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Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India

AVPL operates primarily in three areas: Skill Development, Drones Skilling and Assembly and Agri-retail.

AITMC Ventures Limited (AVPL), a pioneer in developing a self-sustained ecosystem covering the entire farming value chain around drone technology, today announced the filing of its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with NSE Emerge. The Company will offer a fresh issue of up to 2,07,32,000 equity shares with a face value of Rs 2/- each through the book-building route. SKI Capital Services Limited has been appointed as the Book Running Lead Manager to the Issue, and Bigshare Services Private Limited as the Registrar to the Issue.

The Gurugram-based company operates three broad business verticals – Skill Development, Drones Skilling and Assembly and Agri-retail. Founded by entrepreneurs Deep Sihag Sisai (Managing Director) and Preet Sandhuu (Chairman) in 2016, AVPL is a “Category A” Training Partner recognised by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and serves a wide range of government departments & agencies, including other training providers. The company has two subsidiaries – SPH Aviation Private Limited and Farmers City International Private Limited, which enables an ecosystem play. SPH offers DGCA-approved Drone Pilot training programmes at their RPTOs. At the same time, Farmers City International fosters community engagement by establishing Farmer’s City Marts (FCMs), serving as comprehensive one-stop shops for farming needs.

AVPL is focused on ‘Creating a pool of Dronepreneurs and Agripreneurs’ through structured training programmes supported by the Government. By leveraging government subsidies and financial partnerships, AVPL aims to empower individuals with Agri-Drones, enabling them to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the agricultural sector. Drones manufactured by the company will be available for sale to Drone-preneurs and qualified Drone Pilots in compliance with Government of India regulations. The company has established a Drone Production unit in Jhajjar. It is in the process of establishing a Manufacturing Unit in the “Aviation Hub” in Hisar, Haryana, for R&D and application testing. Besides, AVPL has 11 centres of excellence for Agriculture and drone training across Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. AVPL subsidiary SPH Aviation has one approved RPTO at Gurugram, whereas two more in Sirsa and Sonipat have been submitted to DGCA. Another 8 RPTO applications on their existing Training facilities are in line to submit with DGCA in the next 15-30 days.

“Since 2016, we have focused on building an integrated, robust ecosystem”, said, Deep Sihag Sisai, Founder & Managing Director, AVPL. “The journey towards being a listed company is yet another testament to our commitment to enriching the Indian Agricultural Ecosystem through technology, skill development and democratising access to solutions. We are confident that the increasing adoption of drone technology in agriculture presents a substantial growth opportunity for our Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings. Furthermore, we are well-positioned to benefit from government incentives and support as we have aligned our strategies with the government’s priorities such as employment and income augmentation in the agriculture sector”, further added Deep.

AVPL operates primarily in three areas: Skill

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

The product will be launched in the next kharif season under the brand name ‘Orisulam‘.

Best Agrolife Ltd., a leading agrochemical manufacturer in India, announces a groundbreaking achievement in the agricultural field. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Seedlings India Private Limited, has been granted a 20-year patent by the Indian Patent Office-Government of India for its innovative creation, the “SYNERGISTIC GRANULAR HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION FOR PADDY.” The company intends to introduce this one-shot herbicide in the upcoming Kharif season under the brand name “Orisulam”.

This patent follows Best Agrolife’s recent success in securing another 20-year patent for their innovative “Synergistic Pesticidal Composition”, which includes two insecticides and a fungicide and offers an integrated approach to address critical challenges in rice cultivation. In addition to these breakthrough patents, Best Agrolife also made a pivotal shift in the conventional supply chain dynamics by forging a strategic partnership with Syngenta, a global leader in agriculture, to market Pyroxosulfone 85% WG herbicide under the brand name “Movondo”.

Vimal Kumar, Managing Director of Best Agrolife Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm for this milestone, stating, “Weed management has always been a critical factor in optimizing rice crop yields. Successful weed control is essential for obtaining optimum rice yields. We are delighted to receive this patent. It underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainable agriculture. This patent will further strengthen our herbicide portfolio and enable us to serve our farming community better.”

“This powerful single-shot herbicidal composition will provide a comprehensive solution for paddy farmers. This unique blend will offer enhanced weed control, reduced environmental impact, and improved crop safety, thus helping to increase yields and farmer income,” he further added.

