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Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Live Stock, R&D

The need to explore the use of Plankton Plus in agriculture and horticulture crops to increase the demand for the product

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC), Chennai, Tamil Nadu for evaluating the efficacy of fish waste converted CIBA-Plankton Plus in paddy crop.

Dr Kuldeep K.Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA stressed the need to explore the use of Plankton Plus in agriculture and horticulture crops to increase the demand for the product. He complimented MCRC officials for recognizing the potential of CIBA in R and D backstopping and coming forward to sign the MoU.

Dr Debasis De, Principal Scientist, CIBA, and team leader of CIBA-PlanktonPlus technology said the potential use of CIBA-PlanktonPlus in agriculture can be explored at the field level through collaborative research with MCRC.  He stressed that if CIBA-PlanktonPlus is found to have a beneficial effect on paddy crops it will improve productivity and increase the income for farmers.

Dr Sandeep, K.P., Scientist and a core member of the CIBA-PlanktonPlus technology team elaborated on the lead found regarding the use of CIBA-PlanktonPlus in paddy crop in a preliminary trial.

Dr N. Unnamalai, Principal Scientist, MCRC said that they are hopeful that the application of CIBA-PlanktonPlus will improve the yield and quality of paddy.

A team of scientists from ICAR-CIBA will coordinate the experimental trials along with MCRC officials.

The need to explore the use of

AgroPolicy, Award, India

The applications will remain open till 31st July 2023. All States/UTs, district administrations, and Indian Missions abroad are eligible to participate.

 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) proudly launched the One District One Product (ODOP) Awards on June 15th on the Rashtriya Puraskar portal. These prestigious awards aim to recognize and honour those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments within their respective Districts, States/UTs, and International Missions abroad in achieving economic development through the ODOP approach.

The application process for these awards commenced on 25th June 2023 and the applications will remain open till 31st July 2023. All States/UTs, district administrations, and Indian Missions abroad are eligible to participate and are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Awards focus on the following: (i) Encouraging constructive competition, innovation, and efficient public service delivery in successful ODOP interventions; (ii) Promoting replication and institutionalization of best practices through experience sharing and (iii) Recognizing innovations done for successful identification and solving bottlenecks in the supply chain of ODOP products.

The application process for these awards commenced on 25th June 2023 and the applications will remain open till 31st July 2023. All States/UTs, district administrations, and Indian Missions abroad are eligible to participate and are strongly encouraged to apply.

District administration, State Administration, and Missions Abroad are encouraged to actively apply for the awards so that an example could be set which could fuel innovation and effective public service delivery under ODOP.

The ODOP initiative aims to foster socio-economic development of all districts of the country. The idea is to select, brand and promote One Product from each District of the country, to identify and solve problems associated with each of the chosen ODOP products at all points in their respective supply chains to increase their market accessibility and harness their export potential.

With an objective of enhancing the product, bettering the life of the producer and improving the process, the interventions undertaken by the ODOP team encompass the development of all aspects of the district.

The applications will remain open till 31st

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Live Stock, Start ups

The challenge received applications from 121 startups across the problem statements

The Department of Fisheries launched the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge in partnership with Startup India hub and DPIIT, to identify, reward and recognise startups creating exceptional impact in the fisheries ecosystem. The Fisheries ecosystem in India has been growing over the years, currently having fisheries startups present in 21 states and union territories.

The Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge sought applications across four problem statements. The challenge received applications from 121 startups across the problem statements. After a rigorous analysis, 12 startups have been selected as winners of the challenge.

The selected startups will be felicitated by Parshottam Rupala Minister for Fisheries Animal Husbandry & Dairying, in the presence of Ministers of State, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr L. Murugan and Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan along with Ministers in-charge Fisheries from various States and senior officers of Central and State Governments on the occasion of National Fish Farmer’s Day at Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu.

The selected startups under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana will so be provided with a cash grant of INR 2 lakhs to help them continue building their innovations.

The challenge received applications from 121 startups

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Biofuel industry, India, R&D

The catalyst maintains excellent reusability up to 10 test cycles towards bio-jet fuel.

