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Agribusiness, Company News, Finance, Funding, India, Oilseeds, Start ups

Company plans to use the funds to boost visibility, expand distribution, and enhance production capacity.

 Indic Wisdom, an agri-produce startup raised Rs 4 crores in Pre-Series A Round led by Inflection Point Ventures. Mahendra Sankhe, Launch Capital, Bifco Finance, and other HNIs also participated in the round. The funds will be utilized to enhance the brand’s visibility, expand its distribution network, and build production capacity toward increasing market presence and operational efficiency.

Indic Wisdom Pvt. Limited traces its inspiration to India’s egalitarian culinary traditions. Growing up learning that food should always be natural and always shared with everyone, Kaustubh Khare and Prajakta Khare founded the brand to contemporise that civilizational wisdom and produce goodness at scale, with a focus on wood-pressed oils.

Rahul Wagh, Managing Director, Inflection Point Ventures, said, “Conventional oils encounter issues concerning their quality, safety, nutrient content, and environmental impact. Choosing wood-pressed oils gives a healthier and more sustainable choice for both manufacturers and consumers. With the global wood-pressed oil market expected to grow from USD 9.63 billion in 2022 to USD 18.61 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.57 per cent, there’s a clear shift towards the healthier alternatives. This, with increasing awareness about the health concerns related to conventional oils, brings us here, to the right path that our ancestors paved.”

Indic Wisdom stands out with its strengths and unique selling points (USPs) such as in-house manufacturing and rigorous quality control, to ensure the finest products. Offering price parity in the category, it remains PAT positive for the past four years, reflecting financial stability. The brand’s extensive range of oils and its presence across multiple channels further contribute to its distinct position in the market.

Currently, they operate at a scale where they extract 70 thousand liters of oil per month, highlighting their significant production capacity.

Prajakta Khare, Founder & Director, Indic Wisdom, said, “At Indic Wisdom, our goal is to take India’s timeless tradition of prasad – food that is pure, sustainable, and meant for everyone – to every corner of the world. We are doing this by taking our ancient wisdom and food production practices and infusing them with modern production best practices and quality standards. In an era when India is rising in stature in the world and our manufacturing is being looked at with great promise, we believe we can be the embodiment of India’s best traditions, promoting purity and accessibility of food, sustainable growth for ecosystems, and responsible conduct in society.

Proudly bootstrapped, we have made this ethos come to life with our Wood Pressed Oil extraction plant. Not only is it India’s largest, but it is also a ZERO WASTE manufacturing facility that has generated employment in the tribal belt of Palghar and achieve impressive monthly GMV of Rs 2.5 crores.

Company plans to use the funds to

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India

With these new product wins, Rallis has broadened its CSM customer base especially among Japanese innovator agrochemical companies.

Rallis India Ltd, a leading agri-inputs company, grew its Custom Synthesis & Manufacturing (CSM) portfolio through commercialization of 3 new products in FY24. These new products span across the agrochemical value chain and include one each of Intermediates, Active Ingredients (AI) and Formulations. Two of these three products are being manufactured at Rallis India’s new manufacturing plants at Dahej. With these new product wins, Rallis has broadened its CSM customer base especially among Japanese innovator agrochemical companies.

Commenting on this development, Sanjiv Lal, MD & CEO of Rallis India Limited said, “This expansion of our CSM portfolio reflects our strategic commitment to more chemistry-led manufacturing underlying our recent investments at Dahej. These new product successes and customer acquisitions further affirm the enduring trust that Rallis India holds from a growing number of Japanese and other global agrochemical companies”.

S.Nagarajan, Chief Operating Officer of Rallis India Limited, added, “The commercialisation of these new products demonstrates our enhanced process development, scale-up and manufacturing capabilities to handle complex chemistries and next-gen sustainable formulations. It is also a testament to our ability to work closely and transparently with the customers to deliver high quality products at the right price while upholding our stringent EHS standards”.

Rallis remains committed to further expansion and scale-up of its product portfolio by strengthening its existing customer partnerships and building new ones with global agrochemical companies to advance the cause of sustainable agriculture.

