Connect with:
Tuesday / May 13. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
Home2023March (Page 2)
Agro chems – Chemicals, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Company News, India

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the environmental permit for the project

Tagros has announced plans to expand its production capacity of pesticide technicals and pesticide intermediates at the Panchayankuppam SIPCOT Industrial Park in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. The project will cover an additional 5.50 acres.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the environmental permit for the project, which is expected to commence in the first quarter of FY24, with completion scheduled for December 2024.

Tagros is one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of agrochemicals and intermediates. The company mainly synthesises Pyrethroids insecticides and Triazole fungicides, in addition to all kinds of herbicides, pesticide intermediates and other special products.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate

Company News, Seeds, Sustainability, World

NativeSeed Group is a provider of native seeds and erosion control products used in land reclamation and conservation

Heartwood Partners LLC announced the acquisition of NativeSeed Group from Victor Schaff, a pioneer of the native seed industry.

Headquartered in Carpinteria, CA, NativeSeed Group is a provider of native seeds and erosion control products used in land reclamation and conservation, as well as various construction, commercial, and consumer applications. The Company goes to market under various brands, including Granite Seed, S&S Seeds and Pacific Coast Seed, among others, each of which provides native seeds to a diverse group of landowners, energy companies, state & federal agencies, environmental engineers, and contractors, with a particularly strong presence throughout the Western U.S. Additional brands such as Kamprath Seed and Bruce Seed serve the agriculture market with cover crop seed blends to assist in pollination and soil health. The Company’s Nature’s Seed brand sells flower, turf, hunting, and grazing seed blends to homeowners, hobby farmers, and smaller rural landowners throughout the United States. Please visit the NativeSeed Group website for more information on the Company’s brands and their solutions.

NativeSeed Group utilises a vertically integrated sourcing and production platform comprised of farming, wildland collection, and procurement of native grass, wildflower, and shrub seeds. Farming of seed occurs on four strategically located farms across the Western U.S., including the Bruce Seed Farm in Montana, L&H Seed Farm in Washington, Hedgerow Farms in northern California, and S&S Seed Farm in southern California.

Rob Wendell, NativeSeed Group’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are extremely excited to partner with the Heartwood team given their experience investing in agriculture-related businesses and strong track record in growing niche businesses. We believe that Heartwood’s operational expertise and industry experience will be key in refining and executing our strategic growth plan.” “We are excited to partner with NativeSeed Group and its management team. The Company has developed a highly differentiated, vertically integrated platform to provide solutions for its customers to help establish native plant communities that are appropriate for their local geographies and climates. Native plant communities are hearty, more drought tolerant, promote diverse habitats, and help restore lands damaged by development or natural disasters,” said James Sidwa, Partner at Heartwood Partners.

NativeSeed Group is a provider of native

Company News, Environment, Horticulture, Nature, People, Sustainability, World

Grgich Hills Estate, a Napa Valley leader in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, achieves this prestigious certification marking a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship

Grgich Hills Estate has received Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) from the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a non-profit organisation that was formed in 2017 to promote the principles and practices of regenerative organic agriculture.

Under the leadership of Ivo Jeramaz, Winemaker and Vice President of Vineyards and Production, Grgich Hills Estate has been farming organically since 2000, becoming Certified Organic in 2006 and has been practising regenerative farming since 2019.  The winery has taken another step in its ongoing progress as one of the few wineries in the world to receive Regenerative Organic Certification.

The ROC certification program is designed to be a comprehensive and holistic approach to farming that goes beyond the principles of organic farming to focus on building healthy soil, promoting biodiversity, and supporting animal welfare and social fairness.  Regenerative farming practices support green and climate initiatives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting biodiversity conservation, conserving water, and supporting local food systems. “Our farming practices go beyond just improving soil health. By capturing carbon dioxide through our methods, we’re helping to combat the negative effects of global warming. Unlike traditional farming that relies heavily on fertilizers and machinery that release more CO2, our approach, known as the ‘carbon drawdown solution,’ is making a significant impact. It’s a win-win situation for us, as we can improve our soil and contribute to a healthier planet simultaneously.” Ivo said.