The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur have developed an abundantly available Iron based catalyst (Fe/Silica-Alumina) and utilized various non-edible oils and waste biomass to make the bio-jet fuel manufacturing process profitable, solving a problem that has inundated the industry for decades. This is an ingredient for cheaper, cleaner fuels that can transform the energy sector. Dr Rakesh K Sharma, Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur, and his PhD scholar Bhagirath Saini have reinvented the way bio-jet-fuel is made from plant-based biomass.

With an estimated daily fuel demand of more than 800 million litters daily, the global aviation sector is incredibly energy-intensive and almost entirely reliant on petroleum-based fuels. Unlike other energy sectors, such as ground transportation or residential and commercial buildings, the aviation industry can’t be easily shifted to renewable energy sources using existing technologies. Hence the plant-based sustainable bio-jet fuels suggested by IIT Jodhpur researchers could provide a competitive alternative to conventional petroleum fuels and have the potential to play a big role in greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The research was featured in the cover-page of Sustainable Energy & Fuels journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, London.

The present study has great significance for developing aviation fuel under relatively mild reaction conditions, i.e., low H2 pressure and high reusability (up to 10 test cycles), using the earth-abundant Fe/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst. The catalyst homologous of nature clay that has been successful story from Prof. Sharma’s research group. The catalyst maintains excellent reusability up to 10 cycles (but works well for >50 cycles) towards bio-jet fuel. The results are promising, especially considering the catalyst’s high acidity and unique textural properties under relatively mild process conditions, such as low H2 pressure under solvent-free conditions. The work is being supported by Department of Biotechnology, DBT PAN-IIT Center for Bioenergy.

Speaking about the significance of the research, Dr. Rakesh K Sharma, Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur, said, “What is really impressive about our work is the unprecedented bio jet fuel selectivity from biomass using earth abundant reusable heterogeneous iron catalyst under mild conditions. The process shows not only increased efficiency but also decreased emissions of greenhouse gases in airline sector.”

The future scope of the developed sulphur-free and highly dispersed non-noble metal-based catalyst for bio-jet fuel production is promising. Scaling up the catalyst production and optimizing the manufacturing process for commercial-scale applications is a potential avenue. Further research can focus on process optimization to enhance catalytic activity, selectivity, and conversion efficiency, considering factors such as temperature, pressure, and reaction time.

The catalyst maintains excellent reusability up to

Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plans to procure 2,500 drones for spraying its products, nano urea and nano DAP (Diammonium Phosphate).

IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd announced that it has emerged as a leader in the IFFCO drone project and secured a large contract from major cooperative IFFCO to supply 500 drones, which will be primarily used to spray nano liquid urea and DAP.

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plans to procure 2,500 drones for spraying its products, nano urea and nano DAP (Diammonium Phosphate). IFFCO also plans to create 5,000 rural entrepreneurs, who would be trained for spraying via drones.

Gurugram-headquartered IoTechWorld, the manufacturer of India’s first DGCA-type certified drone ‘AGRIBOT’, has been Co-Founded by Deepak Bhardwaj and Anoop Upadhyay. IoTechWorld Avigation is also backed by leading agritech company Dhanuka Agritech Ltd.

“We are indeed privileged to receive the single biggest order for the purchase of Krishi-drones from IFFCO. The company will deliver 500 drones to IFFCO by December 2023,” said Upadhyay.

He further said that since IoTechWorld’s inception, the endeavour has been to promote technological innovation in the field of agriculture, and the company is the pioneer of Krishi-drones in the country.

Elaborating on the large supply order from IFFCO, Co-founder Bhardwaj said the drone market is rapidly growing, and there has been tremendous demand from various companies, including fertiliser and pesticides companies as well as from rural entrepreneurs, including farmers.

“Our AGRIBOT (Krishi drone) has been specially designed and programmed for fertilisers. The order from IFFCO is a testament to our strength in the agri-drone segment. We aim to help farmers and Agri Entrepreneurs in the Implementation of made-in-India Nano Urea and Nano DAP newly launched by IFFCO,” he said.

