Connect with:
Sunday / February 23. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
Home2023 (Page 86)
Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D, Supply Chain, Warehousing

The lab will conduct research on strategies for pest management in storage of agricultural and allied commodities.

In recent past, insects’ infestation in stored food grains and processed products became more serious. Pests are affecting at various stages like production, processing, marketing and storage at farm, processor, export/ import level. During the occasion of 25th Research Advisory Committee meeting of ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, a state-of-art facility was inaugurated in the institute as “Storage-Pests Management Laboratory”. The lab is equipped with scientific equipment for conducting research in storage entomology. This lab will conduct research on strategies for pest management in storage of agricultural and allied commodities. ICAR-CIPHET being a nodal institute working in the area of post-harvest mechanization, processing and value addition, the addition of this lab facilities will add to its charm.

 Dr D. C. Joshi, Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Kota & Chairman of RAC inaugurated the lab. During the occasion other RAC members Dr R Viswanathan, Former Professor and Head, TNAU, Coimbatore & Dr Meenakshi Singh, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR, New Delhi were present. Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana appreciated the efforts of scientists Dr Manju Bala, Dr Guru P. N. and other staff for setting up this unique lab and taking the institute to the next level in post-harvest management research.

The lab will conduct research on strategies

Agrotech, Japan

The COE on CSA will start its activities from April 2023 which includes implementing climate-change mitigation and adaptation technologies.

In efforts to enhance agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ profits, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the sector regionwide, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) announced the designation of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) of Japan as its new Center of Excellence on Climate-smart Agriculture (COE on CSA). This is a result of the long-term partnership between the two institutions in disseminating know-how in the focus area of the new COE.

The COE on CSA will start its activities from April 2023, including a need and readiness assessment of APO members for implementing climate-change mitigation and adaptation technologies, two international conferences on CSA and other COE focus areas, and pilot projects to apply technologies developed by the COE on CSA starting from 2024 as well as seminars, study missions, workshops, and on-site training for customizing the know-how to meet local needs in APO members.

The COE on CSA may provide technical knowledge and skills such as technologies to reduce methane emissions from paddy fields; agricultural weather data systems for rice, wheat, and soybean production; web-based soil carbon sequestration visualization tool for greenhouse gas reduction in various crops such as rice, wheat, and soybean.

The agriculture sector is crucial in most APO members and essential for global food security. However, it is also a significant contributor to GHG emissions and is vulnerable to climate change. Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events may cause food scarcity. GHG emissions due agriculture, livestock operations, and land use are estimated to account for 24 per cent of the global total. The introduction of climate-friendly agricultural practices combined with the adoption of smart technologies can bring multiple benefits in the form of higher productivity, increased agricultural and food production, and reduced GHG emissions.

The APO COE Program showcases excellence in specific productivity fields to promote the adoption of the know-how and best practices of one member by others while adapting them to suit local contexts. The COE on CSA will focus on the deployment of climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies, know-how, and frameworks for low-carbon rice, wheat, and soybean production as staple foods in the Asia-Pacific. Specific focus areas will be sharing technical knowledge and methods to reduce methane emissions from paddy fields; adoption of agricultural weather data systems for rice, wheat, and soybean production; web-based soil carbon sequestration visualization tools for GHG reductions in various crops such as rice, wheat, and soybean; application of biochar and development of carbon credit methodologies; and water management practices in rice cultivation and treatment of livestock waste.

The COE on CSA will start its

Company News, Foodgrains, North America, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Vegetables

By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers can discover nutritious food as they build their daily and weekly grocery baskets

Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, announced an industry-first online advertising capability, enabling produce brands to advertise fresh, weighted items – such as carrots, grapes, onions, oranges, sweet potatoes, and watermelons – from the produce department across the Instacart Marketplace.

During National Nutrition Month, Instacart is levelling the advertising playing field, making it possible for more product brands, farms, and agriculture boards to advertise on Instacart and reach more consumers. By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers can discover nutritious food as they build their daily and weekly grocery baskets, search for a specific ingredient, and browse the digital aisles for inspiration.