With these new product wins, Rallis has

Agro Universities, Pulses, R&D

The new convention promises to substantially cut the time required to develop new pigeonpea lines with desirable traits, effectively bringing food to dryland communities faster.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has pioneered the world’s first pigeonpea speed breeding protocol, further bolstering food security in Asia and Africa. The new convention promises to substantially cut the time required to develop new pigeonpea lines with desirable traits, effectively bringing food to dryland communities faster.

Traditionally, pigeonpea breeding can take up to thirteen years. But with the new protocol’s emphasis on material breeding and control over factors like photoperiod, temperature, and humidity, the breeding cycle can now be shortened to just two to four years, as opposed to the conventional period of seven years. Pigeonpea, a staple in tropical and subtropical diets, is crucial for food security and soil health globally and is lauded for its nutritional value and versatility.

Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, underscored the consequence of the innovation. “This pigeonpea speed breeding protocol represents a significant advancement for major pigeonpea-producing regions, paving the way for self-reliance in pulse production and meeting the dietary necessities of nations such as India, Myanmar, Kenya, Tanzania, Myanmar, and Mozambique.

Historically, pigeonpea’s long growth cycle and sensitivity to day length have hindered breeding efforts, with only about 250 varieties released globally over six decades. ​

This new speed breeding protocol addresses these challenges head-on, enabling researchers to develop climate-resilient, nutritionally superior, and higher-yielding pigeonpea varieties at an unprecedented pace.

Dr Arvind Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, acknowledged the protocol’s potential to rapidly develop climate-resilient pigeonpea varieties, highlighting the vital support from the Government of Odisha.

India’s increasing demand for pigeonpea, projected to necessitate the import of 1.2 million tonnes by March 2024, underscores the timeliness of this open-access protocol. It offers a blueprint for rapid, efficient pigeonpea variety development, contributing significantly to the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulse production. The new protocol, accomplished through the establishment of ICRISAT’s Rapid Generation Advancement Facility, owes its success to the generous support from donors via CGIAR initiatives, underscoring the spirit of collaboration in agricultural innovation. Significant backing for the project to develop the new protocol was received from the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Government of Odisha, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Government of India.

The new convention promises to substantially cut

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Supply Chain, Trade

With a focus on direct exports, APEDA transforms 119 FPOs/FPCs into exporters over a period of five years.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has taken a number of steps to ensure that more and more of its Scheduled products are exported to newer destinations. In this regard special emphasis is towards the One District One Product and GI products, and also to source these exports from non-traditional areas/states. As on date, APEDA scheduled products are being exported to more than 203 countries/territories, worldwide. To give this a further fillip, more than 27 flag offs were organised in the current financial year.

APEDA is also actively involved in capacity building initiatives for FPOs as they are increasingly recognized as essential aggregators of farm produce, pivotal in streamlining the supply chain and ensuring efficient market access for farmers. With a focus on enabling direct exports, APEDA has transformed 119 FPOs/FPCs into exporters over a period of five years. Through tailored support and guidance, these FPOs have enhanced their capabilities to navigate global markets, amplifying the presence of Indian agricultural products on the international stage.

The agri-export promotion body in collaboration with the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), has embarked on a proactive initiative to develop sea protocols tailored for the export of fresh produce to long-distance markets. This strategic endeavour aims to optimize the export process for promising fresh fruits, facilitating efficient transportation and reducing logistics costs. As part of this initiative, trial shipments of mangoes and pomegranates to the USA and the European Union are being planned. In a significant breakthrough, bananas were successfully shipped by sea to the Netherlands in November and to Russia in January. The implementation of sea protocols is poised to enable a quantum increase in exports of items such as bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, and other fresh fruits and vegetables, further enhancing India’s presence in international markets.

With a focus on direct exports, APEDA

Agbiologicals, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Europe, R&D

The collaboration will leverage Lavie Bio’s unique technology platform to rapidly identify and optimise bio-insecticide candidates, as well as Syngenta’s extensive global research, development and commercialization capabilities.

Syngenta Crop Protection, a leader in agricultural innovation, and Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., and a leading ag-biologicals company, announced an agreement for the discovery and development of new biological insecticidal solutions.

The collaboration will leverage Lavie Bio’s unique technology platform to rapidly identify and optimize bio-insecticide candidates, as well as Syngenta’s extensive global research, development and commercialization capabilities.