Besides IFFCO, IoTechWorld Avigation has partnered with agrochemical company Syngenta and has undertaken 17,000 KM of drone yatra in various parts of the country.

“We are expecting 5-6 times more demand in the current fiscal compared to last year, with a target of selling more than 3,000 drones in this fiscal year. We are also exploring opportunities for exports. The Government’s recent decision to liberalise the export policy for drones opens up a gamut of opportunity, and there is a huge demand in overseas markets,” Upadhyay added.

The company is also in discussion for exporting drones in regions like SAARC, South East Asia, Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Oman, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Philippines, Nepal, and Africa, which are the focus countries of IoTech export sales.

The company is also extensively focusing on creating awareness about the benefits of using drones in agriculture. IoTech has also set up several small pilot training organisations where people are trained to fly drones.

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plans

Environment, Industry Reports / Analysis, Nature, Organic, Sustainability

By leveraging innovative solutions and advanced technologies, how the partnerships seek to drive the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices among Indian farmers, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

In a significant development for the regenerative agriculture sector, IITM Pravartak and WayCool Foods have joined forces to create the Regenerative Agriculture tech stack. This collaboration, which brings together the expertise of IITM Pravartak and the deep industry knowledge of WayCool Foods, aims to revolutionise farming practices in India and establish a robust ecosystem for regenerative agriculture. By leveraging innovative solutions and advanced technologies, the partnership seeks to drive the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices among Indian farmers, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

Increased consumer awareness and government initiatives promoting sustainable agriculture have fuelled the global growth of regenerative farming practices. According to a report by BlueWeave Consulting, the global regenerative agriculture market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 14.6 per cent between 2023 and 2029, reaching a value of  $21.03 billion by the end of the decade. This growth is driven by the rising demand for organic food and the recognition of the environmental challenges associated with traditional farming methods. India’s agricultural sector is also embracing regenerative agriculture, as evidenced by government commitments.

The Union Budget 2023, outlines plans to support one crore farmers in transitioning to natural farming, over the next three years, along with the establishment of 10,000 Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres for promoting organic farming. A NITI Aayog report estimates that 2.5 million Indian farmers are already implementing regenerative agricultural techniques. With projections of expanding organic farming to 20 lakh hectares in the next five years, and 12 lakh hectares falling under the Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP), regenerative agriculture is poised to play a significant role in India’s agricultural landscape.

Awareness of the environmental impact of traditional farming methods has grown among farmers, thanks to training programmes conducted by extension agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and agritech companies. Moreover, advancements in technology are facilitating the implementation of restorative practices and efficient resource management, further bolstering the prospects of sustainable agriculture. With long-term benefits and potential for positive impact, regenerative agriculture is set to reshape India’s agricultural practices in the coming years.

Against this backdrop, the collaboration between Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Pravartak and WayCool Foods stands as a pioneering initiative. By combining their respective strengths and knowledge, they aim to enhance the offerings for farmers under IITM’s Regenerative Agriculture Sustainable Architecture (RASA) tech stack. The partnership will provide farmers with cutting-edge technical solutions, domain expertise in the agri supply chain, and knowledge dissemination about sustainable agri-practices. Through this collaboration, IITM Pravartak and WayCool Foods aspire to empower Indian farmers with advanced technologies and proactive measures to combat climate change, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

Through this newly signed MoU, WayCool Foods will provide technical solutions for seeding and expansion of the RASA stack. It will also offer its domain knowledge of the agri supply chain – from soil to sale and further strengthen the design and structuring of the agri-stack. 

Karthik Jayaraman, Managing Director of WayCool Foods, emphasised, “This partnership with IITM Pravartak will further boost our continuing efforts towards driving adoption of regenerative agriculture amongst Indian farmers. Our on-field experience has demonstrated commercial benefits to farmers when they adopt regenerative agri practices thereby improving their income and profitability. IITM Pravartak’s RASA Stack is one of the country’s best-in-class and comprehensive agri-stacks for regenerative farming. We are confident that synergies between WayCool Foods and IITM Pravartak will provide farmers with access to the most advanced technologies equipping them to take proactive measures to combat climate change as Indian farmers prepare to feed the world.”

