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Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, Company News, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, World

John Deere Operations Center™ and Yara’s Atfarm digital platform will provide farmers with tailored crop nutrition recommendations rooted in agronomic precision to ensure crops receive the right amount of nutrients.

 John Deere and Yara have joined forces to launch a partnership that will combine Yara’s agronomic expertise with John Deere’s precision technology and advanced machinery. The partnership will enable farmers to increase yields and optimize fertilizer use, helping them contribute to the ambition of the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

To be able to produce more efficiently and sustainably, farmers need high-quality, actionable data and the technology to put these insights into practice. This is where digital farming will play a big role in helping farmers optimize the productivity of their fields. To further this vision, the advanced connectivity between the John Deere Operations Center™ and Yara’s Atfarm digital platform will provide farmers with tailored crop nutrition recommendations rooted in agronomic precision to ensure crops receive the right amount of nutrients where and when needed.

Partnering to make every nutrient count

The Atfarm platform uses Yara’s proprietary optimized index, which enables farmers to monitor the biomass development of their crops and nitrogen uptake throughout the season and access field specific variable rate application maps. This data can be seamlessly shared as a WorkPlan with the John Deere Operations Center™. Farmers can add operational details and wirelessly synchronize the plans, including prescriptions, to any machine featuring the John Deere Gen4 or G5 Display.

As executing variable rate maps is often perceived as complicated, this John Deere Yara solution makes it much easier, supporting farmers in producing more yield with less input. Through Yara’s agronomic advice, trials show that farmers can achieve up to seven percent yield increase while securing up to 14 percent Nitrogen savings in fertilizer use.

The new connectivity will be piloted from spring 2024 to a group of farmers in Germany, France, and the UK. In addition, Yara and John Deere will continue to collaborate on additional opportunities to further improve nutrient use efficiency for farmers.

Unique combination of expertise

“Achieving the ambitious goal of the Farm to Fork Strategy to reduce nutrient losses by 50% in 2030 requires the industry to work together. Through partnering with John Deere, farmers will be able to use our recommendations in an easy, practical way. This contributes to more sustainable food production without adding complexity for farmers,” says James Craske, VP Digital Solutions Europe at Yara International.

Katharina Nies, Marketing Manager Precision Ag at John Deere highlights: “For Small Grain Producers, crop nutrition is one of the largest opportunities for optimization. We are excited to partner with Yara, as this is a unique combination of science-based fertilization recommendations together with John Deere’s connected, highly precise & intelligent machines. With that farmers can achieve highest levels of nutrient use efficiency.”

John Deere Operations Center™ and Yara’s Atfarm

AgroPolicy, Dairy, Live Stock, R&D

Yak Churpi, a naturally fermented milk product made from yak milk

Churpi is prepared from the milk of Arunachali yak, which is a unique yak breed found in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Yak Churpi, a naturally fermented milk product made from yak milk, has been given recognition as a Geographical Indication (GI) of Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr Mihir Sarkar, Director, ICAR- National Research Centre on Yak said it is a major boost to the pastoral production systems and yak rearing in the country.

Churpi is an excellent source of proteins and is frequently used as a substitute for vegetables by tribal yak herders in the vegetation-starved cold and hilly mountainous regions of the state. It is also mixed in vegetable or meat curry and is eaten with rice as a staple food in tribal households. It is considered an integral part of the tangible cultural and tribal heritage of Arunachal Pradesh- says Sarkar.  

Arunachali yak breed is reared by tribal yak pastoralists known as Brokpas who migrate along with their yaks to higher reaches (at an altitude of 10,000 ft and higher) during summers and descent to mid-altitude mountainous regions during winters. Since the product is prepared at such a high altitude, it is also expected to provide benefits to the tribal herders against cold and hypoxia besides providing enriched nutrition, Dr Vijay Paul, Principal Scientist of NRC-Yak who was associated with the GI application process informed.

ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak, Dirang applied for registration of this unique yak product.  The institute is closely working with the Brokpas rearing Arunachali yaks and is helping them through research and extension support. The services rendered by the institute assume greater significance in light of the fact that the yak population throughout the country has been declining at a fast pace due to enormous hardships and dwindling gains associated with pastoral yak rearing. The registration of yak Churpi of Arunachal Pradesh as a GI is going to serve the cause of yak conservation and yak pastoralists’ socio-economic upliftment.

Yak Churpi, a naturally fermented milk product

Company News, World

The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) assesses the 2,000 most influential companies across industries on their performance and contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

FMC Corporation has been recognised as a leader in the World Benchmarking Alliance’s 2023 Nature Benchmark. The company ranked 23rd out of 350 companies in the food and agriculture sector and 6th in the agricultural inputs segment.

The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) assesses the 2,000 most influential companies across industries on their performance and contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 2023 Nature Benchmark ranked companies’ efforts to protect the environment and its biodiversity, including the protection and restoration of vital ecosystems.

“At FMC, we see our efforts to protect biodiversity and the environment as mission critical,” said Julie DiNatale, vice president and chief sustainability officer. “We are excited that our ranking by WBA reflects our hard work in this space and we will continue to partner with farmers and across the food and agriculture value chain to drive improvements that benefit generations to come.”

FMC continues to make strong progress on its net-zero and waste-to-beneficial reuse goals. Material circularity is a key priority for the company’s operating sites around the globe, which has collectively increased the company’s waste-to-waste-to-beneficial by nearly 70 per cent in 2023. FMC was also recognised for its strong governance around sustainability, notably its inclusion of key sustainability targets in executive compensation.

The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) assesses the 2,000

Agrotech, India, Nature, R&D, Water

This pioneering technology harnesses the power of nature to produce Plasma-sized WaterTM using water and electricity, offering a multitude of benefits to the agricultural sector.

Plasma Water Solutions (I) Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plasma Water Solutions Inc., USA, announced a momentous partnership aimed at transforming agriculture in Uttar Pradesh. In collaboration with UPDASP (Uttar Pradesh Diversified Support Program) and UP Horticulture, Department of Agriculture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Plasma Waters unveiled a ground-breaking Plasma-ized  Water Technology Demonstration. This pioneering technology harnesses the power of nature to produce Plasma-ized  WaterTM using water and electricity, offering a multitude of benefits to the agricultural sector. The solution is aimed at productivity enhancement and considerable reduction of chemical usage through technology and innovation.

The official inauguration of this technology happened today, at Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. The event was graced by Chief Guest  Manoj Kumar Singh, IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner, and Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with his esteemed team comprising the UP DASP Technical Coordinator, UP Horticulture Director, and the global and Indian teams from Plasma Waters.

Plasma-ized WaterTM represents a significant advancement in agricultural practices, as it signals the genetic pathways and circuits in all crop plants, leading to faster and more efficient germination accelerating growth, preventing the transmission of pathogens and enhancing stress tolerance ultimately leading to increased productivity and higher crop quality. It is a game-changing natural solution for plant health drastically reducing the dependence on chemicals, fostering sustainable farming practices. This sustainable and nature-inspired approach to farming aligns perfectly with the vision of Uttar Pradesh for its farmers.

 Manoj Kumar Singh, IAS, said, “This partnership signifies a major milestone and a strong commitment within our community to drive growth, spur innovation, and encourage collaboration throughout the region.”

“Our purpose is enabling food security in the era of climate change which requires the collective efforts of agtech companies like ours, Government, farmers & other key stakeholders of the Ag ecosystem. India being one of the largest global agrarian economies and UP being its largest state, are of vital importance for us to achieve our vision”, said, Jerry Zuchowicki, CRO, Plasma Water Solutions Inc. USA.

Adding to that Pragya Kalia, Managing Director of Plasma Water Solutions (I) Pvt. Ltd, India, commented, “We are honored to introduce Plasma-ized WaterTM technology to the agricultural community in Uttar Pradesh. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize farming practices, aligning perfectly with the state’s vision for sustainable and productive agriculture.”

