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Animal Health, Dairy, Interaction, Poultry

Ahmedabad-based Meteoric Bio Pharma has a comprehensive range of animal healthcare products for dairy animals, poultry and aquaculture and has high ambitious growth in the next five years. Gaurav Kaushik, MD and CEO, Meteoric Bio Pharma talks about the new launches, latest innovations in the animal health space in interaction with Agro Spectrum India

Tell us about the company’s journey since inception.

The company was established with the vision to develop and offer novel biologicals since its inception. Since inception, we have studied production processes, ingredients (API, KSM, intermediaries) and excipients and worked on biological alternatives cost-effectively. Besides offerings, we worked in the direction of educating the industry about the uses, benefits of taking this biology into their production processes. We received an overwhelming response from the industrial, pharmaceutical & healthcare segments. So that’s our journey started with a clear vision as a key player in the biopharmaceutical sector.

What will be the company’s latest innovations in enzymes, enzymatic preparations, probiotics, nutraceuticals, and animal healthcare?

The company’s latest innovations include developing and offering vegan alternatives of some key large groups of animal-based enzymes offering more bioactive and biosimilars for the nutraceutical segment. Isolating and developing a new strain of probiotics and developing concept-based and clinically proven probiotic and enzymatic premixes.

In the animal health care sector, our innovations are again into biologicals by offering nutrition-based products. 

What are the emerging trends in the sectors?

We see biosimilars, novel vaccines, and day-to-day health supplements in easy consumable form as the immediate product trends for the next couple of years. The increasing exports attracting investment and cost competitiveness effectively support this trend. Target-oriented probiotics and enzymes for therapeutic and other chronic diseases and malfunctions. This trend is also witnessing various functional foods containing probiotics, enzymes, and nutraceuticals.  

Which is your main export destination?

The US, various parts of Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, and other 20-25 countries.

What challenges did you face during the pandemic?

The onset of COVID-19 was sudden, and the fallouts were tremendous. Individuals and enterprises alike had to be agile and respond by thinking beyond the conventional. At Meteoric, we ensured an uninterrupted supply of all kinds of essential ingredients required for COVID-19 medicines and formulations. The output and supply of essential ingredients were increased, and a very efficient supply chain was managed. We also developed and launched various immunomodulators, supplements and provided end-to-end solutions with extremely short turnaround timelines. 

What will be the group’s latest innovations in animal healthcare?

The company’s latest innovation in animal healthcare is a key focus on nutrition-based products for increasing and optimising output (by-products biologically).

We have developed the entire replacement of antibiotics and other synthetic chemicals and drugs with our enzymes, probiotics, and nutraceuticals expertise. Our innovation is also expanding to care and educate healthy livestock for rural and semi-urban locations. 

Area-specific minerals (organic) are another key offering in poultry and aquaculture also. We have also developed proven and tested probiotic plus prebiotic plus yeast derivatives, formulations for all needs and solutions for the poultry and aquaculture sector.

What are the emerging trends in the sectors?

Like pharmaceutical and other industries, this sector also is demanding and witnessing biologicals. The inclusion of biologicals (mostly enzymes and probiotics) replacing antibiotics, curing diseases through Nutra and botanicals are other emerging trends.

What will be the new launches in the pipeline pertaining to the dairy and poultry sector?

  • Met – ProUltima : A premix of essential probiotic and prebiotic for poultry.
  • Nutrapass : A key premix of bypass protein and essential oils with vitamin premix.
  • Golden Egg : Clinically proven standard botanical premix with key vitamin premix for poultry.
  • Biological to cure acidosis and many more.

How does Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals want to project itself five years down the line?

Five years down the line we will see our company as most prominent in offering a wide range of novel biologics in almost every sector right from pharmaceutical to every industry. We would be also working on offering potential bio-processes and working with biosimilars as a complete replacement of synthetic chemical processes. We see ourselves as a global leader working in the arena of novel biologics.

What has been your revenue for FY21-22?