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By leveraging innovative solutions and advanced technologies,

Agrotech, Finance, Horticulture, India, Interaction, Schemes - Govt, Schemes - NABARD

Vilas Shinde, Chairman and Managing Director of Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited

Founded in 2010, Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited, based in Nashik, has emerged as the largest exporter of grapes in India. Remarkably, Sahyadri accounts for nearly 17 per cent of all grapes exported from the country. In 2022, the company clocked a revenue of nearly Rs 800 crore. To further strengthen its operations, it recently raised Rs 310 crore in growth capital from a group of impact-focused investors including Incofin, Korys, FMO and Proparco. Besides, Sahyadri Farms, India’s largest integrated value chain owned by small and marginal farmers, announced the introduction of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) worth Rs 45 crore for its employees in 2023. This forms part of the total ESOPs pool amounting to Rs 70 crore. Vilas Shinde, Chairman and Managing Director of Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited expressed his insights on the horticulture value chain in India during an interview with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts;

How is Sahyadri Farms contributing to the horticulture value chain in India?

As the horticulture market in India is worth Rs 1 lakh crore, there is a significant opportunity for small and marginal farmers to increase their per-acre production and income. Sahyadri Farms has developed an ecosystem focused on the horticulture sector in Maharashtra.

At Sahyadri Farms, we have had a clear focus on horticulture crops, from the beginning. In the first phase, we concentrated on a single crop – grapes and gradually developed an ecosystem for grapes that includes all stakeholders from seed to last-mile delivery. Today, Sahyadri Farms has become a leading exporter and producer of grapes in the international market. After grapes, we shifted our attention to eight other horticulture crops, including tomatoes, pomegranates, mangoes, sweet lime, oranges, bananas, sweet corn and cashews. For each of these crops, we are developing an ecosystem using the cluster farming approach and connecting small-scale farmers through the Farmer Producer Company (FPC) model. Additionally, we are one of the largest producers and processors of tomatoes, contributing to almost 50 per cent of all Kissan tomato ketchup, a brand owned by Unilever.

What is the role of the FPC model in the horticulture value chain?

The FPC model is basically a collective process. The FPC model plays a crucial role, especially for small-holder horticulture growers who may struggle to manage various aspects of the horticulture value chain at a small scale, such as new farm practices for increasing yield, marketing, post-harvest supply chain infrastructure, and logistics.

The FPC model is ideal for the horticulture value chain as it provides support to farmers at every step, starting from providing high-quality inputs at reasonable rates to connecting farmers to market linkages.

By ensuring that farmers own all aspects of the horticulture value chain, the FPC model allows profits to be directly shared with farmers. This model is based on collective efforts by the farmers, ensuring fair prices for their produce in the export market.

What major changes have you observed in the horticulture supply chain since the COVID-19 pandemic?

The horticulture sector has witnessed significant changes in its supply chain, distribution networks, Direct to Consumer model (D2C) models, and new digital platforms aiming to connect all stakeholders of the horticulture industry under one roof.

Actually, the horticulture supply chain in India is currently in an experimental phase. Many startups are working on providing high-quality and residue-free produce through better cold storage and logistics options. These startups are leveraging digital technology and innovations to offer best-in- class services. Although many supply chain startups may not be generating substantial profits at present, the horticulture sector is expected to reap the benefits of digital technology and innovations in the next 5-10 years.

Another significant change is observed in market linkages. Previously, farmers would often receive lower prices for their produce in traditional mandis/ markets. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many farmers started selling their produce directly to consumers through various platforms. The direct access to the consumers has made farmers more aware of consumer expectations, and market preferences, as well as demand for specific crops. Consequently, traditional farming methods, crop patterns, and adherence to standard food safety protocols have undergone changes, which was missing earlier, as farmers strive to meet consumer expectations.

