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AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Horticulture, India, Organic, Pulses, Supply Chain, Trade, Vegetables

APEDA would promote Indian agri- products across the GCC as the LuLu Group has its presence across the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East with 247 LuLu stores in operation and 24 shopping malls.

To boost exports of agricultural products to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global retail major Lulu Hypermarket LLC. The MoU, which is aimed at promoting Brand India globally was signed in the presence of Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of LuLu Group, Yusuf Ali MA at the World India Food (WIF) 2023 on November 3, 2023, in New Delhi.

With the MoU, APEDA would promote Indian agricultural products, including Millets across the GCC as the LuLu Group International (LLC) has its presence across the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East with 247 LuLu stores in operation and 24 shopping malls. The LuLu Group is the fastest growing retail chain in the Middle East and Asia.

The MoU will also facilitate promotional activities for APEDA’s scheduled products with the LuLu Hyper market retail chain. As per the MoU document, Lulu Group will actively promote and showcase a wide range of products in APEDA basket of agricultural and processed food products in their retail outlets.

A dedicated shelf space (special sections or aisles) will be allocated within LuLu Group’s stores to display APEDA’s products prominently and to enhance their visibility. APEDA and LuLu Group will engage with consumers through interactive events, sampling/tasting campaigns, season specific campaigns for fruits and vegetables, new product launch and the promotion of products arising from Himalayan/North Eastern States, organic products, etc.

APEDA also facilitated signing of MoUs of Arunachal Pradesh Marketing Board, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu and Meghalaya Agricultural Marketing Board with Lulu group aimed at boosting exports potential from Himalayan and North Eastern states.

The promotional activities will enable maximum dissemination of information and awareness about the benefits of ethnic, unique, and GI- tagged agri-products to the consumers in the destination country. Further feedback from consumers will be actively sought to improve product offerings. The MoU also stated that APEDA and LuLu Group would jointly work to explore opportunities to facilitate the export of agri products through its international network of stores, thereby expanding the global reach of Indian agricultural products and accessibility to consumers.

Both APEDA and LuLu Group would jointly facilitate export-oriented promotional programmes such as Buyer-Seller meets (BSM), R-BSMs/B2B meetings, trade fairs/road shows in association with the Indian Missions abroad and concerned stakeholders.

LuLu Group will provide its assistance in the labelling of products according to the requirements of different importing countries, the MoU paper said, adding that both the parties would mutually decide the commercial matters and applicable terms.

APEDA would promote Indian agri- products across

Company News, India, People, Supply Chain

In his new role, Rajesh will lead initiatives aimed at driving scale and impact at Ayekart.

Ayekart, India’s first integrated supply chain platform that addresses the needs of the food and agri value chain, is proud to announce the appointment of Rajesh Jain as the company’s new President for Partnerships and Programs. With over three decades of expertise in developing and implementing large-scale projects across various sectors, Rajesh’s vast experience, strategic insights, and commitment to technological advancements will be pivotal in furthering Ayekart’s mission to revolutionize the agri-tech industry.

In his new role, Rajesh will lead initiatives aimed at driving scale and impact at Ayekart. He will enhance the scope and engagement with both new and existing partners, develop and implement impactful programs to achieve shared goals and establish effective communication channels to nurture productive and mutually beneficial relationships. Additionally, he will oversee all activities aimed at strengthening these connections in alignment with Ayekart’s overarching objectives and strategic goals. This will ultimately lead to a more inclusive digital empowerment journey for the rural community within Ayekart’s purview. Ayekart is currently experiencing improved inclusion of the rural community in its digital empowerment efforts.

Rajesh earned his M.Sc. in Applied Geology from IIT, Roorkee (1986-1988) and specialized training in Financing Agricultural Value Chains at KIIT-University, Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with FAO (Italy) in 2012-2013.He has over 30 years of diverse professional experience spanning not-for-profits, consulting firms, corporate foundations, institutes, and government roles. During his extensive career, he spent 15 years in government, gaining profound insights into social issues at both macro and micro levels in urban and rural communities. His expertise in leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Social Good offers a global perspective on technology’s potential for creating rapid, large-scale impacts and promoting development, further enhanced by his holistic 360-degree view of development models during his tenure at Swades Foundation. He also led the FPO movement in Rajasthan at ACCESS Development Services and was the state coordinator for SFAC.

