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Acquaculture, Company News, Finance, Sustainability, World

The company intends to use the proceeds to achieve steady production levels and profitability in Phase 1 of its flagship Florida RAS, which is designed to produce up to 9,500 tonnes of gutted salmon a year

Land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire has raised $55 million gross with a private placement of shares, which is $5 m more than originally planned.

“The deal size in the private placement was up-sized based on strong investor demand from the initially announced NOK equivalent of $50 million,” Florida-based Atlantic Sapphire said in a market announcement.

The company intends to use the proceeds to achieve steady production levels and profitability in Phase 1 of its flagship Florida RAS, which is designed to produce up to 9,500 tonnes of gutted salmon a year. Meanwhile, any remaining funds may be used for the company’s second phase, which aims to bring capacity up to 25,000 tonnes a year.

Nordlaks, one of Norway’s largest salmon producers, which already owned a 4.77 per cent stake in the company, was the largest investor in the new round, buying shares worth $10 million. Another notable investor from the aquaculture world was Blue Future Holding, part of the group that owns AquaGen and GenoMar, which bought shares worth $4.65 million

Atlantic Sapphire’s board has also adopted an intention to carry out a subsequent offer of up to 20 million new shares with gross proceeds of up to $9.3 million.

The company intends to use the proceeds

Company News, Finance, India, Machinery – Post-harvesting, Trade

 As part of this acquisition, Mahindra fully bought out Omnivore’s stake in the business. This marks the agritech fund’s second exit in a little over six months.

 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) today signed definitive documents to increase its shareholding in MITRA Agro Equipments Private Limited (M.I.T.R.A) from the existing 47.33 per cent to 100 per cent, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M). As part of this acquisition, Mahindra fully bought out Omnivore’s stake in the business. This marks the agritech fund’s second exit in a little over six months. In August 2022, Omnivore exited aquatech startup Eruvaka after selling its stakes to Netherlands-based Nutreco.

Founded in 2012 by Devneet Bajaj, M.I.T.R.A is the Indian market leader in high precision orchard sprayers and a trusted brand for farmers growing fruits like grapes, pomegranate and oranges. The company has more than tripled its revenue from FY18 to FY22 and now employs over 200 people and has successfully started exporting its products globally. Post-acquisition by Mahindra, M.I.T.R.A plans to accelerate the expansion of its product portfolio alongside its network in India and overseas markets.

M.I.T.R.A was an early entrant in the then-nascent Indian agritech startup ecosystem. Omnivore, a venture capital firm that pioneered agritech investing in India, was one of its first institutional investors. M.I.T.R.A understood farmer needs and aspirations and built machines to automate labor-intensive farm jobs and save resources.

Dev Bajaj, Founder of M.I.T.R.A, said, “After eleven years of building a passionate team, more than ten innovative products, and a radical rural sales strategy, the journey of exiting M.I.T.R.A to M&M is gratifying. I am thankful to the M.I.T.R.A team and Omnivore for staunchly backing the vision of improving Indian agriculture with innovation.” Dev is now the Chief Strategy Officer of Dream Sports and heads one of India’s largest CVC funds, DreamCapital.

Mark Kahn, Managing Partner, Omnivore, said, “Ten years ago, Dev traded the American dream for a future building the Indian startup ecosystem, starting with M.I.T.R.A. Through Mahindra’s expansive dealer network, M.I.T.R. A’s cutting-edge technology will now be accessible to horticulture farmers across India. As the first institutional investor in the startup, this is a very proud moment for Omnivore and for agritech in India.”

Hemant Sikka, President of the Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “Mahindra aims to grow its farm machinery business by 10x in 5 years and is making rapid progress towards achieving this goal. The additional share purchase in M.I.T.R.A would aid Mahindra’s growth and expansion into the growing horticulture market.”

