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

It will positively impact the environment and provide carbon credits to the local communities.

Achieving a significant milestone, CREDUCE, a leading Carbon Credits Origination and Offset solutions provider, has signed an MoU with the Gujarat Ecology Commission, established by the Government of India, for a project-based activity on monitoring mangrove habitat plantation. The strategic partnership is aimed at preserving mangroves and restoring 10,000 hectares of coastal areas in Gujarat.

With 50 per cent of Indian mangroves expected to shift or vanish due to climate change by 2070, this initiative is directed to preserve and expand the mangrove cover. As part of the collaboration, CREDUCE will provide carbon credits development, monitoring, and trading advisory services for the project activities. The company will leverage its expertise and experience in nature-based solutions to ensure the successful execution of this game-changing project. It will positively impact the environment and provide carbon credits to the local communities.

The signing ceremony of the MoU took place in the esteemed presence of distinguished guests, including Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF), Mulu Bhai Bera, Minister of State Gujarat, Mukesh Patel, Gujarat Ecology Commission Member Secretary, Mahesh Singh, and Principal Secretary of Environment & Forest Department, Gujarat, Shri Sanjeev Kumar IAS, among other dignitaries.

Shailendra Singh Rao, Climateur & Founder CREDUCE, said, “Protecting our biodiversity is our priority, and we are proud to partner with the government towards its initiatives. With the central government adding to Bharat’s success in afforestation by introducing Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) to its Budget, the resolve is clear. Forward looking states like Gujarat have taken the first step towards preservation and restoration, and we intend to help such positive initiatives by helping them accrue as many environmental benefits as possible.”

Mahesh Singh, GEC Member Secretary, said, “Gujarat as a state is rich in mangroves cover, which has consistently increased by two and a half folds in the last two decades. We can confidently boast of having the second largest after Sundarbans in Bharat. Buoyed by the Central Government initiatives and a positive political outlook, we are beginning the process of restoration, preservation, and habitat plantation and hope to become the largest in the country.”

It will positively impact the environment and

Company News, Foodgrains, Sustainability, World

This initiative will bring regenerative agriculture practices to over 40 000 hectares of farmland

Nestlé U.S. announced that it is investing to help bring regenerative agriculture practices to wheat farms within its DiGiorno pizza brand supply chain. The company is helping wheat farmers employ regenerative agriculture practices in their fields through a combination of financial support and technical resources and assistance. These practices include planting cover crops, eliminating or reducing tillage, and reducing the use of pesticides, which can help improve soil health and soil fertility, protect water resources and enhance biodiversity.

This initiative will bring regenerative agriculture practices to over 40 000 hectares of farmland – the size of more than 53 000 football fields and nearly double the amount of land needed to grow the wheat used in its DiGiorno pizzas. Through partnerships with ADM and Ardent Mills – two primary wheat flour suppliers for DiGiorno – Nestlé’s investment will benefit wheat farms across Kansas, North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri. The work will help the company accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture in its supply chains.

“At Nestlé our aim is to help leave the world better than we found it, and as the world’s largest food and beverage company, we have a tremendous opportunity to help create a regenerative, healthy food system while also working with the local farming communities that employ it,” said Steve Presley, CEO, Nestlé Zone North America. “To do this we need to find solutions that create shared value throughout the ecosystem – value for us, value for farmers, value for consumers, and value for the planet. This investment in wheat producers is just one example of how we are bringing this commitment to life across our supply chain.”

ADM recently measured some outcomes of farmers who have implemented regenerative agriculture methods and reported that the wheat farms in the program that used cover crops or living roots in 2022, helped to sequester more than 3 800 metric tonnes of CO2e – that’s equivalent to taking nearly 850 gas-powered cars off the road for one year. Scott Stroberg of Stroberg Farm in Hutchinson, Kansas, who has been growing wheat for ADM over the last decade, has implemented regenerative agriculture practices on his farm, including replacing synthetic fertilizers with natural alternatives, and is now introducing cover crops with the support of ADM and Nestlé.