Debarshi Dutta, Co-founder and CEO of Ayekart remarked, “We are pleased to welcome Rajesh to the Ayekart family. His extensive experience and industry insights will be a valuable asset as we persist in transforming the food and agriculture value chain. Rajesh’s deep understanding of technology’s transformative potential and his unwavering commitment to social impact align seamlessly with Ayekart’s vision of empowering businesses and enriching communities.”

Expressing his commitment to his new position, Rajesh Jain said, “I am truly excited to join Ayekart and be a part of this dynamic team. Ayekart’s commitment to innovation and positive social impact aligns with my passion for harnessing technology to create meaningful change. I look forward to contributing to Ayekart’s journey in revolutionizing the food and agriculture value chain.”

In his new role, Rajesh will lead

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Company News, R&D, Sustainability, World

Both the companies have signed a Joint Development Agreement to create an RNAi-based, environmentally friendly biopesticide for an important agricultural pest.

Renaissance BioScience, a leader in bioengineering microbes for the global agriculture and food industries, is pleased to announce that it has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Certis Belchim, a global leader in the development of crop-protecting biocontrol agents that combat agricultural pests. Under the JDA, the two industry leaders will collaboratively harness Renaissance’s innovative yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) platform technology to develop and commercialize an environmentally friendly biopesticide against an, as yet, unspecified target pest. This revolutionary technology holds immense promise for addressing agricultural challenges through its targeted approach. This partnership speaks to the companies’ shared commitment to advancing eco-friendly alternatives in pest management.

Dr John Husnik, Renaissance’s CSO and Office of the CEO, commented on the JDA: “Certis Belchim is a world leader in crop protection and biocontrol innovation and technologies, and we are delighted to be working with them to develop an effective and environmentally safe yeast-based RNAi biopesticide.”

Jan Mostert, Head of Biorational Projects of Certis Belchim, commented: “Certis Belchim have committed and pursued innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.  The Renaissance RNA interference technology is highly innovative and will deliver products which come close to the idea of an ideal plant protection product in being very specific and very effective at the same time while also reconciling the often-contradicting goals of crop protection and protecting the environment and biodiversity.  We believe this project could potentially contribute to reinforce our biorational platform, that is one of the strategic pillars for Certis Belchim. We are enthusiastic about working closely with Renaissance, a highly skilled and agile company, on this exciting biorational technology initiative.”

Both the companies have signed a Joint

Biofuel industry, Company News, Finance, India

Company records Rs. 623.679 million PAT in Q2FY 24 compared to Rs. 657.778 million PAT in Q2 FY23.

Pune based Praj Industries (Praj), announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended Sept 30, 2023. Praj, India’s most accomplished industrial biotechnology company is driven by innovation, integration and delivery capabilities. Over the past four decades, Praj has focused on the environment, energy, and agri-process industry, with 1000++ customer references spanning 100+ countries across all 5 continents.

Performance Review for Q2 FY24 – Consolidated:

• Income from operations stood at Rs. 8,823.685 million (Q1 FY24: Rs. 7,367.227 million; Q2 FY23: Rs. 8,806.172 million)

• PBT is at Rs. 848.121 million for the period (Q1 FY24: Rs. 777.033 million; Q2 FY23: Rs. 657.778 million)

• PAT is at Rs. 623.679 million (Q1 FY24: Rs. 586.726 million; Q2 FY23: 481.286 million)

• Order intake during the quarter Rs. 10,630 million (Q1 FY24: 11,010 million; Q2 FY23: Rs. 9,810 million)

Performance Review for H1 FY24 – Consolidated:

• Income from operations stood at Rs. 16,190.912 million (H1 FY23: Rs. 16,125.886 million)

• PBT is at Rs. 1,625.154 million for the period (H1 FY23: Rs. 1200.119 million)

• PAT is at Rs. 1,210.405 million (H1 FY23: Rs. 893.918 million)

• Order intake Rs.21,640 million (H1 FY23: Rs. 20,750 million)

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, Praj Industries said, “The quarter witnessed development of business activity on similar lines as first quarter. Domestic markets witnessed a brief period of reduced activity as the grain policy changes unfolded before returning to normalcy. The launch of Global Biofuels Alliance is expected to provide a new platform for opportunities across domestic and international markets in medium to long term”.