 As part of this acquisition, Mahindra fully

Acquaculture, Animal Health, Company News, Sustainability, World

The two companies are currently working on the next generation of halibut feed

Nordic Halibut has signed a three-year contract with halibut feed supplier Skretting. The agreed collaboration ensures stability and predictability for feed supply to cover the Company’s growth plan phase 1 of 4.500 tonnes of HOG production in 2026.

Nordic Halibut has worked closely with Skretting over several years to develop sustainable products with precise nutrition that are specialised for halibut. The two companies are currently working on the next generation of halibut feed.

We at Skretting are pleased about this long-term collaboration with Nordic Halibut. We have extensive experience with halibut feed, and now we will use our nutritional knowledge together with our extensive efforts for sustainability so that we can develop tomorrow’s halibut feed to be even more sustainable, says Martin Davidsen, sales manager at Skretting Norway

Nordic Halibut strives to sustain a high level of performance in the company’s ESG areas and to establish ambitious ESG targets to maintain sustainable production and local uplift communities. It is advantageous that the Skretting production facility is located at Averøy, near Nordic Halibut’s core production hub at Nordmøre contributing to minimising supply risk and reducing the environmental impact of transportation.

We believe that long-term cooperation is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. Working closely with Skretting will help us optimize the feed so that we can offer a premium quality product with a minimal footprint. Their ambitions in terms of quality and sustainability reflect ours. Therefore we choose to enter a new three-year partnership that ensures sufficient high-quality feed supply towards our production targets in 2026, says Edvard Henden CEO.

The two companies are currently working on

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, India

 NACL Multichem would be involved in the manufacturing of various agrochemicals, synthetic organic chemicals and fluorine-based chemicals with a production capacity of 264.615 TPD.

NACL Industries Limited’s (formerly known as Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited) subsidiary received environment clearance for establishing manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.

In an exchange filing, the agrochemicals major NACL announced that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted the environment clearance to NACL Multichem (a wholly owned subsidiary of the company) with respect to its proposed establishment of manufacturing facility at Ranastalam Mandal, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh.

The said facility would be involved in the manufacturing of various agrochemicals, synthetic organic chemicals and fluorine-based chemicals with a production capacity of 264.615 TPD and co-generation power plant (6 MW).

NACL Industries manufactures and exports crop protection technical (active ingredient) and formulations. It manufactures all kinds of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other plant growth chemicals. The company’s formulation business is mainly in the Indian market, and it sells through its large retail dealer network spread across India; it also has a range of branded formulations.

 NACL Multichem would be involved in the

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Sustainability

Narendra Singh Tomar holds bilateral meetings with the ministers of Guyana, Suriname, Zambia, Mauritius and Sri Lanka

Narendra Singh Tomar Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister held bilateral meetings with Agriculture Ministers of various countries participating in the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference. An MoU was also signed with the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations. 

Narendra Singh Tomar lauded the work of WFP in promoting food self-sufficiency and supporting governmental and global efforts to ensure long-term solutions to the challenge of hunger.

At the conference, Tomar also thanked the ministers for being a part of the global conference organised by India with the aim of promoting Shree Anna, under the International Year of Millets (IYM).

He said that the International Year of Millets is being celebrated so that the Indian Shree Anna, its recipes, and value-added products are accepted globally as a people’s movement. He hoped to further strengthen India’s agricultural ties with various countries.

During the global conference, the MoU between WFP and the Government of India for cooperation between 2023-2027 was signed in the presence of the Tomar Agriculture Minister. Manoj Juneja, Deputy Chief Executive Director, Management and Chief Financial Officer of UNWFP, and Elizabeth Faure, WFP Representative and Country Director in India were present.

Meanwhile, he held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries participating in the Global Millets Conference. In a meeting with Minister Zulfikar Mustafa, Guyana’s Agriculture Union Minister Tomar recalled the visit of Mohammad Irfan Ali, President of Guyana, and Bharat Jagdev, Vice-President of Guyana and said that agriculture is a very important area of cooperation between the two countries.