This pioneering technology harnesses the power of

Company News, India, Oilseeds, Sustainability

The company has already acquired 75 acres of land in Nallajerla Mandal for setting up its greenfield integrated Oil Palm Processing complex.

3F Oil Palm, one of India’s leading oil palm companies, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) for the sustainable development of farmers in the state with a significant investment of Rs 550 Crores in Oil Palm cultivation. The MoU was signed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Sanjay Goenka, Managing Director and CEO, of 3F Oil Palm.

This landmark investment reaffirms 3F Oil Palm’s commitment to fostering economic growth, empowering local communities, and promoting environmentally responsible agricultural practices in the Oil Palm industry.

During the MoU signing, Kakani Govardhan Reddy, State Agriculture Minister, and Gudivada Amarnath, Minister for Industries, Infrastructure, Investment, and Information Technology, were also present.

3F Oil Palm was the first company to commence operations in the state and has since developed more than 25,000 hectares of plantations, bringing together more than 50,000 farming families. 

The strategic partnership is expected to contribute significantly to the development of the region as it will help empower existing Oil Palm farmers as well as bring in new prospective farmers into the fold of Oil Palm cultivation. 3F Oil Palm will invest in nursery activities, area expansion, crop maintenance, farmer services, fresh fruit bunches (FFB) collection and handling, R&D facilities, and a green field integrated palm oil processing complex in Ayyavaram village, Nallajerla Mandal, East Godavari.

Due to 3F Oil Palm’s continued investment in the Oil Palm plantation space, the company has been allotted an additional 24 zones in the five districts of Tirupati, Chittoor, Guntur, Nandyal and Krishna with a potential area of over 1,00,000 Ha.

A senior state government official, said: “Palm oil cultivation in Andhra Pradesh stands as a beacon of economic empowerment, contributing over 85 per cent of India’s production. It is a vital engine of growth, helps in reducing import dependency, creating jobs, and fostering prosperity in rural communities. This sector not only fuels GDP but also elevates the lives of farmers by way of increased farmer income. We are positive that this groundbreaking project will revolutionise the oil palm cultivation landscape of the state.”

Sanjay Goenka, Managing Director and CEO, 3F Oil Palm, said, “We are enthusiastic to embark on this transformative journey with the farmers of Andhra Pradesh. Our milestone investment of Rs. 550 crore not only signifies our confidence in the potential of the region but also our commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. Together, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders. We are particularly elated as this MoU reaffirms the state government’s trust in our ability to deliver on our promise, to empower our farmers to make India self-reliant in Edible Oils.”

3F Oil Palm currently operates in the states of Karnataka, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, other than Andhra Pradesh, with a cultivation area spread over more than 55,000 hectares and five processing units.

The company has already acquired 75 acres

India, Sustainability

Representatives of women working under Umed from 34 districts across the state attended the event with samples of their produce or farm produce

A state-level ‘Buyer Seller Meet’ was organised at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Navi Mumbai by Umed – Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission. The innovative program ‘Buyer Seller Meet’ implemented by Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission to reach out to big companies and buyers will be a milestone. The meet will provide a sustainable market for women’s agricultural and non-agricultural products of Umed Self Help Group. This innovative initiative has received a great response expressed Eknath Dawle, Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department.

28 agreements were concluded in the presence of representatives of 41 leading chain business companies across the country and representatives of self-help groups and farmers’ women producers’ companies from across the state.

Dawle said, “The Rural Development Department is helping rural women in many ways to become financially independent to make them self-reliant through Umed Abhiyaan. Our women’s products are classy and the best in quality. Now they need to get a permanent market.”

The Principal Secretary appealed to professionals and big companies to come forward and contribute to empowering these women.

Since agriculture is the main occupation of Umed women in rural areas, the main objective of the program was to purchase the agro-based products produced by them in wholesale quantities by different companies or chain traders to get good returns to the farmers. Representatives of women working under Umed from 34 districts across the state attended the event with samples of their produce or farm produce.