The newly patented herbicidal composition is a powerful and effective solution for addressing the challenges of Monocot and Dicot weeds in paddy crops. It offers a comprehensive strategy to combat weeds such as Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa colonum, Ludwigia parviflora, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis miliacae, Monochoria vaginalis, Leptochloa chinensis, Panicum repens, Chenopodium album, Commelina benghalensis, and Eclipta alba.

The product will be launched in the

Agrotech, Company News, Live Stock, Poultry, Sustainability, World

The agreement involves grain sourced by Bunge in Brazil and destined for several countries in Asia, where BKP and CPF produce and sell feed and food.

Bunge, one of the world’s leading agribusiness and food companies, and Bangkok Produce Merchandising Public Company Limited (BKP), a subsidiary company of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), a world leader in food, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing a blockchain solution for the traceability of soy and deforestation-free products. The agreement involves grain sourced by Bunge in Brazil and destined for several countries in Asia, where BKP and CPF produce and sell feed and food.

This partnership will enable both companies to carry out technical, commercial and operational feasibility studies to build a sustainable supply chain and integrate digitization. The agreement aims to transform traceability data from the field to final customers.

Paisarn Kruawongvanich, Chief Executive Officer of BKP, said blockchain technology will improve traceability of the Agro-industry and company’s food supply chain, providing transparency and ensuring product quality and safety for customers. The agreement with global business partners aligns with BKP’s commitment to achieving a net zero supply chain in 2050.

“Tracing raw materials around the globe, including soy, back to the source is key to ensuring both directly and indirectly sourced raw material do not come from encroachment areas or areas of deforestation,” Kruawongvanich added.

“Bunge strives to be the preferred sustainable solutions partner for producers and customers. The partnership with BKP reflects our business vision that leverages technology as an important tool. Over the past few years, we have built a robust social and environmental verification system that includes advanced traceability and monitoring of our suppliers. We believe that, together with our customers, we will build sustainable supply chains with an additional layer of reliability guaranteed by blockchain,” explains Rossano de Angelis Jr., Bunge’s Vice President of Agribusiness for South America.

Monitoring currently carried out by Bunge covers more than 16,000 farms, or up to 20 million hectares in South America, and relies on state-of-the-art satellite technology, capable of identifying changes in land use and soybean planting on each monitored property. In Brazil, Bunge currently monitors all of its direct supply chain in areas subject to deforestation and is moving toward fully covering the indirect supply chain by 2025. More than 97% of the volume of soy purchased by Bunge is verified free from deforestation and conversion, progressing the company closer to its deforestation-free value chain goal.

By involving two global companies, the scale of the initiative has the potential to raise standards of transparency in the Brazilian soy value chain and increase the confidence of end consumers in soy-derived products around the world.

Through the memorandum, both companies also commit to discussing the possibility of future collaboration on other services, such as exploring opportunities for further integration among systems, with a focus on enabling real-time data transfer, measuring the carbon footprint of the volumes traded with BKP, and improving the digital traceability solution to be compatible with sustainability certification standards, such as the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), and the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC).

The agreement involves grain sourced by Bunge

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Supply Chain, Trade

The clearance to augment the availability of tur ensuring availability and affordability to consumers in India

Rohit Kumar Singh Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs held a meeting with Ermindo A. Pereira Mozambique High Commissioner to discuss trade and related issues about tur (Pigeon pea).

Singh conveyed concerns over procedural hurdles that cropped up since July 2023 in Mozambique causing delays in shipment of tur exports consignments from the country. He requested the High Commissioner to intervene to ensure seamless export of tur from Mozambique, just as the Government of India had implemented necessary policy measures to make the imports smooth and seamless. In this regard, the Secretary of Consumer Affairs appraised Ermindo A Pereria about the tur export consignments awaiting clearance at Mozambican ports and stressed the need for expeditious approval. It was also emphasised that the bilateral MoU for trade in tur needs to be upheld as it embodies the commitment of India and Mozambique toward producers and consumers of the two countries.

High Commissioner, Ermindo A Pereria stressed the importance of trade relations between India and Mozambique for the overall agriculture agricultural ecosystem in Mozambique. He assured that necessary steps would be initiated to resolve the current issues concerning tur trade and to ensure the smooth flow of tur exports from Mozambique to India.

