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R&D, Sustainability

APH continues to work alongside its partners to enhance modern agriculture production and ensure a sustainable future for food production

Acadian Plant Health (APH) recently announced the first results of its California almond water use study, which offers promising news for tree nut growers and the almond industry in the drought-affected growing region.

In 2021, the University of California study found that applications of Acadian Organic were beneficial for reducing plant stress under limited water conditions and that when used properly, seaweed-based biostimulants have the capability to help combat drought-induced changes in plants. Both findings represent a significant boost for growers looking for sustainable agriculture solutions in the face of drought challenges.

“Acadian Plant Health is focused on delivering solutions that perform in the field and offer increased survivability and productivity for growers in challenging environments,” said Dr Sarah Maude, Vice-President, Technology at Acadian Plant Health. “These trial results, which are fantastic news for growers, show that biostimulant treatments are a potential new way to aid growers in water management by increasing the plant system’s resiliency and reducing crop productivity losses due to stress – particularly where sustainable solutions to help crops thrive with limited water are key.”

Extension specialist Dr Giulia Marino, along with her team at the 350-acre Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center, the University of California’s largest off-campus agricultural research facility, applied four treatments to selected almond trees.

Results from the study independently validate APH’s research, demonstrating they are ready with a solution for the region’s growers. APH continues to work alongside its partners to enhance modern agriculture production and ensure a sustainable future for food production.

APH continues to work alongside its partners

Company News

The AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new standards in digital product visualisation while reducing complexity, increasing farm productivity, and generating sustainability impacts

AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, infrastructure and precision ag technology, has recently received the Red Dot: Best of the Best award in the “Interaction and UX” category with its digital design concept, the AGCO 3D Product Advisor.

“This award is a tremendous honour that recognises one of the innovative, industry-leading solutions that AGCO offers to the world’s farmers,” said Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO of AGCO Corporation. “Creating digital solutions that maximise value while improving long-term sustainability is core to our farmer-first strategy.”

Developed in collaboration with farmers around the world, the AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new standards in digital product visualisation while reducing complexity, increasing farm productivity, and generating sustainability impacts. Unity Technologies and Infosys Consulting were key partners in developing this solution.

The AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new

Agrotech

XAG’s drone technology steps into Ecuador’s cacao gardens to spray timely after rains, protecting cacao fruit from yield loss with trustworthy effect

To facilitate sustainable, local cacao production, XAG agricultural drone is adopted by cacao growers in Ecuador and provides relief to labour shortage during the busy season.

XAG’s drone technology steps into Ecuador’s cacao gardens to spray timely after rains, protecting cacao fruit from yield loss with trustworthy effect. Ecuador is the top spot of high-quality cacao beans, the major ingredient of single-origin chocolates.

XAG’s local partner, Megadrone, dispatched an agricultural service team to manage a 180-hectare cacao farm in Guayaquil, the second largest city of Ecuador. Drone was used as an alternative spraying tool to cope with the increasing labour costs.

During the operation, the XAG P Series Agricultural Drone was equipped with a full tank of foliar fertilisers and fungicides. It took off from the slope and flew over clusters of bushes to precisely spray on the cacao trees.

“What’s more, XAG’s agricultural drone can be easily operated by most people. Before launching the drone, the pilot just plans the flight path and sets up parameters on mobile app. This is convenient to learn even for our elderly workers,” said by the farm owner.

XAG's drone technology steps into Ecuador's cacao gardens to

Finance, Schemes - Banks, Start ups

The partnership to enable the companies to build smart insurance solutions for farmers to ensure financial safety and resilience and expand rural gig-economy

Bengaluru based nurture.farm, India’s leading AgTech startup announced its partnership with SBI General Insurance and Future Generali India Insurance Company to further expand its insurance solutions for its 1.9 million farmers who use its nurture.farm app.

 The company had recently received the corporate agency licence from India’s Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). This licence enables nurture.farm to help farmers access innovative insurance solutions at cost-effective price points.

With these partnerships, nurture.farm aims to offer its insurance solutions to 2 million farmers in 2022-23, and will continuously innovate to offer risk mitigation solutions to farmers. nurture.farm intends to offer remote sensing based farm level insurance to farmers, which is one of the missing links in increasing farmer resilience in India.