“India is keen to share its expertise and experience in the development of agriculture and allied sectors in Guyana, for which an MoU is under finalisation. He assured that Guyana’s request for the deputation of two experts to ITEC from India for three years to support the Guyana Sugar Corporation management and revive the sugar estates and plants in Guyana would be considered at the earliest,” said Tomar.

Apart from Guyana, Tomar also held meetings with his counterparts from Zambia, Suriname, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

Narendra Singh Tomar holds bilateral meetings with

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy, Animal Health, Dairy, Goat farming, India, Live Stock

 DAHD is also collaborating with Ministry of Rural Development to train more animal health workers/paravets.

During the second round of the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination drive, around 24 crore cattle and buffaloes in the country have now been covered out of a targeted population of 25.8 Crore Cattle (as per data furnished by the states); reaching a near universal coverage of over 95 per cent which is well beyond the herd immunity level. Reaching this milestone has been made possible due to the relentless efforts of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, State/ UT Governments/ administration, and most importantly the support of the livestock owners.

The program is 100 per cent funded by Government of India which is centrally procuring vaccines against FMD and supplying to States and is also providing for vaccination charges, accessories, awareness creation, cold chain infrastructure etc. to enable the States/ UTs to undertake vaccination in campaign mode. The livestock owners are sensitized and made aware through various information, education and communication measures to get their animals vaccinated and requested to contact the nearest livestock health workers/ veterinarians to avail the facility. DAHD is also collaborating with Ministry of Rural Development to train more animal health workers/paravets.

It is expected that with such continued efforts, the goal of controlling and eventually eradicating Foot & Mouth Disease from the country will be achieved which will also help in increasing the income of livestock farmers/ keepers and in boosting India’s trade in livestock products.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a major disease of livestock especially in cattle and buffaloes in India and causes huge economic loss to livestock owners due to a reduction in milk yield. To address the problem, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in 2019 which is now a part of Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme. The program aims to control Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) through vaccination leading to its eventual eradication by 2030. This will result in increased domestic production and ultimately in increased exports of livestock products. Currently under this program vaccination is carried out in all cattle and buffaloes.

 DAHD is also collaborating with Ministry of

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Foodgrains, India, Start ups

Under Global Shree Anna Conference 10 innovators were shortlisted and evaluated on parameters including novelty of idea, reach & scope of the products, financial stability amongst others.

‘AgLive 2023 – The Millet Challenge,’ aimed at making an impact by increasing interaction amongst millet-based innovators/entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders, was held as part of the Global Shree Anna Conference in New Delhi addressing issues and challenges specific to millets. Young entrepreneurs and innovators pitched their millet based innovative products and technologies before a distinguished Jury, comprising of Business leaders, Incubators and Investors to mobilize funding and secure potential incubation opportunities.

S Sivakumar, Chairman, CII Core Group on AgTech and Group Head, Agri & IT Businesses, ITC Ltd; Dr Neeru Bhooshan, Assistant Director General, Intellectual Property & Technology Management (IP&TM) ICAR; Prashant Parameswaran, Managing Director, Tata Consumer Soulfull Private Ltd; Subhadeep Sanyal, Partner, Omnivore Partners;  Emmanuel Murray, Investment Director, Caspian Impact Investment;  Gaurav Kumar, Director, Mandala Capital; Dr Mijanur Rahman, Director, R&D, PepsiCo; Ms Mahima Joshi, Senior Portfolio Analyst, Social Alpha; Mr Rohit Dhanda, AVP, Capital Markets & Strategic Alliance, Samunnati Financial Intermediation & Services Pvt. Ltd and Jagdeep Marahar, Managing Director and Head, Nestle R&D Centre India Pvt Ltd were eminent members of the Jury.

10 innovators from a pool of 50 applicants were shortlisted and were evaluated on parameters including novelty of idea, reach & scope of the products, financial stability amongst others. The winner AgroZee Organics Pvt Ltd focuses on providing a cost-effective and sustainable post-harvest storage solution for Farmers, Farmer Producer Companies, SHGs, and Entrepreneurs for optimizing moisture content and removal of insects in millets.