In 2021, we registered almost 40 per cent of growth in revenue with substantial growth in probiotics and nutraceuticals.

Sanjiv Das

sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com

Ahmedabad-based Meteoric Bio Pharma has a comprehensive

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides

Developed by Japan’s Nisan Chemical Corporation, the compound exhibits excellent control of chewing and sucking pests such as larva, caterpillars, and thrips on farms

Godrej Agrovet has launched Gracia (Fluxametamide, an isoxazoline compound) in the Indian market. Gracia is patented chemistry discovered and developed by Japan’s Nisan Chemical Corporation and will be introduced in India through collaboration with Godrej Agrovet.

The solution exhibits excellent control of chewing and sucking pests such as larva, caterpillars, and thrips in farms producing a variety of pulses, hot pepper, cole crops, tomatoes, brinjal and okra. It allosterically inhibits GABA gated chloride channel in the insect’s nervous system.

Gracia aims to provide more extended duration and effectiveness in controlling pests and excellent rain fastness.

Developed by Japan’s Nisan Chemical Corporation, the

Agrotech, Bee keeping, Horticulture, Webinar

Deliberations were made on increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in association with the National Bee Board (NBB) recently organised a webinar on BEEKEEPING – HONEY: for increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income under the webinar series “Strategies for Doubling Farmers’ Income – Marching towards an Income Revolution of Farmers”.

Deliberations were made on increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income.

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GOI, appreciated PHDCCI for organising a webinar on one of the most priority subjects of the government, which is not only important for the growth of the horticulture sector in India.

He added, that the Government of India has initiated a lot of programmes that are innovative in nature and technology-driven, some of which are direct benefit transfer to farmers, input subsidies through various schemes and minimum support price to farmers, among others.

He shared that India’s horticulture production has surpassed that of the agriculture sector production in the last couple of years. But mentioned that post-harvest management, cold–chain storage facilities, warehousing facilities are challenging areas and the government is working towards strengthening these to ensure strong logistics for the agriculture and horticulture sector.

Mr Lekhi assured that the government is working closely with other associations to overcome the present challenges faced by the bee-keeping stakeholder, like that of lack of infrastructure, quality testing labs, well- kept testing labs and will come up with more scientifically and technology-driven testing.

Pradeep Multani, President, PHDCCI, while deliberating the presidential address mentioned that the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has brought a major change in the focus of the agricultural sector from the traditional production orientation to income orientation and created renewed interest among the agricultural research community, policymakers, state authorities, extension agencies, private players, industry professionals, the farming community, youths, students, and all major stakeholders in the country.

Ajay Beri, Chair – Food Processing Committee, PHDCCI, said that Indian agriculture needs a paradigm shift from the traditional agriculture system to diversified, secondary, speciality agriculture, well supported by smart policies, strengthened institutions with enabling environment for both public and private sector investment and performance. Only then the agriculture sector would be able to ensure household nutritional security and improve the livelihood of millions of smallholder farmers in the country.

The experts deliberated on the importance of beekeeping in improving productivity, R&D in the sector, issues and challenges in export and marketing and discussed the role of the Government of India in promoting beekeeping.

Deliberations were made on increasing crop productivity,

Agrotech, Seeds

The company has associated with 34 suppliers to offer its latest services and transform the face of agriculture across India

AgriBazaar targets to enrol over 10 lakh armers through its intelligent data engine – Agribhumi. Agribhumi is the intelligent data engine through which AgriBazaar will be focusing on digitising the entire farmer’s crop journey. Agribhumi will have the following technology to ensure that every requirement of the farmer and his crops are available on the app or mobile. 

  • Block chain
  • Embedded systems
  • Internet of Things
  • Audio/Video Chat bot

Currently, tele-calling and sales visits by the staff are being done to train the farmers and introduce them to use the app. The company has partnered with 34 suppliers, including seed manufacturers and other input makers, to deliver inputs at the farm gates. 