Insects pose a major challenge to the health of crops worldwide, directly injuring plants as they feed on the plant’s stems, fruit and roots, as well as indirectly by transmitting bacterial, viral and fungal infections to crops – costing the global economy an estimated $70 billion a year, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Experts predict such losses will worsen with global warming widening the spread of invasive insect risk and rising resistance to available insecticides.

“Syngenta is a leader in advancing sustainable agriculture and we are thrilled to collaborate with Lavie Bio in biocontrol innovation and bring novel modes of action in the growers’ toolbox to combat insect resistance,” said Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research at Syngenta Crop Protection. “This collaboration underscores Syngenta’s commitment to collaborating with cutting-edge agricultural technology companies, merging digital and experimental approaches to accelerate and diversify innovation.”

“We’re excited to collaborate with Syngenta, a world leader in agricultural innovation,” said Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio. “Both companies share a mutual commitment to sustainable farming and together, we aim to develop an impactful bio-insecticide product. Lavie Bio’s unique computational capabilities and Syngenta’s vast experience in developing and commercializing innovative products make this partnership significant. We enthusiastically look forward to joining forces to achieve the mutual task of insect management in agriculture.”

The collaboration will leverage Lavie Bio's unique

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, Farm Mechanisation, Finance, Investments, World

Together with Bem Agro, CNH aim to significantly enhance future precision technology solutions, services and reach for agriculture across Latin America and Asia Pacific.

CNH continues to strengthen its tech stack with Ag Tech solutions that make farming easier, more efficient, and more sustainable for our customers. To further our offering in this field, our investment arm CNH Ventures has taken a minority stake in Bem Agro – a Brazilian startup and existing supplier to CNH.

Bem Agro uses AI to convert any type of aerial field image – including those taken from machines, drones and satellites – into Agronomic Mapping Reports. These reports provide vital data that enables farmers to make better decisions about optimizing field operations, allocating resources and increasing yield while driving improved machine performance, greater productivity and reduced running costs.

In sugarcane, grain and fiber harvesting, where farmers can face low-visibility conditions, Bem Agro’s maps provide guidance lines for course correction and crop damage reduction. Their weed mapping pinpoints specific areas to be sprayed, minimizing herbicide usage.

This investment follows over five years of successful commercial partnership with Bem Agro. We currently use their mapping solutions on our Case IH and New Holland brands’ Connected Platforms for sugarcane harvesters, tractors and sprayers in Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand. Together with Bem Agro, we aim to significantly enhance our current and future precision technology solutions, services and reach for agriculture across Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Our drive for customer-inspired innovation relies on constant dialogue with the people that use our equipment and technology. Positive feedback from our dealer network and customers was instrumental in driving this strategic investment. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Bem Agro and further empower farmers to keep Breaking New Ground.

Together with Bem Agro, CNH aim to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Foodgrains, R&D

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and IRRI will implement rice and rice-based research for development (R4D) projects.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to continue their collaborative efforts to enhance the country’s rice sector competitiveness during a signing ceremony on 13 February 2024.

The move is a bid to support the Philippine Development Plan that provides a policy framework for effective public investments towards making the country food secure, achieving an inclusive and globally competitive rice industry, and enhancing farmers’ resiliency to the changing climate.

The signing of the MoU not only underscores IRRI’s commitment to collaboration with Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., but also marks the first formal agreement between the two parties since he took office. This also reflects his emphasis on the critical role of research in fostering the growth of the rice industry and safeguarding the welfare of farmers and consumers alike.

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and IRRI will implement rice and rice-based research for development (R4D) projects anchored in the four-point strategy of the government’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program and specifically, DA’s plan to boost the agriculture and fisheries sector. These endeavours aim to optimise yields, reduce risk, and increase resilience to climate change, achieving economies of scale, more efficient operations, while also promoting digital transformation and agribusiness development.

“We will leverage our already successful joint projects with the DA in crafting this next phase of our partnership. This agreement not only ensures strategic alignment of IRRI’s research with national priorities but also strengthens the country’s rice R&D capabilities for future problem-solving needs,” said IRRI Interim Director General Dr Ajay Kohli.

