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Agrotech, Animal Health, Company News, Live Stock, World

This rigorous feasibility phase demonstrated that a future Friendly cattle tick solution could deliver highly effective R. micro plus population suppression

Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of insect-based biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock, announced the launch of the development of a targeted, biologically Friendly solution for the world’s most devastating cattle pest, the Asian blue tick, or Rhipicephalus microplus.

In a feasibility project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Oxitec’s team validated the key methods for developing a Friendly R. microplus and found that, for managing this dangerous tick, this biological approach is anticipated to provide a highly effective alternative to chemical pesticides. The Foundation has now committed $4.8 million to an early development phase to start to build the Friendly R. micro plus solution, Oxitec’s first targeting a non-insect pest.

Launched in 2021, Oxitec’s cattle tick program has conducted in-depth assessments of tick biology and genetics, assessed methods for the development of a Friendly tick solution, artificial production methods, cattle management practices in regions threatened by R. microplus, and modelled the impact of future implementation on target tick populations. This rigorous feasibility phase demonstrated that a future Friendly cattle tick solution could deliver highly effective R. micro plus population suppression and that it represents a promising biological alternative to chemical pesticides. This ground-breaking program will be conducted in collaboration with leading experts at one of the world’s foremost livestock research organisations, the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The R. microplus tick blood-feeds on cattle, causing major losses in productivity and animal death by spreading deadly diseases such as babesiosis. Originally native to Asia, the invasive R. microplus is now widely distributed across Africa and Southern and Central America. R. microplus is widely regarded as the world’s most important arthropod pest of cattle, costing the livestock industry and farmers billions of dollars each year. In Brazil alone, this tick costs an estimated $3.2 billion in losses and management costs. Management of R. microplus is highly reliant on chemical acaricides (pesticides), to which the tick is widely resistant. New, sustainable tick management solutions are urgently needed.

Grey Frandsen, Oxitec’s CEO, commented, “Oxitec is committed to delivering solutions that enable sustainable food production for a growing population on this changing planet, which is needed now more than ever to protect global food security. This new program is a significant milestone for Oxitec, enabling us to start building our first Friendly™ product targeting a non-insect pest. The Rhipicephalus microplus tick is a dangerous pest of cattle that threatens livelihoods across the world, and it’s still spreading. More chemical pesticides aren’t the answer. We’re focused on stopping it in its tracks by translating Oxitec’s proven, biological technology platform into a Friendly solution that offers a new level of impact against this tick, without harming the environment.”

This rigorous feasibility phase demonstrated that a

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Finance, Seeds

In FY 2022-23, the company registered Revenue from Operations of Rs 51,397 million, compared to Rs 47,344 million in the previous year.

Bayer CropScience Limited announced its results for the financial year (FY) and quarter ended March 31, 2023. In FY 2022-23, the Company registered Revenue from Operations of Rs 51,397 million, compared to Rs 47,344 million in the previous year, registering an overall revenue growth of 9 per cent. Profit Before Exceptional Items & Tax stood at Rs 8,863 million, compared to Rs 7,883 million in the previous year, representing an increase of 12 per cent. Profit Before Tax (After Exceptional Items) increased by 17 per cent from Rs 8,468 million to Rs 9,901 million.

In Q4 of FY 2022-23, the Company registered Revenue from Operations of Rs 9,825 million, compared to Rs 9,633 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, delivering a growth of 2 per cent. Profit Before Exceptional Items & Tax for the quarter stood at Rs1,921 million, compared to Rs 1,895 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Commenting on the quarterly results, Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Executive Director, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “Our sales growth in Q4 continued to be driven by strong crop protection sales and consistent performance by our corn seeds business while overcoming some supply constraints faced during the quarter. Although our channel inventory continues to remain at healthy levels, we are witnessing a normalization of Roundup™ prices and availability.”

Speaking on the FY results, Simon Britsch, Chief Financial Officer, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “The steady performance of our crop protection and corn seeds portfolio helped us deliver 9 per cent growth in Revenue from Operations for the financial year. Though headwinds in the form of inflationary pressures led to higher operating expenses, we continued to invest in key initiatives to drive long-term growth. During the year, the company had an exceptional income of Rs 1,038 million arising from the sale of its Environmental Science Business in Q3 of FY 2022-23.”