Company records Rs. 623.679 million PAT in

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Vegetables

Department of Consumer Affairs procures 5.06 LMT onion for disposal through e-sales, e-Nam auction and bulk sale.

The Government has initiated aggressive retail sale of onion from the buffer at subsidised price of Rs 25 per kg to protect the consumers from recent increase in onion prices due to delay in the arrival of kharif crop. This comes as another measure in addition to the slew of measures put in place to ensure availability and affordability of onion to domestic consumers such as, imposition of Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 800 per MT with effect from 29th October, 2023, enhancement of buffer procurement by 2 lakh tons, over above 5.06 lakh tons already procured, and the continuous disposal of onion through retail sales, e-Nam auction and bulk sales in wholesale markets from second week of August.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has started aggressive disposal of onion through retail outlets and mobile vans operated by NCCF, NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar and other State controlled cooperatives at subsidised price of Rs 25 per kg. Till 2nd November, NAFED has set up 329 retail points, consisting of stationary outlets and mobile vans, in 55 cities across 21 states. Similarly, NCCF has set up 457 retail points in 54 cities across 20 states. Kendriya Bhandar too, has started retail supply of onion through its retail outlets across Delhi-NCR from 3rd November, 2023 and Safal Mother Dairy will start from this weekend. The retail sale of onion to consumers in Telangana and other southern states are being taken up by Hyderabad Agricultural Cooperatives Association (HACA).

In order to control the seasonal price volatility between rabi and kharif crops the Government maintains onion buffer by procuring rabi onion for subsequent calibrated and targeted release. This year, the buffer size has been raised to 7 LMT from 2.5 LMT in 2022-23. Till date 5.06 LMT of onion has been procured and the procurement of balance 2 LMT is in progress.

The proactive measures taken by the Government has started showing result as onion prices in benchmark Lasalgaon market declined from Rs.4,800/qtl on 28.102023 to Rs.3,650/qtl on 03.11.2023, a decline of 24 per cent. Retail prices are expected to show similar decline from the coming week.

Department of Consumer Affairs procures 5.06 LMT

AgroPolicy, India

16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and various industry entities on the first day amounting to total investment of around Rs 17,990 crores.

The inauguration of the second edition of the ‘World Food India 2023’ mega food event took place at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the event. During the inauguration, the Prime Minister provided Seed Capital Assistance to over one lakh Self Help Group (SHG) members, reinforcing the support for these groups. Prime Minister Modi also toured the exhibition displayed on the occasion. The primary objective of the event is to present India as the ‘food basket of the world’ and commemorate 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

On the first day of World Food India 2023, a total of 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and various industry entities. These agreements amounted to a total investment of around Rs 17,990 crore. Notable companies participating in these MoUs included Mondelez, Kellog, ITC, Innobev, Nedspice, Ananda, General Mills, and Ab Inbev, among others.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, organised a Roundtable discussion on the inaugural day of World Food India 2023. The event was co-chaired by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles. The Roundtable brought together senior government officials and CEOs from over 70 leading companies operating in the food processing and allied sectors.

The Prime Minister emphasised the significant recognition received by India’s food processing sector, often referred to as the ‘sunrise sector,’ owing to the outcomes of World Food India. He said that in the past nine years, the sector has attracted foreign direct investments exceeding Rs 50,000 crores, thanks to the government’s industry-friendly and farmer-centric policies. Prime Minister also mentioned the progress made under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in the food processing sector, which has greatly aided new entrants. He further highlighted the ongoing projects under the Agri-Infra Fund, focusing on post-harvest infrastructure, with an investment exceeding Rs 50,000 crores. Additionally, investments in processing infrastructure in the fisheries and animal husbandry sector, amounting to thousands of crores, were encouraged.

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s remarkable progress in the food processing sector, crediting the government’s dedicated efforts. He mentioned the creation of the Agri-Export Policy, development of nationwide logistics and infrastructure, establishment of district-level hubs, expansion of Mega Food Parks, and significant increase in India’s food processing capacity. Modi also mentioned unique agricultural products being exported from India, such as black garlic from Himachal Pradesh, dragon fruit from Jammu & Kashmir, soya milk powder from Madhya Pradesh, and others.

