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 By Gurmukh Roopra, Chief Executive Officer, Namdhari’s Group

Food safety is a combination of a wide range of academic fields ranging from chemistry, microbiology and engineering. These different schools of thought merge to make up the best practices in food safety & regulations that form the very basis of how food is grown, manufactured, processed and stored. It is a key indicator of the quality that is delivered and brings in a factor of accountability that consumes every aspect of the global food industry.

As the scale of deliverability of the global food supply chain increases so do the complexities. Added to that, is the underlying problem of lack of cold chains, testing infrastructure & technical know-how.

Every country has different regulatory authorities that define & govern food safety laws. While these bodies provide guidance, certification and auditing services for global food manufacturers, they are not responsible for the active enforcement of these laws. In order to sell their produce, organizations also have to adhere to the safety regulations & compliances enforced by the nation they are catering to.

Apart from these mandatory compliances that are governed by laws, there are certain best practices in food safety & quality assurance that should be undertaken at an organizational level too. It should encompass the development, organization & execution of a set of activities that are aimed at maintaining and improving the safety & quality of the products. Well-planned processes and thorough checks need to be established at essential touchpoints across the ecosystem, in order to provide safe products to consumers. The focus should be on creating a food safety culture by focusing on stakeholder awareness and engagement whilst complying with prescribed safety regulations to deliver maximum value to customers. From an economic point of view, the investment required to implement the highest standards of hygiene throughout the ‘seed to table’ supply chain would be far lower when compared to the losses incurred due to the lack of not having one.

Additionally, a strict traceability protocol, whereby products can be traced back to any stage, right up to the last grower must be set in place. This helps provide critical, reliable product information and guarantees product authenticity. Adhering to high standards of quality control by conducting analysis at every stage from raw material procurement to the finished product ensures the delivery of a superlative product. This can only be achieved if physical, chemical, and microbiological hazards are minimized and/or eliminated from the process.

Worldwide, most laws & best practices about food safety are based on two concepts: HACCP and GMP. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) lists down the steps that are necessary to ensure food quality & safety in an individual food production system. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) are global quality assurance guidelines for manufacturers to implement for producing high-quality, consistent products. These along with good hygiene practices should make up the cornerstones of any food safety policy. In addition to this, it is advisable to set up a food safety management team to conduct supplier audits along with effective pest control and environmental monitoring system to ensure complete protection. Quality checks before dispatch and testing of products in an accredited lab as per requirement by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on regular basis also help in maintaining consistency.

In India, regulatory bodies like FSSAI constantly introduce measures for food safety and quality. India’s food security is massive, given the huge population that the country has, and this would mean adopting sustainable and healthy farming practices to grow produce that is safe for consumption.

The ’farm to fork’ concept focuses on the fact that food safety should be conducted at every level -right from when the raw foods are being grown & produced up to the time, they reach the end consumer.

Technology plays a huge role in food safety, especially in the areas of research and development and seed management. For example, seeds that are high in genetic and physiological qualities result in higher yield and safer produce. The fast-growing middle class in India is constantly looking for food that is safe to consume and migrating more and more towards residue-free and organic produce. While residue-free farming basically means crops that are grown using organically produced fertilizers, with minimal synthetic content, organic produce is grown using biofertilizers obtained purely from plant and animal waste. Both farming methods contribute significantly to food safety and security. There are many tools also available in the market today to detect quality flaws, temperature fluctuations etc. that are being increasingly used to ramp up food safety practices.

In India, discrepancies exist in the adherence of best practices in food safety and compliance. However, these can be overcome by implementing best practices in manufacturing, production, implementing training programmes to raise awareness and investing in technology. We still have a long way to go, but food safety has become a focal point, especially after the pandemic.

As India’s only food integrated agri-business, Namdhari’s Group has implemented all of the above best practices and has made a substantial contribution to food safety in the country by ensuring that the end produce is not only nutritious but well within the maximum residue levels set by the FSSAI. It has invested resources in building a food safety culture by focusing on employee awareness & engagement to deliver maximum value to customers.

 By Gurmukh Roopra, Chief Executive Officer, Namdhari's

It is WDG based product which is world’s first patented insecticide with nutrition.

