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Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, Company News, India, Sustainability

To kickstart this comprehensive approach, a pilot program is underway, integrating 500 farmers in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh into the Zinc Wheat value chain.

Yara India, a subsidiary of Yara International and the world’s leading crop nutrition company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HarvestPlus Solutions (HPS). HPS’s objective is to seamlessly incorporate nutrient-rich seeds and foods into global agricultural systems, empowering vulnerable communities to boost their intake of essential vitamins and minerals.

Together they are committed to the successful implementation of the project “Establishing Nutri-Farms with Smallholder Farmers in India.”  To kickstart this comprehensive approach, a pilot program is underway, integrating 500 farmers in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh into the Zinc Wheat value chain. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of the approach, with the ultimate aim of expanding its reach to benefit a larger number of farmers and communities in the future.

The strategic partnership seeks to transform food systems through a focus on delivering nutritious food to all individuals, with a special emphasis on vulnerable communities. The project employs a comprehensive approach that combines the use of biofortified seeds with capacity strengthening of farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), including efficient nutrient management. This approach aims to enhance farm productivity and bolster farmers’ resilience toward food and nutrition security.

In ensuring a sustainable supply chain, the project facilitates the connection of farmers to relevant markets, enabling them to access businesses in the biofortified value chain. This not only contributes to improved food quality but also positively impacts the income and livelihoods of farmers. Additionally, the project fosters collaboration with public sector stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the adoption of nutrition-smart agricultural techniques.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia said, “We are delighted to collaborate with HarvestPlus Solutions on a transformative journey towards nutritional security, focusing on sustainable solutions to shape a nature positive food future. Our partnership focuses on enhancing farm productivity, improving food quality, uplift farmer livelihoods and revolutionize food systems for a healthier and more resilient future.

Ravinder Grover, Regional Coordinator – Asia, HarvestPlus said,” “We are excited to join hands with Yara India to set up nutrition smart farms in India. By combining our expertise, we aim to introduce innovative bundles that promote sustainable farming practices and enhance crop nutrition and yield. This collaboration stands as a testament to our shared dedication to building a healthier, more resilient future for communities around the world.”

To kickstart this comprehensive approach, a pilot

Company News, India, Sugar industry

Company aims to clock a revenue of Rs 120 crores per annum in the segment.

Bengaluru based Sunpure, South India’s largest edible oil brand, today announced its foray into a new product category – packaged jaggery. Sunpure Jaggery Powder and Sunpure Jaggery Block (available in 500g packs) have been launched in Bengaluru and Mumbai, as a part of the company’s vision to become India’s favourite food brand that advocates chemical & preservative-free healthy living. The company will introduce the new products to all its existing markets across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa and Tamil Nadu over the next one month.

MK Agrotech, the parent company of Sunpure, is a Karnataka-based organisation known for bringing together the best of technology and tradition in the food space. The company has ambitious plans to become a Pan-India FMCG brand that empowers Indian consumers to embrace healthy living. Given that Indian consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and looking to replace refined, white sugar in their diets with a healthier alternative, the company decided to venture into the new segment with Sunpure Jaggery.

The packaged jaggery market in India touched Rs 55.6 billion in 2022, as per market reports. By 2028, it is expected to reach Rs 122.1 billion, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1 per cent during the five-year period. Sunpure aims to clock a revenue of Rs 120 crores per annum in the segment. In Mumbai, the products have been launched under Riso Jaggery powder and Riso Jaggery block. In February this year, Sunpure had acquired Riso, a premium edible oil brand in Maharashtra to strengthen its position in the Western market.

Commenting on the product launch, Sridhar Vaidyanathan, Chief Operating Officer, MK Agrotech, said, “India is one of the leading exporters of jaggery in the world and the domestic market for packaged jaggery is ripe for disruption. With mounting health concerns due to growing incidence of diabetes, heart diseases and obesity-related issues, more and more Indian consumers today are replacing white sugar with jaggery, an unrefined natural sweetener made from sugarcane juice. What’s more, jaggery also offers numerous nutritional benefits, making it a healthy addition to the household pantry staples.”

Company aims to clock a revenue of

Dairy, India, Interaction, Live Stock

Conference aims to enhance the income and livelihood of dairy farmers in Vidarbha and explore the new opportunities in dairy sector.