This initiative will bring regenerative agriculture practices

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Start ups, Trade

 Singapore based Powerhouse Ventures led the round with participation from WEH Ventures, All In Capital, Indian Silicon Valley and angel investors Anant Sarda and Adhish Ladha.

 Hectar Global, a Chennai based B2B cross-border Agri commodity procurement platform, announced today that it has raised US$2.1 Million in seed funding led by Powerhouse Ventures. The round also saw participation from WEH ventures, All In Capital, Indian Silicon Valley, and angel investors Anant Sarda and Adhish Ladha. Founded by National University of Singapore alumni Srinath Srinivasan, Sibhi Kumaran and Aswath Balaji, Hectar Global helps food buyers worldwide to purchase container volumes of Agri commodities with e-commerce level convenience.

With the global Agri commodities trade exceeding US$3 Trillion annually, Hectar Global aims to be at the forefront of the digital transformation in the industry. The company’s platform digitizes complex cross-border supply chain processes, making them more efficient, transparent, and sustainable. It leverages advanced data models and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time market information and actionable insights, helping customers plan their purchases to maximize profits.

 Kshitij Golwalkar, General Partner at Powerhouse Ventures said, “Trading in Agri commodities requires deep domain expertise, given the inherent complexities in product qualities, price fluctuations, documentation, and freight.  We feel that the team’s experience in cross-border trade and their ability to build technology products holds them in good stead to create significant impact in this industry.”

“While we are enamoured by the opportunity, as the market size is obviously large and there is no company effectively leveraging tech yet, our commitment to Hectar was primarily driven by the passion & execution demonstrated by the founding team. We believe there’s a definitive founder-market fit here” added Rohit Krishna, GP at WEH Ventures.

“We have maintained a strong emphasis on operating profitably right from our inception. Our internal accruals have taken care of all operating expenses so far and we are primarily viewing this capital infusion, and future equity rounds, to rapidly expand into new geographies, and strengthening our digital infrastructure.” said Srinath Srinivasan, CEO of Hectar Global.

The company currently has offices in Chennai, Singapore, Dubai, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and has shipped over 50,000MTs of Agri commodities to Asia, Middle East and Africa.

 Singapore based Powerhouse Ventures led the round

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Pulses, Supply Chain

The introduction of ‘Bharat Dal’ is a major step taken by the Centre Government towards making pulses available to consumers at affordable prices by converting the chana stock of the government into chana dal

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry, launched the sale of subsidised Chana Dal under the brand name ‘Bharat Dal’ at the rate of Rs 60 per kg for one kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack.

The retail outlets of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-NCR are selling the chana dal. The introduction of ‘Bharat Dal’ is a major step taken by the Centre Government towards making pulses available to consumers at affordable prices by converting the chana stock of the government into chana dal.

The milling and packaging of the Chana Dal is undertaken by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) for distribution through its retail outlets in Delhi-NCR and also through the outlets of NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar and Safal. The chana dal, under this arrangement, is also made available to state governments for supplies under their welfare schemes, police, jails, and also for distribution through their Consumer Cooperative outlets. 

Chana is the most abundantly produced pulse in India and is consumed in several forms all over India.

The introduction of ‘Bharat Dal’ is a

Agrotech, Company News, Environment, Europe, Foodgrains, Sustainability

The new methodology will open a new source of income from the sale of carbon credits.

Geneva based Gold Standard have released a new methodology which will reduce methane emission from rice cultivation. Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, said, “At Gold Standard our vision is climate security and sustainable development for all. By not only delivering a quantifiable reduction in the emissions of a potent greenhouse gas, but also providing a source of income to farmers this new methodology will bring us closer to that goal.”