Dhruv Sawhney, Business Head & COO of nurture.farm said, “Insurance penetration in India is very low, especially in the rural hinterland. We want to develop smart insurance solutions for farmers to increase their financial resilience. We are elated to have partnered with trusted brands like SBI General Insurance and Future Generali India Insurance Company. This partnership is a significant step forward in our path which will help us achieve our aim of becoming a one-stop destination for improving outcomes and resilience for our 1.9 million and growing community of farmers.”

Commenting on the partnership, Priya Kumar, Head – Emerging Business Lines, Rural & Agri, SBI General Insurance said, “This association with nurture.farm will further strengthen our commitment to secure farmers across the length and breadth of the country. Our partnership will also provide a boost to increase insurance awareness and bring more farmers into the insurance fold, thereby protecting them from financial strain arising due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Earlier this month, nurture.farm forged another significant partnership with Future Generali India Insurance Company. Speaking about the partnership, Samdarshi Vikram Singh, Vice President – Crop Insurance & Rural Underwriting, Future Generali India Insurance Company said, “This endeavour will help to improve the insurance penetration in the country, especially at the rural levels, where its reach is still at a nascent stage.”

The partnership to enable the companies to

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, R&D

IRRI-ISARC proposes to extend its research and development with the aim to accelerate the equitable development of sustainable and inclusive rice-based systems across India

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare (DA&FW) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on commencement of Phase -2 activities of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) to scale up the existing partnership for food and nutrition security in the South Asian region. The Agreement was signed by Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, DA&FW and Dr Jean Balié, Director General, IRRI in the presence of the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar.

In the second present phase of the agreement, ISARC proposes to extend its research and development with the aim to accelerate the equitable development of sustainable and inclusive rice-based systems across India and South Asia to meet the producers’ and consumers’ demand. ISARC also plans to facilitate further improvement of system productivity and farmers’ income through digital agriculture, agro-advisory services, knowledge sharing and capacity development that will promote sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture through business models that attract the youth back into agri-entrepreneurship.

The ISARC was established following the Union Cabinet approval five years ago. ISARC also set up a Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) that includes a modern and sophisticated laboratory with capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw.

In his brief remarks, Ahuja said the Agreement will pave the way for undertaking further work towards the improvement of the welfare of farmers and ensuring food and nutrition security in India and the rest of South Asia. IRRI, especially ISARC, has long been an ally of the Indian government in addressing the most pressing issues concerning the agrifood sector, he said.

 Dr. Balié said the ISARC is the first and biggest research Centre of the IRRI across the world outside Philippines. He said the continuation of the Agreement will help the capacity of rice-growing countries in South Asia, including India, and Africa in crop production, seed quality, and to enhance farmers’ income. It will also mitigate environment and climate change challenges in rice cultivation, help fight global hunger and eradicate poverty, he added.

Activities toward meeting the objectives of the 2nd Phase will be carried out through a trans disciplinary approach and leveraging cutting-edge technologies in three thematic areas over 5 years viz., (1) Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA); (2) Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture (CESA) and (3) Center for Education in Innovation and Research for Development (CEIRD).

IRRI-ISARC proposes to extend its research and

Agrotech, Company News

Marrone Bio will continue to operate its existing lines of business and products under the name ProFarm as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bioceres.

Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp., a fully integrated provider of crop productivity solutions designed to enable the transition of agriculture towards carbon neutrality, announced today the successful completion of its previously announced integration of Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.

“MBI brings 15 years of experience in the development of biological solutions, and we are excited to add MBI´s unique product lineup and pipeline to Bioceres, a perfect fit to our own portfolio.”

The merger was approved by MBI stockholders at a Special Meeting held on July 8, 2022. The holders of 127,130,867 shares were present at the 2022 Special Meeting either virtually or by proxy, constituting a quorum of 69.7 per cent. The adoption of the Merger transaction, each share of MBI common stock was exchanged at closing for ordinary shares of Bioceres at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.088, representing a value of approximately $207 million, based on the Bioceres and MBI share prices at market close on July 11, 2022, and the number of current outstanding MBI shares. Newly issued Bioceres shares will commence trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BIOX”.