The meeting between the Secretary of Consumer Affairs and the High Commissioner of Mozambique at this juncture is significant as a smooth flow of imports from Mozambique will augment the availability of tur during the coming months and ensure availability and affordability to Indian consumers.

The clearance to augment the availability of

AgroPolicy, India, Vegetables

The Centre of Excellence for Vegetables & Spices project, under the Indo-Israel initiative, will be set up on 25.57 acres of land in Gundlapalli

The Indian government has approved the Indo-Israel project in Nekarikallu mandal, Gundlapalli in Palnadu in Andhra Pradesh. The project is a result of an agreement between India and Israel to offer the latest farming techniques and related technologies to farmers.

According to the local media, the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables & Spices project, under the Indo-Israel initiative, will be set up on 25.57 acres of land in Gundlapalli. The total cost of the project will be Rs 10.61 crore. This project aims to boost the cultivation of various vegetables such as tomato, cherry tomato, cucumber, brinjal, capsicum, chilli and more.

The Directorate of Horticulture in the state is responsible for implementing the project. The agricultural counsellor at MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, which operates under the Embassy of Israel, has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables and Spices at Gundlapalli village in the Palnadu district. This project falls under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

The proposed infrastructure includes a nursery greenhouse with a fan and pad system, a tunnel, a forced-ventilated greenhouse, a naturally-ventilated greenhouse, an insect-proof net house, a 3-MT pre-cooling chamber and a packed house.

The Centre of Excellence for Vegetables &

Acquaculture, Company News, Live Stock

PLB is widely recognised in the Indonesian aquaculture industry for its commitment to delivering quality post-larvae (PLs)

Prima Larvae Bali (PLB), a leading hatchery in Eastern Indonesia, is bolstered by the expertise of the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) to elevate their Whiteleg shrimp (vannamei) breeding program. This support enhances PLB’s commitment to delivering biosecure, top-quality postlarvae suited for Indonesia’s unique farming landscape, while also introducing cutting-edge genetic technology.

PLB is widely recognised in the Indonesian aquaculture industry for its commitment to delivering quality post-larvae (PLs). Through a meticulously designed selection scheme and larvae culture process, ensuring that each PL inherits the full genetic potential from the selected broodstock to achieve fast growth and disease resistance. Emphasising rigorous biosecurity measures, PLB exclusively produces 100 per cent Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) PL larvae. Only frozen feeds are used to nurture the shrimp broodstocks, with a firm stance against the use of fresh/live feeds within the facility. This dedication to excellence in larvae culture has not only set PLB apart but has also made a significant contribution to the aquaculture sector in the region.

In an ambitious move to further improve the quality of its offerings, PLB has enlisted the expertise of CAT, an industry leader in aquaculture research and development. Leveraging CAT’s use of advanced statistical models, both organisations aim to refine the selection of genetic lines for shrimp that grow quickly and thrive in commercial settings. CAT’s proven approach includes the utilisation of molecular markers and the latest technologies to generate genetically diverse and adaptable lines of shrimp. Their multi-generational selection methods have already demonstrated improvements in both growth rates and survival capabilities in commercial farm conditions.

PLB is widely recognised in the Indonesian

Agrotech, Australia, China, Finance, India, Japan, Start ups

India briefly overtook China in agrifoodtech investment, while Southeast Asia demonstrated significant potential with $1.7 billion in funding.

As the world’s largest region in both geography and population, with a vast network of smallholder farmers combined with dense urban settings and food sovereignty concerns, Asia-Pacific is a hotbed of opportunity for food and agriculture technology startups.

But in 2023, downstream food delivery and restaurant startups, once the darling of the region’s agrifoodtech ecosystem, fueling tens of billions of dollars of investment, are no longer so attractive to investors.

The new star of the ecosystem is upstream innovation, reveals a new report from leading agrifoodtech venture firm and research platform AgFunder, in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Omnivore and AgriFutures Australia.

While total funding to the farm-to-fork agrifoodtech ecosystem dropped 58 per cent year-over-year (YoY) to $6.5 billion in 2022 from the record-breaking $15.2 billion raised in 2021, investment in startups operating upstream increased 24 per cent YoY. This increase appears to be continuing in 2023, according to preliminary data on 2023 funding flows.