Central India’s largest agricultural exhibition, Agrovision – 2023, an important vehicle for agricultural transformation in Vidarbha, is being organised from November 24 to 27 at PDKV Ground, Dabha, Nagpur. The theme of this year’s summit is “Sustainable Farming Through Skilling and Technology”. Agrovision India showcases the best of innovations, technologies, new products and services in the agricultural sector.

India is a global leader in the dairy sector, producing and consuming more milk than any other country. Dairy farming is a vital source of income and nutrition for millions of farmers in India. However, the demand for milk and milk products is growing faster than the supply, especially in urban areas. This creates a challenge and an opportunity for the dairy sector to increase its productivity, quality, and value addition.

One of the regions that has a huge potential and opportunity for dairy development is Vidarbha. However, the dairy sector in Vidarbha faces various challenges such as lack of awareness, infrastructure, market linkages, processing facilities, etc.

To overcome these challenges and to enhance the income and livelihood of dairy farmers in Vidarbha, several initiatives have been taken by various stakeholders such as government, NGOs, cooperatives, private players, etc.

Agrovision and Dairy Sector in Vidarbha

Agrovision Foundation’s Chief Patron, Nitin Gadkari has been a strong advocate and supporter of dairy development in Vidarbha. His vision is to make dairying a viable alternative for farmers in drought-prone regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada. To that end, Agrovision India – central India’s largest agri summit, organised by Agrovision Foundation, provides a platform for knowledge and technology transfer to farmers, and introduces businesses to the growth opportunity in the region.

Every year, Agrovision attracts lakhs of farmers from Maharashtra and adjoining states, as well as experts, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from the agri domain. Agrovision India aims to educate, empower, and encourage farmers to adopt latest technologies and farm practices, as well as to create a platform for farmer-industry partnership.

Businesses in the dairy farming industry and food processing, should take a keen interest in Vidarbha region, as it is poised to be the next growth frontier. Favourable government policies, abundant availability of land, low cost of production, skilled workforce, committed investments by Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., strong demand for milk and milk products, and central location makes it a lucrative market for dairy producers.

Nitin Gadkari, Agrovision Foundation’s Chief Patron said, “The plant would come up in the second phase of Butibori Industrial Estate. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has granted in-principal approval for setting up the unit on 25 acres. The plant would generate 500 direct and over 2500 indirect jobs”.

Conference aims to enhance the income and

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, India

Company’s total income rose by 14 per cent to Rs 617.92 crore in the July-September period of from Rs 542.90 crore a year ago.

Agrochemical major Dhanuka Agritech reported a 39 per cent rise in its net profit to Rs 101.77 crore in the September quarter. Company’s net profit stood at Rs 73.02 crore in the year-ago period. Total income rose 14 per cent to Rs 617.92 crore in the July-September period of from Rs 542.90 crore a year ago, the company said.

“The company did reasonably well during challenging times amid erratic rainfall, falling prices, and subdued exports demand,” Dhanuka Agritech Managing Director M K Dhanuka said in a statement.

“The uneven rainfall in the country also impacted our revenue and bottom line. We are cautiously optimistic about the demand in the remaining part of the fiscal year amid El Nino conditions and global inventory in the agrochemicals”, he added.

The demand for agrochemicals is expected to improve in the third quarter of the fiscal onwards, the MD noted.

“In the backdrop of higher MSPs for the rabi crop announced by the government, and increased water levels in the reservoirs, the demand for agrochemicals in the domestic market is expected to improve,” Dhanuka said in the statement.

During the second quarter of the current financial year, the company brought two new products into the market Tizom and Semacia, which have been very well received by farmers.

Dhanuka Agritech mentioned that it is working on both medium-term and long-term strategies to further expand its market, both in terms of products and geographies. The company has four manufacturing units in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Company’s total income rose by 14 per

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

The company stands as the sole brand with domestic sales growth among industry leaders, reaching 18,002 tractor sales in October 2023.

Leading farm -machinery manufacturer, Sonalika Tractors has clocked its highest-ever YTD (Apr-Oct’23) overall market share of 15 per cent. It includes 18,002 overall tractor sales recorded during October 2023.

Sonalika, to make the festive season offer more to farmers to Harness advance farm technologies, has extended never-seen-before seasonal offers under ‘Heavy Duty Dhamaka’ and attractive finance schemes on its heavy-duty tractor range to attract the farming community to opt for upgradation to newer products offered by the company.

Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director, International Tractors Limited, stated, “We are exhilarated to have achieved our highest ever YTD (Apr-Oct’23) overall market share of 15 per cent with market share gainers both in domestic and overall. We are proud to be the only brand that has registered growth in domestic sales among the leading players. Looking at the festive demand, we had already started preparing over the last few months and aligned strategies across our product and sales teams as well as dealer partners. We have ensured the availability of farmers’ preferred models across states for timely tractor deliveries.”

The company stands as the sole brand

Agrotech, Company News, R&D, Sustainability, World

The state-of-the-art facility will develop innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.

UPL Ltd., a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, announces the opening of its Global NPP Research Center in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The Global NPP Research Center, a state-of-the-art facility will advance natural solutions through scientific and applied excellence. This modern greenhouse with specialized equipment, will be a hub for experienced researchers, fostering collaborations with local and international universities and research centers, and serve as a platform for agricultural knowledge and innovative solutions.

Biosolutions refer to agricultural inputs developed with naturally-derived active ingredients, ranging from seaweed extracts to micro-organisms. UPL is a global leader in biosolutions and the extensive Natural Plant Protection (NPP) portfolio covers a range of applications, including increasing crop resilience to disease, pests, and environmental conditions, supporting crop nutrition, and improving soil health, while reducing residues and environmental impacts.

Mike Frank, CEO of UPL Corporation Ltd., said: “We are so proud to inaugurate the Global NPP Research Center today, this significant investment will continue to add value for growers and strengthen our focus on differentiated and sustainable solutions. This facility represents a significant milestone in advancing agricultural practices worldwide.”

Jai Shroff, Group UPL CEO & Chairman, said: “The NPP Research Center reflects UPL’s mission to Reimaging Sustainability and our OpenAg commitment to building an ecosystem of connectivity and collaboration. This Center of Excellence will help address key challenges such as heat and water stress, soil health and positively impact global food security.”

The state-of-the-art facility will develop innovative solutions

Company News, Sustainability, World

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide

UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions has achieved a score of 76 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) powered by S&P Global Switzerland, outperforming the industry average of 24 and placing the company as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide.

This achievement demonstrates UPL’s continued commitment to sustainability and harnessing the decarbonisation potential of the agricultural industry. This year, the UN initiated SBTi and has validated and approved UPL’s Science Based Targets. Over the last 3 years, UPL has reduced its carbon emissions by 21 per cent, its water consumption by 40 per cent, and its waste levels by 57 per cent. UPL has also partnered with renewable energy companies to establish hybrid solar-wind energy power plants and increase its renewable energy usage to 30 per cent.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL Group, said: “As we advance our mission to Reimagining Sustainability for farmers and food systems, we are taking bold steps to reduce our environmental impact, strengthen our social responsibility initiatives, and improve our governance practices – and we are proud that DJSI has recognised this. We remain focused on breaking new ground for our industry and look forward to progressing our sustainability initiatives as we get closer to our 2040 carbon-neutral commitment.”

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL

Company News, Finance, World

Announces strategic review of non-core assets including potential sale of FMC’s non-crop product line, Global Specialty Solutions

FMC Corporation hosted its Investor Day at FMC corporate headquarters in Philadelphia where the company introduced its new strategic growth plan, reviewed three-year financial goals and longer-term financial aspirations through 2033, and provided its preliminary outlook for 2024.  The company also outlined cost savings targets and key elements that will drive sustained profitable growth.

FMC’s strategic plan is anchored in three core ambitions: to strengthen the company’s relationship with growers, ensuring they receive sound, accurate and timely guidance about the right products and technologies that best address their needs; deliver superior growth and returns; and to maintain the company’s leadership in safety, sustainability and innovation.  Actions and specific plans that drive each ambition are summarised in eight strategic imperatives.

Mark Douglas, president and chief executive officer said,  “These range from strengthening our relationship with growers to ensure they have the best guidance on using the right technologies that address their needs, growing our leading Plant Health business, accelerating the discovery and commercialisation of our R&D pipeline, and increasing operating leverage that leads to a leaner organization.  Executing these initiatives will provide more valuable tools to growers to protect their crops while FMC achieves growth on the top and bottom line.”