The MOU signing represents a continuation of the longstanding partnership between IRRI and DA, which has yielded numerous technological and institutional innovations specifically tailored to Philippine conditions. These include new rice varieties that will increase farmers’ yields, climate adaptation, support for the digital transformation of the rice sector and policy research. Many of these initiatives have been primed for further expansion and scaling in 2024 and IRRI plans to further collaborate with the DA on the development and roll out of low glycaemic index rice, in collaboration with PhilRice, that can help reverse rising diabetes levels, and precision agriculture and digitalization.

Moving forward, the collaboration between the DA and IRRI will focus on leveraging digital technology, extension services, and scientific capacity development to empower stakeholders across the rice and agricultural landscape. By fostering innovation and collaboration, DA and IRRI aim to drive sustainable growth and resilience in the Philippine rice industry.

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - Govt

With this infusion of capital, FCI shall also embark upon modernising its storage facilities, improving transportation networks, and adopting advanced technologies.

In a landmark decision aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector and ensuring the welfare of farmers nationwide, the Government of India has announced an increase in the authorized capital of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Rs 10,000 Crore to Rs 21,000 Crore. This strategic move shows the government’s steadfast commitment to supporting farmers and fortifying India’s agrarian economy.

FCI, as the pillar of India’s food security architecture, plays a pivotal role in various crucial functions, including the procurement of food grains at Minimum Support Price (MSP), maintenance of strategic food grain stocks, distribution to state governments and Union Territories (UTs), and stabilization of food grain prices in the market.

The increase in authorized capital is a significant step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively. To match the gap of fund requirement FCI resorts to Cash Credit, Short Term Loan, Ways & Means etc. Increase of Authorised capital and further infusion will reduce the interest burden, reducing the economic cost and ultimately affecting the subsidy of GOI positively. With this infusion of capital, FCI shall also embark upon modernizing its storage facilities, improving transportation networks, and adopting advanced technologies. These measures are essential not only for reducing post-harvest losses but also for ensuring efficient distribution of food grains to consumers.

GoI provides equity to FCI for working capital requirement and for creation of capital assets. FCI is undertaking a comprehensive initiative to create an Integrated IT system, leveraging existing internal systems (FAP, HRMS) and external systems (State procurement portals, CWC/SWC). The E-office implementation has already made FCI a less paper organization. These initiatives of integrated IT solutions serving as the core operational software for FCI, shall provide a single source of information and streamline functions with a common digital backbone.

As a part of enhancing its efficiency, FCI is diligently executing tasks such as cement roads, roof maintenance, illumination, and weighbridge upgrades, enhancing food security. Purchase of lab equipment and the development of a software platforms for QC labs aim to improve quality checking. Studies on “Out-Turn Ratio”, “Shelf-Life”, and “Pest Management for Fortified Rice” complement FCI’s commitment to building an efficient and food security management system. The integration of automated digital equipment further aligns with FCI’s objectives, aiming to remove human intervention for a transparent procurement mechanism and enhance infrastructure for employees, saving on rent and creating assets for FCI.

With this infusion of capital, FCI shall

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Europe, Finance, Investments

Production is scheduled to start by the end of 2028, with the total investment estimated to around 2 billion euros, with partners planning to contribute with varying amounts in the final investment phase.

In the largest initiative of its kind in the Nordic region, Fertiberia, Lantmännen, and Nordion Energi announced a partnership aimed at establishing Sweden’s first fossil-free mineral fertiliser production through the joint initiative Power2Earth. Through its hydrogen-based production process relying on fossil-free energy, Power2Earth has the potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from food production. The initiative is also an important step in enabling a robust Swedish food supply. Production is scheduled to start by the end of 2028, with the total investment estimated to around 2 billion euros, with partners planning to contribute with varying amounts in the final investment phase.

The establishment represents a significant step in Sweden’s green transition and increased self-sufficiency. Power2Earth builds upon technology developed by Fertiberia, a leading producer of fossil-free mineral fertilisers. The collaboration is based on a shared vision of a sustainable and resilient agricultural and food production, combining the strengths, expertise, and experience of each partner. By utilizing an electrolysis technology based on renewable energy, Power2Earth aims for the lowest possible emissions in the production process.

The project was initiated in 2021, and since then, several feasibility studies have been completed, along with securing land for the factory establishment in Luleå. Currently, preparations are underway for an environmental permit application, which is scheduled to be submitted in the second quarter of 2024.