Social fairness is addressed in the ROC including fair labour practices, community engagement, and support for the economic and social well-being of farmers and workers. Ivo stated, “How we treat our labourers is a crucial aspect of our farming practices. Providing medical care and a living wage are just a few examples of how we prioritise the human aspect of our work. It’s a social responsibility that sets us apart from other certifying agencies that emphasise workers’ well-being differently, says Ivo.

Grgich Hills Estate, a Napa Valley leader in Regenerative

Agrotech, Environment, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability, World

Seeds from the IAEA and FAO laboratories were sent to space on November 7, 2022

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held an event in Vienna to mark the imminent return to Earth of seeds that were sent into space four months ago.

Seeds from the IAEA and FAO laboratories belonging to the Arabidopsis and Sorghum varieties travelled in an uncrewed cargo shuttle from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to space on November 7, 2022. While in space, they were exposed to the prevailing conditions — a complex mixture of cosmic radiation, microgravity and extreme temperatures — inside and outside the International Space Station (ISS).

Upon their return, which is expected to happen in early April, scientists at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture plan to grow the seeds and screen them for useful traits to better understand space-induced mutations and identify new varieties.

The ground-breaking experiment aims to develop new crops that can adapt to climate change and help boost global food security. With the world’s population estimated to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, there’s a clear need for innovative solutions through science and technology aimed at producing more food, as well as crops that are more resilient and farming methods that are more sustainable.

The meeting in Vienna, which was designed to inform students, partners and the public about space science and nuclear techniques in plant breeding, saw opening statements from QU Dongyu FAO Director-General and Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director-General as well as interventions from Kayla Barron, NASA Astronaut who discussed her experience working and carrying out experiments at the ISS.

“This is the science that could have a real impact on people’s lives in the not-too-distant future, by helping us grow stronger crops and feed more people,” the IAEA Director General said. “IAEA and FAO scientists may have already been mutating seeds for 60 years and creating thousands of stronger crops for the world to use, but this is the first time we have experimented with such an exciting field as astrobiology,” said Grossi.

Seeds from the IAEA and FAO laboratories

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Europe, Finance, Seeds

Sales of Crop Protection products increased by 21 per cent, 24 per cent at constant exchange rates and Seeds sales were 12 per cent higher than 2021, 16 per cent at constant exchange rates.

Syngenta AG ,subsidiary of Syngenta group has published its financial report for FY 2022.The company has reported that net income in 2022 attributable to Syngenta’s shareholder was $1,909 million, compared to $1,443 million in 2021.

Sales in 2022 were 19 percent higher than 2021, 22 percent higher at constant exchange rates, with a seven percent increase in sales volumes and a further 15 percent increase in local currency sales prices. Currency movements decreased reported sales by three per cent due to the weakness of many currencies against the US dollar, particularly in Europe, Africa and Middle East and Asia Pacific. Sales of Crop Protection products increased by 21 percent, 24 percent at constant exchange rates and Seeds sales were 12 percent higher than 2021, 16 per cent at constant exchange rates. The performance of both businesses benefitted from good farm economics, underpinned by generally strong crop prices, which both drove both growth in sales volumes and supported sales price increases to recover the impact of increased raw material and other costs.

The conflict between Russia and the Ukraine affected operations in both countries; in Russia operations continued subject to significant logistical and financial constraints, while in Ukraine operations were largely suspended for a period and later resumed when it was feasible and safe. During 2022 sales in Russia and Ukraine combined represented a mid-single digit percentage of Syngenta’s total sales.

Operating income as a percentage of sales was 14 per cent in 2022. Excluding restructuring costs, operating income as a percentage of sales increased by two percent in 2022 compared with 2021; sales price rises offset the impact of higher raw material and other production costs, though with some reduction in gross margin as a percentage of sales and increased operational leverage, higher capitalization of development costs and the impact of a litigation settlement in 2021 more than offset a higher charge for doubtful receivables and increased employee incentive costs. Including costs reported in cost of goods sold, restructuring and impairment charges were $249 million in 2022 before related taxation, compared to $240 million in 2021. Currency exchange rate impacts reduced operating income by approximately $54 million.