Development and commercial launch of new products was a significant Investor Day theme, with Diane Allemang, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, presenting new patented formulations and mixtures of existing molecules, including FMC’s industry-leading diamides, as key drivers of revenue growth.  Dr Seva Rostovstev, vice president and chief technology officer, provided details on the R&D pipeline including four new active synthetic ingredients that are expected to provide approximately $2 billion of revenue by 2033.  New products and innovation were also key themes presented by the vice president and global Plant Health business director Dr Bénédicte Flambard, who outlined the company’s plan to grow FMC’s biologicals platform to approximately $2 billion in revenue by 2033.  Ronaldo Pereira, executive vice president and president of Americas, discussed how strengthening FMC’s relationship as a trusted advisor to growers will help support the new product introductions in the years to come.  Vice President of Procurement, Logistics and Global Facilities, Thaisa Hugenneyer reviewed how a resilient, agile, cost-efficient supply chain will support existing as well as new products throughout the strategic plan timeframe.

Announces strategic review of non-core assets including

Finance, Goat farming, Live Stock, World

The grant will support capacity-building activities on sustainable pasture management, basic pasture ecology, financial literacy, and budget management for at least 200 nomadic herders

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Gobi Joint Stock Company have signed a $30 million sustainability-linked loan to support the cashmere value chain in Mongolia and provide stable incomes and employment to 1,200 herders and 1,300 industry employees. The loan will be used to procure raw cashmere from herders, as well as for cashmere processing activities. 

In addition, a $1 million technical assistance grant will be provided to support scalable sustainable pasture and herd management and to run workshops on climate-resilient practices for herder groups in the Khuvsgul and Bayankhongor provinces. Sustainability-linked loans incentivise the achievement of sustainable performance goals in return for a variable or lower interest rate. This loan will target increased direct procurement from herders, emission reduction, and water conservation, as well as training herders in pasture management.

Mongolian herders are severely affected by climate change, which is causing or contributing to increased heatwaves, droughts, dzuds (severe winter conditions), and desertification. Careful management of pasture and ecology is essential to mitigate the effects of overgrazing and improve climate resilience. The reliable income and technical support provided by the Gobi is critical to supporting herders in these endeavours.   

“Mongolia contributes nearly half of the global raw cashmere supply, but most of it is exported and only a fraction is processed into final products inside the country. Fostering a sustainable cashmere production industry will help diversify this important industry and boost its contribution to the broader economy,” said Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations.

The grant will support capacity-building activities on sustainable pasture management, basic pasture ecology, financial literacy, and budget management for at least 200 nomadic herders, of which at least 80 will be women. It will also fund support for the improvement of pasture ecology and management and seek solutions to help herders reduce herd sizes while maintaining or increasing income.

The grant will support capacity-building activities on

Agrotech, Company News, Europe, R&D

The collaboration includes Integration of Syngenta Cropwise platform with Case IH and New Holland Agriculture digital platforms.

Syngenta Group, the leading global agriculture technology company, and CNH Industrial (CNH), parent of major farm equipment brands Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, today announced the integration of Syngenta’s digital Cropwise platform with the agricultural brands of CNH. The two partners announced their collaboration at the industry-leading conference Agritechnica that took place from 12 to 18 November 2023 in Hannover, Germany.

The integration of Cropwise with CNH farm equipment and the connection of different precision agricultural systems is key to simplify the decision-making process of farmers and advisors, creating reliable and connected data sources that generate stronger insights for their businesses. Besides CNH, Cropwise has also implemented integrations with John Deere and Ag Leader. The integration with Farmobile in the US is also planned.

Matthew Pickard, Global Head of Digital Agriculture Products: “Technology plays an increasingly crucial role to help farmers make better data driven decisions and comply with complex regulatory standards. This is possible only when we have seamless and open connectivity between systems. We are delighted to join forces with CNH in order to improve the agronomic data flow for our customers between their machinery and digital decision-making tools.”

Dan Danford, Precision Technology Partner Manager from CNH comments: “This connection is meeting a very high demand since so many farmers around the world are both Syngenta customers and owners of Case IH and New Holland machines. Our customers rely on a variety of partners for the most efficient productivity, so our aim is to make it easy for them to share the valuable data they create with valued partners like Syngenta.”

Denser data collection – driven by new technologies and new regulations in Europe

For the last couple of years farmers across Europe have been increasing adoption of digital farming tools such as precision machinery for cultivating, planting and spraying, field data collection using satellites, drones and weather stations to make more accurate agronomy decisions and prioritize resources. In many cases this leads to equal or higher quality and yield with less use of inputs.