Javier Goñi, CEO of Fertiberia, says, “Fertiberia brings its industrial experience of more than five decades in the production, operation and logistics of ammonia, as well as its leadership in driving green hydrogen to decarbonise the agriculture sector with state-of-the-art fertilisers. We are also proud to contribute to the achievement of Sweden’s ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets while providing regional growth and building a more resilient food supply with reduced dependence on imports.”

Through Power2Earth’s production of fossil-free mineral fertiliser in Luleå, there is a potential to reduce emissions by around 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, which corresponds to approximately 25 percent of emissions from Swedish agriculture. The innovative technology, based on fossil-free hydrogen, positions Power2Earth as a key player in the green transition within the Swedish food sector.

With a production capacity of one million tons of mineral fertiliser annually, Power2Earth also has significant potential to increase the resilience of Swedish food production, in line with Sweden’s national food strategy and ambitions regarding enhanced preparedness capability. This is achieved by reducing dependency on imports and improving conditions for domestic food production and increased Swedish self-sufficiency.

Per Arfvidsson, Deputy CEO and CTO at Lantmännen, says: “Power2Earth is revolutionary for the Swedish agricultural and food industry as fossil-free mineral fertiliser is crucial for creating a sustainable, efficient and future-proof food chain. Domestic production of mineral fertiliser reduces Sweden’s overall dependence on fertiliser imports and is essential for developing a robust food preparedness. We are pleased to now take the next step and establish Power2Earth together with Fertiberia and Nordion Energi.”

Power2Earth also becomes a positive addition to the industrial landscape of Norrbotten. By introducing production of fossil-free mineral fertiliser and access to renewable hydrogen in the region, Norrbotten is positioned as a hub for the continued expansion of hydrogen. The establishment also strengthens regional growth and diversifies the region’s industry.

Hans Kreisel, CEO of Nordion Energi, said, “Power2Earth is the first step on the Nordic Hydrogen Route, a 1000-kilometer-long underground hydrogen pipeline connecting Sweden and Finland. Hydrogen is central to Norrbotten’s long-term diversification of the industrial sector, and through the Power2Earth project, we illustrate how the new hydrogen infrastructure is cost-effective, delivers energy security, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. We are proud to contribute to regional gren transition, economic development, and Swedish self-sufficiency together with Fertiberia and Lantmännen.”

Production is scheduled to start by the

Agribusiness, Company News, Finance, Funding, Middle East countries, Start ups

The infusion of new capital will advance the company’s mission to combat weed resistance through its breakthrough green solution.

Israel based Ag-tech start-up WeedOUT, Ltd., announced that it has secured USD8.1 million in A-round funding. Leading the round is Fulcrum Global Capital, a prominent US agri- focused VC with ties to a vast network of farmers across the US. The infusion of new capital will advance the company’s mission to combat weed resistance through its breakthrough green solution.

Other participants in the equity round include Bunge Ventures, the investment arm of the leading agriculture and food company Bunge (NYSE: BG), and the Singapore Headquartered agrifood tech fund Clay Capital (formerly VisVires New Protein, VVNP). The new funding is in addition to several grants received by the company from the Israeli Innovation Authority.

WeedOUT’s solution could solve one of the greatest threats to agriculture and food security: herbicide-resistant weeds. The company created a novel and environmentally conscious approach to significantly curbing proliferation of weeds that no longer respond to commonly used chemical herbicides.

“Resistant weeds that plague crops are a major challenge for farmers globally—and the situation has only worsened,” asserts Kevin Lockett, partner at Fulcrum Global Capital. “Fulcrum Global is excited to support WeedOUT’s cutting-edge biological platform and the unique approach it has pioneered to address the resistant weed problem. The company’s integrated management approach aligns seamlessly with existing farm practices and could enable growers worldwide to produce more food on the same amount of land and in a much more sustainable way.”

WeedOUT’s first target

“Weeds are highly competitive, aggressive plants,” explains Efrat Lidor Nili, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of WeedOUT. “They compete with crops for all essential resources, including soil, water, nutrients—and even sunlight. Weeds substantially reduce crop yield.”