Sales of Crop Protection products increased by

AgroPolicy, Environment, Foodgrains, India, People, Sustainability

FGNI to organise 4 seminars this year to suggest measures for the betterment of small and marginal farmers

In the next 25 years, by the time India’s Amritkal is complete, India will write a better and more spectacular story wherein the agriculture sector will play an important role, said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research & Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE). He describes the coming together of centres, states, industry and Civil Society organisations in the welfare of the agriculture sector as a healthy thing, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

He was speaking at a seminar in New Delhi on ‘Unlocking the Potential of India’s Agriculture: Key to Unleash A Thriving Economy’ organised by the Foundation for the Growth of New India (FGNI).

Dr Pathak who himself was a farmer in his early growing-up years said that he feels the pain of India’s farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers.

Citing the recent applauds India has received from Bill Gates and various countries, he said, “We have come a long way from begging bowl in hands to self-sufficiency and second largest producer of food grains, however, if India is to be developed nation, most probably by 2047, it cannot happen without agriculture and contribution of small and marginal farmers.”

Dr Pathak was joined by Dr R. B. Singh, Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal and President & Founding Member of FGNI and Shri R. G. Agarwal, Advisor, FGNI.

Dr R. B. Singh strongly pitched for making growth inclusive, sustainable, symmetric, high-performing and in line with the SDG goals of India.

R. G. Agarwal candidly spoke at length on a number of issues faced by Indian farmers, including the use of injurious pesticides imported from China which is damaging the soil and crops, lack of technology in hands of farmers, different treatment to fertiliser and pesticides by the government etc. and demanded free & competitive markets to maximise farmers’ income, time-bound approval for researched based products used in agriculture, enabling policy initiatives & incentives for precision farming and advance IT tools for agriculture.

“India has a great potential to increase both production and export of food grains and crop chemicals. If we have a more enabling environment and policy support, India can easily be the leader in this space. Moreover, if we can do away with waste of food grains which is roughly 30 per cent, which is possible through technology, we will be prepared to meet our requirements in 2050 too, “said Agarwal.

Binod Anand, who spoke on the plight of small and marginal farmers, proposed to organise four deliberations on the issues faced by farmers. The same was agreed upon by all scientists and eminent personalities. DG ICAR Dr Himanshu Pathak also accepted to be a patron of the foundation.

FGNI to organise 4 seminars this year

Agrotech, Europe, Horticulture, Seeds

Company wants to be a dependable partner for leek growers and offer a broad and innovative portfolio in order to support their future growth.

Since last year, leek growers have had more varieties to choose from. Rijk Zwaan is aiming to play a serious role in this important crop, following an intensive period of development work. It has initially launched four strong new varieties that pave the way for a complete portfolio of hybrid leek varieties, that helps leek growers to address today’s challenges. Here, three key Rijk Zwaan employees discuss the importance of collaboration, their drive to support customers’ future growth, and the company’s ambitions.

Dependable partner for leek growers

Bert Crins (Breeder), Filip Hermans (Crop Coordinator) and Rik Van Laere (Crop Manager) all played a key role in the launch of the new leek varieties. They are keen to emphasise the importance of teamwork, since they worked together not only with numerous other colleagues, but also with various growers from seven European countries.

Van Laere explains why Rijk Zwaan’s decision to invest in the development of leek varieties was a logical one: “As one of the world’s leading vegetable breeding companies, we believe that such an important European crop belongs in our range. We want to be a dependable partner for leek growers and offer a broad and innovative portfolio in order to support their future growth.”