16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Packaging & Labelling, Start ups, Supply Chain

 Fibmold’s entry promises to ignite the growth of the moulded fiber packaging industry in India.

Fibmold, a startup focused on sustainable packaging, has raised a $10 million round led by Omnivore and Accel. Fibmold is developing eco-friendly, molded fiber packaging products that mimic the functionality of rigid plastics. These products are manufactured from natural fibers, including bamboo, bagasse, husk, wheat straw, or even wastepaper depending on the end-use, and they are 100 per cent recyclable & naturally compostable.

With only 9 per cent of plastic waste globally being recycled, and the majority mismanaged or left unprocessed, the environmental challenges are substantial. Fibmold’s sustainable packaging solutions will enable various industries to shift away from single-use plastics. China currently dominates the production and export of advanced molded fiber packaging, whereas the market in India is just beginning to take shape. However, Fibmold’s entry promises to ignite the growth of the moulded fiber packaging industry in India.

Founded in October 2022 by Param Gandhi and Vaibhav Garg, Fibmold is the brainchild of two serial entrepreneurs boasting a collective experience of over two decades in the packaging and manufacturing industry. Their partnership dates back to 2012, when they ventured into the food service packaging industry with ValPack. The startup was subsequently acquired by Huhtamaki, a global packaging industry leader.

Param Gandhi said, “The sustainable packaging industry is a $300 billion opportunity. At Fibmold, we aim to assist brands globally in transitioning to eco-friendly packaging alternatives and ultimately eliminate their reliance on single-use plastics.” Vaibhav Garg added, “We truly believe molded fiber is a viable replacement to plastic because of its performance parity, cost competitiveness and speed to market.”

Reihem Roy, Partner at Omnivore, stated, “Fibmold’s unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility, coupled with its founders’ extensive experience and achievements, positions the company as a frontrunner in the sustainable materials industry. This is our second investment from our third fund, and we remain committed to catalyzing climate-smart solutions.”

Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel observed, “By harnessing India’s abundance of agricultural by-products in the future, Fibmold presents a tremendous business opportunity. Through advanced technology and scientific innovation, the startup is not only strengthening the Indian economy but also forging India as a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions”.

 Fibmold's entry promises to ignite the growth

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Start ups

 Company plans to use funds to accelerate the operations in non-perishable agri-supply chain along with building the team.

Agri-tech company Bull Agritech has raised $100K (Rs 8 million) in a pre-seed funding round led by startup accelerator PedalStart. Bull Agritech has been part of PedalStart’s current cohort One-to-N which is backed by leading Venture Capital funds from the ecosystem. The company plans to use funds for the growth of the company and accelerate the operations along with building the team, Bull Agritech mentioned.

Co-founded in 2021 by Hit Desai and Divyajeet Chauhan, Bull Agritech connects farmers directly to agri-commodity processors providing end-to-end supply chain solutions, in a highly fragmented non-perishable agri-supply chain market. The way Bull has gained traction amongst the farmers has been the reason behind the buzz in the Agritech space. The startup is based out of a tier 3 region in the North Gujarat region and is working to enable the breadmakers of the nation. The initiative by Bull Agritech is going to be a boon for the agriculture sector of the nation.

Manas Pal and Aditya Darolia, Co-founders at PedalStart commented, “One-to-N has been a cohort that has set a benchmark for us as well. Out of 9 startups which have been selected had raised their first round and here we came up to upscale their journey to level two. Bull Agritech has been the first success, and counting on more coming up.”

With a mission to revolutionise the non-perishable agri-trade market and empower farmers through transparent and efficient market connectivity, Bull Agritech has already facilitated trades worth Rs 25 Crores and onboarded 15000 farmers digitally, illustrating their rapid growth and impact in just 18 months. Co-founders Hit Desai and Divyajeet Chauhan’s vision, rooted in the principles of transparency and trust-building, resonates deeply with the agricultural community, promising a brighter future for India’s agricultural landscape.