The company’s first target is the Palmer amaranth weed (Amaranthus palmeri), a major nuisance in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. The weed can grow up to several meters high and invade fields of corn, cotton, soybeans, and sugar beets. It can crash corn crop yield by 90 per cent and soybean yield by 80 per cent. “Our green solution specifically targets this type of resistant weed,” notes Lidor Nili.

The prolonged use of chemical herbicides, such as glyphosate, has enabled the destructive weeds to develop multiple resistance. Nicknamed “super weeds,” the traditional method for countering them has been chemical herbicides.

“Evolution is always smarter,” adds Lidor Nili. “The weeds learn ways to evade the effects of the herbicides. But WeedOUT is applying an entirely new, green approach that targets the reproductive system of resistant weeds and will provide a sustainable, long-term solution.”

Novel approach

WeedOUT’s novel method takes inspiration from sterility techniques used successfully since the 1940s for controlling populations of unwanted insects, such as mosquitoes and flies. It centers on a proprietary weed pollen derived from the male plants. This sterile pollen fertilizes the female weed ovules, yielding nonviable seeds and effectively impeding the growth of a new generation of resistant weeds.

Since the introduction of the sterility technique 80 years ago, the realm of insect control has not encountered any resistance issues, and it is considered one of the safest methods ever developed. WeedOUT is the first to apply this time-tested method to weed control.

WeedOUT’s founders conducted the initial experiments in their own home balconies with instant success. Armed with compelling proof of concept and crucial seed funds, they proceeded to local field trials before scaling up efforts in more extensive trials across the U.S. covering cotton, soybean, and sugar beet fields. These trials are being conducted in conjunction with key opinion leaders in weed control.

Funds raised in this investment round are being channelled to further expand field trials in multiple regions in the U.S., including Georgia and Nebraska, as WeedOUT moves to launch its inaugural product targeting the Palmer amaranth weed. The company recently submitted a request to the Environmental Protection Agency for marketing approval and is developing new formulations targeting different weed species.

The infusion of new capital will advance

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will present this dividend proposal for shareholder vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on April 26, 2024.

Bayer AG plans to amend its dividend policy to pay out the legally required minimum for three years. This follows a review of the company’s capital allocation priorities to reduce debt. This change would result in a dividend of 0.11 euros per share for fiscal year 2023. The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will present this dividend proposal for shareholder vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on April 26, 2024.

This proposal comes as the company faces a high level of debt, coupled with high interest rates and a challenging free cash flow situation. “One of our top priorities is reducing debt and increasing flexibility,” said CEO Bill Anderson. “Our amended dividend policy, which considered investor input and was not taken lightly, will help us do so.”

As previously communicated, the company is well underway in implementing a new operating model called “Dynamic Shared Ownership” worldwide, which will reduce hierarchies, eliminate bureaucracy, streamline structures and accelerate decision-making processes. The aim of the new operating model is to make the company much more agile and significantly improve its operational performance. This also includes significant job reductions. “All of these measures are necessary to position the company for future success. We are confident that our approach to deleveraging will benefit all stakeholders over the longer term,” Anderson said.

The Board of Management and the Supervisory

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Animal Health, Collaborations, Company News, R&D

Blacksmith and Zoetis will collaborate to discover and develop novel antibiotics to selectively target bacteria for animal health.

Blacksmith Medicines, Inc. (Blacksmith), a leading biopharma dedicated to discovering and developing medicines targeting metalloenzymes, and Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company, announced a collaboration to discover and develop novel antibiotics for animal health.

“According to authorities including the FDA, CDC, WHO, WOAH, and EMA, antibiotic resistance can spread between animals and humans, and this is particularly devastating for antibiotics that are the last line of treatment for critical infections in people.  Blacksmith and Zoetis will collaborate to discover and develop novel antibiotics to selectively target bacteria for animal health,” said Zachary Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Blacksmith.  “This new collaboration is another example of Blacksmith’s creative deal-making with top tier partners that bring expertise to the table which helps de-risk and accelerate scientific discoveries for the development of valuable products.”

“As part of our commitment to reduce the dependency on antibiotic classes shared with human health, we are pleased to leverage our veterinary expertise along with our extensive collection of pathogens in this collaboration with Blacksmith,” said Dr Jeff Watts, Research Director, External Innovation at Zoetis. “Through our research, we aim to ultimately provide new options for our customers to treat life-threatening infections in livestock.”