This is good news for the 450 million smallholder farmers producing about 80 per cent of the region’s food. For the first time in years, upstream funding, which provides technologies to farmers and primary food producers, overtook downstream investment. The former raised $3.2 billion in 2022 versus the latter’s $2.7 million, according to the report.

The Ag Biotechnology category was particularly buoyant in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, bringing in $813 million in funding, nearly half the amount raised globally in this category in 2022. While a couple of very large deals contributed to these totals, there was also greater deal activity in this segment, which includes on-farm inputs for crop & animal agriculture,” confirming investors’ growing interest in this space.

Innovative Food – the category housing the alternative protein industry – bucked the global decline in funding to the segment, with investment actually increasing year-over-year to $527 million, albeit over fewer deals.

Similarly, Farm Management Software, Sensing & IoT ($334m), Farm Robotics ($252m) and Novel Farming Systems startups ($254m), which include indoor farming and aquaculture and insect farming, brought in more funding across fewer deals.

China, meanwhile, lost its lead to India as the country attracting the most funding in 2022, likely due to the loss of downstream mega-deals that propped up China’s agrifoodtech investment in 2021. India’s lead looks to be short lived, however; in H1 2023, China grabbed the top spot back, raising $861 million.

The report includes deep dive sections on investment to startups in Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. And spotlights on startups Zetifi, Integriculture, Eratani and Tablepointer.

India briefly overtook China in agrifoodtech investment,

AgroPolicy, Horticulture, India, Logistics, Supply Chain, Trade, Transportation

India registers 19% growth in mango export to USA in 2023-24 over last year.

With the continued efforts of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India has registered a significant growth in the export of mangoes in the first five months of the current fiscal (2023-24) by exporting mangoes to the tune of USD 47.98 million, which is 19 percent higher than the previous years’ value of USD 40.33 million in the same period.

With the collaboration of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and APEDA, India exported 22,963.78 MT of mangoes worth USD 48.53 million in 2022-23, while in the current year 2023-24 (April-August), India has exported 27,330.02 MT of mangoes worth USD 47.98 million. As a part of its initiative to promote export of mangoes in the season 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and APEDA invited the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspector for preclearance of mangoes at irradiation facilities at Vashi, Nashik, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

India has achieved grand success in the export of Indian mangoes to the USA by registering a growth of 19 percent in comparison to the previous fiscal year. India has exported 2043.60MT of Indian mangoes to the USA in the first five months of the current fiscal.

Besides the USA, with continuous efforts of the concerned authorities, India has exported 43.08 MT of mangoes to Japan, 110.99 MT of mangoes to New Zealand, 58.42MT of mangoes to Australia and 4.44MT of mangoes to South Africa – a new destination.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and APEDA jointly invited inspectors from South Korea for preclearance of mangoes for exports there. This has allowed India to export 18.43 MT of mangoes after being treated at the authorized Vapour Heat Treatment facility under the joint supervision of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Storage (DPPQS), India and Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), South Korea.

There has been a significant increase in the export of mangoes in 2022-23. In the season 2023, India has exported mangoes to 41 countries by exploring new destinations such as Iran, Mauritius, Czech Republic and Nigeria.

APEDA has also participated in Seoul Food & Hotel Show to showcase Indian mangoes to promote its export. In order to commemorate the 75 years of Independence of India (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav), APEDA facilitated the export of 75 eastern varieties of mangoes to Bahrain. The consignment included 5 GI-tagged varieties from the eastern region of India.

Additionally, APEDA organized a mango promotion programme or festival in active collaboration with the Missions of India of the respective countries to promote and increase the export of Indian mangoes.

Further, APEDA took various initiatives in 2023 to promote the export of Indian mangoes to different international markets. A mango promotion programme was organized in Malaysia by APEDA in collaboration with High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur, wherein Kesar and Banaganapalli varieties of mangoes were showcased.

India registers 19% growth in mango export

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Trade, Vegetables

Government has also announced the procurement of additional 2 lakh tons of onion for the buffer, over and above the 5 lakh tons already procured.

The Government on October 28, 2023, notified Minimum Export Price (MEP) of US$ 800 per Metric Ton, Free on Board (FOB) basis, on onion export with effect from October 29, 2023, till December 31, 2023. The measure has been taken to maintain sufficient availability of onion to domestic consumers at affordable prices as the quantity of stored rabi 2023 onion is declining by curbing the quantity of onion exports. The MEP of US$ 800 per MT translates into about Rs 67 per kg.