In this meet, quality grains and pulses like soybean, chilli, turmeric, tur, gram, maize, millet, ragi, sorghum, spices, jaggery, honey, fruits, herbs, oilseeds etc. products were made available in sample form. Representatives of more than 30 organisations and companies were present as buyers. Buyers’ organisations and representatives of companies showed enthusiasm to sign contracts because of the availability of organic and pure products by women. The interest shown by the buyers in this program will help the women to have a sustainable market in the future.

Representatives of women working under Umed from

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Supply Chain

As a part of Govt of India’s initiative for market intervention to control the retail price of rice, wheat and atta, weekly e-auctions of both wheat and rice are organised

A total of 1.89 LMT wheat and 0.05 LMT rice were sold to 2255 bidders during the 15th e-auction under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS[D]). A quantity of 2.01 LMT wheat from 481 depots and 4.87 LMT rice from 264 depots were offered from across the country.

As a part of Govt of India’s initiative for market intervention to control the retail price of rice, wheat and atta, weekly e-auctions of both wheat and rice are organised. In the e-auction, 2447 empanelled buyers participated for both wheat and rice.

The weighted average selling price was Rs. 2185.05/qtl for FAQ wheat against the reserve price of Rs. 2150/qtl Pan India whereas the weighted average selling price of URS wheat was Rs. 2193.12/qtl against the reserve price of Rs. 2125/qtl.

The weighted average selling price was Rs. 2932.91/qtl for rice against the reserve price of Rs. 2932.83/qtl Pan India.

In the current tranche of e-auctions, the reduction in retail price is being targeted by offering 10 to 100 tons maximum for a buyer for wheat and 10 to 1000 tons for rice. This decision is to encourage small and marginal end users and to ensure that more participants could come forward and bid for the quantity from their depot of choice.

In order to avoid hoarding of stocks traders were kept out from the ambit of wheat sale under OMSS (D) and regular checks/inspections are being made at the Flour Mills of the processors who have purchased wheat under OMSS (D). Till 04.10.23 1229 checks across the country have been made.

As a part of Govt of India's

Agri Genomics, Agro Universities, Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D

With this collaboration, three high-quality platinum-grade genome assemblies have emerged, representing the active global breeding germplasm.

In an era marked by growing global population and climate change concerns, a collaborative research project between Corteva Agriscience, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was undertaken. The research has achieved a significant milestone by resequencing pearl millet genomes. This innovative approach has led to the development of new molecular markers, opening the door to creating millet cultivars with exceptional yield performance and improved nutritional quality.

Until now, the world of millet lacked reliable DNA markers. However, with this collaboration, three high-quality platinum-grade genome assemblies have emerged, representing the active global breeding germplasm. This remarkable achievement represents a 7000-fold improvement over previously published data. These newly identified DNA markers provide an invaluable roadmap for enhancing pearl millet productivity on a global scale, with far-reaching implications for addressing food security challenges.

At this pivotal juncture, the timing of this research is particularly important, given the recent G20 conversations on finding solutions to address food security and nutritional security, with millets being recognized as a key crop due to their exceptional nutrition and climate resilience. Moreover, with 2023 being recognized as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations General Assembly, further underscores the importance of millets in the face of global climate change.

This collaborative breakthrough promises to play a pivotal role in sustainable food production and nutritional security. The fidelity of the long-read sequences and improved resolution of haplotypes provided by these platinum-grade genome assemblies will aid in understanding the genomic distinctions characterizing global heterotic gene pools in pearl millet. This research also identifies structural variations that can be used to investigate traits related to heterosis, such as fertility restoration, disease resistance, and agronomy.

Furthermore, gene annotation and enrichment analyses revealed that the millet genome is enriched with cysteine and methionine coding genes, aligning with previous findings of higher amino acid concentrations in pearl millet compared to legumes such as pigeon peas and chickpeas. This discovery highlights the potential of millets and legumes as complementary components of a balanced diet to combat malnutrition.