Sulphur Mills limited has recently launched 2 new products Imara and Judwaa G in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.  Imara (Technical: Fipronil 0.6 per cent with Sulphur 70 per cent and Zinc Oxide 13 per cent) is a WDG based product which is world’s first patented insecticide with nutrition. It is suggested to apply 4 Kg /Acre after 15 to 20 days of transplanting in paddy and in direct sown paddy after 25 to 30 days of sowing by uniformly mixing in soil or fertilizer. This application window is the most effective to provide a protective shield against stem borer attack and also provides nutrition at the same time.

Judwaa G (Technical: Chlorpyrifos 50 per cent + cypermethrin 5 per cent W/W WDG) is a dry cap technology based product having water dispersible granules (WDG) formulation with controlled release properties. It has quick knock down effect, longer residual control & no smell. It is suggested to apply it 270-300 gm/acre and with 200 litres of water for controlling Stem borer in Paddy. The inert / non active compounds has been replaced with nutrition which leads to protection of plants from harmful inserts. It also provides required nutrition to the plants not only that but it is also beneficial for soil health.

It is WDG based product which is

Corteva is working as a partner to help Egypt pursue a sustainable and resilient future in its agriculture sector

The US GreenTech Business Delegation has toured Corteva Agriscience’s Met Bera seed production facility and viewed the business’ latest agricultural advancements first-hand, including the company’s industry-leading silage and grain hybrid solutions.

The visit formed part of an official countrywide mission initiated by the US Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with AmCham Egypt, comprising representatives from the US Departments of State, Commerce and Energy, and US companies across finance, healthcare, construction, agriculture, digital and aviation, amongst others. This initiative further demonstrates the United States’ ongoing support of Egypt’s green growth and climate adaptation and resilience priorities, ahead of COP27, which is set to be held in in Sharm El-Sheikh during November this year.

“The agricultural sector is critical to Egypt, as it accounts for approximately 15 per cent of Egypt’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is responsible for 28 per cent of the country’s employment,” says Tarek El Azab, Middle East North Africa Business Unit Leader, Corteva Agriscience.

“In our visit to Corteva’s seed plant, we saw first-hand a leading American company that is making a major positive impact for both Egyptian family farmers and the country’s economy and food security,” said Steve Lutes, Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce. “By bringing its innovation and best practices to Egypt, Corteva is working as a partner to help Egypt pursue a sustainable and resilient future in its agriculture sector.”

Corteva is working as a partner to

The ADAMA Eagle Eye enables the collection of highly accurate data layers of crop fields to optimise the management of field trials and demo plots

ADAMA has recently introduced ADAMA Eagle Eye, a drone analytics farming platform, in partnership with Agremo, a leading aerial analytics provider.

The ADAMA Eagle Eye enables the collection of highly accurate data layers of crop fields to optimise the management of field trials and demo plots. It is a digital platform that uses AI to perform analytics from drone imagery, allowing ADAMA agronomists and experts to virtually visit the field, collect 3-D images, crop health data and document the progress of our field trials. This knowledge allows ADAMA’s product development and marketing teams to provide better accessibility to crop information for industry professionals and growers across the world.

ADAMA Eagle Eye analysis reports take the guesswork out of crop progress and significantly help the ADAMA team and growers to better understand what is going on in their fields. The software extracts critical information on plant populations, weeds, stress, pests, disease, drought, field arable area, and more, from a drone map to provide field and crop reports. The additional data layer helps ADAMA to make smarter decisions about pipeline projects, providing vital insights using visual data points. In addition, the report helps to provide more focused discussions with growers to deliver optimal solutions.

The ADAMA Eagle Eye enables the collection

The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1.51 lakh and citation, is in recognition of his significant contribution towards the research works related to fish genetics

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has won the prestigious VASVIK (Vividhlaxi Audyogik Samshodhan Vikas Kendra) Industrial Research Award for the year 2020 in the category of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs. 1.51 lakh and citation, is in recognition of his significant contribution towards the research works related to fish genetics which is relevant for conserving many commercially important and endangered species. The VASVIK research award is presented to scientists and researchers who have excelled in various fields including agricultural sciences.

His research works include the Genetic Stock Identification (GSI), species inventory, taxonomy, breeding and seed production of threatened and commercially important species for mariculture which has helped in improving scientific knowledge on Indian fishery and the conservative measures. The award committee observed that Dr Gopalakrishnan’s genetic studies conducted and the technologies developed have served to produce molecular markers for many endangered fishes which is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Broodstock development techniques and mariculture technologies formulated and standardised by him have helped in the economic upliftment of the society by providing alternate livelihoods. Apart from Agricultural Sciences and Technology, The VASVIK research award is given in eight categories every year.