MBI will continue to operate its existing lines of business and products under the name ProFarm as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bioceres. North Carolina Headquarters will be discontinued, and corporate and business support functions will be assumed by Bioceres. “The resulting structure will lever expertise from ProFarm key employees, achieving a more diverse, global and cost-efficient organization, with operations in the U.S., Europe and Latin America,” said Chief Financial Officer, Enrique Lopez Lecube.

Marrone Bio will continue to operate its

Agrotech, Company News, North America, Seeds

AgriPro-brand wheat varieties are consistent top performers that offer best-in-class disease packages, and outstanding agronomics and yield potential.

As global wheat stocks are expected to remain tight through 2023, Syngenta is offering three new varietal options to help Central Plains wheat growers increase yield potential and resist common diseases for this winter wheat planting season. The new AgriPro-brand wheat varieties are AP Bigfoot, AP Solid and AP Longjack.

″All three of these varieties performed exceptionally well across Syngenta AgriPro’s testing areas for wheat. Growers can feel confident in choosing these new varieties and their performance under our testing procedures″, says Josh Coltrain, AgriPro winter wheat technical lead from Kansas.

AP Bigfoot

AP Bigfoot is a medium- to early-maturity variety that has proven strong yield data and test weights across the region. It performs well in low-pH soils and dryland systems and features a very good leaf and stripe rust resistance. A good choice for planting after soybeans, AP Bigfoot is also one of the top AgriPro-brand varieties for protection against wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). Growers in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming can buy the new variety.

AP Solid

The second new AgriPro-brand variety, AP Solid, is a medium- to late-maturity variety featuring solid yield potential for Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and western Nebraska growers. AP Solid’s improved stems also help with sawfly management. Montana State University confirmed it has an excellent solidness score.

AP Longjack

For Central Plains wheat growers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, AP Longjack is a medium- to late-maturity variety with good straw strength. AP Longjack also offers the best winterhardiness and highest grain yield in the awnless variety from AgriPro.

Backed by more than 50 years of wheat-breeding expertise, AgriPro-brand wheat varieties are consistent top performers that offer best-in-class disease packages, and outstanding agronomics and yield potential.

AgriPro-brand wheat varieties are consistent top performers

AgroPolicy, Warehousing

Fumigation being a key scientific component of the storage of Agri produce has been singled out for levy of GST, which will result in ‘cost burden on the agri value chain’

 Ramesh Doraiswami, Managing Director & CEO, National Bulk Handling Corporation has voiced his opinion on the recent GST levy on Fumigation services and that it should remain exempt. Fumigation is an integral part of the scientific storage of agri produce of mass consumption such as wheat, maize, pulses etc. The GST Council has recently announced the withdrawal of the Exemption on Fumigation of Agri produce in warehouses from 18th July 2022. Fumigation being a key scientific component of the storage of Agri produce has been singled out for levy of GST, which will result in ‘cost burden on the agri value chain’. It can also lead to a reduction in farmer realization or an increase in consumer price.

Importance of Fumigation of Agri Produce:

To maximize farm income and ensure continued food availability, storage for 6-9 months is imperative. Since infestation is common during such prolonged storage beyond 30-45 days, the desired and regulated procedure required is Fumigation. It is a process of subjecting the infested stocks/storage structures/containers to lethal fumes of fumigation in an enclosed atmosphere with sufficient concentration for appropriate exposure time. In a Warehouse, Fumigation is carried out by applying fumigant (ALP tablet or pouches) by covering the stack with gas-retaining plastic sheets used to hold fumigant gases inside a fumigation enclosure during the exposure period. Fumigation is a curative treatment and the only practical way to kill internal insects or insects dwelling deep within the grain mass.

Fumigation is a Regulatory requirement in most of the importing countries. The increase in demand for improved Food Safety Standards throughout the world has imposed the requirement for good and quality food products.  Fumigation plays a more important role in controlling and in the management of infestation in commodities stored in tropical countries like India, where climatic conditions are favourable for infestation of stored grain pests. This process of Fumigation is a mandatory quarantine requirement.

Storage Loss due to Infestation:

In India, 10 per cent of the total post-harvest losses happen because of unscientific storage. Annual storage losses have been estimated to be 14 million tonnes, which is a mounting an approx. Rs 7000 Crores, out of which the stored grain insect pests alone account for Rs 1300 crores.