Collaboration equals speed

According to Crins, the success of this project is thanks to the effective collaboration between the Rijk Zwaan team and the growers: “We breathed new life into our leek breeding programme ten years ago. We started by identifying the market needs; that gave us a clear goal to aim for. We then gradually improved our genetics and worked towards that goal. Over the past five years, we’ve made strong progress thanks to the short lines of communication and a continuous feedback loop between Breeding, Product Development and the market. Growers in all important European leek markets ran trials with high-potential varieties and shared their findings with us. That enabled us to make any necessary changes quickly.”

Hermans adds: “We should be proud of that speed because it’s pretty unique. It meant that we could introduce the first four varieties in our range simultaneously. They differ in terms of earliness and shaft length, but they are all aligned with the market needs.”

Challenges for leek growers

Hermans is happy to explain more about those needs. “Leek growers are looking for labour-friendly varieties, not only because labour accounts for a big share of their costs, but also because employees are in increasingly short supply. Therefore, a leek variety must be easy to clean,” he says. “Harvest reliability is another requirement. Due to ever-tighter restrictions on the use of crop protection agents, resistances are becoming more important in the battle against pests and diseases. Needless to say, we’re focusing heavily on developing varieties with resistances against problems such as thrips and leek rust. The third challenge is climate change. Heat and drought can have a big impact on leek crops due to the long season, which is why we strive to develop robust varieties. Besides that, a leek variety must have good agronomical traits and produce a high yield.”

The best four leek varieties

The four new varieties meet all of those needs. They clearly emerged from the long selection process as the high-potential varieties, Crins explains: “Floccus RZ, Nebulus RZ, Volutus RZ and Radiatus RZ were selected as the best, including based on growers’ trials.”

Hermans sums up the key characteristics: “Floccus is for the earliest cycles. It’s fast and has high tolerance to bolting and thrips. Nebulus follows on from that. It’s a uniform, labour-friendly and versatile variety. Volutus is for the late-autumn/early-winter segment. It remains short, uniform and nicely upright with a blue leaf colour. Last but not least, Radiatus is a prepack type which like Volutus is upright with blue leaves, plus it is strong against thrips.”

Paving the way for a complete portfolio

There are more new leek varieties in the pipeline. Rijk Zwaan is continuing to expand its portfolio. Hermans: “In the autumn of 2022 we selected several new varieties to complete our portfolio in the other segments. As soon as these varieties become commercial, they will be listed on the websites for the specific production regions. We will continue to work closely with the growers to fine-tune how to optimise cultivating our varieties in practice. Of course, our next generation of varieties will also be focused on even more harvest reliability, labour efficiency and resistances. That’s how we stay relevant in every market segment.”

Company wants to be a dependable partner

Agrotech, India, IT, Sustainability

CRISP informs growers about rubber cultivation and provides solutions online

Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) and the Digital University of Kerala has been developed CRISP (Comprehensive Rubber Information System Platform). The app was launched by Z.P. Patel, Vice Chancellor, of Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat.

With the help of CRISP, the farmers will now be able to receive recommendations from RRII on production and productivity enhancement, reduction of cultivation cost, maintenance of soil fertility, disease control measures, etc. Currently, these facilities are reaching the farmers through traditional extension methods. Many of these recommendations are location specific and can be linked to geo-information systems and delivered directly to the farmers.

KN Raghavan, Executive Director, Rubber Board, launched the e-library of RRII. Saji Gopinath, Vice-Chancellor of the Digital University of Kerala released the book ‘Status report- Molecular and physiological markers for genetic improvement of natural rubber’.

Dr Z. P. Patel planted the first plant of rubber in Gujarat in July 2022 in the presence of Dr K. N. Raghvan and other dignitaries of NAU, Navsari and RRII, Kottayam at Agricultural Experimentation Station (AES), Paria of the NAU. Under this project total of 1200 saplings of rubber were planted, of which 600 saplings were planted at AES, Paria research station and other 600 saplings were planted at various other stations as a location trial in South Gujarat.

CRISP informs growers about rubber cultivation and

Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D, Supply Chain, Warehousing

The lab will conduct research on strategies for pest management in storage of agricultural and allied commodities.