Hoping to get 10 lakh growers’ registrations over the next 12 months, AgriBazaar will be providing intelligent data through Agri Bhoomi on its main app, in addition to its web-based portal. As a result, growers and stakeholders can seamlessly access relevant inputs like farm yield estimates and thus enhance their output. 

Besides remote sensing, the company will leverage satellite imagery for crop identification and estimation to provide farmers with information on climate-based cultivation patterns. Soon, it will also use other technologies to help growers estimate per hectare yield perform quality testing, selling and buying. 

AgriBazaar has successfully mapped yield estimates in three to four districts in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on a pro bono basis. The company has now been given the responsibility of mapping a few more districts in these states. AgriBazaar has also developed a proprietary algorithm for crop classification in mustard and wheat. The company gathers data and profiles besides details on product diversification and accordingly provides advisory on what earnings to expect and how to expand. 

The company has associated with 34 suppliers

Environment, Nature, Sustainability

According to the researchers, governments need to quickly implement ‘regenerative agriculture’ policies to incentivise farmers to take up the challenge

Investing in the ground beneath our feet could have wide-ranging benefits for the environment, animal and human health – as well as moving closer to Net Zero, according to research led by the Institute for Global Food Safety (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast.

Soil acts as a carbon ‘sink’, locking in GHGs that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Upgrading UK soils, particularly farmland and degraded peatlands, could radically improve their ability to store carbon. Indeed, improved soil and land management could result in the potential to offset between 5-10 per cent of global GHG emissions, the researchers claim.

But improving soils would also create a host of other, ancillary benefits including ecosystem services, making it a ‘win-win’, according to the scientists.

Spinoff benefits could include improved biodiversity; flood and erosion mitigation; increased crop yields (important in terms of a growing global population); better animal health and welfare; a reduced need for artificial fertilisers and therefore less pollution; and enhanced nutritional value of food produced.

These reported benefits map on to many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including Climate Action; Life On Land; Zero Hunger; and Good Health and Wellbeing.

In a paper published in Food and Energy Security journal, a multi-disciplinary group of academic scientists along with prominent UK agriculture campaigner, Lord Curry of Kirkharle, suggest that investing in the quality of earth to enhance its ability to ‘lock in’ carbon should be a central pillar in the national and global push towards Net-Zero.

Governments, however, need to quickly implement ‘regenerative agriculture’ policies to incentivise farmers to take up the challenge, the researchers argue.

For example, a carbon-credit ‘marketplace’ whereby farmers could ‘trade’ credits would encourage the adoption of more soil-friendly practices. Ways of regenerating soil include less tillage farming and more legume-growing; growing multi-species swards; grazing-land management; and targeted addition of organic matter to improve soils. The researchers advocate these measures in partnership with other strategies on the farm to mitigate climate change, for example nutritional supplements to reduce methane emissions from ruminants.

Away from farms, the scientists argue strongly that peatlands should be restored to maximise natural capital. Peatlands are the ‘gold standard’ of carbon sequestration, locking in carbon 100 times faster than emitting it, but many peatlands have become degraded through drainage, for example – so much so that they have now become carbon emitters.

The research evolved from a workshop held in 2021, hosted by Food and Farming Futures, a charity chaired by Lord Curry. That event attracted farmers, scientists, the agrifood industry and policymakers to discuss the leading role that soil could play in the journey towards Net-Zero.

“Soil has been somewhat overlooked in the carbon debate, to date,” said Dr Ryan Maguire, Research Fellow at IGFS and lead author on the publication.

“There is an urgent need for stronger monitoring, reporting and verification processes in this area and for these to be streamlined by governments. The potential of soil to sequester carbon is huge and should be fully maximised.”

Co-author Professor Pete Smith from the University of Aberdeen and Science Director of the Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise said: “There are no magic bullets for tackling climate change, and we must de-carbonise all sectors of the economy as quickly as possible. But soil carbon sinks are an important, natural way of balancing the emissions that remain in 2050 – to help us achieve Net Zero by mid-century.”

