20.

The USDA approval would pave the way for exports from traditional mango production belts such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said that this would also provide an opportunity for the export of other delicious varieties of mangoes from North and East India such as Langra, Chausa, Dushehri, Fazli, etc from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. 

The pomegranate exports from April 2022. Exports of Alfalfa hay and cherries from the US will begin in April 2022.

The USDA approval would pave the way

Enlist herbicides received a seven-year registration through January 11, 2029.

Corteva Agriscience, a global pure-play agriculture company has announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the registration amendment process for Enlist One and Enlist Duo herbicides, giving farmers certainty in product availability as they complete their 2022 seed planting and crop protection plans. Enlist herbicides received a seven-year registration through January 11, 2029.

The Enlist weed control system includes Enlist herbicides, Enlist Ahead, Enlist E3 soybeans, Enlist cotton and Enlist corn. The comprehensive system offers multiple herbicide modes of action to control tough weeds and is centred around 2,4-D choline with Colex-D technology, which provides key benefits including near-zero volatility, reduced potential for off-target movement and physical drift, and improved handling characteristics. Further, Enlist cotton and Enlist E3 soybean crops are tolerant to three herbicide modes of action, 2,4-D, glufosinate and glyphosate, allowing for a robust integrated weed management program to tackle herbicide resistance and improve the sustainability of farmers’ weed control practices.

“Farmers have been drawn to the technology’s weed control results and flexible timing for use,” said Susanne Wasson, president, Crop Protection Business Platform for Corteva Agriscience.

The Enlist herbicide registration amendment process included EPA conducting updated data analyses and initiating appropriate agency consultations to help confirm Enlist herbicides continue to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As part of that process, EPA updated its ecological and ESA risk assessments, resulting in the addition of targeted risk mitigation measures to the Enlist herbicide labels.

Furthermore, Enlist Ahead was launched with the Enlist system to provide farmers with the confidence they need to trust the system and achieve on-target herbicide applications. The Enlist Ahead program helps customers with on-target applications and sound weed management practices for successful, sustainable use of the Enlist weed control system. 

Enlist herbicides received a seven-year registration through January

The projects will enable both companies to expand each other’s product offerings, markets and customer base

Bee Vectoring Technologies International and BioSafe Systems have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) where the companies have agreed to enter into detailed discussions on multiple business partnership projects that call upon each other’s expertise. BioSafe and BVT are both leaders in the agricultural biologicals industry with a similar customer base and offer services and products that are complementary to one another.

The projects will enable both companies to expand each other’s product offerings, markets and customer base. Opportunities include pairing BioSafe biologicals with BVT’s bee vectoring system and using BVT’s Clonostachys rosea CR-7 (CR-7) strain for non-bee-vectoring applications. Specific agreements in these areas will follow after evaluations and more detailed discussions on business terms.

BioSafe has a 23-year history as an innovator of environmentally sustainable products and has a team of 100 people across the US, Mexico, Canada, and South America. BioSafe serves a broad customer base in the agriculture, horticulture, post-harvest/food safety, aquatics, home and garden, turf, and commercial/industrial sanitation markets.

BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system proven to replace chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially managed bees while increasing crop yields. BVT has also been testing and is seeing positive results for the use of its proprietary CR-7 strain in foliar and soil applications.

The projects will enable both companies to

At FFA2022, attendees will be taken on a virtual journey to experience the impact of such digital technology and venture capital on farms, finances and family

ID Capital has announced the sixth edition of Future Food Asia – APAC’s premier AgriFoodTech competition, and its anchor partners at the Future Food Asia conference.

Future Food Asia 2022 (FFA2022) returns for its sixth edition to continue advancing these conversations on innovation and entrepreneurship in the AgriFoodTech sector in APAC. With the support of its partners over the past five years, FFA has empowered over 60 early-stage start-ups from APAC by providing them with a unique platform to present their cutting-edge innovations and has distributed over $ 1 million in awards. At FFA, attendees gain strategic insights through fireside chats, debates, keynote speeches and unparalleled networking opportunities to engage with industry experts, thought leaders, academia, investors and entrepreneurs.

At FFA2022, attendees will be taken on a virtual journey to experience the impact of such digital technology and venture capital on farms, finances and family.

ID Capital will also release a white paper on Waste-to-Value in APAC at the conference. This will include perspectives and insights from innovators and corporate leaders who are playing a critical role in accelerating waste-to-value technologies to extract maximum value out of different waste streams while reducing the unusable waste quantity to a bare minimum.

At its 2022 edition, FFA welcomes back Cargill as its Title Partner and also to join the Jury.

At FFA2022, attendees will be taken on

The service is offered at no extra charge with every roll of Rivulis drip line and tape

Rivulis, a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and deploying micro-irrigation products and solutions, has launched ReelView, giving growers using Rivulis products access to an advanced set of crop monitoring tools from their mobile phone.