In recent past, insects’ infestation in stored food grains and processed products became more serious. Pests are affecting at various stages like production, processing, marketing and storage at farm, processor, export/ import level. During the occasion of 25th Research Advisory Committee meeting of ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, a state-of-art facility was inaugurated in the institute as “Storage-Pests Management Laboratory”. The lab is equipped with scientific equipment for conducting research in storage entomology. This lab will conduct research on strategies for pest management in storage of agricultural and allied commodities. ICAR-CIPHET being a nodal institute working in the area of post-harvest mechanization, processing and value addition, the addition of this lab facilities will add to its charm.

 Dr D. C. Joshi, Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Kota & Chairman of RAC inaugurated the lab. During the occasion other RAC members Dr R Viswanathan, Former Professor and Head, TNAU, Coimbatore & Dr Meenakshi Singh, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR, New Delhi were present. Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana appreciated the efforts of scientists Dr Manju Bala, Dr Guru P. N. and other staff for setting up this unique lab and taking the institute to the next level in post-harvest management research.

The lab will conduct research on strategies

Agrotech, Japan

The COE on CSA will start its activities from April 2023 which includes implementing climate-change mitigation and adaptation technologies.

In efforts to enhance agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ profits, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the sector regionwide, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) announced the designation of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) of Japan as its new Center of Excellence on Climate-smart Agriculture (COE on CSA). This is a result of the long-term partnership between the two institutions in disseminating know-how in the focus area of the new COE.

The COE on CSA will start its activities from April 2023, including a need and readiness assessment of APO members for implementing climate-change mitigation and adaptation technologies, two international conferences on CSA and other COE focus areas, and pilot projects to apply technologies developed by the COE on CSA starting from 2024 as well as seminars, study missions, workshops, and on-site training for customizing the know-how to meet local needs in APO members.

The COE on CSA may provide technical knowledge and skills such as technologies to reduce methane emissions from paddy fields; agricultural weather data systems for rice, wheat, and soybean production; web-based soil carbon sequestration visualization tool for greenhouse gas reduction in various crops such as rice, wheat, and soybean.

The agriculture sector is crucial in most APO members and essential for global food security. However, it is also a significant contributor to GHG emissions and is vulnerable to climate change. Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events may cause food scarcity. GHG emissions due agriculture, livestock operations, and land use are estimated to account for 24 per cent of the global total. The introduction of climate-friendly agricultural practices combined with the adoption of smart technologies can bring multiple benefits in the form of higher productivity, increased agricultural and food production, and reduced GHG emissions.

The APO COE Program showcases excellence in specific productivity fields to promote the adoption of the know-how and best practices of one member by others while adapting them to suit local contexts. The COE on CSA will focus on the deployment of climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies, know-how, and frameworks for low-carbon rice, wheat, and soybean production as staple foods in the Asia-Pacific. Specific focus areas will be sharing technical knowledge and methods to reduce methane emissions from paddy fields; adoption of agricultural weather data systems for rice, wheat, and soybean production; web-based soil carbon sequestration visualization tools for GHG reductions in various crops such as rice, wheat, and soybean; application of biochar and development of carbon credit methodologies; and water management practices in rice cultivation and treatment of livestock waste.

The COE on CSA will start its

Company News, Foodgrains, North America, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Vegetables

By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers can discover nutritious food as they build their daily and weekly grocery baskets

Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, announced an industry-first online advertising capability, enabling produce brands to advertise fresh, weighted items – such as carrots, grapes, onions, oranges, sweet potatoes, and watermelons – from the produce department across the Instacart Marketplace.

During National Nutrition Month, Instacart is levelling the advertising playing field, making it possible for more product brands, farms, and agriculture boards to advertise on Instacart and reach more consumers. By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers can discover nutritious food as they build their daily and weekly grocery baskets, search for a specific ingredient, and browse the digital aisles for inspiration.