Methane is produced when organic matter decomposes in flooded rice fields without access to oxygen. The new methodology will reduce the emission of methane by:

changing the water regime during the cultivation period from continuously to intermittently flooded conditions and/or a shortened period of flooded conditions.

using the alternate wetting and drying method.

adopting aerobic rice cultivation methods;

switching from transplanted to Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR).

As with all Gold Standard methodologies any reductions will be verified by an independent audit before any carbon credits are issued. The new methodology will open a new source of income from the sale of carbon credits. Around 140 million smallholders in Asia who produce most of the world’s rice.

These credits could be used towards corporate ‘beyond value chain mitigation’ targets, to take responsibility for ongoing emissions. Rice is also a commodity purchased by corporations through their value chains. Mitigation outcomes could therefore become reportable towards value chain targets, such as Scope 3. For companies purchasing rice from producers applying the methodology, these outcomes can be incorporated into accounting and reporting, subject to alignment with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Further work, through Gold Standard’s AIM Platform will assess the potential for market-based allocation of outcomes in future.

The new methodology is fully IPCC aligned and includes improved monitoring guidelines. It is also applicable to a broader scope of project – large and small-scale or micro-scale projects or PoAs. Put together this means that it is more user friendly than the previous methodology.

This methodology is adapted from the small-scale CDM methodology AMS-III.AU – Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice, cultivation – Version 4.0. The CDM methodology is applicable for 30 days from the date of publication of the new methodology.

The methodology has been developed with inputs from the Eurecat Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, and from the International Rice Research Institute as part of a partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia through the Business Partnerships Platform.

The new methodology will open a new

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, Middle East countries

Expecting to report a decline in sales that reflect market dynamics of channel destocking.

Israel based ADAMA Ltd., has provided an estimate regarding its financial performance for the first half year of 2023.

Sales

For the first half year of 2023, ADAMA is expecting to report a decline in sales of approximately 14 per cent in USD terms (8 per cent in RMB terms), compared to the first half year of 2022, mainly reflecting lower volumes, as well as the negative impact of exchange rates and prices. The lower sales reflect market dynamics of channel destocking in light of high interest rates and a “wait and see” approach, given the high inventory in the channel and declining active ingredient pricing. Additionally, sales were also impacted by negative weather conditions in certain geographies. This is in comparison to H1 2022, in which the Company achieved record sales reflecting high demand due to supply uncertainty in the market. 

Adjusted EBITDA

In the first half year of 2023, the Company is expecting to report a decrease in adjusted EBITDA and its margin, in comparison to the first half year of 2022. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA is due to the decline in sales, as described above, high-cost inventory, exchange rates and despite a decrease in operating expenses and improvement in the Company’s sales mix of higher margin products. In response to the market conditions the Company has taken certain measures to manage its COGS and OPEX.

Net Loss

In the first half year of 2023, the Company is expecting to report Adjusted & Reported Net Loss, compared to adjusted & reported net income in the first half year of 2022. This is due to lower Operating Profit and an increase in financial expenses in light of higher bank interest expenses due to an increase in short-term loans as well as the sharp increase in interest rates which also impacted hedging costs on exchange rates. These financial expenses were moderated by the lower Israeli CPI. The Company anticipates that once expensive market inventories have been depleted, the overall market dynamics should stabilize.  

Expecting to report a decline in sales

Company News, Finance, Live Stock, World

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds to invest in infrastructure upgrades, pasture development, and equipment that will enhance the overall quality and efficiency of their sustainable ranching practices

Wild Oasis Bison Ranch, a woman-owned, family-operated bison ranch committed to providing premium, 100 per cent grass-fed and grass-finished bison products, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fuel expansion plans. With a focus on sustainable practices and delivering exceptional taste and nutrition, Wild Oasis Bison invites supporters to join them in their mission to revolutionise the way bison is raised and enjoyed.

Wild Oasis Bison has set a bold vision to expand operations and make a lasting impact on the local community and beyond. The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds to invest in infrastructure upgrades, pasture development, and equipment that will enhance the overall quality and efficiency of sustainable ranching practices.