The award carries a cash prize of

TierraSpec will revolutionise the measurement and validation of carbon sequestration in agricultural soils

The Bayer Trendlines Ag Innovation Fund, set up by Bayer CropScience LP (Bayer) and The Trendlines Group Limited, announced the establishment of TierraSpec Limited, a new company focused on real-time remote measurement and validation of carbon sequestration in agricultural soil to allow the issue of carbon credits and soil health monitoring.

TierraSpec is developing a platform for measuring and validating carbon sequestration in agricultural soils using remote sensing, employing unique testing methods and advanced machine learning modelling. The platform will be a cost-effective tool for the validation of carbon sequestration that will allow reporting to carbon registries for issuance and sale of carbon credits.

Trendlines Agrifood Fund CEO, Nitza Kardish, PhD commented, “We believe TierraSpec will revolutionise the measurement and validation of carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. Enabling farmers to accurately report on the carbon content in their fields will give them access to the carbon credit markets and encourage a widespread move to more sustainable agricultural practices.”   

“Scalable soil measurement, reporting, and verification will be crucial in the development of a model-based soil organic carbon estimation,” said Johan Botterman, PhD, from the Open Innovation and Strategic Partnerships team for Bayer CropScience.

TierraSpec will revolutionise the measurement and validation

Dr Ella underlined the role of start-ups in bringing a gradual transformation in the job sector with the younger generation moving towards being job providers instead of job seekers by assessing their growth in the start-up ecosystem

Dr Krishna Ella, Padma Bhushan Awardee for creating Covaxin, India’s first Indigenous COVID-19 Vaccine and Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International Limited recently visited the a-IDEA, Technology Business Incubator of ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad on June 3, 2022.

During his interaction with the start-Up – “Farm Sathi” (working on farm robotics for weed and pest control, presently housed at a-IDEA Incubation Centre), Dr Ella underlined the role of start-ups in bringing a gradual transformation in the job sector with the younger generation moving towards being job providers instead of job seekers by assessing their growth in the start-up ecosystem.

Dr G Venkateshwarlu, Joint Director, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad along with Dr S Senthil Vinayagam, CEO, a-IDEA warmly welcomed Dr Krishna Ella to a-IDEA. Team a-IDEA made a brief presentation on various activities under schemes viz, NIDHI PRAYAS, BIRAC-BIG, Bio-NEST and AGRIUDAAN supported by DST, DBT, NABARD of government of India.

The visit was aimed at having an understanding of the operations & programmes being undertaken at the a-IDEA and start-ups supported by the a-IDEA, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad.

Dr Ella underlined the role of start-ups

Dr Jitendra Singh urged Dhami to promote Agri-tech start-ups in the State to arrest the large-scale migration of youth

Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh recently had a meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, during which, among others issues, he impressed upon the CM to promote agri-tech start-ups, since Uttarakhand had a vast potential for it. He also updated Dhami about the Aroma Mission launched by CSIR in the Union Ministry of Science & Technology.

The two leaders also discussed implementation of various centrally funded schemes in the State & the current affairs related to the State.

Dr Jitendra Singh urged Dhami to promote agri-tech start-ups in the State to arrest the large-scale migration of youth and promised all help from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The Union Minister said that the geography and climatic conditions in Himalayan states like Uttarakhand favour the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and these can be developed into agri-tech and aromatic enterprises. Referring to the huge success of CSIR supported Aroma Mission in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said, the same can be replicated in a big way in Devbhoomi.

Dr Jitendra Singh urged Dhami to promote

ICAR-DOGR, Maharashtra has signed the Technology License Agreement of “Controlled Onion Storage Structure Technology” with Kala Biotech Private Limited through AgrInnovate India Limited

The ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune, Maharashtra has signed the Technology License Agreement of “Controlled Onion Storage Structure Technology” with Kala Biotech Private Limited through AgrInnovate India Limited, New Delhi on June 2, 2022.

The Tripartite Technology License Agreement was signed by ICAR-DOGR, Pune, with M/s. Kala Biotech Private Limited and Agrinnovate India, New Delhi.