To read more click on : https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Vilas Shinde, Chairman and Managing Director of

Agrotech, India, Opinions, Poultry

By Ankit Alok Bagaria, Co-founder, Loopworm

Global meat consumption is growing exponentially because of rapid urbanisation and population growth. This surge is driven not only by increasing numbers but also by changing lifestyles, particularly in developing countries. Poultry birds known for their white meat, contribute significantly to the overall meat supply. To meet the escalating demand for meat and its products, the advent of the biotechnology revolution presents a multitude of opportunities in the poultry industry. Biotechnology is no longer limited to merely enhancing farming practices; it now encompasses a broad range of transformative impacts on poultry production and the food systems that support it.

Agri-biotechnology, a branch of science that encompasses the application of various biotechnological tools and techniques to the agricultural sector, has emerged as a powerful force in revolutionising farming practices. This field encompasses a wide range of approaches and technologies, including alternative farming techniques, precision agriculture, genetic engineering, molecular markers, system biology, and other biotechnologies.

At its core, agri-biotechnology aims to harness the potential of these tools and techniques to develop crops and animals with improved traits and characteristics. These advancements are designed to address critical challenges faced by farmers and the agricultural industry. Examples of such challenges include combating pests and diseases, increasing crop yields, and enhancing the nutritional value of agricultural products.

Agri-biotechnology has the potential to address many of the challenges faced by modern agriculture, including food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. It has the potential to revolutionise poultry in numerous ways. It can be used to develop genetically modified crops that can be used as feed for poultry. These crops can be designed to contain high levels of specific nutrients, such as protein, that are important for poultry growth and health. Researchers all across the globe are now working on alternative ingredients and nutrients for poultry too, which is indirectly supported via agri-biotechnology in other organisms. Overall, these alternative protein sources provide an opportunity for poultry producers to diversify their feed sources and reduce their reliance on traditional protein sources.

Alternative protein sources for poultry include  

1. Insects: Insects such as silkworm pupae, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, and crickets are becoming popular alternative protein sources for poultry feed. They are a sustainable protein source and can be easily raised on organic waste.

2. Algae: Algae is a rich source of protein and can be used as a feed supplement for poultry. It can be grown in large quantities and is a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.

3. Single-cell protein: Single-cell protein is produced from microbial fermentation and is a great alternative to traditional protein sources. It is rich in essential amino acids and can be produced quickly and in large quantities.

4. Plant-based protein: Plant-based proteins can be used as an alternative protein source in poultry feed. They are a vegan alternative to animal protein sources.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Ankit Alok Bagaria, Co-founder, LoopwormGlobal meat

Agri Genomics, Agrotech, Foodgrains, Opinions

By Suraj Nair, Lead (TechSprouts), Ankur Capital

Food shortages arise more frequently owing to unpredictable crop yield losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. With advances in molecular biology and marker technology, a new era of molecular breeding has emerged that has greatly accelerated the pace of plant breeding. High-throughput genotyping technology and phenotyping platforms have enabled large-scale marker-trait association analysis, such as genome-wide association studies, to precisely dissect the genetic architecture of plant traits. Large-scale mapping of agronomically important quantitative trait loci, gene cloning and characterisation, mining of elite alleles/haplotypes, exploitation of natural variations, and genomic selection have paved the way towards genomics-assisted breeding (GAB). With the availability of more and more informative genomic datasets, GAB would become a promising technique to expedite the breeding cycle for crop improvement.

Agriculture remains the mainstay of human civilisation, providing sustenance and livelihoods across the globe. However, the growing population along with deteriorating climatic conditions have raised serious questions about current agricultural practices. Frequent droughts, heatwaves and floods have resulted in crop losses, lower yields and diminished nutritional quality. Traditional agricultural practices which are highly water-intensive and resource-consuming, have become highly unsustainable. This has created an ever-increasing demand for improved seeds and crop varieties, whether to increase yields for a growing population, enhance climate resilience with the onset of anthropomorphic climate change, or to protect against a plethora of pests.

Conventional plant breeding techniques, although long-standing, have drawbacks. One key disadvantage is the lengthy and expensive process of variety development, which can take over a decade. It involves laborious experiments, field trials, and the analysis of individual traits. This manual process is cumbersome.