“It’s essential that consumers have access to fresh, nutritious produce – whether they shop online or in-store,” said Ali Miller, Vice President of Ads Products at Instacart. “Online grocery offers a unique experience, helping brands deeply connect with and engage consumers as they explore new products or their usual staples across the digital aisles. With today’s launch, millions of consumers will discover more fresh and nutritious options as they shop on Instacart, levelling the playing field for producers and ensuring everything from fresh citrus to sweet potatoes are just as discoverable as packaged goods. I’m especially proud to celebrate these new capabilities during National Nutrition Month, as we do our part to help influence healthier eating habits.”

Instacart is the first company to enable this ad innovation for weighted items across grocery partners. Instacart developed algorithms to map these items back to brands and partners – addressing challenges like limited information from third-party sources and different coding systems across grocers. Instacart is addressing this complex industry challenge so more product brands can take advantage of advertising solutions and help consumers discover more nutritious foods.

“For 130 years, Sunkist Growers has been focused on delivering quality, fresh citrus to consumers. In fact, Sunkist’s first advertisement celebrated California’s ‘Orange Day’ back in 1908,” said Christina Ward, Senior Director at Sunkist Growers. “In recent years, shopper behaviours have dramatically changed—at Sunkist, we are all about meeting shoppers where they want to buy. On Instacart, we have a seamless ‘add-to-cart’ button to guide millions of people across the country towards our fresh Sunkist fruits, which are then delivered to their homes in as fast as an hour.”

Since 2020, Instacart has partnered with nearly 60 packaged produce advertisers to amplify their products and elevate the category. On average, Instacart’s packaged produce advertisers see a 30 per cent increase in sales1, meaning their ads influence more product purchases. Packaged produce advertisers can leverage the full Instacart advertising toolkit, including sponsored products, displays, shoppable videos, promotions, and impulse ads. With this latest enhancement to Instacart advertising and catalogue capabilities, produce brands can now amplify their full product set, including packaged and random-weight produce.

By elevating produce with Instacart Ads, consumers

Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Environment, India, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy

ADB’s support will fund the construction of five 14.9-megawatt biomass power plants in the districts of Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar in the state of Rajasthan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SAEL Industries Limited have signed loan agreements of up to 7.5 billion Indian rupees (around $91.14 million) to promote the generation of biomass energy using agricultural residue, helping diversify India’s energy mix and reduce carbon intensity. 

ADB’s support will fund the construction of five 14.9-megawatt biomass power plants in the districts of Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar in the state of Rajasthan. Around 1.5 billion Indian rupees for each power plant will be provided to subsidiaries of SAEL Industries: Chattargarh Renewable Energy Private Limited, KTA Power Private Limited, Sardarshahar Agri Energy Private Limited, TNA Renewable Energy Private Limited, and VCA Power Private Limited. 

“Establishing biomass power plants that can repurpose agricultural residue will help protect the environment while contributing to the government’s goal of expanding renewable energy sources and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. It will also help increase the income of local farmers through sales of agricultural residue and reduce the burning of agricultural waste, contributing to the improvement of air quality,” said Ashok Lavasa, ADB Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships. “ADB’s assistance will have a powerful demonstration effect for biomass power by helping reduce risk perceptions and by creating awareness of its benefits and potential for use in other rural communities and developing member countries.”

The power plants will convert about 650,000 tons of agricultural residues into electricity and are expected to generate 544 gigawatt-hours of energy per annum, helping avoid up to 487,200 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Local farmer incomes will rise through the sale of agricultural residue. The project also aims to purchase agricultural residue and other goods and services from at least 100 women-owned microbusinesses and 10 women’s self-help groups.

“By collecting the crop stubble to be used as fuel in our waste-to-energy plants, we help combat one of our nation’s greatest health issues, while simultaneously creating local employment and generating extra income for farmers and local entrepreneurs. We are happy to have ADB partnering with us in these efforts,” said Jasbir Singh, SAEL Industries Chairman and Managing Director.