Dr Major Singh, Director, ICAR-DOGR, Pune and Manoj Phutane, Managing Director, M/s. Kala Biotech Private Limited signed the Agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Dr Singh stated that the innovative storage technology will prove as an important intervention for the Onion price stabilisation. He underlined the development of the technology in the Public Private Partnership Mode between the ICAR-DOGR, Pune and Kala Biotech Private Limited.

Dr Singh accentuated that the traditional Onion Storage Technologies are naturally ventilated, small scale and unable to control the losses during the adverse climatic conditions. The modern Controlled Onion Storage Structure will be worthy to store the Onion in bulk quantities and with minimum losses for the storage period of 4 to 6 Months.

ICAR-DOGR, Maharashtra has signed the Technology License Agreement of “Controlled

It includes company’s progress on key global commitments including net-zero emissions and sustainable innovation

FMC Corporation published its 2021 sustainability report, for generations to come. It presents the company’s progress on key global commitments including net-zero emissions, sustainable innovation, workforce diversity and safety.

“This year’s report demonstrates how we are committing to greater change across our global company – from net-zero greenhouse gas emissions to deeper engagement with farmers around the world,” said Mark Douglas, FMC president and chief executive officer. “We are proud of the work our employees have done over the past year to advance sustainability objectives while delivering critically-needed crop protection products to support sustainable agriculture, globally.”

Anchored in the three pillars of FMC’s global sustainability platform, the 2021 report highlights the company’s efforts to protect, innovate and engage to leave the world a better place for the next generation.

“With increasing concerns over global food security, FMC’s role in helping farmers produce food, feed and fibre for a growing world population is more vital than ever,” said Karen Totland, vice president and chief sustainability officer. “In 2021, we continued to expand our leading portfolio of innovative solutions that help farmers grow more today while protecting the environment for tomorrow. It’s a commitment we are proud to make.”

It includes company's progress on key global

Sstudents participated in business plan and technology innovation contests

The Future Agriculture Leaders of India (FALI) Program recently concluded its 8th Convention at Jain Hills in Jalgaon. In its eighth year, FALI has established itself as a unique, high impact programme that makes agriculture attractive for the next generation by providing interactive learning, field visits, business plan contests, and exposure to cutting-edge agriculture and agribusiness. In the last academic year, FALI provided its programme to over 11,000 (eighth and ninth standard) students across 135 government-aided rural schools in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The number of FALI alums today totals 25,000, most pursuing higher education in science and agriculture and positioned to be future leaders of Indian agriculture.

In its first eight years, FALI has received strong support from several leading agribusinesses in India: Godrej Agrovet, Jain Irrigation, UPL, Bayer and StarAgri. At the FALI Convention, these companies participated along with leaders of over ten other agribusinesses and banks interested in supporting FALI 9 and beyond. These companies concur that the results of FALI have shifted the attitudes of students and their parents, who before saw subsistence farming as an unattractive career for their children. FALI students have taken home modern agriculture practices and with FALI, parents see modern, sustainable agriculture and agro-enterprise as a promising path for their children.

Over the next ten years, FALI is expected to increase the number of students and schools by 25 per cent a year in Maharashtra and Gujarat, adding Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. At this rate, FALI would have backed the creation of over 2,50,000 future leaders of Indian agriculture in the next few years. The Board in its recent AGM also agreed on programmes for FALI alums, internships, scholarships and seed funding for FALI alumni ventures.

Commenting on the Board’s decision to expand the initiative’s reach, Nadir B Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Agrovet, and Chair of the Association for FALI, said, “Despite registering impressive growth by the sector, agriculture in India is losing its sheen with the next generation. We need to overcome economic, social, and psychological barriers jointly. FALI’s efforts have steered over 11,000 students towards modern and sustainable agriculture in the last eight years. Today, as the Chair of the Association for FALI, I am delighted to announce our plans to expand the footprint of this innovative programme to three more states of India. It aligns with our commitment to promote sustainable agriculture and agro-entrepreneurship among the next generation.”

At the FALI 8 Convention over 800 of the top FALI students participated in business plan and technology innovation contests which were judged by senior managers of companies which do or plan to support FALI.