Along with the decision to impose MEP on onion exports, the Government has also announced the procurement of additional 2 lakh tons of onion for the buffer, over and above the 5 lakh tons already procured. Onion from the buffer has been disposed continuously from the second week of August in major consumption centres all over the country, and also supplied to retail consumers at Rs.25 per kg through mobile vans operated by National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED). Till date about 1.70 lakh Metric Tons of onion has been disposed from the buffer.

The decision to impose the MEP of US$ 800 per MT shows the determination of the Government to keep onion affordable to the domestic consumers.

Government has also announced the procurement of

Agrotech, Company News, Dairy, India, Live Stock

Move aimed at supporting pioneering of smallholder dairy farming transformation.

 Sid’s Farm, a premium dairy brand based in Telangana, announced its selection as a participant in the prestigious Inclusive Business Program by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). This milestone was reached with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ecociate, Endeva (Coach), and Sid’s Farm (Coachee), further cementing their commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable business practices.

Under the Inclusive Business Program, Sid’s Farm will embark on an ambitious project titled “Improving Smallholder Dairy Farmers’ Milk Productivity by 1.2x Annually.” This project aims to generate meaningful social impact for smallholder farmers and individuals at the base of the economic pyramid, all while ensuring economic viability.

According to Santosh Gupta, Director, Sustainable Agriculture at Ecociate, “We are excited about the potential this coaching program holds for an inclusive business journey and are keen to start working with Sid’s Farm. Their commitment to inclusive business marks a significant step forward in our collaboration. Together we can bring about lasting changes in the realm of sustainable agricultural practices in India.”

Commenting on the inclusion, Dr Kishore Indukuri, Founder, Sid’s Farm said “We are honoured to have received this opportunity. We have been working tirelessly for years now towards the creation of ethical and sustainable dairy farming practices within our ever-growing network of farmers, and it is truly humbling when you are among the chosen few for a prestigious and impactful ESCAP programme as recognition of your efforts.”

The program will target 500 small-scale producers, with a special focus on empowering women in agriculture, with 300 female smallholder dairy farmers. By June 2024, a comprehensive comparison will be made between the progress reports submitted by Sid’s Farm in October 2023 and the projected results. Sid’s Farm aims to achieve a remarkable 20% increase in milk productivity among these farmers, directly or indirectly benefitting a network of 2,200 individuals.

ESCAP’s decision to select Sid’s Farm for its coaching services is a testament to the company’s dedication to fostering positive social and economic change at the grassroots level. In-depth discussions took place during a physical session involving Sid’s Farm’s team members, leading to this exciting partnership.

Furthermore, as a participant in the ESCAP Inclusive Business Program, Sid’s Farm is honoured to be invited to join the prestigious investment dialogue in India and participate in various other activities that align with the program’s objectives. These activities are being facilitated by ESCAP with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sid’s Farm is committed to making a significant difference in the lives of smallholder dairy farmers and the communities at the base of the economic pyramid. This partnership with ESCAP, Ecociate, and Endeva is a significant step towards a brighter and more sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.

Move aimed at supporting pioneering of smallholder

Agrotech, Company News, India, Water

Company aims to cover 25,000 ha of land and reach 35,000 farmers across India by 2025.

Netafim India, a leading smart-irrigation solution provider, has launched its groundbreaking product, Toofan, an innovative irrigation technology that promises to transform farming for growers of all scales. Through this product, the company aims to cover 25,000 ha of land and reach 35,000 farmers by 2025 across India to revolutionize sustainable farming. The innovative system with best-in-category anti-clogging technology ensures optimal delivery of water and nutrients. The drip line is 40 per cent stronger with greater tensile strength. Toofan by Netafim India is 20 per cent more affordable than the existing and available thin wall, non-pressure-compensated (NPC) drip lines in the Indian market.

Toofan by Netafim India not only makes modern, efficient irrigation accessible to all but also offers a simplified buying process that transcends subsidy limitations. The cost-effective drip technology is now available to farmers of all scales, from large to small holdings, regardless of subsidy eligibility. The drip line is engineered for swift deployment, allowing farmers to cover up to 10 acres in a single day. This revolutionary feature saves both time and resources.