Some More Foods Pvt. Ltd, the First runner up, focuses on delivering nutritious functional food prepared by millets by replacing unhealthy ingredients in popular food products like noodles, pasta, sevai, cookies etc. with healthier ingredients. Grans’s Goodness, the Second runner up is a growing Made in India, food venture that offers millet-based, healthy, and nutritious food to health-conscious consumers.

Under Global Shree Anna Conference 10 innovators

Agrotech, Company News, E-commerce, Horticulture, India

Hyderabad is an important market for the Namdhari’s Group and the company plans to open 3 – 5 more Simpli Namdhari’s stores in the city by the end of 2024.

Simpli Namdhari’s, a vegetarian omnichannel retailer and a brand owned by the Namdhari’s Group, opened its first store in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills. With this store launch, Namdhari’s Group, an agribusiness with diversified offerings, plans to bring the seed-to-plate concept to Hyderabad and provide customers with an upgraded grocery shopping experience. From working with farmers at the grassroots to getting products store-ready for customers, the Group oversees every touchpoint ensuring the delivery of superior quality products. 

Hyderabad is an important market for the Namdhari’s Group and the company plans to open 3 – 5 more Simpli Namdhari’s stores in the city by the end of 2024. The company expects to generate a revenue of Rs 30 – 50 crore in the next 24 months depending on the number of outlets it adds in the coming years.

Namdhari’s Group is not new to the Telangana market. The Group has a well-established presence in the state with Namdhari’s Seeds being one of the largest seed producers and distributors in the state.  The company has vast experience in working with Telangana’s rural communities and farmers over the last 20 years. With its strong farmer connect, Namdhari’s is already procuring some of the fresh produce for the store in Hyderabad from within the state. The company has over 10,000 farmers in its network with over 15,000 dealer points and a global presence in 15 countries.

The 11,000 sq. ft retail space is designed specifically to complement the wide range of fresh and packaged products that will be available at the stores. A lot of thought has been put into making the in-store navigation and the overall shopping experience seamless. To emphasize the diversity of products on the shelves, this experience store has residue-free fruits & vegetables, staples & grains, oils to FMCG, dairy, beauty and home essentials among others.

Simpli Namdhari’s is not just a retailer but a big farm in the city. The produce available at the store is harvested from Namdhari’s own farms and is selected with seasonality and freshness in mind.

“With the launch of our flagship store in Hyderabad, Namdhari’s plans to bring the seed-to-plate concept to the city. The brand has a rich legacy of over 30 years and is well-known in the agribusiness space. It is this experience and expertise that we have harnessed into all our businesses. Majority of the vegetables and fruits we sell are produced within our control using both traditional and high-tech agricultural practices to ensure we offer safe-for-consumption and residue-free products. We want to focus on building our portfolio of differentiated products, bring our fresh produce to the city and offer quality experiences that keep our customers coming back for more. We want to grow from being a regional brand to a national one and the Hyderabad market is an important part of this growth strategy,” said Gurmukh Roopra, CEO, Namdhari’s Group, at the event of the store launch.

“As one of the largest vegetable seed players in Telangana, we want to leverage the brand and equity in Telangana’s rural communities and bring it to customers at the urban level. In this regard, we’ve tied up with rural cultivators — both hi-tech and open-field farmers, to cultivate crops using Namdhari’s seeds, which will be procured and sold in Simpli Namdhari’s outlets,” Gurmukh Roopra added. 

Hyderabad is an important market for the

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Company News, Environment, India, Sustainability

The two-year project will prioritize carbon sequestration to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases, thereby mitigating the impact of climate change on the farming community.

Zuari Farmhub Ltd (ZFHL) has announced a new research partnership with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) aimed to promote sustainable agricultural practices to improve farmer incomes in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.

The two-year project will prioritize carbon sequestration to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases, thereby mitigating the impact of climate change on the farming community. ​ The project will leverage ICRISAT’s world-class soil laboratory, which is accredited by the FAO, to develop science-led technologies using spatial data, modeling tools, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence.