About metalloenzymes and the Blacksmith platform

Metalloenzymes utilize a metal ion cofactor in the enzyme active site to perform essential biological functions.  This diverse class of targets has historically been difficult to drug due to small molecule chemistry limitations that have plagued the industry.  The Blacksmith metalloenzyme platform has solved this problem by leveraging the following:

  • A large proprietary fragment library of metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs);
  • A comprehensive database containing a full characterization of the metalloenzyme genome including functions, metal cofactors, and associations to disease;
  • A first-of-its-kind metallo-CRISPR library of custom single guide RNAs;
  • An industry-leading metalloenzyme computational toolkit for docking, modeling and structure-based drug design; and
  • A robust and blocking intellectual property estate covering bioinorganic, medicinal, and computational chemistry approaches for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines.

Blacksmith and Zoetis will collaborate to discover

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, E-commerce, India

ONDC platform of e-marketing will connect fishermen, fish farmers, FFPOs, self-help groups and other fishermen cooperatives in a structured manner.

The Department of Fisheries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in the presence of Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State Dr. L Murugan, Secretary (Fisheries) Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Sagar Mehra, MD, ONDC T. Koshy and other esteemed dignitaries at New Delhi. Parshottam Rupala also released a booklet “From Catch to Commerce, Increasing Market Access through Digital Transformation”.

The objective of the collaboration of Department of Fisheries with ONDC is to provide a digital platform and empower all stakeholders including traditional fishermen, fish farmers producer organization, entrepreneurs from fisheries sector to buy and sell their products through e-market place. ONDC is a unique platform of e-marketing that will play a significant role in fisheries sector by connecting fishermen, fish farmers, FFPOs, self-help groups and other fishermen cooperatives in a structured manner.

ONDC platform of e-marketing will connect fishermen,

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Collaborations, Company News, India

This agreement is for annual supplies of up to 0.65 million tonnes over a period of 15 years, beginning 2026. 

Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL), one of India’s leading producers of industrial chemicals and fertilisers, and Equinor, an international energy company headquartered in Norway, have entered into a long-term supply agreement for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

With this tie-up, DFPCL strengthens its value chain with an attractive long-term LNG contract to solidify its value chain from Gas to Ammonia to various downstream Fertilisers, Industrial Chemicals and Mining Chemicals. This end-to-end tie-up shall establish a strong long-term foundation for all of DFPCL’s product segments.

Equinor, erstwhile Statoil, is amongst the established leaders in the oil & gas sector over the last 50 years, with a market cap of USD 75 Billion wherein majority shares are owned by the Norwegian Government.

The agreement signed by Irene Rummelhoff, Executive Vice President, Equinor and Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, DFPCL, is one of the largest contracts signed by Equinor with a private sector company in India.

This agreement is for annual supplies of up to 0.65 million tonnes over a period of 15 years, beginning 2026.  The tie-up provides room for trading some LNG parcels in the growing LNG demands in India as well as accommodating DFPCL’s growing captive needs. The LNG will be delivered to the west coast of India. DFPCL is at an advanced stage of tying up the Re-gasification Terminal with the Gas pipeline grid connectivity to its plant’s doorstep already in place.

The LNG agreement also encourages the companies to further collaborate on petrochemicals feedstocks and strategic decarbonization pathways in the future.

“We are very happy to enter into this long-term agreement with Equinor for supply of LNG. This will put on a solid footing Deepak Fertilisers value-chain right from Gas to Ammonia to building block Nitric Acids to downstream Fertilisers, Mining Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals, helping it to absorb Global volatility as well as enhance overall margins.  We also look forward to exploring with Equinor, strategic tie-ups in our Chemical Business, as well as carbon footprint reduction initiatives.” said Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, DFPCL.

“I am happy that we have entered into this agreement with Deepak, and it is an example of how we use our position in the Atlantic basin to strengthen our relationship with key players in the growing Indian market. Ammonia is a key building block for the society, being crucial for agriculture and food security. Deepak’s new ammonia plant will provide new, domestic fertiliser supply to India and we are proud to provide its feedstock in the form of natural gas. We look forward to further developing our relationship with Deepak on feedstocks and low carbon initiatives in the future”, says Equinor’s Senior vice president for Gas & Power Helge Haugane.

This agreement is for annual supplies of