Encouragement towards eco-schemes and adoption of greener practices is also a big theme in Europe, through policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), tying a portion of farm subsidies to environmental initiatives, which will be smoother to adopt if done precisely and with the benefit of denser field data.

Many governments are already implementing a more data driven approach. In Spain for instance, farmers will be asked to provide Crop Protection production information using a digital document package called a Fieldbook, containing specific data on field history, crop planting, use of fertilizer and crop protection and so on. Syngenta has introduced the Fieldbook feature in Cropwise Protector to assist farmers and distributors in meeting these requirements. The digital solution not only streamlines ministry-required information completion but also ensures compliance by reducing the chances of errors and helping users make and justify decisions for Crop Protection applications.

The collaboration includes Integration of Syngenta Cropwise

Agrotech, India, Interaction

Agrovision has become an empowering platform for Agro based MSMEs to showcase their products and services, giving them an opportunity to directly reach to lakhs of buyers, network with potential investors and policymakers.

Central India’s largest agricultural exhibition, Agrovision – 2023, an important vehicle for agricultural transformation in Vidarbha, is being organised from November 24 to 27 at PDKV Ground, Dabha, Nagpur. The theme of this year’s summit is “Sustainable Farming Through Skilling and Technology”. Agrovision India showcases the best of innovations, technologies, new products and services in the agricultural sector.

The Mega Exhibition at Agrovision is a major highlight that attracts a diverse range of participants, including Corporates, Central and State Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, NGOs, R&D Organisations, Educational Institutes, Financial Institutes, MSMEs, and Self-Help Groups. This national expo, which blends the latest technology, expertise, experience, and business, draws lakhs of farmers every year, and its popularity continues to skyrocket with each edition. As the esteemed national expo, Agrovision seamlessly blends the latest technology, expertise, experience, and business to keep agriculturists across the country updated and empowered. Beyond its role in updating agriculturists throughout the country, the expo offers tremendous business opportunities that cannot be overlooked.

MSMEs in the agri sector are enterprises that are engaged in the production, processing, marketing, distribution, or servicing of agricultural products, inputs, machinery, equipment, or services. They can be classified into two categories: agro-based and non-agro-based.

Agro-based MSMEs are those that use agricultural raw materials as their main inputs, such as food processing, dairy, poultry, fisheries, animal feed, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, etc. Non-agro-based MSMEs are those that provide support services to the agri sector, such as farm machinery, irrigation equipment, cold storage, packaging, logistics, etc.

Agrovision, central India’s largest agri summit was launched in 2009 with the vision of transforming the agricultural scenario in the country. Since then, under the able guidance and mentorship of Chief Patron, Nitin Gadkari, Agrovision has become an empowering platform for Agro based MSMEs to showcase their products and services, giving them an opportunity to directly reach to lakhs of buyers, network with potential investors and policymakers, learn from the best practices and success stories, and get exposure to the latest technologies and innovations.

Agrovision has become an empowering platform for

Dairy, Live Stock, World

The facility will produce fresh and powdered camel milk products

Australia-based Good Earth Dairy secures a $4.4 million grant for a $20 million dairy processing facility.

The first camel milk dairy in Australia will open ahead of Good Earth Dairy’s listing on the ASX next year. The facility will produce fresh and powdered camel milk products.

Good Earth Dairy is set to expand its distribution channels beyond Western Australia (WA) and into global markets with the help of a new facility. The $20 million facility, expected to be completed by 2026, will have the capacity to process around 22 million litres of camel milk annually.

Good Earth Dairy launched a bridging round via an equity crowdfunding campaign on the OnMarket platform last week ahead of its planned IPO next year to support international expansion.

The company will use crowdfunding to increase production capacity and fund the construction of a new dairy.

Camel milk retails at a premium in Australia, selling for between $13 and $20 per litre, compared to cow’s milk.

The milk is low in allergens and saturated fat, and highly nutritious. It is also easy to digest for infants and adults.

The facility will produce fresh and powdered

Agrotech, Company News, Environment, India, Nature, Start ups

These drones are meticulously designed to disperse seed balls in challenging terrains, including valleys and foothills, providing access to even the most remote areas.