Hit Desai, Co-founder at Bull Agritech said, “We see a huge opportunity in the non-perishable agri-trade market as the farmers have been left with a 100-year-old monopoly that is APMC which lacks market connectivity, transparency, and efficiency. It is a known fact that the intermediaries use this monopoly to manipulate the market which results in farmers’ loss. There has been no brand in the output linkage space which is widely trusted by farmers at scale when it comes to selling their crop”.

Adding to that, Aditya Darolia mentions the journey with the Bull’s team. He said, “After interacting with APMC players we realised how traditional players are misusing their monopsony and farmers not getting clarity about the prices they get for the quality of stock. We saw the potential in the business and the way the founders have been executing was impressive when we visited their centres in North Gujarat”.

Bull Agritech’s recent success in securing $100K (Rs 8 million) pre-seed funding led by PedalStart speaks volumes about the company’s strong potential and the agricultural sector’s growing interest in disruptive technologies. With PedalStart’s unwavering support and expertise, Bull Agritech is well-positioned to become a driving force in the long-awaited green market revolution, ushering in a new era of equitable and sustainable agricultural practices for the nation.

 Company plans to use funds to accelerate

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Company News, India

An advanced pest control product for the Chilli crops during the flowering stage is developed   in association with Nissan Chemical Corporation.

Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL), one of India’s largest diversified agri-businesses, announced the launch of an advanced pest control product Rashinban in India. With the patent chemistry discovered and developed by Japan’s Nissan Chemical Corporation, Rashinban is being launched first time globally in India through collaboration with GAVL to protect the Chilli crops during the flowering stage.

India, a global Chilli capital, accounts for almost 36 per cent of total production globally. However, 80 percent of Chilli crops get damaged at the nascent stage because of pests (Thrips, Leps, Hoppers and Mites) that continue to create havoc for the farmers. GAVL, through the launch of Rashinban, which provides quick knockdown of wide range of pests in Chilli in a single shot during the flowering stage, endeavors to help farmers fight the pests effectively. This will help increase yields by virtue of pest free cropping.

Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, GAVL, commented, “Through our partnership with Nissan Chemical Corporation, our endeavour is to introduce solutions that uplift and prosper Indian farming families. Our new product Rashinban is recommended specifically for the active flowering stage of Chilli plants to provide holistic efficacy. Along with the already existing products, Hanabi and Gracia, the addition of Rashinban in the portfolio will enable us to serve the entire value chain of Chilli crop.  We are certain that the launch of Rashinban will help aid India’s contribution to global Chilli market scale greater heights.”

Dr. Rajkumar Yadav, Managing Director of Nissan Chemical Corporation (India), expressed his views about the partnership with GAVL, stating, “We are delighted to collaborate with GAVL for the global-first launch of Rashinban and contribute to company’s endeavour to uplifting Indian farming families. Rashinban is another result of our efforts to support the growth and sustainability of Indian agriculture. We are confident that like our previous products, Rashinban too will be widely adopted by the farming community.”

Burjis Godrej, Executive Director and COO, Crop Protection Business, GAVL said, “At GAVL, our mission is to bring forth innovative solutions tailored to the Indian market. Chilli farmers today need to ensure that their crop receives right quantity of nutrient at the right time across the crop’s growth cycle and free from abiotic stress to ensure a high-quality yield. And it is herein that we continue to launch innovative solutions and educate farmers on the importance of leveraging our wide range of products for pest control and subsequent integration of appropriate measures.”

Highlighting Rashinban’s efficacy controlling different pests, Rajavelu NK, CEO, Crop Protection Business, GAVL, said, “Following launch of Gracia in 2022, our ‘Start with Gracia’ focus enabled farmers to proactively protect their seedlings. However, during our field visits and discussions with the farmers, it was brought to our notice that crops continued to get wiped out due to invasive pests. To address the same, we decided to launch Rashinban. Effective on the broader spectrum of pests, both sucking as well as chewing type, it eliminates the need for multiple insecticides and reduces the frequency of sprays.”

An advanced pest control product for the

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, India

In the first \of FY24, IIL recorded Rs 13,359 Mn in revenue, a significant 17 per cent growth compared to Rs 11,429 Mn in H1FY23.

Insecticides (India) Ltd. (IIL), a leading manufacturer of crop protection and nutrition products in India, declared its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. With a diverse portfolio comprising over 21 technical products, 105 formulation products, IIL continues to be at the forefront of the crop care industry.