In FY 2022-23, the company registered Revenue

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Start ups

Rising concerns around the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture have captured the attention of investors.

AgFunder and Omnivore have released the fifth India AgriFoodTech Investment Report, detailing $2.4 billion in startup investment, a 33 per cent year-over-year decline from $3.6 billion in 2021. The decline matches the global downward trend but there were bright spots where investors backed innovations focused on farmers and climate change.

Rising concerns around the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture have captured the attention of investors, catalysing efforts to deliver affordable mitigation and adaptation solutions for smallholder farmers.

Startups innovating upstream, closer to farmers and across the supply chain, bucked the downward trend witnessed globally, raising $617 million, up 50 per cent from $409 million in 2021.

Farmtech investment also remained relatively strong, raising $1.1 billion in 2022, only a modest 15per cent drop from 2021. Agribusiness Marketplaces & Fintech was the most popular upstream category among investors.

Investor interest in downstream, food delivery startups waned with consolidation and little new innovation.

Capital availability in India has tightened along with the rest of the world, although not as steeply as in developed markets. Indian venture investors remain bullish on upstream agrifoodtech innovations – those operating on the farm and in the supply chain – that offer deep moats and deliver affordable solutions to smallholder farmers. In contrast, despite attracting heavy funding over the past few years, investments in downstream startups plunged by 37 per cent in 2022 year-on-year. Once the pandemic lockdowns ended, many downstream ventures struggled to maintain the accelerated pace of growth created by Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021. A highly saturated home delivery market has further reduced investor interest. In the coming months, we expect fewer players to enter the downstream market and more M&A activity among existing companies.

Other key insights in the report:

  • The total number of deals declined to 133 in 2022, compared to 230 in 2021.
  • Meal Marketplaces and eGrocery were the most funded downstream categories yet again. The capital raised by these two categories accounts for 54 per cent of total funding in Indian agrifoodtech, with eGrocery startups landing the highest number of late-stage deals.
  • Downstream startups raised $1.7 billion in 2022, a 37 per cent decrease from $2.6 billion in 2021. Swiggy’s $700 million late-stage deal made up the bulk of investment in this category.
  • eGrocery startups raised $776 million across 20 deals, accounting for 32 per  of overall agrifoodtech funding in India.
  • Midstream Technologies deal activity decreased though the category remains active with $178 million raised across 14 deals.

Michael Dean, founding partner, AgFunder, said: “It is a challenging funding environment for startups globally and, as our report shows, India is no different. The relative increase in upstream financing is a welcome bright spot and reflects the urgency to fund technologies addressing the multiple inefficiencies in our food production and distribution systems that contribute to climate change and hunger.”

Mark Kahn, Managing Partner, Omnivore, said, “Across India’s agrifoodtech ecosystem, 2023 will stress test startups, while also being an ideal vintage for VCs who can enter promising deals at cheap valuations. Despite the transient headwinds, agrifoodtech in India will continue to surge ahead.”

Rising concerns around the impact of climate

Acquaculture, Company News, Live Stock, Supply Chain, World

The facility upcycles fish trimmings by processing them into frozen fish ingredients for pet food manufacturers

Scoular, a global supply chain company, announced that it has acquired Northwest Farm Food Cooperative’s frozen fish processing facility in Burlington.   

The facility upcycles fish trimmings by processing them into frozen fish ingredients for pet food manufacturers. The acquisition complements Scoular’s new joint venture fishmeal processing facility in Warrenton, Oregon. Both facilities strengthen Scoular’s assets and capabilities to serve pet food customers with a sustainable supply of high-quality fish ingredients year-round.  

“We’re excited to welcome the Burlington employees to the Scoular team and look forward to serving existing and new pet food customers as we grow this business,” said Chad Gauger, Scoular Vice President for High Nutritional Value Proteins.   

For decades, Nebraska-based Scoular has provided upcycled fish trimmings through its broad portfolio of products. This latest acquisition enhances Scoular’s product offerings with a supply of high-quality salmon, tuna, sole, cod, hake, and other critical pet food ingredients. 