As we navigate the challenges of global food security and climate change, the collaborative efforts of Corteva Agriscience, ICRISAT, and ICAR have illuminated a promising path forward. By harnessing the power of genomics, this research opens new doors for sustainable agriculture, healthier diets, and enhanced food security on a global scale.

With this collaboration, three high-quality platinum-grade genome

Company News, World

This new facility will create one of the world’s largest industrial sites dedicated to insects in the Ardennes

Agronutris, a French biotech company specialising in breeding and processing insects for food, has decided to locate its second industrial site in Rethel, right next to its first plant. This new facility will create one of the world’s largest industrial sites dedicated to insects in the Ardennes.

In June, the elected representatives of the Pays Rethélois local council community voted unanimously to sell the 10 ha of land housing the second plant. The two plants will now cover a total surface area of 56,000 m2 on a site covering almost 20 ha. Ultimately, the site will process more than 280,000 tonnes of by-products and bio-residues from the local area, producing almost 30,000 tonnes of insect meal. It will also create 200 direct jobs in the region over the next few years.

“Situated at the crossroads of Europe, the Ardennes have an optimal logistical network and significant sources of the inputs we need to feed our insects. The creation of this large-scale industrial site, with two plants in close proximity to each other, will create strong operational synergies and ensure continuity in our deployment,” explains Mehdi Berrada, co-founder of Agronutris.

Agronutris raised €100 million in 2021 to finance the construction of its first 16,000 m2 plant in Rethel. The plant, which will employ 60 people by the end of the year, was built in a record time of 18 months.

This new facility will create one of

AgroPolicy, India, Sustainability, Trade

Turmeric exports from India expected to rise to $1 billion by 2030

The Government of India notified the constitution of the National Turmeric Board. The National Turmeric Board will focus on the development and growth of turmeric and turmeric products in the country.

The National Turmeric Board will provide leadership on turmeric-related matters, augment the efforts, and facilitate greater coordination with the Spices Board and other Government agencies in the development and growth of the turmeric sector.

There is significant potential and interest worldwide in the health and wellness benefits of turmeric, which the Board will leverage to further increase awareness and consumption, develop new markets internationally to increase exports, promote research and development into new products, and develop our traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products. It will especially focus on capacity building and skill development of turmeric growers for harnessing greater benefits out of value addition. The Board will also promote quality and food safety standards and adherence to such standards. The Board will also take steps to further safeguard and usefully exploit turmeric’s full potential for humanity.

The activities of the Board will contribute towards greater well-being and prosperity of the turmeric growers through their focussed and dedicated attention to the sector and the larger value addition closer to the farms, which would provide better realisation to the growers for their produce. The Board’s activities in research, market development, increasing consumption, and value addition will also ensure that our growers and processors continue to maintain their pre-eminent position in the global markets as exporters of high-quality turmeric and turmeric products.

The Board shall have a Chairperson to be appointed by the Central Government, members from the Ministry of AYUSH, Departments of Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Commerce & Industry of the Union Government, senior State Government representatives from three states (on a rotation basis), select national/state institutions involved in research, representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters, and have a Secretary to be appointed by the Department of Commerce.

India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. In the year 2022-23, an area of 3.24 lakh ha was under turmeric cultivation in India with a production of 11.61 lakh tonnes (over 75 per cent of global turmeric production). More than 30 varieties of Turmeric are grown in India and it is grown in over 20 states in the country. The largest producing states of Turmeric are Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

India has more than 62 per cent share of world trade in turmeric. During 2022-23, 1.534 lakh tonnes of turmeric and turmeric products valued at $207.45 million were exported by more than 380 exporters The leading export markets for Indian Turmeric are Bangladesh, UAE, USA and Malaysia. With the focused activities of the Board, it is expected that turmeric exports will reach $1 Billion by 2030.