The service is offered at no extra charge with every roll of Rivulis drip line and tape. ReelView uses satellite imagery and advanced algorithms to enable growers to detect irrigation, fertiliser, disease, and other issues, even before they can be seen with the naked eye by looking out for changes in vegetation and plant wetness. These are represented by easy-to-use colour-coded fields maps. ReelView is powered by Manna, Rivulis’ Irrigation Intelligence service.

By monitoring vegetation variations and abnormalities, growers can identify under irrigated areas in the field that warrant further investigation. By contrast, plant wetness variability shows different moisture levels in the plants themselves, not the soil. Irrigation problems often show up first by a lack of moisture in plants so that issues can be identified early. Plant wetness variability might also indicate the over-irrigation of crops.

ReelView lets growers analyse the development of their crops throughout the season and up to three years of historic field data. It also provides hyper-local weather data specific to their fields.

ReelView is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, and Russian, with more languages available soon.
By helping growers using our products better spot possible issues regarding irrigation and plant health, the free ReelView app is their crop’s eye in the sky.

The service is offered at no extra

Discussions were held on training of fish farmers on sustainable practices in Andhra Pradesh

Dr Poonam Malakondaiah, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation, AHDD & Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh recently visited the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata for an interface meeting on “Encouraging Fish Culture Technologies in Large Water Bodies with Special Emphasis on Enclosure Culture in Andhra Pradesh”. Dr Malakondaiah was accompanied by K Kanna Babu, Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

In her address, Dr Malakondaiah underlined the state activities and Ventures of the Fisheries Sector like Farmer Field Schools in collaboration with state universities and the establishment of a Fisheries University at West Godavari District. She also highlighted the two major areas of concern for the fisheries in Andhra Pradesh, viz., training of farmers on sustainable practices and focusing on the quality of produce rather than quantity. Dr Malakondaiah stressed on the long and sustainable partnership with the ICAR-CIFRI for the development of Inland Fisheries Sector in Andhra Pradesh.

Babu underlined the possibility of partnership with the ICAR-CIFRI in future for promoting the cage culture in the Reservoirs of Andhra Pradesh. He also expressed his concern regarding the low domestic consumption of fishes in Andhra Pradesh even though the State leads in aquaculture production.

Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Dr BK Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata briefed the dignitaries about the Institute’s activities and achievements. 

Discussions were held on training of fish

Summit Carbon Solutions is developing the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world

Summit Carbon Solutions has announced a new partnership with Northern Plains Nitrogen (NPN) in its carbon capture and storage project, which is focused on decarbonising the agriculture and biofuels industries.

NPN is developing a world-scale blue ammonia plant near Grand Forks, North Dakota, which will supply a range of low carbon nitrogen-based fertilizer products to farmers in under-served markets in the northern United States and Canada.  The project site has been acquired and necessary permits have been received to begin site work.

Summit Carbon Solutions is developing the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world, which will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 12 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.

“NPN and Summit Carbon Solutions share the same goal of lowering the carbon footprint of agriculture while supporting farmers,” said Jim Pirolli, Chief Commercial Officer of Summit Carbon Solutions. 

NPN will capture 500,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide emissions, which Summit Carbon Solutions will transport and store permanently in central North Dakota. 

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said, “As the first state in the nation to achieve primacy over carbon capture permitting, North Dakota is well-positioned to lead the nation in carbon capture, utilisation and storage. We’re grateful for this investment by Northern Plains Nitrogen and Summit Carbon Solutions as we seek to grow our agriculture, energy and bio-fuels industries with environmental stewardship and positive economic impact for generations to come.”

Summit Carbon Solutions is developing the largest

Lays foundation stone for Purabi dairy expansion project 

Govt of Assam recently signed an MoU with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for dairy development in the state. The Union Minister Rupala along with the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma also unveiled the foundation stone for Purabi dairy expansion project under Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project.

Rupala in his address appreciated the initiatives undertaken by the state government for the growth and development of the dairy sector in Assam. He asserted that the new technology in the field of animal husbandry must reach the farmers so that they can get benefits from it.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that under the MoU, a joint venture worth Rs 2,000 crore would be set up between the state government and NDDB in Assam.

Atul Bora, Minister for Agriculture, AHVD and Cooperation, Govt of Assam in his address said that this venture will bring a white revolution in the state and its aims to create milk processing capacities to handle and add value to over 10 lakh litres of milk every day.

Chairman of NDDB Meenesh Shah while addressing the dairy development programme said the MoU signing between NDDB and Govt of Assam will bring in a significant change in the dairy sector as well as rural Assam.