“Our crowdfunding campaign is a significant step towards our mission of transforming the bison industry and promoting ethical farming practices,” said Lori Moore, the driving force behind Wild Oasis Bison. “By supporting our campaign, individuals not only contribute to the growth of our ranch but also champion the values of sustainable agriculture and conscious food choices.”

As an advocate for sustainable farming, Wild Oasis Bison ensures their bison are raised in harmony with nature. Grazing freely on nutritious grasses, the bison enjoy a stress-free environment, resulting in meat that is lean, tender, and packed with essential nutrients. By supporting the campaign, backers play a vital role in fostering this sustainable model and preserving the natural habitat for future generations.

In return for their support, campaign backers will have the opportunity to receive exclusive rewards, including bison meat packages. By pledging to the campaign, backers become an integral part of the Wild Oasis Bison community, sharing in the excitement and rewards of their continued success.

Wild Oasis Bison invites supporters and bison enthusiasts to join their crowdfunding campaign by visiting https://www.ifundwomen.com/projects/bison-restoring-original-plant-based-protein or https://gofund.me/ccb436bb. The campaigns provide a platform for individuals to contribute to the growth of a sustainable, woman-owned business while enjoying premium, ethically raised bison products.

“We believe that together, we can create a positive change in the way food is produced and consumed,” added Lori Moore. “Through this crowdfunding campaign, we invite individuals to be part of our journey and support a ranch that is redefining the standards of excellence in the bison industry.”

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds

Company News, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Warehousing, World

Redwood Specialty is a leading ingredient supplier of chickpeas, peas, lentils, and other products in the ‘Better for You’ food and premium pet food markets

The Redwood Group, LLC (Redwood) announced it has entered into an agreement to operate and acquire a pulse processing, storage, and transloading facility in Stanford, Montana to help facilitate the rapid growth of its Specialty Products Division (Redwood Specialty).

Redwood Specialty is a leading ingredient supplier of chickpeas, peas, lentils, and other products in the ‘Better for You’ food and premium pet food markets. The Stanford facility will augment Redwood’s flagship pulse processing facility in Chester, Montana and will greatly expand its grower base to meet the increasing demand of its customers, as well as provide the Montana farmers with additional growing options and access to end-use markets. Both Montana facilities are operated by Stricks Ag, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Redwood.

“We are thrilled to add Stanford to the Stricks Ag family of processing plants,” said Mike Kincaid, Redwood president. “The increased capacity allows us to continue meeting our customers’ ever-growing ingredient needs. Additionally, we look forward to partnering with local farmers to help them confidently diversify their growing programs and consistently incorporate these very important pulse crops into their rotation. We provide access to markets that will ensure those sustainable practices benefit the farmer’s bottom line as well as the land.”

This facility is instrumental in Redwood’s regenerative farming initiatives it is currently developing with some of its end-use food customers.

“Soil health initiatives continue to be a focal point of what end-use customers and CPG brands are requesting,” said Mark Obrist, Redwood Specialty’s Managing Director. “The Stanford facility provides Redwood with the ability to segregate product, process high quality, Montana-grown raw materials, and identity-preserve the finished goods with full traceability to our growers’ farms and fields through Redwood’s regenerative ag program and food safety protocols. This is a major area of focus for Redwood and its growing partners going forward.”

The Redwood Group, LLC is an employee-owned diversified supply chain and ingredient company based in Mission, KS. For over a decade, Redwood has offered customised supply chain solutions for food and feed markets around the world. Its Specialty Division, Redwood Specialty, has a deep expertise and leadership position in pulse crop distribution and has earned the trust of many of the largest food and pet food companies in North America by offering innovative supply solutions and providing world-class service, quality assurance, logistics support and R&D capabilities.