The agreement was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Thursday by Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, and Madan Mohan Pandey, Managing Director of ZFHL, in Hyderabad, India. Both parties expressed their delight at the prospect of working together to develop innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of farmers in India.

“It is a privilege to partner with ICRISAT, one of the best international agricultural research institutes, for customized modern solutions that meet farmers’ needs. Dwindling organic content in soils, indiscriminate use of fertilizers and the lack of information are critical issues in Indian agriculture that require urgent attention,” said Pandey.

Dr Hughes said that the partnership would utilise the expertise of some of the world’s best soil researchers and cutting-edge scientific techniques to promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance farmer incomes but proof of concept is required.

“Seeing is believing. It is important for farmers to see the positive impact of improved soil on their crop yields and income before embracing new technologies,” said Dr Hughes.

In the first year of the project, ICRISAT will provide proof of concept of its science-led technologies to validate their effectiveness on improving soil for better crop yields and income. ​

“Artificial intelligence will be used extensively for pest and disease detection, and soil nutrient recommendations will consider farmers’ budgets and yield estimates,” said Dr ML Jat, Research Program Director, Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT.

Deputy Director General – Research ICRISAT, Dr Arvind Kumar applauded the new collaboration which he said was essential in scientific research for the integration of diverse perspectives, expertise, and data, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex and interconnected nature of soil systems.

The two-year project will prioritize carbon sequestration

Agrotech, Company News, Start ups, Sustainability, World

The platform is powered by Barchart’s leading ERP/grain accounting connectivity, which allows growers to easily access contracts and scale tickets, evaluate offers, monitor cash bids

Barchart, a leading provider of data, tools, and software to the global commodity industry, announces the release of Marketplace Desktop, an all-new online grower portal service that empowers agribusinesses to connect more effectively with growers and streamline grain trading workflows.  Each portal is customised for an agribusiness with its own branding, private grower access and data, and is included with a license to Barchart’s award-winning.   Marketplace Desktop and Apps increase engagement between growers and grain merchandisers by linking growers with cmdtyView–a grain merchandiser’s command centre to access and analyse the markets, manage offers, place hedges, issue contracts and manage customer relationships.

“Barchart’s mission is to provide agribusinesses with the technology solutions they need to operate more efficiently and build lasting relationships with their growers,” says Mark Haraburda, Barchart CEO.  “Due to overwhelming demand from clients, we’re confident our new online grower portals, which are customised for each client, will enhance producer communication, access and relationships,” added Haraburda.

The platform is powered by Barchart’s leading ERP/grain accounting connectivity, which allows growers to easily access contracts and scale tickets, evaluate offers, monitor cash bids, and follow breaking ag news all in one platform.  Users can also export their data allowing for simple integration into farm management software.

“As a leading provider of data and workflow solutions to the agribusiness community, Barchart is dedicated to empowering our clients with tools that enhance their accessibility of grain buying and selling,” said Mike Driscoll, Head of Commodity Sales at Barchart.  “With grain bid management solutions, branded Marketplace apps and desktop portals, and a best-in-class commodity trading and analytics platform – cmdtyView Pro, our comprehensive suite of agribusiness solutions enables our clients to grow their business and achieve their goals,” added Driscoll.

The platform is powered by Barchart's leading

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, India, Start ups

The objective of the G20-DIA is to identify, recognize, and enable the adoption of innovative and impactful digital technologies developed by startups, from G20 nations.

The Ministry for Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), the Nodal Ministry for the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) will be organising the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA) summit in August 2023 in Bangalore. The summit will be held on the sidelines of the DEWG meeting which will be a multi-day programme where top nominated startups from each of the theme areas from all of the G20 countries and the non-member invited countries will showcase their solutions to the global community of investors, mentors, corporates, and other government stakeholders.