“Scoular has been working directly with Northwest Farm Food for many years, and they are a well-respected producer of frozen fish ingredients for pet food. We are excited to continue to build on this reputation and for the opportunity to bring new products to the pet food industry,” said Justin Stadden, Scoular’s Frozen Ingredient Commercial Leader.  

The facility upcycles fish trimmings by processing them

Finance, Sustainability, World

FAO Investment Centre’s 2022 Annual Review looks at achievements and priorities

Investment and finance solutions play a critical role in transforming our agrifood systems, especially at a time when multiple shocks keep pushing more people into hunger and poverty.

This is an area where “the FAO Investment Centre is leading that charge,” QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), wrote in the foreword of the 2022 Annual Review of the Centre, which for nearly 60 years has been helping countries and financing partners make more and better agri-food investments to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition, improve rural livelihoods and protect the environment.

“We must act together – and quickly – to tackle these global challenges for a healthier, more sustainable future that leaves no one behind. That means transforming the way our agrifood systems work, from how we produce, supply and consume our food to how we reduce food losses and waste in our landfills. Ultimately, the goal is to help countries realise the four betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all,” Qu wrote.

According to the review published, 2022 saw the Centre clock some notable achievements against the backdrop of volatile food, fertiliser and fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, conflict, the climate crisis, humanitarian emergencies and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those include support in the design of 45 public investment projects in 32 countries, worth a total of $8.8 billion in new investments – up 22 per cent from the previous year’s $7.2 billion.

They also include investment policy contributions in 65 countries, along with 52 agricultural strategies, 25 sector studies, 17 policy studies and 6 policy dialogues, as well as 54 new knowledge products – from a high-profile study on carbon neutrality in agrifood systems to investing in youth in Africa, among others.

Of particular note was the first Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, which was held during the 2022 World Food Forum, and matched 20 Hand-in-Hand countries and three regional initiatives with potential investors.

Above all, the Centre entered a transformative period of its own in early 2022 with the launch of its Transformation Plan, the so-called “4+2 solutions,” which seeks to make it even more fit-for-purpose, structured and staffed to respond to the growing and evolving demand from Members and investors.

FAO Investment Centre’s 2022 Annual Review looks

AgroPolicy, Dairy, Live Stock

Ladakhi cattle is a registered Indigenous breed from the region

International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) was celebrated at Leh (Ladakh) among Ladakhi cattle keepers by ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal. The program was organised in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Department, Ladakh. About 100 delegates including scientists of the NBAGR, Officers of Animal Husbandry, Leh, and livestock keepers attended the program.

To the theme of this year’s IDB ‘From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity,’ a Ladakhi Cattle Breed Society was established. Ladakhi cattle is a registered Indigenous breed from the region. MoU for the promotion of the Society was also signed between ICAR-NBAGR & AHD, Ladakh.

Nineteen Ladakhi cattle keepers belonging to different regions of Ladakh were also felicitated by the Chief Guest for promoting Ladakhi cattle.  To the action, the AHD, Ladakh was also discussing the Livestock Breeding policy for Ladakh (UT), much oriented towards preserving, propagating, and improving indigenous populations.

The Chief Guest, Dr B N Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), emphasised that milk of Ladakhi cattle should be popularized for its good quality and antioxidant properties. Native breeds should be improved by keeping the purity of the breeds, he told. The logo of the Society was released by the Chief Guest.

Ladakhi cattle is a registered Indigenous breed

Agri Genomics, Agrotech, Company News, Foodgrains, World

Pairing InnerPlant’s technology with Mertec’s elite soybean germplasm could lead to crops that emit signals when they’re under stress from pathogens

InnerPlant, the company creating a new category of seed technology that unlocks data and makes global farming more efficient and sustainable, and Mertec LLC, a leading breeder and developer of soybean germplasm for the seed trade, announced an agreement to bring InnerPlant traits into Mertec LLC’s proprietary germplasm.

Pairing InnerPlant’s technology with Mertec’s elite soybean germplasm could lead to crops that emit signals when they’re under stress from pathogens or lack water or nutrients. Critically, the signals are visible from satellites, as well as tractors, and appear weeks before farmers would be able to see problems in the field.