Redwood Specialty is a leading ingredient supplier

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, World

Corteva to receive exclusive rights to further develop and commercialise Lavie Bio’s lead product candidates for fruit rot and powdery mildew fungicide biologicals

Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd. and a leading ag-biologicals company that develops microbiome-based, computational-driven bio-stimulant and bio-pesticide novel products, announced a licensing agreement with Corteva, a leading ag innovation company. The agreement grants Corteva exclusive rights to further develop and commercialise the lead bio-fungicide product candidates targeting fruit rots and powdery mildew, which were discovered and developed by Lavie Bio. The agreement comes after two years of independent field validation conducted by both companies.

Fruit rots and powdery mildew, two destructive diseases affecting vineyards, fruits, and vegetables, have resulted in annual losses estimated at billions of dollars globally. Fruit rot pathogens, such as Botrytis, can cause damage upon contact with infected plant material. Meanwhile, powdery mildew spreads swiftly between plants via wind-dispersed spores.

The agreement is part of Lavie Bio’s strategy to cooperate with the world’s leading companies to allow the products it develops to reach farmers worldwide and Corteva, with its proven agbiological capabilities, can leverage Lavie Bio’s product candidates toward commercial success. This collaboration demonstrates both companies’ commitment to providing farmers with environmentally friendly, sustainable tools with proven effectiveness.

“Our licensing agreement solidifies the collaboration between both companies, leveraging Corteva’s impressive scale-up capabilities and market leadership, in conjunction with Lavie Bio’s distinctive discovery expertise powered by Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech-engine and comprehensive product development capabilities,” said Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio. “This agreement not only highlights Lavie Bio’s technological capabilities but also enables us to swiftly introduce groundbreaking ag-biological solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.”

“When you have a world-class R&D program, as we do at Corteva Agriscience, it allows you to move fast and bring on new opportunities that will help farmers meet the demands of an ever-changing food system,” said Sam Eathington, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Corteva Agriscience. “This agreement gives us yet another avenue to provide better solutions to farmers now, and in the future.”

Corteva to receive exclusive rights to further

Agrotech, Company News, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, R&D

The company’s New Holland and Case IH agriculture brands have taken notable strides in introducing comprehensive training programs targeting both farmers and equipment operators across India

CNH Industrial, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment, has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritise skill development and education as key drivers for sustainable growth on Youth Skills Day.

Kavita Sah, CSR Lead at CNH Industrial, stated, “Our commitment lies in driving productivity, innovation, and sustainability across industries through our skills development initiatives. By empowering individuals and communities with training and education, we positively impact both industry and society as a whole. In addition to providing training, we actively collaborate with dealers, industry players, and suppliers to facilitate employment opportunities. Our initiatives have already impacted over 15,000 families in India, and we remain dedicated to furthering the development of rural India through our existing and upcoming endeavours.”

Recently, the company’s New Holland and Case IH agriculture brands have taken notable strides in introducing comprehensive training programs targeting both farmers and equipment operators across India. New Holland Agriculture has launched an innovative initiative that aims to equip individuals with the essential skills and technical expertise necessary for mechanized farming practices. Similarly, Case IH introduced the ‘Unnat Kaushal-Sugarcane Harvester Operator Training’ program which is designed specifically for operators working in sugarcane harvesting across the country.

CASE Construction Equipment recently marked the first anniversary of its Hunar initiative, at the Skill Development Centre in Pithampur. ‘Hunar’ focuses on providing comprehensive training in loader backhoe operation and helps operators find jobs in the industry. The company has a modern, fully equipped Service Training Centre at its Pithampur plant where the After Market Sales (AMS) team also delivers training to dealer staff. In addition, CASE introduced the LEAD initiative earlier this year, which aims to foster entrepreneurship among 30,000 rural young people from across India. The project focuses on subsidiary income generation avenues in the agriculture and infrastructure sectors through awareness and training programs.

The company’s financial services division, CNH Industrial Capital, has also trained farmers in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on Financial Literacy, Farm Mechanisation, Biomass Management, and State Agricultural Subsidies.