Turmeric exports from India expected to rise

Agrotech, Company News, India, IT, Pulses, Supply Chain

Arya.ag will help Commodities Control receive real-time insights into crop conditions of Toor in 28 districts of Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh & Telangana.

Arya.ag, India’s largest and only profitable grain commerce platform, announced its recent partnership with commoditiescontrol.com, owned by CC commodity info services LLP. Under this partnership, Arya.ag will provide comprehensive crop monitoring services to Commodities Control, a premier destination for in-depth commodity news, insights, and research in India.

Arya.ag’s advanced satellite surveillance product, Prakshep, will be instrumental in monitoring the health and progress of Toor crops in specified districts of Commodities Control. Through its state-of-the-art satellite imagery, Arya.ag will help Commodities Control receive real-time insights into crop conditions of Toor in 28 districts of Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh & Telangana.

Commodities Control will gain the ability to remotely scout its monitored districts, enabling them to detect anomalies and closely monitor farm growth. These valuable insights, including dynamic data, rich datasets, detailed maps, and comprehensive agricultural data, will be conveniently accessible through web and mobile applications provided by Arya.ag.

Commodities Control stands to benefit from a wealth of information. This data will be made accessible through enriched and secure APIs tailored to the subscribed districts, where cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools will be at the centre of this offering.

“This partnership with Commodities Control represents a step towards sustainable agriculture and responsible resource management. We provide them with the tools and insights they need to optimise their crop monitoring efforts. Our satellite surveillance technology and AI-powered solutions empower agri-stakeholders to make timely and informed decisions,” said Chattanathan D. of Arya.ag.

Arya.ag harnesses a multitude of data sources, spanning satellite imagery, weather information, market dynamics, and on-ground images. This comprehensive data ecosystem enables Arya.ag to monitor thousands of demonstration plots, track crop development, and identify both biological and environmental stress factors. As part of this partnership, Arya.ag will integrate farm and village analytics, offering users in-depth insights into farm performance. The data provided by Arya.ag will significantly elevate the quality of CC Commodities’ information services, enabling them to offer more comprehensive and insightful agricultural solutions.

“We are excited to formalise a partnership with Arya.ag through this venture, which marks a significant step towards modernising crop monitoring in the agricultural sector,” said Rajendra Daga, Managing Partner at Commodities Control. “Arya.ag’s advanced satellite surveillance technology and artificial intelligence tools will enhance our ability to monitor and manage Toor crops effectively. This partnership aligns with our commitment to providing state-of-the-art agricultural solutions and will greatly benefit stakeholders across the regions we serve.”

This partnership underscores both companies’ dedication to innovation and their shared vision of advancing agriculture through cutting-edge technology. As Arya.ag and Commodities Control join forces, they are set to make a positive impact on crop monitoring and agricultural management.

Arya.ag will help Commodities Control receive real-time

Agro Universities, Biofuel industry, India, R&D

Ammonia is one of the key elements in the fertilizer industry as well as in paper, textile, and rubber industries.

Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur researcher Dr. Amitava Banerjee along with his team has identified promising single-atom catalysts for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR) required for the synthesis of “Green Ammonia”.  At present, the conventional process of synthesizing green ammonia has an enormous carbon footprint, as it emits 3 per cent of global carbon dioxide and consumes 2 per cent of the world’s total energy production. Electrochemical synthesis route could be a vital choice for its synthesis, where Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR) is one of the hardest reactions to carry out due to the strong N-N triple bond coupled with poor nitrogen adsorption on many catalysts and presence of competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. So, the researchers focused on electrochemical NRR in order to synthesize “Green Ammonia”.

Currently, the team is focusing on the design of electrocatalysts for green ammonia and green urea production. Both will have less, or negligible carbon footprint compared to existing conventional processes. Urea is a vital compound for societal development and the high presence of 46 per cent nitrogen (by weight) makes it a major player of the fertilizer industry. Ammonia is also one of the key elements in the fertilizer industry as well as in paper, textile, rubber industries. Moreover, it could be a potential carrier for hydrogen for easy transportation and storage of the fuel, which may speed up the hydrogen economy in our country by utilizing the existing ammonia pipelines.