ADB’s support will fund the construction of

Agrotech, Company News, Europe, IT, R&D

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a startup accelerator, providing a supportive ecosystem for early-stage companies developing new agricultural technologies

Syngenta Group announced the launch of “Shoots by Syngenta™,” a global platform designed to help tackle agriculture’s most complex challenges, increase innovation, and advance more sustainable agriculture. Starting with science-based innovation challenges, the platform will connect scientific discovery and creativity, bringing together academics, research institutes, startups, and cross-industry sectors to collaborate with Syngenta’s global network of 5,000+ scientists.

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a startup accelerator, providing a supportive ecosystem for early-stage companies developing new agricultural technologies. Cohorts of startups will enter a program connecting them with mentors, resources, and funding to accelerate their growth and impact.

“Helping growers sustainably feed a rapidly growing human population requires a strong collaboration focus, not just across agriculture but across industries,” said Gusui Wu, Global Head of Seeds Research. “Collaboration is at the heart of how our scientists approach innovation every day. It’s embedded in our scientific culture, and we are continually seeking out different technologies, solutions and partners to help us better serve farmers.”

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will spotlight specific innovation needs from across the Syngenta Crop Protection and Seeds businesses. Science-based innovation challenges will be posted on the website, enabling anyone with a scientific interest to submit proposals in response to the challenges or other areas of focus. Proposals are quickly evaluated, and if there is a mutual fit, they are progressed to a collaboration partnership to take forward the research or technology that might eventually be licensed.

“We know that science holds the answer to the challenges we face, so we’re open to sharing and helping others benefit from our world-leading findings and experiences,” says Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research for Syngenta Crop Protection. “Shoots by Syngenta™ gives us gives access to real, proven data and insight, which can inform and accelerate future science-led breakthroughs.”

Additionally, the startup accelerator will provide early-stage companies the opportunity to pilot their technology at Syngenta’s Farm of the Future and select grower farms globally, mentorship and access to industry experts, and an opportunity to present and test ideas with relevant business leaders and investors. Participants will get one-on-one mentoring by Syngenta business leaders that is customized based on each team’s specific requirements.

“Our vision is to create an ecosystem that drives innovation and collaboration in the agricultural industry, creating a more sustainable and efficient future for farmers, consumers, and the planet,” said Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Syngenta Group. “We believe that the most promising solutions to global food security, sustainability, and productivity will come from bringing together innovative and technology-driven start-ups with growers and industry experts.”

Leaders from Syngenta Group will be present at this week’s World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit and the IUPAC International Congress of Crop Protection Chemistry to engage with fellow innovators and share more on “Shoots by Syngenta™.”

“Shoots by Syngenta™” will also include a

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

NSC award recognise organizations in the manufacturing sector with outstanding Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) performance.

FMC Corporation, a leading agricultural sciences company, has been conferred a silver trophy for the exemplary safety performance of its Panoli manufacturing plant by the National Safety Council (NSC) of India.

The Council’s Safety Awards 2022 aim to identify and recognize organizations in the manufacturing sector with outstanding Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) performance and a steadfast commitment to reduce workplace injuries. Winners are selected after a rigorous assessment, including a review of the past three years of safety performance, a thorough audit and investigative process by a panel of NSC safety professionals.

Commenting on the win, Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India, said “At FMC, safety is a core value. Our goal is to protect and empower our workers via a dynamic safety culture that engages all levels of the organization. It is an honor to be recognized by the NSC for the hard work that each employee at the Panoli plant has put in to improve environmental, health and safety standards at the site. We are proud to say that the Panoli manufacturing plant has been recordable injury-free for more than 500 consecutive days, and we will continue building upon our safety commitment and make every day a safe workday for our employees.”

FMC was one of 18 organizations picked from 600 vying for recognition in the manufacturing sector across the country. This is the first time the Panoli site has clinched the silver trophy, after having previously been presented with certificates of appreciation at the Council’s Safety Awards 2021 and 2019.  Manoj Khanna, Plant Manager of the Panoli manufacturing site, received the award on behalf of FMC at the NSC’s 13th National Conference & Expo on Safety, Health, and Environment.

The NSC was set up by the Indian government’s Ministry of Labor in 1966 to promote Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), carrying out numerous activities and building up technical expertise and competencies to tackle emerging challenges in HSE.