“It’s essential that consumers have access to fresh, nutritious produce – whether they shop online or in-store,” said Ali Miller, Vice President of Ads Products at Instacart. “Online grocery offers a unique experience, helping brands deeply connect with and engage consumers as they explore new products or their usual staples across the digital aisles. With today’s launch, millions of consumers will discover more fresh and nutritious options as they shop on Instacart, levelling the playing field for producers and ensuring everything from fresh citrus to sweet potatoes are just as discoverable as packaged goods. I’m especially proud to celebrate these new capabilities during National Nutrition Month, as we do our part to help influence healthier eating habits.”

Instacart is the first company to enable this ad innovation for weighted items across grocery partners. Instacart developed algorithms to map these items back to brands and partners – addressing challenges like limited information from third-party sources and different coding systems across grocers. Instacart is addressing this complex industry challenge so more product brands can take advantage of advertising solutions and help consumers discover more nutritious foods.

“For 130 years, Sunkist Growers has been focused on delivering quality, fresh citrus to consumers. In fact, Sunkist’s first advertisement celebrated California’s ‘Orange Day’ back in 1908,” said Christina Ward, Senior Director at Sunkist Growers. “In recent years, shopper behaviours have dramatically changed—at Sunkist, we are all about meeting shoppers where they want to buy. On Instacart, we have a seamless ‘add-to-cart’ button to guide millions of people across the country towards our fresh Sunkist fruits, which are then delivered to their homes in as fast as an hour.”

Since 2020, Instacart has partnered with nearly 60 packaged produce advertisers to amplify their products and elevate the category. On average, Instacart’s packaged produce advertisers see a 30 per cent increase in sales1, meaning their ads influence more product purchases. Packaged produce advertisers can leverage the full Instacart advertising toolkit, including sponsored products, displays, shoppable videos, promotions, and impulse ads. With this latest enhancement to Instacart advertising and catalogue capabilities, produce brands can now amplify their full product set, including packaged and random-weight produce.

By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers

Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Environment, India, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy

ADB’s support will fund the construction of five 14.9-megawatt biomass power plants in the districts of Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar in the state of Rajasthan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SAEL Industries Limited have signed loan agreements of up to 7.5 billion Indian rupees (around $91.14 million) to promote the generation of biomass energy using agricultural residue, helping diversify India’s energy mix and reduce carbon intensity. 

ADB’s support will fund the construction of five 14.9-megawatt biomass power plants in the districts of Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar in the state of Rajasthan. Around 1.5 billion Indian rupees for each power plant will be provided to subsidiaries of SAEL Industries: Chattargarh Renewable Energy Private Limited, KTA Power Private Limited, Sardarshahar Agri Energy Private Limited, TNA Renewable Energy Private Limited, and VCA Power Private Limited. 

“Establishing biomass power plants that can repurpose agricultural residue will help protect the environment while contributing to the government’s goal of expanding renewable energy sources and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. It will also help increase the income of local farmers through sales of agricultural residue and reduce the burning of agricultural waste, contributing to the improvement of air quality,” said Ashok Lavasa, ADB Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships. “ADB’s assistance will have a powerful demonstration effect for biomass power by helping reduce risk perceptions and by creating awareness of its benefits and potential for use in other rural communities and developing member countries.”

The power plants will convert about 650,000 tons of agricultural residues into electricity and are expected to generate 544 gigawatt-hours of energy per annum, helping avoid up to 487,200 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Local farmer incomes will rise through the sale of agricultural residue. The project also aims to purchase agricultural residue and other goods and services from at least 100 women-owned microbusinesses and 10 women’s self-help groups.

“By collecting the crop stubble to be used as fuel in our waste-to-energy plants, we help combat one of our nation’s greatest health issues, while simultaneously creating local employment and generating extra income for farmers and local entrepreneurs. We are happy to have ADB partnering with us in these efforts,” said Jasbir Singh, SAEL Industries Chairman and Managing Director.

ADB’s support will fund the construction of

Agrotech, Company News, Europe, IT, R&D

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a startup accelerator, providing a supportive ecosystem for early-stage companies developing new agricultural technologies

Syngenta Group announced the launch of “Shoots by Syngenta™,” a global platform designed to help tackle agriculture’s most complex challenges, increase innovation, and advance more sustainable agriculture. Starting with science-based innovation challenges, the platform will connect scientific discovery and creativity, bringing together academics, research institutes, startups, and cross-industry sectors to collaborate with Syngenta’s global network of 5,000+ scientists.