Sstudents participated in business plan and technology

The demand and importance for precision agriculture is growing significantly in EU countries

ABACO Group, Europe’s leading player in software solutions for land resource management and control with a primary focus on precision agriculture and environmental sustainability, partnered with MarketsandMarkets, a revenue impact and advisory firm, to better understand and expand its geographic reach across Europe and Latin America. The demand and importance for precision agriculture is growing significantly in EU countries. MarketsandMarkets leveraged its Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, to help ABACO assess the adoption rate and market potential for their agricultural technologies in the target countries.

Key findings –

  • Europe holds 27 per cent of the global precision agriculture market i.e., $2.1 billion currently and is predicted to be valued at $4.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14 per cent.
  • The crop monitoring market in Europe is expected to hold 29 per cent of the total market share by 2026, reaching a value of $1.5 billion and estimated to grow at 16.4 per cent CAGR over the next five years.
  • The GIS market in Europe is currently valued at $2.6 billion and is projected to reach $4.7 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 12.6 per cent by 2026. MarketsandMarkets expert analysts helped ABACO with the competitive benchmarking

Antonio Samaritani, CEO, ABACO Group said, “It is very important for us to have a constantly updated view of what is happening globally in the industry. The technological landscape is evolving very quickly, and it is vital that we understand these changes before they take place so that we can accompany our customers on this evolutionary path and bring our expertise outside of Europe. The growth in the market for precision agriculture has opened new vistas for ABACO, because of which we could partner with MarketsandMarkets to fund a worldwide market study on adoption rate and market potential.”

The demand and importance for precision agriculture

Company receives award in Best Biostimulant Product category for its Accudo® biostimulant.

FMC Corporation , an agricultural sciences company, was recognized with the top honour in the Best Biostimulant Product category at the 2022 World BioProtection Awards for its Accudo® biostimulant. Awards across nine categories recognized outstanding accomplishments in the field of biopesticides and their positive impact on crop protection at the World BioProtection Summit in Birmingham, UK.

Accudo® is a microbial biostimulant and strong root colonizer that enables growers to maximize crop quality and yield. The use of this unique and versatile biostimulant has demonstrated more than 15 percent yield increase, improved crop appearance and vigor, strong early establishment and enhanced crop development under select stress conditions.

“We are pleased that Accudo® biostimulant has been recognized with this prestigious award,” said Dr. Bénédicte Flambard, global director of FMC Plant Health. “Biostimulants are important tools for growers and are foundational components in FMC’s biologicals portfolio. Leveraging FMC’s expertise and core capabilities, we are discovering and developing biologicals that can help crops overcome difficult growing conditions, fight pests and disease, and assist in regulating a plant’s uptake of nutrients and water. FMC is helping growers around the globe witness the incredible benefits of biologicals while demonstrating how biologicals work hand-in-hand with synthetics in an integrated approach.”

Company receives award in Best Biostimulant Product

In his new role, Thota will relocate to the company’s Asia Pacific region headquarters in Singapore

FMC Corporation has announced that Bethwyn Todd, FMC vice president and president of FMC Asia Pacific, has decided to leave the company for health reasons.  Pramod Thota, president of FMC U.S.A., will succeed Todd as president of FMC’s Asia Pacific region.  Consistent with his new responsibilities, Thota was elected an FMC vice president, effective July 1, by the company’s Board of Directors.

“I know this was a very difficult decision for Bethwyn,” said Mark Douglas, FMC president and CEO.  “She has been an exceptional leader throughout her 12-year tenure at FMC.  As president of one of FMC’s largest and complex regions, Bethwyn tripled revenue and significantly increased market share and profitability in Asia Pacific.  However, her success extends well beyond the P&L statement.  She has been an inspiring role model for all employees at FMC, and especially for women, demonstrating that professional success and personal achievement come not from luck, but rather from hard work and a passion to reach one’s full potential.  Although we are disappointed, we respect Bethwyn’s decision and wish her the best in her new endeavors.”

In his new role, Thota will report to Douglas and will relocate to the company’s Asia Pacific region headquarters in Singapore.  He joined FMC in 2012 as director of Strategy and Development, and in 2014 was named business director of FMC’s non-crop business, Global Specialty Solutions.  Thota became president of FMC India in 2017, and early last year was named president of FMC U.S.A.

“Pramod is a strong leader with exceptional commercial insights,” said Douglas.  “Having led our India business for four years, as well as serving on our Asia Pacific Operating Committee, he brings experience and deep knowledge of our business in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world.  I know he will build on the many advances that Bethwyn led over the last seven years.”

In his new role, Thota will relocate