During the current quarter, the company achieved a remarkable revenue growth of 20 per cent, with total revenue reaching Rs 6,959 Mn in Q2FY24, compared to Rs 5,822 Mn in the same period last year. In the first half of FY24, IIL recorded Rs 13,359 Mn in revenue, a significant 17 per cent growth compared to Rs 11,429 Mn in H1FY23. This impressive growth is predominantly driven by value-added products.

IIL’s strategic focus on enhancing the mix of value-added products, including Maharatna and Focus Maharatna has been instrumental in this growth. New products like Hachiman, Torry, and Shinwa over the past two years have contributed to the upward trajectory. In the last quarter, IIL introduced four new products to the market, including Supremo SP (an insecticide for paddy fields and vegetable crops), Nakshatra (an herbicide for sugarcane), Green Expert (a patented combination herbicide for paddy), and Bouncer (a non-selective herbicide).

Commenting on the performance, Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director of Insecticides (India) Limited, stated, “We continue to witness growth across our product portfolio, driven by R&D and backward integration initiatives. Favourable monsoon conditions in most parts of the country has reinforced demand for our products. Our focused marketing efforts and brand building activities have yielded positive results.”

IIL has made significant strides in digital engagement with farmers, enhancing channel engagement and providing crop advisors with accurate data. Additionally, The Patent Office, Government of India, has granted patent to IIL entitled “Novel Amide Compound, Method for Producing the Same, and Miticide.”

The company has further announced an Interim Dividend of Rs 3 per share (30 per cent of the face value of Rs 10/-), with a record date for the dividend set for November 10, 2023.

In the first \of FY24, IIL recorded

AgroPolicy, Sustainability, Trade

Shobha Karandlaje interacts with the Brazilian delegation led by Carlos Favaro

Shobha Karandlaje Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare interacted with the Brazilian delegation led by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Carlos Favaro. At the outset, Shobha Karandlaje extended a warm welcome to Carlos Favaro.

MoS Shobha Karandlaje showed gratitude for supporting the Indian Presidency during the G20 Agriculture Working Group Meetings and expressed regret for the Minister’s absence and inability to attend the G20 Agriculture Minister’s Meeting at Hyderabad. She expressed happiness that the visit would further strengthen India-Brazil’s rapidly growing cooperation in the agriculture sector. She said that both countries have a flourishing bilateral agriculture trade, and further cooperation can be strengthened in food processing, agro-industry, and agricultural research and development.

Shobha Karandlaje further said that the demand for avocados is growing in India, which provides an opportunity for India to import avocados from Brazil. She assured that India will extend its full support to Brazil for a successful G20 Presidency. She also expressed happiness that Brazil is establishing a task force, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, which aligns with the India Presidency’s Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition align with this task force.

Carlos Favaro emphasised that Brazil and India face similar challenges in the agricultural sector, and hence, both countries can find standard solutions to mitigate these challenges. The fight against hunger is a paramount focus for Brazil, and they expressed a desire to collaborate with India through technology transfer, knowledge sharing and cooperative efforts with India to fight hunger.

Brazil anticipates receiving India’s specific interests and demands, which can be addressed at the institutional level by both countries. The promotion of bilateral trade was highlighted by Brazil’s willingness to open its market to various agricultural products and expedite Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) related negotiations to facilitate trade.Brazil’s delegation extended an official invitation to India for the forthcoming 2024 G20 presidency.

Shobha Karandlaje interacts with the Brazilian delegation

Company News, India

The company also ranked amongst the 100 Best Companies for Women twice in a row

Thermo Fisher Scientific in India has once again been recognised with two prestigious awards, strengthening its position as a leading workplace in the country. The company has been certified as a Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute for the fifth consecutive year and ranked among the 100 Best Companies for Women in India for the second year in a row by Avtar and Seramount.

These recognitions demonstrate Thermo Fisher’s dedication to fostering a people-centric culture and implementing policies and practices that enable employees to build rewarding careers while delivering excellence to customers.