The digital launch concluded on the social media platforms of Netafim India and witnessed the interest of 10 Lakh farmers and dealers. Mr. Randhir Chauhan, Managing Director, Netafim India and Senior Vice President, Netafim Ltd., unveiled the product during the virtual launch. Toofan by Netafim India is an economical choice engineered with revolutionary TurboNext™ technology and offers unparalleled durability, thus helping farmers achieve better crop yields. The technology is available for any row crops on flat topographies.

Speaking about the launch, Randhir Chauhan, Managing Director Netafim India and Senior Vice President Netafim Ltd., said, “Netafim India aims to provide an affordable, high-performance micro irrigation system that not only ensures consistent and uniform yields but also aids in reducing the operational costs of farmers. As a farmer’s anthropologist, we understand the dynamics of Indian agriculture and continuously work to bring solutions that meet the evolving needs of our growers. We are proud to be a part of India’s agricultural growth story and committed to bring innovations that transform the lives of farmers. We are delighted to set new standards in clog resistance and enhance Agri performance with Toofan driplines. Netafim’s Toofan is set to reshape the agriculture landscape, empowering farmers to embrace modern irrigation practices without subsidy constraints and offering an unprecedented installation speed. Our revolutionary patented technology is a testament to our commitment to support one of the largest sectors contributing to Indian GDP”.

This multi-seasonal system is useful for surface or subsurface (SDI) applications. It promises to usher in a new era of agricultural efficiency and empower Indian farmers for sustainable and quality cultivation. This revolutionary product is available in a convenient 600-meter bundle with a 16 mm diameter and dripper flow rates ranging from 1.0 L/H to 2.2 L/H. With Toofan, farmers will experience a remarkable 40 per cent increase in strength, heightened tensile strength, crack resistance, high elongation properties, and enhanced UV resistance, which extends the product’s lifespan.

Company aims to cover 25,000 ha of

Agrotech, Company News, World

Specialising in cannabis and other indoor and greenhouse crops, AI Grow enables farmers to streamline their operations and create more efficient processes

Boon Greenhouse Consultancy, a long-time provider of agricultural consulting services for major businesses in the horticulture industry, has added automation solutions firm AI Grow to its catalogue of service partners. AI Grow is a technology and horticulture company capable of providing a full suite of automation solutions for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) of all types.

Specialising in cannabis and other indoor and greenhouse crops, AI Grow enables farmers to streamline their operations and create more efficient processes. From automating inputs including lights, water, and nutrients to environmental monitoring and controls, AI Grow boosts yields and bottom lines.

The company’s patent-pending Birdhouse sensors continually monitor light, CO2, temperature, VPD, and humidity to protect crops. Fully customisable fertigation and nutrient dosing allow growers to design their feeding programs while tracking results throughout the crop life cycle.

AI Grow fully customises each project according to client needs. Modular control software allows for full scalability, from craft grows to multi-acre cultivation facilities. An easy-to-use touchscreen interface can be managed on-site or remotely for full operational control, 24/7.

Specialising in cannabis and other indoor and

Biostimulants, Company News, World

This certification process adopted by the E.U. is elevating the standards for products marketed as biostimulants

BioLiNE Gold, an innovative fulvic-based product from BioLiNE Corp. has been approved for CE certification as a biostimulant under the new EU regulations. BioLiNE Gold joins a small handful of biostimulant products that have received this certification. BioLiNE is the first North American humic substance manufacturer to obtain the certification.

These new regulations require efficacy data justifying the product claims for plant biostimulants. BioLiNE Gold has been certified under PFC 6. B (Non-Microbial Plant Biostimulant) for claims of increasing crop yield on all broadacre crops and improving tolerance to abiotic stress on brassica napus L (canola). Plant biostimulants improve nutrient availability, uptake, or use efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stress. They often have similar modes of action across all crops and enhance crop growth, development, quality and/or yield. The CE mark ensures growers that the biostimulants they are using are quality products, effective, and safe for the environment.

“This certification process adopted by the E.U. is elevating the standards for products marketed as biostimulants,” said Mohammad Rahbari, EVP of Innovation & Sustainability at BioLiNE, “I want to thank our wonderful team for their great work and dedication to this endeavour. Attaining the CE Mark is a testament to our R&D team’s hard work, diligence, and pursuit of excellence in generating science-based evidence in support of the crop benefits of our technology.”

This certification process adopted by the E.U.