The company’s New Holland and Case IH

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

Argyle is a cost-effective solution that promotes sustainable farming practices.

UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions (SAS), an integrated AgTech platform of UPL Ltd. has announced the launch of the new insecticide Argyle, a cost-effective, sustainable, and innovative solution, specifically designed for soybean and cotton crops.

Argyle combines Acetamiprid 25 per cent and Bifenthrin 25 per cent and Wettable Granules (WG), utilizing an eco-friendly WG formulation that rapidly dissolves in water, optimizing canopy coverage and efficacy. With lower dosage requirements per acre, Argyle is a cost-effective solution that promotes sustainable farming practices. The WG formulation ensures easy handling and eliminates the risk of spillage, drift, or dust formation during the application, resulting in cleaner air and soil health. It is safe for the environment and applicators, distinguishing it from other cost-competitive solutions.

This environmentally friendly product provides effective control over a wide range of pest categories, including whitefly, aphids, jassids, semi looper, and girdle beetles. The dual mode of action of Argyle helps in preventing pest resistance, ensuring long-term sustainability in pest management practices, and minimizing the need for additional applications.

Argyle is a cost-effective solution that promotes

AgroPolicy, India, R&D, Trade

Tomar was addressing 5th Foundation and Technology Day of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 95th Foundation Day at National Agriculture Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.

 Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and President of ICAR Society was the Chief Guest of the program. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry – Dairying and Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare also graced the occasion.

Tomar appreciated the historic journey of ICAR and its overall achievements during the last 94 years. He exhorted that India is a surplus nation in terms of food grains and providing food to 80 crore people in the country. Agricultural products from India are being preferred globally and millets are getting significance in the International Year of Millets, he added. This is happening because of the sincere efforts of farmers and scientists. The Minister said exports earned from agricultural and horticultural products have crossed $50 billion dollar. He informed that Government is emphasising organic farming and natural farming and a separate mission has been initiated with a budget provision of Rs.1500 crore for the promotion of eco-friendly agriculture. Further, he lauded the scientists and farmers for their great service to the nation in making the country not only self-sufficient in many commodities but also becoming an exporter of food items.

Rupala acclaimed ICAR for several remarkable achievements which have revolutionised the dairy and fisheries sector. He further mentioned that the time has come to earn carbon credits from agriculture which can be explored for additional income. He also inaugurated an exhibition showcasing innovative technologies developed by 113 ICAR research institutes.

Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) said that unprecedented growth in the agriculture sector has been recorded. He emphasised that India is not only self-sufficient in the production of food grains but is also exporting agriculture and agricultural products in large quantities.  In his presentation, he highlighted the achievement made by ICAR such as the development of 346 varieties of food grains, 99 varieties of horticulture crops, mapping of efficient cropping system zones, fertigation schedule for 24 crops, 28 new equipment and machinery, coronavirus and lumpy disease vaccines, new diagnostics, the breeding protocol of new fish breeds, conduction of 47088 on-farm trials and 2.99 lakh front line demonstration on new technologies. He also mentioned that 58 patents and 711 technology licencing agreements were signed by agriculture scientists from different industries.

Tomar was addressing 5th Foundation and Technology

AgroPolicy, Floriculture, India

Over 3,000 farmers across the state, covering 500 hectares of waste land, have been supported through Aroma mission.

Meghalaya’s Aroma Mission has emerged as a resounding success in the realm of aromatic plants, spearheaded by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Since its launch in 2019, this flagship initiative has been instrumental in transforming aromatic plants into valuable products while promoting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, with the ultimate goal of doubling farmers’ income and enhancing their livelihoods.

The Meghalaya Aroma Mission has played a pivotal role in promoting aromatic plant cultivation in the state and has achieved significant milestones. Over 3,000 farmers across the state, covering 500 hectares of waste land, have been supported through this mission. Ten essential aromatic plants, well-suited to the agro-climatic conditions in Meghalaya, have been cultivated, and the mission plans to expand the area under aromatic plantations to 1,000 hectares. Wintergreen, lavender, damask rose, and wild marigold, classified as High-Value Crops, have been given priority under the mission.