The objective of the G20-DIA is to identify, recognize, and enable the adoption of innovative and impactful digital technologies developed by startups, from G20 nations as well as the invited non-member nations, which can address the needs of humanity in the critically important sectors of Agri-tech, Health-tech, Ed-tech, Fin-tech, Secured Digital Infrastructure, and Circular Economy.

Startup products in the aforementioned six themes enabled through Digital Public Goods Infrastructure can create a global population-scale impact and reduce the digital divide and enable sustainable, and inclusive techno-socio-economic development.

The engagement of innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, corporations, investors, mentors, and other ecosystem stakeholders will lead to the speedy acceptance of the platform that India plans to offer through the G20-DIA.

The G20-DIA Summit will bring together the key players in the innovation ecosystem from both G20 member countries and the invited non-member countries in order to recognise and support startups creating cutting-edge digital solutions in the six themes that bridge the digital divide between different segments of humanity and advance the world economy.

During India’s G20 presidency, MeitY’s focus is on three priority areas, namely Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Cyber Security, and Digital Skill Development, together with the Stay Safe Online campaign and DIA programme under the DEWG. MeitY aims to carry forward the vision of the digital transformation of the global digital economy for public service delivery through innovation and a future-ready digitally skilled workforce in a secure cyber environment.

The objective of the G20-DIA is to

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Horticulture, India, R&D, Sustainability

CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) to be set up at Bengaluru, Mango and Vegetables at Jaipur (Odisha) & Vegetables and Flowers at South Goa

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are being established in various States through Bilateral Cooperation or Research Institutes. These CoEs serve as demonstration and training centres for the latest technologies in the field of horticulture. These CoEs also serve as a source of planting material for fruits and vegetable seedlings for protected cultivation and are used for transfer of technology and knowhow in diverse areas, viz., Post-Harvest management, Irrigation and Fertigation, Plant protection, Introduction of New Varieties, Pollination etc.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has approved 49 CoEs till now, out of which the following 3 CoEs have been approved.

CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka at Experimental Station, Hirehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

CoE for Mango and Vegetables under Indo-Israel Action Plan at Panikoili, Jajpur District, Odisha.

CoE for Vegetables and Flowers under Indo-Israel Action Plan at Govt. Agricultural Farm, Codar, Khandepar, Ponda, South Goa, Goa.

CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) at Bengaluru, Karnataka Centre is to develop the latest production technology as per the international standard & off-season production and demonstration these technologies for high-yield production. The Centre will aim to achieve self-sustenance in Kamlam fruit production, value addition and enhance the economic development of the farming community.

CoE for Mango and Vegetables at Jajpur, Odisha Centre is to generate knowledge in nursery management, cultivation practices, and production of high quality & large quantities of planting material for mango and vegetable crops. The Centre will also focus on the demonstration of new varieties, Israeli Agro technology in irrigation, fertigation & Plant protection technologies along with precision Agriculture and post-harvest management technology. The Centre will prepare a training model based on the focused areas such as irrigation, fertigation, nursery, canopy & value chain for the benefit of farmers.

CoE for Vegetables and Flowers at Ponda, Goa Centre will focus on the demonstration of a Hi-tech nursery management system with advanced production technology through automated irrigation and fertigation system for the production of disease-free and healthy vegetable seedlings of improved varieties of vegetables and flowers suitable for Goa. The Centre will also strengthen infrastructure for the promotion of pre & post-harvest management of quality products and develop protocols/guidelines tailored to the local conditions in the CoE & farmer’s field as well.

CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) to be

Agrotech, Company News, Dairy, India, Packaging & Labelling

Known for high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions, SIG showcased and displayed several innovations – aseptic packaging solutions for portion sizes.

SIG, a leading player in aseptic and sustainable packaging solutions, presented a wide range of its products and sustainable solutions at the 49th Dairy Industry Conference organized by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA) in collaboration with Gujarat. The three-day conference began on March 16, 2023, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.   

Known for high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions, SIG showcased and displayed several innovations – aseptic packaging solutions for portion sizes; for example, the flagship CFA 1224 filling machine for combiblocXSlim with a capacity to fill up to 24,000 packs per hour and the flexibility to fill 9 volumes (80 ml to 200 ml) on the same filling machine.  