Since fumigation and prophylactic treatment are an integral part of scientific storage, these services need to be carried out with precision, as even partial damage to quality due to insects can result in a complete loss of commercial value of food grains.  Additionally, there is a possibility that this additional levy could result in Fumigation Services being carried out in an unorganized manner by untrained operators, thereby resulting in safety hazards to the operator and also harming public safety.

Fumigation being a key scientific component of

AgroPolicy, Interaction

The e-NAM as Platform of Platforms will pave way to create an efficient and effective “One Nation One Market” ecosystem

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India is organising a two days’ National Conference of State Agriculture & Horticulture Ministers in Bengaluru on July 14-15, 2022 in the presence of Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Sushri Shobha Karandlaje and Kailash Choudhary and Ministers of Agriculture & Horticulture of the States.

One of the major interventions of this conference would be launching of e-NAM Platform of Platform by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to promote trade & marketing of agriculture produce for getting better prices of agriculture commodities to farmers.

Government of India has taken a novel initiative for participation of the all stakeholders through this “Platform of Platforms (PoPs) under e-NAM” towards next level revolution in Agri- Produce Marketing which will facilitate the Indian Farmers to sell their produce beyond their state boundaries. This will enhance farmers’ accessibility digitally to multiple numbers of markets, buyers, service providers and to bring transparency in trade transactions with the intent to improve price discovery mechanism for better price realisation of farm produce to the farmers. The e-NAM as Platform of Platforms will pave way to create an efficient and effective “One Nation One Market” ecosystem.

The e-NAM as Platform of Platforms will

Company News

The state-of-the-art centre will provide a chance for the farming community to get up close with VST’s modern farm mechanisation products

VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST), India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer, announced the launch of their first state-of-the-art Experience Centre in Pune on July 11, 2022. Designed for customers to get a first-hand experience of VST’s farm equipment’s with latest technologies, the experience centre will display the full range of products including tractors, power tillers, power weeders, brush cutters, power reapers, rice transplanters, hedge trimmers, rotary tillers, and attachments. 

The experience centre will offer the customer an assisted walkthrough of the range of products by VST, enabling them to make an informed purchase decision. 

Antony Cherukara, CEO, VST Tillers Tractors inaugurated the Pune Experience Center in the presence of farmers, channel partners and business partners. On the occasion, he said “Through this experience centre, we will bring our product offering closer to our farmers and they can understand their applications to enhance their productivity. The Experience Centre is a first-of-its-kind concept by VST, and we have plans to replicate the same in other cities across the country. Through the experience centre, we are bringing all our offers under one roof. This will enhance their overall experience with the brand. It gives the farmers real-time experience and helps them make their buying decisions. We shall expand the scope of our experience centres as we go forward.”

The state-of-the-art centre will provide a chance

Agro Universities, Agrotech, R&D

The technology originally developed in Canada including a true single pass- no tillage row unit is designed to eliminate stubble burning and tillage in India

In a significant development which seeks to eliminate these problems for the farmers and revolutionise the agriculture sector of India forever, Canadian agricultural technology pioneer Clean Seed Agricultural Technologies is going to bring to India its advanced planting and seeding technology having far-reaching impact on the agricultural practices, gains and replenishment.

Developed over the past 10 years and patented by Clean Seed world-wide as well as in India, this globally proven seeding and planting technology is aimed at addressing key production and sustainability issues rampant in Indian agriculture. The innovative, modular, row by row technology originally developed in Canada including a true single pass- no tillage row unit is designed to eliminate stubble burning and tillage, advanced metering technologies for precision application of seed and fertilizer, as well as planter singulation options.

However, to optimise their technology and machines to suit the Indian weather conditions, and agricultural, soil and crops patterns, Clean Seed has teamed up with Chandigarh University, Gharuan. In the crucial position as the Technology Testing Partner, Chandigarh University has been field testing the Clean Seed products, constantly passing feedback on how to make these machines more India-friendly.