“Farmers and agronomists understand that plants possess inherent knowledge of their needs,” said Joe Merschman, president of Mertec LLC. “This emerging field of seed technology holds the potential to enhance our understanding of these requirements, leading to improved efficiency and higher yields.”

Studies show that farmers lose as much as 40 per cent of yields or $220 billion worldwide due to pathogens in spite of overapplication that sees as much as 30 per cent or $250 billion of pesticides wasted – negatively impacting our air, water and soil.

Earlier detection and more responsive, plant-specific interventions offer a way to prevent waste and losses but historically farmers lacked early actionable data. InnerPlant’s new category of seed technology delivers traits that tap directly into plants’ physiology and provide farmers with actionable data that is both early and specific to particular stresses in a scalable and economical way.

“Better data directly from plants gives farmers the tools they need to increase yields while reducing chemical inputs,” said Shely Aronov, CEO and founder of InnerPlant. “Combining our new category of seed technology with Mertec’s elite germplasm is a key step toward putting that data into farmers’ hands.”

News of the agreement with Mertec follows InnerPlant’s recent collaboration with Satellogic to build the first-ever instrument designed to detect human-made crop signals from space and launch it onboard a satellite in Q4 2023.

Pairing InnerPlant’s technology with Mertec’s elite soybean

Agrotech, Animal Health, Climate, Company News, World

The organic materials recovered from farms to grocery stores are used to feed the black soldier fly larvae hatched at Entosystem’s facilities

One year after securing more than $60 million in public and private investments for its new insect production facility, Québec-based Entosystem inaugurated its 100,000-square-foot site, which has now the largest production capacity in North America. The Entosystem demonstrates its ability to fulfil major ambitions.

The fully automated industrial system will allow Entosystem to strengthen Québec’s food autonomy by reusing 90,000 tonnes of organic matter each year and producing 5,000 tonnes of high-quality protein-loaded larvae and 15,000 tons of approved fertiliser for organic farming. All this through a zero-waste process.

The organic materials recovered from farms to grocery stores are used to feed the black soldier fly larvae hatched at Entosystem’s facilities – a patented insect-rearing process. The facility will receive 250 tons of feed daily, which will be consumed by the insects in just six days. Once well-fed, these larvae are dried and ground into rich protein used as feed for domestic and farm animals.

In Canada, a large proportion of the food produced is wasted or lost. On a broader scale, agriculture, dog and cat feeding, and the use of unsustainable fertilisers contribute to a large proportion of North American greenhouse gas emissions.

This new chapter of its growth will allow Entosystem to create 70 jobs in Drummondville, and ultimately create a team of nearly 100 talented people motivated to contribute to a vast and innovative circular economy project.

Entosystem is grateful to all its public and private partners, whose financial support has made it possible to bring life to its Drummondville site and the rise of a leading food autonomy industry.

“Inaugurating our plant represents the outcome of such a successful collaboration with committed business partners and, above all, the commitment of a fantastic team, without whom Entosystem would not have been able to position so quickly as a leader in its sector. We have everything we need to achieve success in Québec and to prepare for our growth.” said, Cédric Provost, President and Co-founder, Entosystem

“Insects can quickly repurpose large quantities of organic matter. By industrialising the process, Entosystem can transform food waste into essential inputs for agriculture: natural fertilisers and alternative proteins for animal feed. Turning towards a circular economy is a promising model to help us reach our climate goals,” said, Marie-Claude-Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The organic materials recovered from farms to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Bee keeping, Company News, India

To encourage women farmers towards entrepreneurship and generate sustainable income through bee keeping.

To enhance the ecosystem of beekeeping in Uttarakhand, FMC India, a leading global agricultural sciences company, in collaboration with GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUAT) organized a day long workshop to observe World Bee Day. The initiative was part of FMC’s flagship program, Project Madhushakti which was launched in 2022. The objective is to encourage women farmers towards entrepreneurship, generate sustainable income and raise the living standards of the rural families in Uttarakhand, while simultaneously support biodiversity and higher crop productivity.