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC’s innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment.

NSC award recognise organizations in the manufacturing

Climate, Company News, Dairy, Environment, Live Stock, North America, Poultry, Sustainability

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork by JBS alone causes emissions equivalent to 14 million gas-powered vehicles on the road each year

JBS Foods, the giant global meat producer, ranks highest in Greenhouse Gas emissions in World Animal Protection’s new Factory Farming Climate Culprits Scorecard.

The scorecard ranks the world’s top five factory farming giants based on the total emissions released from their chicken and pig production, which combined slaughter 11.5 billion chickens and 150 million pigs every year. Factory farming is an often-overlooked climate culprit, with the world’s five biggest factory farming companies responsible for emissions equivalent to 36.4 million cars on the road annually.

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork by JBS alone causes emissions equivalent to 14 million gas-powered vehicles on the road each year – more than all the cars in New York City. In 2023, the National Advertising Division of the US Better Business Bureau concluded that JBS should discontinue its claims of achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040 because there was no indication that the company is currently implementing any plans to achieve net zero.

JBS has been linked to multiple instances of illegal deforestation in Brazil, destroying wildlife habitats and ecosystems to source corn and soy for animal feed. The company’s current policy allows illegal deforestation of the Amazon region until 2025 and legal deforestation globally for a further ten years.

Annette Manusevich, Farming Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, US, states, “This scorecard highlights the immense impact a handful of factory-farmed meat producers have on the climate. Companies like JBS are some of the largest contributors to the climate crisis, yet they are rarely held accountable. Animals are suffering extreme cruelty in factory farms, and our environment cannot sustain the unchecked expansion of mega meat producers. This scorecard adds to the mounting evidence that factory farming is not compatible with a climate-safe future.”

Lindsay Oliver, Executive Director, of World Animal Protection US, states, “JBS is responsible for unspeakable cruelty and the slaughter of billions of thinking, feeling animals each year and is the worst contributor of factory farming greenhouse gas emissions. This scorecard further exemplifies the corruption on which JBS is built and the exploitation of both animals and humans on which it profits.”

The scorecard builds on data from World Animal Protection’s Climate Change and Cruelty report, which captured the environmental and climate change impacts of farming chickens and pigs in the world’s four biggest factory farming hot spots – Brazil, China, the USA, and the Netherlands.

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork

AgroPolicy, India, IT, Sustainability

With the launch of the module, claims will be disbursed electronically, which will benefit the respective farmers of six states

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, launched the National Crop Insurance Portal’s digitised claim settlement module namely DigiClaim under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. With the launch of the module, claims will be disbursed electronically, which will benefit the respective farmers of six states. Now, the automated claim settlement process will be an ongoing activity to ease all insured farmers’ lives and provide them with a sustainable financial flow and support.

Besides Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, Agriculture Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, CEO, PMFBY Shri Ritesh Chauhan and other senior officials were also present. CMDs of Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd and SBI General Insurance were also present including representatives of National Insurance Company (NIC), HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, Reliance GIC, ICICI Lombard, Future Generali, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandlam MS, Universal Sompo and TATA AIG. Representatives from SBI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Yes Bank were also present at the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Tomar said that it is a matter of pride for our Ministry to have taken a revolutionary step in ensuring that farmers can receive claim amounts digitally in a timebound and automated manner, thereby making our farmers Aatmanirbhar and Sashakt.

With the launch of a DigiClaim Module, insurance claims totalling Rs 1260.35 crore have been disbursed on March 23, 2023, to insured farmers in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Haryana with the click of a button, and the process will continue as and when the claims are released. The Union Minister also mentioned that to date Rs 1.32 lakh crore claim amount has been disbursed to the insured farmers under PMFBY. He also took special note of the ‘Meri Policy, Mere Haath’ ongoing campaign and observed that the campaign has been monumental in enhancing the awareness around PMFBY at the grassroots level.

While speaking on the occasion, Shri Tomar said that the Government of India is closely working with all exited states from the scheme and have had discussions with their senior officials in which Andhra Pradesh and Punjab are making a comeback to the scheme, which shows a shining example of corporative federalism. Governments of Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand have also been approached to rejoin PMFBY and several discussions have been underway. Out of these states, Telangana and Jharkhand have indicated their willingness to come back under PMFBY.