Hyderabad based Marut Drones, India’s premier Drone manufacturing Company, has introduced its pioneering initiative, the Seedcopter 2.0 – India’s first reforestation drone. Marut Drones is delighted to announce the availability of Seedcopter services to corporate entities, enabling them to actively engage in CSR activities and reforestation efforts. Marut aspires to bring together corporate entities and their dedicated CSR teams to take the services of Seedcopters in the reforestation journey, an activity that would align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13, 15, 17 & 9) and actively participate in the management of their carbon footprint while making a lasting and transformative impact on the environment.

These drones are meticulously designed to disperse seed balls in challenging terrains, including valleys and foothills, providing access to even the most remote areas. The drones significantly reduce the time and labor required for afforestation, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution. Notable environmentalists like Padmashree Jadav Payeng from Assam, popularly known as the Forest Man of India, and Padmashree Daripalli Ramaiah from Telangana are key ambassadors for Marut’s Seedcopter.

Marut Drones has successfully utilized the Seedcopter for its ongoing mission to plant One Billion Trees by 2030 through its flagship ‘Hara-Bahara’ campaign. The notable achievement of planting more than one crore trees across 9 states like Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Assam in 2022 reflects the undeniable success of Seedcopters. Marut is on a mission to restore 900 forests through ‘Hara-Bahara’ campaign and is already well underway.

Renowned actor and environmental advocate Rana Daggubati, joined forces with Marut Drones in 2021 to increase forest cover in India through rapid afforestation, using Seedcopter. Speaking on the launch Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO of Marut Drones, expressed his enthusiasm for making Seedcopter 2.0 available for corporate use with a CSR perspective, stating, “With Seedcopter, we’re not just planting trees; we’re sowing hopes of replanting a forest, one drone at a time. By making Seedcopter 2.0 available as a service for corporate entities, , we aim to extend the reach of drone technology, inviting more stakeholders to contribute to India’s green cover. As stewards of this planet, we have a duty to reawaken the forests we’ve lost.”

At the core of Seedcopter’s approach lies the fusion of community science and cutting-edge technology. Marut’s mission is to empower women and communities in 1400 districts to act and contribute towards reforestation. So far, Marut has empowered 15000 women across 200 communities and has been actively engaging local communities to play a vital role in preparing the seedballs, contributing not only to ecological well-being but also uplifting the socio-economic conditions of communities involved.

Seedcopters embark on their mission with a comprehensive aerial survey and mapping of target areas, providing invaluable insights into topography, soil conditions, and vegetation, enabling informed decisions during the seeding process. Seedcopters release them with precision, ensuring an even distribution across the target terrain, resulting in a higher germination rate and increased chances of tree growth. Post-planting monitoring with data hubs established to track the progress of the planted seeds is a crucial aspect of Marut Drones’ efforts. This data-driven approach helps assess the success of afforestation efforts and fine-tunes strategies for future projects.

These drones are meticulously designed to disperse

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D

The Center will facilitate wider application of nano-inputs in agriculture by disseminating scientific data and knowledge to farmers, scientists and policy makers.

Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading agri solutions player, has unveiled its Coromandel Nanotechnology Center at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, which will support its efforts towards development of wide range of nano-enabled agro-inputs for plant nutrition and crop protection.

The Center will be the sixth R&D facility of Coromandel and the second Tech Centre which will focus on development of next-generation agri-inputs, the first being Coromandel’s research facility in Monash Academy, IIT Bombay.

The Nanotechnology Center is fully equipped with high-end equipment & research tools for carrying out cutting edge R&D work for synthesis, characterization, biosafety testing and evaluation of nanoproducts. The Center will facilitate wider application of nano-inputs in agriculture by disseminating scientific data and knowledge to farmers, scientists and policy makers. The Center will also serve as the central laboratory for all nano-products of Coromandel to ensure full compliance with regulatory guidelines. It will also have the capability to develop wide range of bioproducts.

Earlier this year, the company launched Nano DAP, which has received encouraging response from the farming community. Recently, it has also developed unique Nano Urea formulation containing 12% N (w/w), which is undergoing extensive farmer trials. The company is in the process of setting up an integrated Nano products manufacturing facility at Kakinada.

Speaking on the occasion, Coromandel’s Executive Vice Chairman Arun Alagappan said, ″The Coromandel Nanotechnology Center is a unique facility established to drive Coromandel’s efforts in nanotechnology in agriculture. This will enable high quality research in nano space and is in line with various Government initiatives to promote innovation and use of technology. This is a major step towards strengthening India’s R&D capabilities for development of efficient plant nutrition and protection solutions. ″

The Center will facilitate wider application of