Talking about the significance of the research, Dr. Amitava Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, IIT Jodhpur, said, “The recent surge in interest in the electrochemical synthesis of NH₃ has highlighted the inadequacy of Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR) catalysts. So, our group’s primary objective is to computationally design the NRR catalysts and providing insight for the experimentally obtained NRR catalytic mechanism.”

He further added, “Our research methodology includes in-depth understanding of density functional theory-based tools in combination of high-throughput structural search and materials informatics. So that we can cover efficiently a vast composition space as well as corresponding materials structures. No doubt this atomistic design insight will reduce the experimental time as well as resource-expenditures for searching suitable NRR catalysts.”

Ammonia is one of the key elements

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, Company News, Finance, Middle East countries, Organic

Aims to revolutionise agriculture, address environmental challenges and promote sustainability.

Uterra Middle East Agro Industries is investing USD 20 million in the next three years for the construction and development of Ras Al Khaimah’s (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) first organic soil fertiliser project, which aims to revolutionise agriculture, address environmental challenges and promote sustainability.

A part of a multi-national UniPax Investment Group, Uterra has acquired a land plot of approximately 33,000 m2 in Al Ghail Industrial Zone to build a sustainable biosphere cluster. At the new facility, the company will produce high-efficiency micro-biological organic fertiliser for agriculture and carry out research and scientific work on the creation of unique methods of cultivating plants, medicinal and valuable fungi. The company will also be farming fruits, vegetables and berries, both indoors and outdoors, and conduct organic animal husbandry.

The Uterra project implementation in the UAE aims to address several key objectives. First, it aims to produce and implement highly efficient and profitable organic fertilisers in both the UAE and the global markets. Second, the project aims to ensure that the residents of the region have access to sufficient quantities of high-quality, environment-friendly products. The ‘uTerra’ branded products will be developed without the use of pesticides. Additionally, they will have zero amount of harmful chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), promoting natural and healthy food sources. This will not only positively affect people’s health, but also reduce depletion of valuable soil resources.

According to UniPax owner and Uterra founder Dr Anatoli Unitsky, the decision to establish his company’s operations in Ras Al Khaimah was influenced by several factors. “I am greatly impressed with Ras Al Khaimah’s vision for turning the emirate into a regional leader of socio-economic development. As for the location, the emirate offers convenient logistical solutions and the launch of Etihad Rail will also open up new possibilities. Additionally, the RAKEZ team has provided excellent support with all procedures of our new set-up, from the acquisition of our facility space to assistance in bank account opening.”

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We are thrilled to welcome Uterra into our diverse business ecosystem. We, at RAKEZ, are big supporters of innovation and sustainability in all aspects of business and Uterra’s plans align perfectly. By developing organic soil fertilisers, Uterra is not only providing a solution for environmental challenges, but also fostering a more sustainable agriculture sector in Ras Al Khaimah. This resonates with our commitment to the Year of Sustainability, facilitating more and more businesses that contribute towards a greener future. It’s not only about economic growth, but also about growing responsibly.”

Aims to revolutionise agriculture, address environmental challenges

Company News, Finance, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during September 2023 were at 43,210 units, as against 48,713 units for the same period last year.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group, has announced its tractor sales numbers for September 2023.Domestic sales in September 2023 were at 42,034 units, as against 47,100 units during September 2022. Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during September 2023 were at 43,210 units, as against 48,713 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 1,176 units.

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said “We have sold 42,034 tractors in the domestic market during September 2023. Smart recovery in Kharif sowing with more than 110 million hectares and the start of festive fervour is expected to bring positive sentiments among the farmers. Normal rains in September have helped overall monsoon to achieve near normal levels and this will help in Rabi sowing, especially in Central, Northern and Western regions of the country. In the exports market, we have sold 1,176 tractors.”

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during