With the launch of the module, claims

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, Middle East countries

The growth for the whole year which was led by Brazil and China reflected strong market demand for crop protection products.

Israel based agrochemical major ADAMA Ltd. has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve-month period ended December 31, 2022.In the full year 2022, sales of the Company reached a record high of RMB 37.38 billion (USD 5.57 billion) million, up by 20 per cent in RMB terms and 16 per cent in USD, driven by a 16 per cent increase in prices and a 4 per cent growth in volume. The growth for the whole year which was led by Brazil and China reflected strong market demand for crop protection products.

The Company reported an EBITDA of RMB 4.88 billion (USD 730 million), with a growth rate of 28 per cent in RMB and 23 per cent in U.S. dollars on a year-on-year basis. The significant increase in prices as well as the growth of sales volume for the full year outweighed the negative impact of higher costs for procurement, production and logistics, unfavourable exchange rate fluctuations and escalating operating expenses due to intensifying inflation pressure.

Full Year 2022 Highlights:

Sales up 16 per cent to a record-high of $5,570 million (+20 per cent in RMB terms; +19 per cent in CER terms), driven by 16 per cent higher prices and 4 per cent volume growth

Improvement of Opex/Sales ratio of 19.9 per cent vs. 20.5 per cent in 2021; Adjusted operating income up 8 per cent to $458 million (RMB: +11 per cent)

Adjusted EBITDA up 10 per cent to $740 million (RMB: +14 per cent) vs. $671 million in the full year of 2021.

Adjusted net income amounted to $118 million; Reported net income nearly tripled to $96 million

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights:

Sales down 2 per cent to $1,312 million (+9 per cent in RMB terms; +1% in CER terms), 6% higher prices and 6 per cent decrease in volume

Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $129 million vs. $207 million in Q4 2021

Adjusted net loss of $42 million; Reported net loss of $22 million

Ignacio Dominguez, President and CEO of ADAMA, said, “As we enter the year of 2023, we reflect on the remarkable year that was 2022. This was a year in which the crop protection market experienced exceptional growth, both in volumes, and especially in prices largely aimed to offset increases in costs. I am happy to say that ADAMA grew with the market reaching record sales and EBITDA in 2022.

“As 2022 proceeded, crop commodity prices came down from their peak, maintaining historically elevated levels. This has continued into 2023, while fertilizer and energy prices declined at a slower pace, leading to lower but still historically high farmer profitability. With high inventories in the market, we anticipate a gradual return to normalization in the crop protection market towards the second half of 2023.

“We believe that in 2023 farmers will continue to invest in crop protection products that bring them incremental value. In 2022 ADAMA introduced many differentiated products to the market, optimizing its offering to farmers around the globe while maintaining simplicity in doing business, and intends to continue to do so in 2023.”

The growth for the whole year which

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

Scaling up Crop Protection Chemicals business will significantly help the company leverage the growth opportunities in India and the global markets.

Agrochemical major Coromandel International Ltd announced that company plans to expand its operations in Crop Protection Chemicals and foray into Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) business. The Board further approved the plan to diversify into new growth areas namely Speciality and Industrial Chemicals. This is in line with the company’s strategy to establish a sizeable presence in the Crop Protection Chemicals business and leverage its deep technical capabilities and best in class infrastructure to enter into adjacencies like CDMO, Specialty and Industrial Chemicals.

 Arun Alagappan, Executive Vice Chairman, Coromandel International Limited, said, “Coromandel’s current capabilities in Crop Protection Chemicals offers a strong starting position and flexibility for play in Speciality and Industrial Chemicals. With India’s high import dependency in the specialty chemicals, global supply chain diversification trends and strong policy push by the Government, these businesses offer significant growth prospects in addition to supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of the nation. Scaling up our Crop Protection Chemicals business will significantly help leverage the growth opportunities in India and the global markets. The company plans to set up new Multi Product Plants in two of its manufacturing locations apart from purchase of additional land for future expansions. Coromandel plans to invest Rs. 1,000 crores over the next two years in the above businesses and leverage the macro tailwinds in the Chemicals sector to build a business of scale.”