The workshop was hosted by Department of Entomology and Honeybee Research & Training Centre of the university. It witnessed participation from bee rearing agents across the state of Uttarakhand, followed by their felicitation along with students and department research heads. Scientists and industry experts addressed students to help them inculcate knowledge and skill around apiculture. The collaborative workshop hosted at the university was attended by dignitaries like Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor, GBPUAT, Raju Kapoor, Director, Public & Industry Affairs, FMC India, Dr AS Nain, Director of Research, GBPUAT, Dr. Renu and Dr. Pramod Mall, Head, Department of Entomology, GBPUAT.

Project Madhushakti is a first-of-its-kind innovative sustainable development initiative in India. Spanning three years, the project is planned for the rural areas of Uttarakhand, located in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountain range, with abundant source of natural herbs and flora useful for honey production. The project, now in its second year, will train 750 women farmers as beekeepers. More than 8,000 people from over 20 villages are expected to directly benefit via an increase of up to 30 per cent productivity in various fruits and other crops through good pollination.

The day-long program was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, an academic-management leader and a world-renowned scientist in the field of animal biotechnology. Dr Singh underlined the importance of honeybee not only for providing valuable natural super food honey but also products such as propolis, royal jelly, venom and wax. He also informed the audiences that honeybees can support enhancing crop productivity of different cross-pollinated crops ranging from 15 to 200 per cent.

Dr AS Nain, Director for Research, GBPUAT said, “We take pride in our association with FMC India. In a biodiversity rich state like Uttarakhand, the potential of beekeeping remains untapped which is developing with Project Madhushakti. Scientific beekeeping will harness the potential of Uttarakhand hills and generate employment and additional income for poor farmers. We will continue to provide training and learning opportunities in collaboration with FMC to establish bee keeping as a lucrative field for women entrepreneurs.”

Speaking at the occasion, Raju Kapoor, Director, Public & Industry Affairs, FMC India said, “Bee rearing is at the cusp of change in our country with India’s National Beekeeping and Honey Mission. FMC is grateful to be contributing through a project with the scalability and impact of Madhushakti. We will continue to work towards the enhancement of women’s skills. The lecture sessions through our partnership with GB Pant University delivered by highly experienced scientists and bee fostering agents will impart immersive knowledge and training to the women farmers that can be passed within their community. We look forward to expanding our reach and benefiting more farmers through these offerings.”

To encourage women farmers towards entrepreneurship and

Climate, Nature, Supply Chain, Sustainability, World

The company delivers more than 10 Million bushels of sustainably grown grain, helping companies meet climate commitments

Indigo Ag, the premier sustainability partner of the agriculture industry, is using its proprietary measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) capabilities to help consumer goods companies measure and reduce their Scope 3 emissions and water use through the agricultural supply chain.  

Through its Market+ Source (Scope 3) program, Indigo connects consumer goods companies to sustainably grown crops within their existing supply chain. Indigo partners with agribusinesses to support farmers in adopting sustainable practices, the results of which are quantified through Indigo’s MRV capabilities. The company has had success working with multibillion-dollar companies over the last few seasons to deliver more than 10 million bushels of sustainably grown grains, reducing emissions by more than 15,000 metric tons and saving 6.7 billion gallons of water – enough to sustain 36 million people for a year.  An additional 13 million bushels have been contracted to be delivered in 2024. Indigo has secured farmer premiums of up to 10 per cent for sustainably grown crops with minimal impact on the price of finished goods.  

For The North Face and other VF Corporation brands, Indigo used its MRV capabilities to deliver more than 31,000 bales of sustainably grown cotton.  

“We are excited about the positive environmental impacts regenerative cotton production can have not only for The North Face products but for our industry as a whole,” said Carol Shu, senior manager of global sustainability for The North Face. “Regenerative agriculture-sourced materials have the ability to shift the industry from simply ‘doing less harm’ to actually replenishing or having a positive impact on nature and resources. As a brand that is committed to protecting the outdoor places we love to play in, we believe this is another critical step in addressing climate change impacts in our supply chain.”  