Chandigarh University has now hosted an exclusive technology demonstration on its Gharuan campus, where the company’s single seeding, planting and fertilizer application machine- ‘SMART Seeder MINI-MAX’ was demonstrated to a well-attended gathering, including delegates from the Agriculture Ministry of Punjab and Haryana Government, Farmer Producer Organizations and local progressive farmers. Clean Seed’s Canadian team including Company President Colin Rush, and Vice President of Operations & Product Development Jeet Jheetey was present on the occasion and gave a detailed technical and agronomic presentation at the event showcasing the technology followed by in-field demonstrations of planting into standing crop stubble. The demonstrations continued planting multiple crops including corn, soybeans, and cotton while placing fertilizer in a single pass in the Agricultural Practices Fields of Chandigarh University’s University Institute of Agricultural Sciences.

The technology originally developed in Canada including

Agrotech

The consultation was attended by more than 140 participants from diverse stakeholders including different state governments, state agriculture universities, ICAR, agritech start-ups, agri industry

The Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India in association with the World Economic Forum (WEF), India organised a one-day stakeholder consultation on Public Private Partnership in Digital Agriculture on July 11, 2022.

It was chaired by Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. Ahuja referred to the Union Budget speech for 2022-23 which reads out a policy vision on “Delivery of digital and hi-tech services to farmers with involvement of public sector research and extension institutions along with private agri-tech player and stakeholders of agri value chain”.

Subsequently, Rajeev Chawla, Chief Knowledge Officer (A&FW) shared insights on the conceptual framework on Public Private Partnership for Digital Agriculture. He also shared pertinent points on data sharing, technology validation and need of a sandbox.

From state perspective, Ajit Kesari, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Madhya Pradesh also shared his views on digital agriculture and its potential stressing the need for a framework for bringing technology into agriculture.

The consultation was attended by more than 140 participants from diverse stakeholders including different state governments, state agriculture universities, ICAR, agritech start-ups, agri industry, banks, think tank, civil society, and farmer organisations.

The consultation was attended by more than

Bee keeping, R&D

The researchers note that changes in temperature had more of a negative impact than other factors, such as precipitation or floral resources

According to new research by Simon Fraser University, Canada temperature changes have negatively impacted most species of bumble bees over the past 120 years. The researchers note that changes in temperature had more of a negative impact than other factors, such as precipitation or floral resources.

“Bumble bees are important pollinators for wild plants and for the crops humans rely on for food. That’s why we need to develop conservation strategies that account for the future impacts of climate change on bee populations,” says study lead Hanna Jackson, a Masters student in the M’Gonigle Lab in biological sciences at Simon Fraser University.

Jackson and her colleagues analysed an existing dataset containing records on 46 bumble bee species across North America between 1900 – 2020. They created two occupancy models – one focused on time and the other on environmental factors. They found that six bumble bee species decreased through time, 22 increased and the remaining 18 were stable.

They noted that temperature and precipitation both increased, on average, between 1900 and 2020 in the post-industrial revolution period. Temperature changes had primarily negative impacts on bumble bees, with 37 of the 46 species exhibiting greater declines or less positive increases in occupancy under observed temperature changes compared to if the temperature had remained constant.

Therefore, researchers concluded that changing temperatures are a major environmental factor driving changes in bumble bee community composition.

Study collaborators include US-based Pollinator Partnership, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California.

The researchers note that changes in temperature

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to be organically certified for postharvest applications

Pace International, a leading provider of sustainable postharvest solutions and technologies for the fresh produce industry, announced that BioSpectra 100 SC is now listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for organic use in the US.

The announcement comes six years after the introduction of the product when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) approved the product for postharvest applications.

BioSpectra received its OMRI Listed seal after completing the rigorous certification process and requirements set forth for organic crop production use.

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to be organically certified for postharvest applications. It provides a broad-spectrum decay control against several major fungal postharvest diseases across various crops and has shown better disease control compared to other organic alternatives.

“As the world’s needs continue to evolve, effective biological solutions will play a key role in protecting the quality and marketability of fresh produce. We are proud to continue to bring innovative sustainable solutions to our customers and the fruit packing industry, something that we strive for every day,” said Jorge Gotuzzo, Senior Director of Marketing.

This natamycin-based fungicide is the result of the fermentation process of naturally occurring soil micro-organisms and provides a new mode of action, inhibiting pathogen growth.

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to