“As a purpose-driven organisation, we have an important role to play in supporting our customers, colleagues and communities. I am immensely proud that we continue to remain deeply rooted in our culture defined by our values while delivering on our commitments,” said Amit Chopra, Managing Director, India and South Asia, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We take pride in nurturing a workplace that recognizes our colleagues as our greatest assets and championing a culture where unique perspectives are respected.”

Great Place To Work is a renowned global authority on workplace culture that partners with more than 1,400 organisations annually across 22 industries in the country to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures designed to deliver sustained business results.

As a part of the comprehensive assessment process, Great Place To Work evaluated Thermo Fisher on various factors that included credibility, fairness, respect and camaraderie, among others, to measure employee satisfaction.

Further, Thermo Fisher’s inclusion in the top 100 Best Companies for Women India list, out of more than 350 companies across various industries, reinforces the company’s commitment to upholding equal opportunities and diversity.

The study slated as India’s most comprehensive gender analytics exercise was conducted by Avtar, India’s premier Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion solutions firm along with Seramount, a strategic professional services and research firm dedicated to supporting high-performing, inclusive workplaces.

The company also ranked amongst the 100

Agrotech, Dairy, Live Stock, World

Forever Feed Technologies has selected JR Automation, a global leader in advanced automated manufacturing, to build climate-positive indoor feed mills designed by FFT that will dramatically save water and reduce carbon emissions

Forever Feed Technologies (FFT) and JR Automation (JRA) have announced a definitive agreement to design and build on-farm controlled environment feed mills for large-scale dairy and beef cattle producers. With this partnership, FFT and JRA will design and deliver custom automated systems that maximise the productivity and effectiveness of Forever Feed’s water and carbon emission reduction technology, improving both farm operations and meeting a growing demand for sustainably produced high-quality animal feed.

Forever Feed Technology selected JR Automation based on their problem-solving, partnership-focused approach and advanced automation expertise, spanning multiple industries, and supported by over 2,000 highly skilled employees with manufacturing facilities worldwide.

“Speaking as both a dairy producer and co-founder of Forever Feed, partnering with JR Automation gives me the confidence that the Forever Feed Mill solution will be able to produce an uninterrupted daily supply of fresh nutritious feed for our animals, and will be robust enough to economically scale on our farm, and many others like us, who each feed thousands of dairy and beef cattle,” said Jack de Jong, Chairman of Forever Feed Technologies.

With this partnership, JR Automation provides Forever Feed Technology with a unique single-source solution for the complete integration of FFT technology and data information, providing greater speed, flexibility, and efficiencies; giving agricultural leaders around the world a solid and profitable path to reducing water use and greenhouse emissions.

“We have built a strong relationship with Forever Feed and look forward to delivering an integrated solution that advances the productivity and sustainability of the dairy and beef cattle sector through the FFT Feed Mill,” said Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation.

Forever Feed Technologies has selected JR Automation,

Agrotech, Company News, World

NanoCote Core is the first product engineered to complement existing fertilisers, elevating the performance of the granular fertiliser industry to new heights

Nano-Yield proudly unveils the NanoCote brand, a groundbreaking nanotechnology-based granular fertiliser coating. NanoCote Core is the first product engineered to complement existing fertilisers, elevating the performance of the granular fertiliser industry to new heights. 

Mark Slavens Nano-Yield President and COO highlighted the ease of use and benefits of this technology, saying, “Our team is proud to have engineered this technology in a way that is seamless for blending operations. You can spray it on any type of dry granular fertiliser. It dries very quickly without heat or any other specialised equipment.” Director of Research & Development, Garrett Olsen, explains that the nanoparticles serve as a delivery mechanism, with a primary focus on increasing nutrient uptake by plants. “Our goal was to create a user-friendly formulation that maximises plant nutrition. Every component in NanoCote products serves a purpose and drives the entire formulation.”

NanoCote Core brings substantial benefits to farmers and blenders, along with positive impacts on soils and the environment. Brooke Rosqvist, NanoCote Brand Manager, emphasised these outcomes, stating, “NanoCote Core reduces dust, cleans machinery, and minimises wear and tear on equipment, benefiting both farmers and blenders. Moreover, it boasts impressive sustainability credentials by being biodegradable, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly granular applications. This will especially be appealing to those interested in regenerative ag practices.” 

NanoCote Core is the first product engineered