Over the past decade, the agricultural industry has exhibited gradual signs of change. One prominent trend in agricultural research and development over the past two decades has been the rapid emergence and adoption of advanced seed breeding tools as well as genetic editing techniques, such as CRISPR. These techniques enable us to sequence a plant’s genome and analyse its growth and behaviour at a more granular level. The advancements in sequencing techniques, bioinformatics, and the ability to manipulate large datasets have led to the advent of a new paradigm: genomics-assisted breeding (GAB).

GAB relies on genomic data, which has been extensively accumulated since the sequencing of rice in 2006. The availability of this data has significantly improved gene-mapping strategies, particularly in our ability to correlate genomic data with phenomic performance. This understanding has expedited the process of trait discovery, making it possible to breed plants with specific traits in mind. For example, it is now feasible to develop a new rice variety with enhanced amylose content through targeted breeding efforts.

GAB can take one of two broad forms: the first is a highly advanced form of conventional varietal creation achieved through controlled crosses between specific parent plants, and the second is through direct genetic modification of plants with the aim of introducing desirable traits. Both approaches offer great versatility, allowing for the breeding of novel traits in crops, even without genetic engineering. An example of this is HarvestPlus, an international research programme that has developed hybrid corn varieties with reduced vitamin A deficiency.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Suraj Nair, Lead (TechSprouts), Ankur CapitalFood

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, India, Opinions

 By Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, MD and CEO, IGX (Indian Gas Exchange)

Gas Exchanges provide an alternate avenue for buyers from the fertiliser sector and sellers to meet their natural gas demand and facilitate transparent price discovery. This inherent quality of Gas Exchanges has led to consistently lower price discovery as gas accounts for 70-80 per cent of the cost of fertiliser production.

Out of India’s annual natural gas consumption of ~156 MMSCMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day), nearly 52 MMSCMD is consumed by its fertiliser (urea) industry. Limited domestic gas production from nominated fields, coupled with the restrained allocation of domestic gas to the sector, has led the fertiliser industry to meet almost 80 per cent of its gas requirement through imported LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). As per the allocation policy, fertiliser consumers are accorded priority after City Gas Distribution entities. Hence, incremental consumption of gas by the fertiliser sector is satiated from Re-gasified Natural Gas (R-LNG).

However, just about 60-70 per cent of such R-LNG procurement by the fertiliser industry is through long-term/mid-term purchase agreements, and the remainder volumes are sourced through Empowered Pool Management Committed (EPMC) on a spot basis. Domestic gas is pooled with R-LNG to provide natural gas at a uniform delivered price to all the fertiliser plants connected to the Gas Grid.

Bearing the brunt of rising international gas prices

The increasing use of imported gas by the fertiliser sector while the international gas prices are at a record-high, is a cause for worry. Gas accounts for 70-80 per cent of the cost of production, depending on feedstock prices and the energy efficiency of the fertiliser plant. Alternate avenues for procurement, such as a technology-enabled marketplace providing flexibility, efficiency and competitive price discovery, may help in lowering the expenditure of the fertiliser industry.

Subsidies provided by the Government of India cover 100 per cent of the gas procurement costs for urea production. The difference between the delivered cost of urea at the farm gate and net market realisation by the urea units is given as a subsidy to the urea manufacturer/ importer. The present subsidy outgo is around Rs 2,400 per bag (as the market price is about Rs 2,700 per bag). Further, subsidy rates of P&K fertilisers are notified under the Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme.

Considering the huge increase in the prices of fertilisers in the global market, the government has doubled the fertiliser subsidy for this Rabi season. The total fertiliser subsidy outgo for FY 2022-23 would be about Rs 2.25 lakh crore, compared to Rs 1.65 lakh crore last year. These costs have been primarily absorbed by the government to ensure food security as well as safeguard the farmers in our country.