Another co-author, Professor Steve McGrath, Head of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences at Rothamsted Research said: “To realise the potential of soils, farmers need to know what is possible with their soil and management combinations and how to manage and maintain any increase in carbon storage over time.”

Lord Curry of Kirkharle added, “The government’s ambition to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 will not succeed unless we optimise the carbon-sequestration potential of our soils. All governments across the UK should regard this as a priority.”

According to the researchers, governments need to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Seeds

Commercialises the smart seeder that can be operated with a 45 to 50 hp tractor

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between Punjab Agricultural University and five firms, namely, GSA Industries of Patiala; Kamboj Mechanical Works of Amritsar; National Agro Industries of Ludhiana; Dasmesh Mechanical Works of Sangrur and Guru Nanak Agri Works of Jalandhar for the commercialisation of PAU Smart Seeder.

Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr Ashok Kumar, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Director of Extension Education; Dr Gursahib Singh Manes, Additional Director of Research (Farm Mechanization and Bioenergy) and Dr Gurjeet Singh Mangat, Additional Director of Research (Crop Improvement) congratulated Dr Rajesh Goyal, Scientist and Dr Manpreet Singh, Extension Scientist, for the commercialisation of the technology.

The Head of Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr Mahesh Kumar Narang said that the technology helped in managing paddy straw management. The PAU Smart Seeder managed the paddy residues by incorporation and surface mulching and thus, smartly retained the benefits of both Happy Seeder and Super Seeder in a single machine, he said. The PAU Smart Seeder placed wheat seeds in a well-tilled narrow band of soil and covered the seed rows with soil, using furrow closing rollers, he added. 

“This machine can be operated with a 45 to 50 hp tractor. The field capacity and fuel consumption of the machine is 0.4 ha/h and 5.5 l/acre, respectively,” he mentioned.

In 2021, PAU in association with its industry partners took initiatives to stop paddy straw burning under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, he said. Also, large-scale demonstrations/popularisation of smart seeder were conducted on around 200 ha areas to educate the farmers, he added.

Dr Amarjit Kaur, Associate Director, Technology Marketing and IPR Cell, PAU, congratulated the concerned scientists, and the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering for the development of a new machine, which will help in the increasing area under mechanical paddy transplanting. “PAU has signed 282 MoAs till date with different companies/firms/individuals,” she informed.

Commercialises the smart seeder that can be

Agrotech

The technology is believed to boost crop yields and lower the input costs due to high fuel prices

A total fleet of 100 units of drone sprayers has been recently fulfilled by XAG, making it the single largest order of drones for agricultural use in the history of Ukraine. XAG has been working with local businesses to meet the rapidly increasing demand for drone spraying service. The technology is believed to boost crop yields and lower the input costs due to high fuel prices. An adequate provision of such autonomous equipment can help farmers better prepare the upcoming agricultural season.

DroneUA, XAG’s local partner and the main integrator of unmanned solutions in Ukraine, makes the fulfillment of this large-scale order successful. The first batch of 50 XAG Agricultural Drones has been handled over to Robotic Agrosystems, which is one of the largest service companies of its kind in Ukraine, with the remaining 50 to be delivered over the next few months.

In a few weeks, 59 mobile crews formed by precision farming specialists of Robotic Agrosystems, will start to learn operating the drones on farms and provide spraying services to farmers from all over Ukraine. It is estimated that XAG’s drone fleet of 100 units will cultivate more than 500 thousand hectares of crops in the 2022 farming season.

The introduction of XAG’s agricultural drone into Ukraine’s fertile lands has been in full swing since 2021. With the precision spraying technology, the XAG drones were used on farm for various applications, from weeding, fertilisation, pest and disease control to desiccation. The technology has also served a diversity of major crops, such as wheat, barley, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower, that constitute the cornerstone of the country’s agricultural export.

According to Igor Tchaikovsky, the owner of Robotic Agrosystems, last year their team cultivated 10,000 hectares of land even with a much smaller XAG drone fleet and received positive feedback from customers.