The Minister for Animal Husbandry &Veterinary, Mizoram, Dr K Beichhua, Chairman of NDDB, Meenesh Shah, Addl. Chief Secretary, Dept of Cooperation, Govt of Assam, Maninder Singh, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GoI, Atul Chaturvedi were also present in the event.

Lays foundation stone for Purabi dairy expansion

Punjab raises the bar by procuring 1,86,85,532 MT of paddy which in turn benefits 9,24,299 farmers with the MSP value of 36623.64 crore

Govt procures 53,286,457 MT of paddy till Jan 9, 2022

Punjab raises the bar by procuring 1,86,85,532 MT of paddy which in turn benefits 9,24,299 farmers with the MSP value of 36623.64 crore

The paddy procurement has begun in Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22 at MSP from farmers, as was decided in previous years. Near about 532.86 LMT of Paddy has been procured in KMS 2021-22 up to 09.01.2022 in the procuring States/UTs of Chandigarh, Gujarat, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, NEF (Tripura), Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Among states, Punjab raises the bar by procuring 1,86,85,532 MT of paddy which in turn benefits 9,24,299 farmers with the MSP value of 36623.64 crore. Other leading states after Punjab are Chhattisgarh procuring 67,65,986 MTs, Telangana 65,54,739 MTs, Haryana 55,30,596 MTs followed by Uttar Pradesh which has procured 46,50,290 MTs of paddy so far. 

The MSP serves as the floor prices and is therefore fixed by the government of India like a long-term guarantee for investment decisions of producers, with the assurance that prices of their commodities would not be allowed to fall below the level fixed by the government, even in the case of a bumper crop.

Punjab raises the bar by procuring 1,86,85,532

The MoU will further expand Jammu & Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-LuLu Group partnership.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai-based Lulu group to set up a food processing and logistics hub in Srinagar on January 6, 2022.

The MoU was signed in Dubai in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and LuLu Group Chairman MA Yusuff Ali.

This agreement was signed by J&K Principal Secretary (Industries & Commerce) Ranjan Prakash Thakur and LuLu Group Executive Director Ashraf Ali MA at Dubai.

Commenting on the occasion, Manoj Sinha said the MoU with the LuLu group will further expand Jammu & Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-LuLu Group partnership.

“Relations between India and the UAE are long-standing and deep-rooted. People-to-people contact and trade have seen momentum in the recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Governor said.

“The world-famous GI tagged saffron has been launched at LuLu Hypermarket, which I see as a major step towards boosting Jammu Kashmir and Dubai partnership. LuLu Group is already importing apples from Jammu Kashmir and with saffron, we are adding Kashmir’s finest spice to the basket. I am certain this new beginning will take our trade to unprecedented levels,” he added.

The MoU will further expand Jammu &

The agro industry has high expectations from the upcoming Budget scheduled on February 1, 2022

Ashish Khandelwal, MD, BL Agro while giving his opinion on the manufacturing and FMCG perspective says, “The manufacturing industry has always been a sensitive one, balancing the operating costs and the profitability. Any new strategic investment gets burdened in ensuring the ROI. It would be of immense benefit if the government incentivise and encourage investments in manufacturing and drive the local manufacturing sector in line with the Make-in-India push. Tax benefits for manufacturers on meeting set goals for productivity, green index, health and safety standards etc. would also help to increase technology adoption.”

Similarly, in line with the National Nutrition Mission, FMCG companies manufacturing nutrition-rich food products should also be extended incentives and priority benefits. Also, there should be a reduction in GST rate on items such as ghee, butter, dry fruits, to increase rural consumption as they form a major market, is what he has to say.

The agro industry has high expectations from

The new facility will help Shiok Meats scale-up production of cell-based crustacean meat products

Black & Veatch has recently collaborated with Shiok Meats for the conceptual design and layout of their first-of-a-kind advanced R&D facility for cultivated seafood, officially opened by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu in November 2021.

The new facility will help Shiok Meats, the world’s first cultivated crustacean company, scale-up production of cell-based crustacean meat products, targeting commercialisation by 2023.

“Building the Mini Plant is a big milestone for us. Our production facility, which is due in the next 18 months, will be an extension of this Mini Plant in terms of engineering design and foundation. This new facility allows us to scale the cultivated seafood production gradually and strategically to ensure a comprehensive manufacturing model and top-notch products,” said Dr Sandhya Sriram, Group CEO & Co-founder, Shiok Meats.

David Ziskind, Director of Engineering at Black & Veatch NextGen Ag, commented, “Innovation and sustainability are core to our engineering and construction solutions as we help companies bridge the gap between science, research and development, engineering, and commercialisation to bring new food products to market, at scale. We’re excited to support Shiok Meats in their scale-up efforts to create better and more sustainable food by leveraging biotechnology to enhance global food security.” 

The new facility will help Shiok Meats