A considerable portion of R-LNG is being sourced by fertiliser units on a spot basis (~30 per cent of total R-LNG procurement) which currently must be routed for an entire quarter through a Pool Operator (GAIL India Ltd) who then proceeds to carry out a plant-wise auction for the procurement of the spot R-LNG volumes on a delivered basis. Due to very high prices being discovered in the quarterly auctions with the entire off-take being on a reasonable endeavour (RE) basis, the pool operator has recently commenced monthly auctions with 40 per cent guaranteed off-take for each plant.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

 By Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, MD and CEO,

Company News, North America, Seeds, Trade, Vegetables

This acquisition will provide Syngenta an expanded portfolio to continue providing the best overall offering to serve growers of every type around the world.

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds announced that it has completed the acquisition of Feltrin Sementes, a leading Brazilian vegetable seed company serving smallholder growers and home gardeners in 40+ countries. With the growing global vegetable seeds market, the addition of Feltrin Sementes will provide Syngenta an expanded portfolio to continue providing the best overall offering to serve growers of every type around the world.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Feltrin Sementes team to our growing vegetable seeds business,” said Matthew Johnston, Global Head of Vegetable Seeds and Flowers at Syngenta. “Their diverse customer base and special connection to growers across Latin America makes them a natural fit with our business focus on placing growers at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to helping Feltrin Sementes continue bringing innovation and value to growers.”

The Feltrin Sementes brand will remain in use, maintaining a brand that is familiar and respected by growers. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, Feltrin Sementes serves growers with a portfolio spanning 50+ crop segments and 500+ varieties, including coriander, pepper, lettuce and okra.

“Combining the people and portfolios of Syngenta and Feltrin Sementes is a tremendous opportunity,” said Edimilson Luiz Bagattini, Chief Executive Officer of Feltrin Sementes. “We’re excited to join Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and offer an expanded portfolio and expertise to our customers from one of the world’s leading agricultural innovation and technology companies.”

One of the first companies to breed vegetable seed varieties, Syngenta’s history in vegetable seeds dates back more than 150 years. Today, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds operates in more than 50 countries and delivers vegetable seeds to growers in 124 countries, offering nearly 2,500 commercial varieties across 30 crops. Syngenta is committed to serving growers of all sizes to help ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for people around the world, year-round.

This acquisition will provide Syngenta an expanded

E-commerce, India, Sustainability

This year’s rubber expo will be the largest rubber trade show ever held in the Asia-Pacific region

The 11th India Rubber Expo (IRE) will be held in Mumbai from March 20 to 23, 2024, and it will be organised by the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA).

According to reports, this year’s rubber expo will be the largest rubber trade show ever held in the Asia-Pacific region.

The rubber expo aims to present the most recent technological developments in the rubber industry, bring together rubber traders under one roof, increase the number of exhibitors, and evaluate the state of the market at the moment.

More than 450 exhibitors, including homegrown and global players from more than 30 nations, are supposed to take part in the exhibition. Roadshows will be held in major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad to promote this expo.

“We are well aware that rubber, as an essential component in most sectors, has immense growth potential in India,” stated Vishnu Bhimrajka, Chief Convener of IRE 2024. Keeping this in mind, an event of this magnitude will provide the ideal occasion to investigate novel products, technologies, and innovations that may contribute to the industry’s expansion.

Ramesh Kejriwal, Leader of AIRIA and Co-Convener of Fury 2024, said, “Similar to each year, this time as well, we are expecting interest from probably the greatest elastic merchants from across Asia. This is an opportunity for newcomers to connect with established players, promote their brand, and exchange ideas. IRE’s ultimate objective is to “pave the way for collective action to achieve ambitious goals by facilitating collaboration between entities and facilitating collaboration.”

Due to its highly diversified application in industries like automobiles, railways, defence, energy and infrastructure, mining, transportation, agriculture and food products, textiles, paper and printing, construction, machinery and equipment, and healthcare, the rubber industry, which generates approximately Rs12,000 crore in revenue, is poised for rapid expansion.

This year's rubber expo will be the

Company News, Dairy, Live Stock, World

105-year-old Farmer-owned Co-op Looks to the Global Trading Platform as a Tool to Support International Growth

Darigold, the Seattle-based farmer-owned dairy co-op, has joined the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform and has completed its first product offering through GDT Events. Through the offering, initiated on July 4 as part of GDT Trading Event 335, Darigold offered two skim milk powder products and one buttermilk powder product.