“The scientific rigour of our models and operational processes have allowed us to connect sustainability claims to the physical delivery of grain and cotton, and we are seeing incredible success,” said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Indigo Ag. “This is just the beginning. With the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance on Forest, Land and Agriculture finalised last year and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s guidance on the land sector and removals expected to be finalised this fall, we are well positioned to help corporations achieve their Scope 3 targets. We look forward to expanding our capabilities to include more crops and more practices to better serve more corporations.”  

Indigo’s proprietary MRV capabilities use the highest scientific standards to quantify environmental benefits for companies participating in the Market+ Source program. The program currently includes corn, wheat, rice, and cotton, and will be expanding to new crops in 2024. 

The company delivers more than 10 Million

Agrotech, Sustainability

To open 7 new RPTOs, Service centre by Jul’23 to serve a burgeoning market

IoTechWorld Avigation announced that they are in the process of setting up 7 remote pilot training organisations (RPTOs) in 5 states by Jul’23 as it aims to sell 3,000 drones this fiscal, up from 500 in the last fiscal.

Currently, the company has collaborated with several universities and other institutions for RPTOs. The new RPTOs too are being opened in partnership with prominent organisations.

The company set by Deepak Bhardwaj and Anoop Upadhyay is India’s 1st drone manufacturing firm to obtain DGCA Type Certificate (TC) for agri-drone AGRIBOT.

To provide after-sales service and expansion of its network, IoTechWorld will also open a new service centre for agri-drone in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Last month the company unveiled plans to expand its product line with the launch of a new type of agri-drone. The company has already showcased a more compact version of its famous drone AGRIBOT.

“2 of the upcoming RPTOs will be functional this month. These have come up at in Gharaunda (Haryana) and Jobner (Rajasthan),” said Deepak Bhardwaj, Co-founder & Director.

During the month of Jun 23 – 3 more RPTOs in Gurugram (Haryana), Chikballapur (Karnataka), and Samastipur (Bihar) will begin operation, he said and added the remaining 2 in Rajamundary and Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, will begin operations in Jul’23.

These RPTOs will have an annual capacity to train 360 budding drone pilots per location annually. The company has helped train 400+ pilots to date.        

 IoTechWorld has a presence in 12 states and will be expanding its footprints in newer geographies as well during the current fiscal.

 “We sold over 500 drones in the year 2022-23 and this year’s target is at least 3,000 drones. We have made a comprehensive plan to meet the target and even surpass it,” said Anoop Upadhyay, another Co-founder & Director of IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd.

Giving further details about the company’s strategy, he said opening 7 new Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) will help IoTechWorld Avigation to train more pilots who can operate the drones safely and efficiently.

“We are excited about our plans and believe that they will strengthen IoTechWorld’s position in the agri-drone market in India. The company remains committed to providing high-quality agri- drones and excellent customer service to its valued customers as well as job opportunities for rural youths, Anoop Upadhyay said.

The company is extensively focusing on creating awareness about the benefits of using drones in agriculture. These agri-drones not only save time and money but also increase farm productivity. Besides, the use of drones in farming activities, like spraying pesticides over crops, has health benefits for farmers.

To open 7 new RPTOs, Service centre

AgroPolicy, Company News, India, Sustainability, Water

Global Civil Engineers’ Society lauds Kaleshwaram Project as an enduring symbol of engineering progress and partnership

Telangana Government’s flagship programmes – Kaleshwaram, the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, and Mission Bhagiratha, the ambitious drinking water project, have received thunderous applause from the Civil Engineers in the USA. Telangana’s enduring symbols of engineering excellence have earned laurels at the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress held in Nevada, USA and the Kaleshwaram Project has received global recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Maria C Lehman, President, ASCE has presented a Proclamation to KT Rama Rao, IT and Industries Minister bestowing a distinguished recognition on the lift irrigation project as an ‘Enduring Symbol of Engineering Progress and Partnership’.

Minister KT Rama Rao has received the rare honour to represent an Indian state on a global platform at the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress organised by the ASCE. The Minister was invited to give a detailed presentation on the topic ‘Many Benefits and Social Equity from Lifting a River: Story of the World’s Largest Multi-stage Lift Irrigation Project’ at the conference attended by over 1000 delegates from across the world.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 1,50,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is America’s oldest engineering society. Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) is the American Society of Civil Engineers’ technical source for environmental and water-related issues; EWRI’s vision is “Advancing water resources and environmental solutions to achieve a sustainable future.”