The technology is believed to boost crop

Uncategorized

The Dharti Mitr awards provides a platform for organic farmers across the country to share their innovation and cross populate their learning

Organic India Private Limited (Organic India), in association with Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival has felicitated the top 5 organic farmers with Dharti Mitr Awards while celebrating the grandeur of Indian Cinema and commemorating 75 years of Independence.

The Dharti Mitr awards provides a platform for organic farmers across the country to share their innovation and cross populate their learnings.

The winners of the Dharti Mitr awards 2021, were Nathani Upendrbhai Dayabhai from Gujrat who won the first prize of Rs 5 Lakhs, Malleshappa Gulappa Bisirotti from Karnataka who won the second prize of Rs 3 Lakhs the third prize of Rs 1 Lakhs each went to Devaraddi Agasanakoppa from Karnataka, Rawal Chand and Urmila Ur Rubi Pareek from Rajasthan.

Speaking at the event and expressing gratitude towards the relentless efforts made by the farmers, Subrata Dutta, Group Managing Director, Organic India said, “Our farmers play a very crucial role for the ecology, economy and the society, at large. We conceptualized the Dharti Mitr Awards to celebrate our relationship with individual farmers that is built on interconnectedness – an approach that seeks to boost their confidence and the core objective of the event is to highlight the farmer’s exceptional innovations in the field of organic farming.”

Organic India received over 100+ nominations from farmers across the country, post which a rigorous screening process involving reviewing each entry followed by a farm visit and personal interview were undertaken by the jury.

The Dharti Mitr awards provides a platform

Agro Universities, Horticulture

A total of 26 participants from five different states

The ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa recently organised the ICAR-Short Course on ‘Ecosystem Services Analysis in Diversified Coconut and Arecanut Gardens’.

Inaugurating the Course, Dr Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa stressed the need for analysing the ecosystem services in the coastal agro-ecosystems, especially, the coconut and arecanut gardens and improving productivity and sustainability.

A total of 26 participants from five different states representing ICAR institutes, state agricultural / horticultural universities, deemed to be universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras are participating in the training Programme.

A total of 26 participants from five

Interaction, Organic

Organic India has been at the forefront in providing genuine organic products for a health-conscious living. OrganicIndia organises Dharti Mitr awards every year to recognise the invaluable service that organic farmers provide to agriculture, ecology and to the society of India. Subrata Dutta, Group MD, Organic India in interaction with Agro Spectrum reveals more about the company’s ongoing and future growth strategy

What role does Organic India play to enhance the upliftment of farmers?

At the heart of Organic India is our commitment to being a living embodiment of love and consciousness in action. Our products are made in India and reach millions of consumers worldwide with a message of interconnectedness and oneness with nature. With a far-sighted vision, the brand started its march towards building the organic movement in India and globally, to provide solutions for health-conscious living. The thought was also to encourage organic farming in India, a concept still new at that time, to protect the soil and mother nature for the future. 

Farmers form an integral part of Organic India and we are focussed on supporting the livelihood and well-being of farmers and tribal wildcrafters across rural India. Many belong to marginalised groups, including women, widows, the elderly and the illiterate. We provide educational opportunities enabling self-sufficiency and developing skills to pass on to future generations. The relationship that the brand share with the farmers and communities is built on mutual respect, dignity and inter-connectedness. Our commitment goes beyond the farm to help enhance the lives of our farmers through fair-market wages, access to healthcare, empowerment and gender equality programmes, as well as infrastructure improvements. When farmers succeed, their villages also prosper, leading to a collective enhancement of the quality of life. All our farmers and tribal wildcrafters are educated in organic and regenerative agricultural practices.

How many farmers are engaged with your organisation?

Organic India works with over 3000 rural family farmers to cultivate over 10,000 acres of organic farmland in India.

What are the new sustainable roles would you like to implement five years down the line?