One of the largest dairy producers in the United States processing nearly 10 billion pounds of milk annually, Darigold is looking to leverage its proximity to global shipping infrastructure and building a new production facility in Central Washington to support its global growth ambitions. Working with GDT expands the co-op’s reach into new markets and provides access to more customers, making GDT an important strategic partner in Darigold’s global transformation.

“The Darigold brand is beloved in the Northwest where our farmer-owners are raising cows and our teams have been producing high-quality dairy products for more than 100 years,” said Joe Coote, CEO at Darigold. “But the growth opportunities in dairy are more robust in global markets, and our co-op is uniquely positioned to leverage this opportunity. While we’re already a top-tier dairy producer in the United States, there’s an opportunity for us to transform Darigold into a global leader in the category as well. That’s one of the ways we are continuing to build value for our farmer-owners, our co-op, and our customers.”

Under its own brand and through a number of private label partnerships, Darigold produces and sells a variety of dairy products – including fluid milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese – throughout the Northwestern United States, where its 300 member farms and 11 production facilities operate. Globally, it offers a variety of dairy products, including butter, cheese, and powdered products, all produced in a region that is ideally suited for producing top-quality dairy.

Darigold’s global advantage is tied to its producing milk in a geographic region that is ideally suited for top-quality dairy production, coupled with its proximity to shipping infrastructure to efficiently transport its products worldwide. With all of its farms and production operations in the Northwestern United States, the co-op enjoys ready access to maritime ports, railways, and interstate highways.

Eric Hansen, CEO of Global Diary Trade, said, “Our three-year strategic plan includes a focus on improving the global supply of dairy products. In line with this, we are actively looking to attract new sellers from all global milk pools to offer our bidders more choice and enable GDT to publish credible reference prices for more products across more regions. US exporters play a significant role in our model, and we are thrilled to have a top-tier producer like Darigold join GDT.”

Darigold produced more than 450 million pounds of milk powders in its last fiscal year (ending March 31, 2023), with a growing share of that for customers in global markets. It also exports butter, cheese, and fluid milk products to some 30 countries worldwide.

105-year-old Farmer-owned Co-op Looks to the Global

Agrotech, Company News, World

Prairie Pulse’s operations in Vanscoy – which include origination, 12,000 MT of bulk storage, cleaning, milling, sorting, sizing and bagging – will double ADM’s pulse footprint in the region

ADM announced the acquisition of Prairie Pulse Inc., owners of a pulse crop cleaning, milling and packaging facility in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada.

“Everything at ADM starts with the farmer,” said Aaron Brown ADM commercial manager. “Their success is our success, and we’re excited to strengthen our relationships with Canadian pulse growers through the acquisition of Prairie Pulse. We’ll be reaching out to producers about ADM’s unique array of tools and resources to help them manage and grow their businesses – including our access to global markets, our work to create value for sustainable farming practices, and our technology partnerships.”

“This addition also expands our capabilities to meet the needs of our downstream customers, who are increasingly looking at pulses as protein sources for both human and animal nutrition products,” Brown added. “The enduring global trends of sustainability and food security are powering growth in alternative proteins, and ADM is continuing to invest to ensure we’re at the forefront of meeting those needs. We look forward to working with farmers and the great team at Prairie Pulse to expand employment opportunities in Vanscoy and enhance our capability to supply the growing demand for pulse products.“

Prairie Pulse’s operations in Vanscoy – which include origination, 12,000 MT of bulk storage, cleaning, milling, sorting, sizing and bagging – will double ADM’s pulse footprint in the region. The pulse dehulling and splitting facility transforms lentils, chickpeas and peas into shelf- and food-ready products for domestic and international consumption. 

”This is an exciting opportunity for Prairie Pulse, our staff, and customers,“ said Allan Wagner Prairie Pulse President and CEO. ”ADM is a global leader in agribusiness, transportation and processing, as well as the fast-growing alternative protein sector that our products serve.

Prairie Pulse’s operations in Vanscoy – which