Speaking on the occasion, Minister KTR recounted the remarkable transformation of Telangana in the last nine years. The Minister spoke at length showcasing Telangana’s story of resilience and transformation and presented an account of groundbreaking engineering achievements achieved by the youngest state of India. “Telangana has successfully built the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, Kaleshwaram, and completed the ambitious Mission Bhagiratha, providing piped drinking water to every home in the State. These remarkable projects were not only completed in record time but also with utmost efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” Minister KTR said.


Global Civil Engineers’ Society lauds Kaleshwaram Project

Agrotech, Company News, World

ANELLO GNSS INS delivers robust, high-accuracy positioning and orientation for applications in the Agriculture, Construction, Trucking

ANELLO Photonics, The Creator of the SiPhOG announced the availability of the ANELLO GNSS INS – The World’s Smallest Optical Gyro Inertial Navigation System – for robust and reliable long-term GPS-Denied Navigation and Localisation.

Powered by ANELLO’s unique optical gyroscope technology and ANELLO’s AI-based sensor fusion engine, the ANELLO GNSS INS delivers robust, high-accuracy positioning and orientation for applications in the Agriculture, Construction, Trucking and Autonomous Vehicle space. Unlike other reference systems, the ANELLO GNSS INS delivers superior accuracy in high-temperature and high-vibration applications.

“We see rapidly growing interest and demand for our optical gyro technology and we are actively engaged with customers who need robust, high-precision optical gyro-based solutions for their autonomous applications,” said Dr Mario Paniccia, CEO of ANELLO Photonics. “The ANELLO GNSS INS has been developed in collaboration with our customers and we’re proud to bring to market the World’s Smallest Optical Gyro Inertial Navigation System designed for today’s demanding autonomous applications.”

The ANELLO GNSS INS system was designed with safety, robustness, and ease of use in mind. Seamless navigation and positioning in challenging GPS-denied environments allow ANELLO’s optical gyro technology to support multiple customer applications and use cases. The ANELLO GNSS INS comes equipped with the following standard features:

Unaided heading drift of < 0.5°/hr

Dual multi-band RTK capable GNSS Engines

ASIL-D Ready Automotive Qualified CPU

Automotive 2-Wire Ethernet (100Base-T1)

Dual high-speed CAN FD Interfaces

Dual RS-232 Interfaces

Hardware Precision Time Protocol (PTP), IEEE 802.1AS

IP68 – Waterproof, Resistant to Dust, Salt Spray and Chemicals

ANELLO Photonics is currently engaged in trials with various market-leading customers in the Construction, Farming, Trucking, Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, and National Security space.

ANELLO GNSS INS delivers robust, high-accuracy positioning

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Live Stock

Training programmes emphasised the breeding and seed production of indigenous carp and ornamental fishes

ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow is putting institutional efforts towards community empowerment through a participatory approach for the fish farmers especially women fish farmers of the remotely located villages in West Bengal.

The Institute has organised two capacity-building programmes in collaboration with ICAR-CISH KVK, Malda and Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Dhaanyaganga KVK, Sargachhi respectively under the STC and SCSP components for the skill training of ST and SC fish farmers.

Training programmes emphasised on the breeding and seed production of indigenous carp and ornamental fishes. The institute has established a carp seed production-cum- demonstration unit at Dhaanyaganga KVK, Sargachhi.

Dr. U.K. Sarkar, Director, ICAR-NBFGR urged the fish farmers for income generation through aquaculture and fisheries. He also emphasised a participatory approach to the conservation of regional fish biodiversity.

He also distributed the fishery inputs including FRP ornamental fish tanks to the fish farmers.

Swami Vishwamayananda, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Dhaanyaganga KVK, Sargachhi encouraged the farmers for augmenting livelihood through technology adoption in fisheries and aquaculture with the help of ICAR-NBFGR.

Training programmes emphasised the breeding and seed