SIG also promoted family pack solutions that can be filled on SIG’s CFA 312 and CFA 812 filling machines, allowing multiple packaging formats and volume options (500 to 1.1 liter).  

SIG also showcased combismile, a premium portion size solution for dairy and juice products available with straw or closure – both versions with future-ready drinks plus the option to aseptically fill beverages with particulates in carton packs with various volume sizes (180 ml to 350 ml). SIG also displayed its most advanced high-tech filling machine SIG NEO, making its debut with the innovative combivita family pack available in three volume sizes (500, 750 and 1,000 ml). 

Vandana Tandan, Head of Markets for India, and Bangladesh at SIG said: “The dairy sector is one of the strongest sectors in India’s vast FMCG industry, undergoing impactful developments. SIG’s world-leading filling technology and wide range of specialized aseptic cartons in multiple sizes and formats, made using sustainably sourced materials, are uniquely positioned to support in the expansion of India’s dairy sector.”  

This year’s conference was the first post-pandemic physical meet themed on “Indian Dairy to the World: Opportunities & Challenges.” Leaders from the dairy industry, experienced farmers, milk producers, and exhibitors from across the country came together to discuss dairy trends, sustainability in the sector, climate change, nutrition, and health in India to make India the mecca of dairy innovations and solutions.   

Known for high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions,

Agrotech, Company News, India, IT, Sustainability

The new platform provides best-in-class digital infrastructure and ready-to-use agri-related capabilities from Bayer and breaks down data silos

Sonata Software, a leading Modernisation and Digital Engineering company has announced that it has been chosen as one of the TOP SI partners of the newly launched cloud solution developed by Bayer for the agri-food industry. With the required skills to implement the new cloud solution combined with its long-standing relationship with Microsoft, domain expertise and capabilities in data modernisation, Sonata Software is well-poised to accelerate its ability to bring new value and deliver outcomes-based, digitally enabled solutions to Agri customers globally. 

The one-of-a-kind B2B platform offers a cloud-based infrastructure and ready-to-use digital capabilities, available for businesses and organisations from start-ups to global enterprises to license and build on for their own internal or customer-facing digital solutions. It connects agricultural data and services, makes them accessible and drives traceability along the whole food production value chain.

The new platform provides best-in-class digital infrastructure and ready-to-use agri-related capabilities from Bayer and breaks down data silos. The platform supports an ecosystem where grocery producers can track sustainability data for agricultural produce, including the data in their digital processes and reporting and pass it on to their retail partners. This end-to-end traceability enables consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions based on origin. It thus has the potential to support sustainable agriculture and food production, ultimately benefiting companies, farmers, consumers and the planet.

The solution will benefit farmers seeking to track carbon emission and capture, track disease, pest and weed pressure, apply precision inputs, identify crop growth and production patterns, measure potential yield, and analyse heat stress impact, rainfall, hail and weather data.

“We are excited to be the Global SI partner for this Agri-Solution. Through our deep technical knowledge and long-standing experience in the agri-food industry, Sonata is well-positioned to help customers leverage the benefits of a one-of-a-kind B2B platform. We look forward to enabling businesses to drive greater efficiency and sustainability in their operations, ultimately benefiting the entire food production value chain,” said Rajsekhar Datta Roy, CTO, of Sonata Software.

“At Bayer, we are committed to addressing the global challenges of food security, and we believe technology can play a critical role in achieving this goal. The industry’s new cloud-based enterprise solutions, developed in partnership with Microsoft, harness the power of AI and analytics to enable more sustainable and efficient agriculture, accelerate speed to value for industry innovators, and provide farmers with better solutions and more options to connect with food and ag value chains,” said Ines Kapphan, VP Data & Cloud Solutions, Climate and Digital Farming, Bayer’s Crop Science Division.

The new platform provides best-in-class digital infrastructure