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a startup accelerator, providing a supportive ecosystem for early-stage companies developing new agricultural technologies. Cohorts of startups will enter a program connecting them with mentors, resources, and funding to accelerate their growth and impact.

“Helping growers sustainably feed a rapidly growing human population requires a strong collaboration focus, not just across agriculture but across industries,” said Gusui Wu, Global Head of Seeds Research. “Collaboration is at the heart of how our scientists approach innovation every day. It’s embedded in our scientific culture, and we are continually seeking out different technologies, solutions and partners to help us better serve farmers.”

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will spotlight specific innovation needs from across the Syngenta Crop Protection and Seeds businesses. Science-based innovation challenges will be posted on the website, enabling anyone with a scientific interest to submit proposals in response to the challenges or other areas of focus. Proposals are quickly evaluated, and if there is a mutual fit, they are progressed to a collaboration partnership to take forward the research or technology that might eventually be licensed.

“We know that science holds the answer to the challenges we face, so we’re open to sharing and helping others benefit from our world-leading findings and experiences,” says Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research for Syngenta Crop Protection. “Shoots by Syngenta™ gives us gives access to real, proven data and insight, which can inform and accelerate future science-led breakthroughs.”

Additionally, the startup accelerator will provide early-stage companies the opportunity to pilot their technology at Syngenta’s Farm of the Future and select grower farms globally, mentorship and access to industry experts, and an opportunity to present and test ideas with relevant business leaders and investors. Participants will get one-on-one mentoring by Syngenta business leaders that is customized based on each team’s specific requirements.

“Our vision is to create an ecosystem that drives innovation and collaboration in the agricultural industry, creating a more sustainable and efficient future for farmers, consumers, and the planet,” said Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Syngenta Group. “We believe that the most promising solutions to global food security, sustainability, and productivity will come from bringing together innovative and technology-driven start-ups with growers and industry experts.”

Leaders from Syngenta Group will be present at this week’s World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit and the IUPAC International Congress of Crop Protection Chemistry to engage with fellow innovators and share more on “Shoots by Syngenta™.”

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Award, Company News, India

NSC award recognise organizations in the manufacturing sector with outstanding Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) performance.

FMC Corporation, a leading agricultural sciences company, has been conferred a silver trophy for the exemplary safety performance of its Panoli manufacturing plant by the National Safety Council (NSC) of India.

The Council’s Safety Awards 2022 aim to identify and recognize organizations in the manufacturing sector with outstanding Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) performance and a steadfast commitment to reduce workplace injuries. Winners are selected after a rigorous assessment, including a review of the past three years of safety performance, a thorough audit and investigative process by a panel of NSC safety professionals.

Commenting on the win, Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India, said “At FMC, safety is a core value. Our goal is to protect and empower our workers via a dynamic safety culture that engages all levels of the organization. It is an honor to be recognized by the NSC for the hard work that each employee at the Panoli plant has put in to improve environmental, health and safety standards at the site. We are proud to say that the Panoli manufacturing plant has been recordable injury-free for more than 500 consecutive days, and we will continue building upon our safety commitment and make every day a safe workday for our employees.”

FMC was one of 18 organizations picked from 600 vying for recognition in the manufacturing sector across the country. This is the first time the Panoli site has clinched the silver trophy, after having previously been presented with certificates of appreciation at the Council’s Safety Awards 2021 and 2019.  Manoj Khanna, Plant Manager of the Panoli manufacturing site, received the award on behalf of FMC at the NSC’s 13th National Conference & Expo on Safety, Health, and Environment.

The NSC was set up by the Indian government’s Ministry of Labor in 1966 to promote Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), carrying out numerous activities and building up technical expertise and competencies to tackle emerging challenges in HSE.

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC’s innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment.

NSC award recognise organizations in the manufacturing