Entry into CDMO business is a strategic portfolio choice where Coromandel can leverage its expertise in handling complex chemistries at commercial scale and strong development capabilities across various chemistries.

Scaling up Crop Protection Chemicals business will

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, Foodgrains, India, Sustainability

Activities to be also undertaken in the states of Andhra and Telangana

India’s leading Agri-drone manufacturer IoTechWorld Avigation and Agro-chemical major Syngenta India have jointly developed a sustainable DaaS business model and will launch the commercial spraying services across 4 major states – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana In the next season of Kharif & Rabi.

IoTechWorld & Syngenta have already conducted the drone Yatra in 13 states and demonstrated the benefits of agriculture drones to more than 1 lakh farmers in a 17,000 km yatra.

Already, a joint pilot activity using actual agrochemicals has been successfully conducted in Ludhiana, Punjab wherein farmers and agri-entrepreneurs were briefed about the benefits of using drone technology in spraying agrochemicals. 

Providing details about the plan, Co-Founders of IoTechWorld Deepak Bhardwaj & Anoop Upadhyay said, “We have joined hands with Syngenta India to facilitate drone spraying across India. We did a pilot in the state of Punjab and the response has been very encouraging. As a next step, both companies jointly plan to amplify the activities in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal. The idea is to highlight the benefits of spraying using drones to farmers and other stakeholders.”

“Our association is unique in many ways. While our product Agribot is India’s first DGCA-type certified company, Syngenta is the first private company to get approval from the Central Insecticides Board, Government of India to use drones for spraying its Crop Protection products in crops like Paddy, Wheat, Sugarcane, Potato, Hot pepper etc. It is thus natural for consumers including farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to have faith in our joint initiatives,” both co-founders added.  

Providing details on the business model, Saurabh Srivastava, General Manager – Sales of IoTechWorld Avigation, & Mahantesh Chulaki – Lead Operations, Syngenta India, said, the idea of this sustainable cluster-based DaaS business model is liked by many agritech & startups firms as it gives the surety of YOY spray demand from Syngenta which mitigate the risk of capital investment of drone service provider. Even financial institutions like SBI who are providing the capital loan up to 2Cr through the AIF scheme of GOI, are also very confident to disburse the loan as their risk is mitigated through assured business demand offered by Syngenta.

Activities to be also undertaken in the

Agrotech, Company News, Environment, Sustainability, Water, World

For shaping a water-resilient agriculture system with key contribution in rice.

 Bayer is launching its new water strategy at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. The company is making water an integral part of its business decisions, investments and selection of suppliers. Bayer’s water strategy reflects its position as a key player in the fields of health and agriculture and aims to have an impact that goes beyond the company’s own business.

“The world is facing a severe water crisis affecting ecosystems, food security and human health,” explains Bayer CEO Werner Baumann. “As a leader in health and nutrition we have an intrinsic motivation to address the water crisis and make a valuable contribution. With our global footprint and strong supplier engagements, Bayer will create value and encourage sector-wide action. Our ambition is to play a leading role in promoting corporate water stewardship and rallying other businesses to take action to protect the world’s water resources.”

Bayer’s commitments go beyond the company’s own operations and are reflecting its ambition to generate impact. The activities will encompass the entire value chain, from Bayer’s own operations to the farmers Bayer serves. Key elements of the water strategy are:

Resilient agriculture: On average, 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals are in agriculture. Bayer commits to driving positive change in water productivity in water scarce regional cropping systems, starting with rice, which is responsible for up to 43 per cent of the world’s irrigation water withdrawals. The company is committed to improving water use per kilogram of crop by 25 per cent by 2030, by transforming rice-cropping systems for smallholder customers in the relevant regions where Bayer operates. In addition, Bayer’s existing commitment of reducing the environmental impact of its crop protection portfolio by 30 per cent by 2030 also contributes to water quality.