At Organic India, we intend to leave the planet in better condition than we found it by committing to practices that heal the Earth, enrich biodiversity and regenerate the soil. As a practice and to support natural, sustainable, organic, agriculture practices that serve and protect Mother Nature, we never used synthetic chemicals, GMOs or irradiation. Our regenerative farming practices incorporate organic and biodynamic standards and treat each farm as a unique organism.

Our vision is to be a Vehicle of Consciousness in the global market by creating a holistic, sustainable business modality, which inspires, promotes and supports True Wellness and respect for all Beings and Mother Nature.

You organise Dharti Mitr awards every year to recognise the invaluable service for organic farmers. How can this type of felicitation encourage farmers in the long run?

With the intent of encouraging and acknowledging the relentless contribution of such farmers throughout the country, we first instituted the Dharti Mitr Awards four years ago. These past two years have not been easy for farmers due to the Covid outbreak. Due to the restrictions and disruptions caused by the global pandemic, farming has been adversely affected in terms of the availability of inputs and a steep rise in the price of inputs such as seeds, bio-fertilisers, and compost. To salute the unflagging spirit of the Indian organic farmer, Dharti Mitr Awards return bigger and brighter this year in collaboration with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF).

The awards aim to recognise the outstanding contributions of five individual organic farmers every year by bestowing them with cash prizes and citations. The winners will be selected from over a hundred plus applicants from rural India. Dharti Mitr Awards are similar to ORGANIC INIDA’s appreciation and recognition of organic farmers who are the unsung heroes of the agricultural landscape and who continue to endeavour to increase productivity while ensuring a healthier world. By bringing them together on the same platform as those in the limelight, we acknowledge that farmers are rockstars too.

What role is technology playing in the growth of the organic food industry in India?

Some of the major challenges faced by the sector include transforming farming behaviour and culture within the country towards sustainable and organic farming practices, and higher storage and transportation costs. These factors make leveraging the latest technologies at all levels of organic food and beverage production essential for the industry to undergo a complete transformation and usher in the future of the organic industry that can meet future demands, widen product range, expand reach, ensure rapid seamless delivery, and reap dividends for the agriculture and food processing sector. 

The organic food and beverage industry has already begun adopting technologies at some levels, ranging from farming, cultivation, storage, to supply chain and logistics, to food processing and sales. The New-age technologies have begun addressing age-old challenges of unpredictable climate changes, monsoon and irrigation, crop pests, crop protection, soil enrichment without fertilisers, so on and so forth. Not only is technology addressing traditional challenges, it’s opening new frontiers and making future possibilities a reality. 

Ushering in the era of Agriculture 5.0, the sector has begun using IoT, data analytics and machine learning for precision agriculture. Modern agriculture has already employed geospatial and IoT sensor-driven technologies for mapping cultivation areas, which is especially effective for smallholding farmers. Advanced technologies are enabling production from side streams and waste along with main commodities and enhancing sustainable cultivation through drip irrigation processes. Organic produce needs careful storage and handling post cultivation, and technologies are helping us design and construct smart storage systems. The rise in advanced technologies is empowering the organic food industry to achieve greater possibilities, and more transformations are in the offing. The new-age food and beverage industries are blockchain in the entire value chain matrix and the increasing role of AI and IoT across domains. 

What does the future hold for the organic food industry in India?

India’s organic food and beverage industry has experienced consistent growth over the past couple of decades. Backed by the widening middle class, gradual improvement in purchasing power, elevation in the quality of life, and more disposable income, more Indians than ever before are consciously choosing organic food. According to research by Meticulous Research, the global organic food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 per cent from 2020 to 2027 to reach $272.18 billion by 2027. The Indian market is also consistently growing in this segment and organic India expects to grow faster than the market.

What are the current challenges facing the organic food industry & what more needs to be done?

The need for health-conscious living is highlighted due to the pandemic, leading to more involvement and engagement of Organic India consumer base with the category. Today the consumer understands and is looking to adopt the principle of prevention being better than cure. Understanding the current need of customers and the shift, the organic food industry has adapted a delivery mechanism to ensure immunity-building products are available to the consumers in need. 