The Aroma Mission has achieved a production output of 4 metric tons, significantly contributing to the state’s aromatic plant industry. As a result of this initiative, 3,000 farmers have directly benefited, improving their livelihoods and income opportunities.

The Aroma Mission operates thirteen essential oil distillation units in collaboration with women entrepreneurs. These units propagate various plants such as Citronella, Lemon Grass, Turmeric, Vetiver, Winter Green, Geranium, and more. Notably, these grasses thrive even in severely degraded lands where other crops struggle to grow. Moreover, their thick fibrous root system contributes to recharging groundwater and springs, and they are also proved to be an efficient soil binder and preventing soil erosion making them ecologically valuable.

Wholeheartedly supporting this initiative, the Chief Minister assured the farmers involved in aromatic plant cultivation of the government’s unwavering assistance to scale up their enterprises. He encouraged them to share their future plans to ensure the long-term success of this business, benefiting both the farmers and the state economically.

To bolster the capabilities of the Byrwa unit, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced additional financial aid from the government for the purchase of machinery. Furthermore, the cultivators are exploring the possibilities of extracting oil for perfume production, expanding their product range.

To ensure the production of value-added products like aromatic and essential oils, the Aroma Mission intends to establish more distillation facilities. The goal is to provide at least one field distillation unit for every 10 hectares of these crops.

As part of this effort, 130 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed, empowering farmers and fostering collective efforts in the cultivation and marketing of aromatic plants. Additionally, cooperative societies have been established to facilitate collaboration and resource-sharing among farmers engaged in aromatic plant cultivation. Moreover, the creation of farmer groups has encouraged peer learning, knowledge sharing, and collective initiatives for sustainable agriculture.

Over 3,000 farmers across the state, covering

Agrotech, Biostimulants, Company News, Europe

For setting the stage to shape rapid growth of the global biologicals market.

Syngenta announced that Syngenta Biologicals bringing together Valagro – the pioneer in biostimulants and specialty nutrients it acquired in 2020 – with its in-house biologicals business, setting the stage to shape rapid growth of the global biologicals market.

Syngenta Biologicals brings together Syngenta’s global reach and innovation strengths with Valagro’s proprietary technology platform and team of trusted technical and commercial advisors. Since the acquisition, both companies have worked closely to build a joint foundation in science-based innovation, extensively sharing knowledge and leveraging capabilities crucial for a world-leading biologicals business.

“Establishing the Syngenta Biologicals brand marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of our business, giving us a single identity and formalizing our one-team approach in the market. Syngenta Biologicals stands for industry-leading technologies, unparalleled research expertise, and global commercial capabilities, energized by the entrepreneurial spirit and culture Valagro has always been reputed for,” said Corey Huck, Global Head of Syngenta Biologicals.

“This move reinforces our strategy of providing farmers with more complementary product and technology choices, and underpins our determination to be the collaborator of choice, and to make agriculture more sustainable,” he added.

Backed by its best-in-class R&D pipeline and commercial capabilities, six production sites globally and more than 1,100 employees, Syngenta Biologicals is well-positioned to leverage its deep understanding of farmers’ needs to deliver exciting innovations in this field.

Syngenta Biological’s expanding portfolio already includes TAEGRO®, a biofungicide against a wide range of major soilborne and foliar diseases; MEGAFOL®, a biostimulant that helps crops manage stress, and VIXERAN®, a foliar-applied biofertilizer.

In addition to accelerating its biologicals research, Syngenta Biologicals is also actively forging collaborations aimed at rapidly expanding its offers of biologicals with wide range of applications including foliar, seed treatments, combinations with fertilizers as well as non-agricultural uses.

For setting the stage to shape rapid