Business and investment: Bayer is developing a concept to integrate water quality and quantity into business decisions and processes that will be rolled out from 2024 onwards. The company will develop a methodology to place a value on water and incorporate it into investment processes. Already in 2021, water and wastewater matters represented approx. 10 per cent of Bayer’s total CapEx projects.

Suppliers and growers: Bayer evaluates the sustainability performance of all key suppliers and of selected high-sustainability-risk suppliers using a sustainability risk classification that includes water. As an important step forward, Bayer has launched its new Supplier Code of Conduct, with dedicated items to address water and wastewater. At the same time the company will continue to drive improvements in water-use efficiency with growers across seed production.

“Until now, the topic of water has been overlooked in the climate debate despite the many interlinkages, but with the UN 2023 Water Conference it is gaining momentum. There are new opportunities to take the right sustainable actions, and we must seize these opportunities now. This is why we make water an integral part of our business and investment decisions across the entire value chain. With these decisions, we will contribute to climate resilience and to more sustainable water usage,” says Cristina Alonso Alija, Head of Sustainability, Safety, Health & Environment, and responsible for the water strategy at Bayer.

For shaping a water-resilient agriculture system with

Agrotech, Climate, Environment, India, R&D, Sustainability

The company’s Biochar Initiative continues to benefit local farmers while improving air and soil quality

PepsiCo India has extended its Biochar Initiative, a pilot crop residue management program, to the Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana districts of Punjab as a potential solution to address the pressing issue of stubble burning in the northern states of India. This initiative will continue to work with more farmers in Punjab to better manage harvest residue by using furnaces known as retort kilns to produce biochar fertiliser through a process called pyrolysis.

According to Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), stubble burning in Punjab released 6.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases and particulate matter between September 15 and November 2, 2022. Biochar production and usage have the potential to reduce GHG emissions significantly compared to other forms of disposal such as heaping while improving soil health and water retention.

PepsiCo India’s Biochar Initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Through these efforts, the company also aims to improve the per-hectare crop yields for small and marginal farmers while contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Speaking about the initiative, Anukool Joshi, Director – Agro at PepsiCo India said, “Enhancing soil function and health using biochar can increase agricultural output and reduce expenses related to nutrient and environmental effects. In comparison to other crop residue management options, our preliminary data has shown increased net benefit to the farmers through the adoption of biochar.”

Today, PepsiCo in India works directly and indirectly with over 27,000 farmers across 14 states, sourcing 100 per cent of the potatoes for its Lay’s brand in India from Indian farmers.

Naginder Singh, an owner of the farm where PepsiCo India commissioned the first retort kiln, highlights the benefits he sees from adopting biochar: “PepsiCo India helped us to set up furnaces to produce biochar. After the biochar is prepared, we spread it into the fields that are ready for cultivation. I would recommend biochar to all farmers. Using it helps our soil and saves our environment from further pollution while reducing the use of chemical fertilisers”.

The company’s Biochar Initiative continues to benefit

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

Superplum has now announced eco-friendly packaging with zero plastic for their farm-fresh grapes

Superplum, a Noida-based startup, is providing consumers with safe-to-eat grapes that are tested for pesticides. Farm practices and growing methods are analysed before harvesting, and grapes are then tested by NABL-accredited labs to ensure food safety.

Superplum is committed to promoting transparency with customers by allowing them to view these pesticide test reports by scanning the QR code on their packaging. This gives customers information about where their grapes were grown and which farmer produced them and even offers them the opportunity to reward the farmer with a bonus payment. 

In an effort to improve sustainability, Superplum has now announced eco-friendly packaging with zero plastic for their farm-fresh grapes. With Indians consuming grapes in millions of plastic packs, this small change can help reduce our ecological footprint. Consumers will not only eat healthier, but they can also help contribute positively to the environment.

Superplum’s fresh grapes in their all-new eco-friendly packaging are now available online and in Delhi, NCR and Bengaluru stores.

The fresh produce industry in India has been long plagued by high levels of pesticides in grapes. While India has become one of the world’s largest table grape exporters by following global standards for pesticide residues, most Indian consumers have to consume grapes with high contaminant levels in their own country.

Superplum has now announced eco-friendly packaging with