India’s organic cultivation potential is underutilised. Over 30 per cent of total certified organic producers in the world are Indian, but the country accounts for only 3.3 per cent of the global organic cultivated area. 

Do you plan to launch new food products in 2022? 

Our major aim for 2022 is to become a one-stop ‘organic’ solution for the consumer looking for health and wellness products. To this extent and with a strong focus on consumer health and wellness, recently in October 2021, we announced our foray into the organic commodity segment. Over the years the brand has been offering products derived from organically grown flora, untouched by chemicals, with minimal processing.

The newly launched category and product portfolio comprise regular grocery items like organic Basmati rice, Dalia, pulses, spices, and also value-added products like red rice, black rice, flax seeds etc. Rich in nutrients and antioxidants, the range urges the customers to “taste the difference and make a difference to the environment, farmers and the organic ecosystem”. While we focus on improving the taste of our products by emphasising their purity, when buying ORGANIC INDIA products, the consumer also contributes to the lives of the farmers and the environment. 

What are the major plans in store for this year?

Convert every household into an epitome of Healthy Conscious Living where organic food and organic solutions become a way of living. Currently, we have a significant presence in India and the US with a factory in Lucknow and offices in Lucknow, Delhi, and Boulder (Colorado, US). Moving ahead, the focus will be on the rest of the world with an eye on further consolidation of the business in India and the US.

Sanjiv Das

sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com

Organic India has been at the forefront

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Start ups

Bridge 2.0 will provide for a strong collaborative platform between Indian and Israeli innovation ecosystems

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms or C-CAMP announced the second edition of its 2021-launched Indo-Israel Innovation Bridge with the Bengaluru Consulate General of Israel. The kick-off was done by Naor Gilon, His Excellency, Ambassador of Israel to India, and Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, C-CAMP CEO & Director in the presence of Jonathan Zadka, Consul General (CG) of Israel to South India, Bengaluru.

The Indo Israel Innovation Bridge Edition II aims to take the current, largely exploratory C-CAMP- CG, Israel partnership a notch higher by creating synergistic ecosystem-to-ecosystem tie-ups specifically in the agriculture sector, a strong suit of both C-CAMP and the Israeli Innovation Ecosystem.

Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon said, “In Israel, we see strong potential in the speed & dynamism of India’s growing innovation ecosystem. Also unique in Indo-Israel relations is the very tangible people-to-people connectivity. It is now up to us and efforts like Indo Israel Innovation Bridge to create avenues to enhance this natural partnership and steer it towards mutual benefit and growth.”

Bridge 2.0 will provide for a strong collaborative platform between Indian and Israeli innovation ecosystems. It also opens up provisions for the C-CAMP Govt of Karnataka’s Centre of Excellence for Agri Innovations launched Grand Challenges in Agriculture programme to accept Israel startups/innovators. The Grand Challenge is looking for innovations addressing pest-control in coffee cultivation, soil quality detection and conservation and increased shelf life of produce.

A prominent hurdle in such partnerships is often the internationally variable regulatory pathways and clearance systems. By this agreement, C-CAMP will bring the agency to this potential hurdle through its deep ecosystem networks. This apart networking opportunities, incubation access to C-CAMP’s high-end technology platforms, stakeholder connections and a rich, cross-disciplinary academic environment are on offer for technology validation and scale-up needs of interested Israeli parties.

Bridge 2.0 will provide for a strong

R&D

The study has demonstrated that the crop water use model MOPECO can be adapted to many different scenarios

In a collaborative work between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Soil and Water Management Research, the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, West Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife, researchers have adapted a crop model for use in the Texas High Plains to simulate crop water use and corn yield to help producers adjust center-pivot irrigation strategies and maximise profitability with limited water.

Crop producers in this semi-arid region of the Texas High Plains largely depend on groundwater irrigation. Each season, crop producers in the region evaluate how much land area could be irrigated under the pivot with limited water. Addressing this is not straightforward because producers must consider reducing irrigated areas, which influences grain yield, input costs, and the timing of the irrigation applications.

To help producers with these decisions, researchers completed a study that uses 25 years of climatic data to simulate corn production using a range of irrigation capacities, the maximum amount of water that can be delivered to an irrigated acre in a day, to evaluate water allocation strategies that could increase profitability and improve the efficient use of water. 

The model showed that for irrigation capacities representative of the region and a growing season with average rainfall, maximum profitability was achieved by irrigating about 75 per cent of entire pivot area with the remaining area in fallow or dryland cotton. Concentrating water generated greater net returns because of lower seed and fertiliser costs and greater corn yields that compensated for lack of production in fallow areas. In years with seasonal drought, the irrigated area would need to be further constrained to avoid crop failure and maximise profits.

“This study has demonstrated that the crop water use model MOPECO can be adapted to many different scenarios and is a useful tool for improving the environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural systems where water is limiting,” said Alfonso Domínguez researcher of the Centro Regional de Estudios del Agua (CREA) of UCLM.

The study has demonstrated that the crop

Agrotech, Environment, Nature, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy

The plan includes precision technology, agriculture, construction, electrification and alternative fuels, sustainability and three-year financial targets

CNH Industrial announced its updated 2024 strategic plan at its Capital Markets Day event in Miami, Florida. Scott W Wine, CNH Industrial Chief Executive Officer, introduced the new company and set forth its strategic priorities, including customer-inspired innovation; technology leadership; brand and dealer strength; operational excellence; and sustainability stewardship. 

Other senior members of the leadership team presented on topics including precision technology, agriculture, construction, electrification and alternative fuels, sustainability and three-year financial targets. 

The company confirms its intention to be net-debt free by 2023.

Additional financial plan highlights include: 

  • Gross Margin over 24 per cent by 2024, more than 300bps increase by the end of the plan period 
  • R&D of ~$2.6 billion, a step up to ~4.5 per cent of net sales focusing on new products and new precision technology 

The updated 2024 financial plan also commits to a consistent dividend policy and confirms the company’s ability to exercise appropriate share buybacks. 

CNH Industrial will invest in a path to excellence in customer and dealer satisfaction, fundamental to the company’s future success. The state-of-the-art and productivity-boosting agricultural product portfolio will undergo significant expansion, with 150 product launches expected over the plan period, supporting the differentiated positioning of the Case IH and New Holland Agriculture brands. 

The plan includes precision technology, agriculture, construction,

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Environment, Sustainability

The week-long celebrations will see competitions, lectures by eminent scientists, screening of films and plays, plantation drive, and visits to fields and laboratories

The National Science Week celebrations commenced at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The week will be marked as Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate under the directions of the Cultural Ministry of the Government of India. The Punjab State Council of Science and Technology is the Nodal Agency in Punjab, as per which Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana districts have been selected to celebrate the week.

In her inaugural address, the chief guest Dr (Mrs) Sandeep Bains, Dean, Postgraduate Studies and Dean, College of Community Science, said that the National Science Day is celebrated on February 28 every year, to encourage the youth to pursue science and be fascinated by the accomplishments of the Nobel Laureate (Physics) CV Raman and other scientists.

“Scientific and technical knowledge allows us to study and predict nature through scientific methods,” she added. “Given the major global challenges like climate change, water scarcity and biodiversity, it is important to understand the language of science to contribute to the field significantly,” she stressed.

Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, said that it was essential for the students of the university and schools to understand the role of stalwarts as well as science and communication in their daily life.

Dr Anil Sharma, Coordinator, said that the week-long celebrations will see competitions, lectures by eminent scientists, screening of films and plays, plantation drive, and visits to fields and laboratories at PAU.

On the occasion, cartoon and poster making competitions were organised in which students from educational institutions of Ludhiana participated. An exhibition, showcasing the achievements of the renowned scientists, has also been put up.

The week-long celebrations will see competitions, lectures