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Agro Universities, Foodgrains, India, Seeds

Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 are the first non-GM herbicide tolerant Basmati rice varieties tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL to be released for commercial cultivation in India.

Pusa Institute, New Delhi launched the seed sale of RobiNOweed Basmati Rice Varieties namely, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL for Direct Seeded Rice cultivation. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, the Director, IARI, New Delhi highlighted that the major concerns in rice cultivation in north- western India include (a) depleting water table (b) labor scarcity for transplanting of rice and (c) the emission of greenhouse gas, methane under transplanted flooded condition. Direct seeded rice can address all these concerns. DSR reduces water usage significantly compared to traditional flooding method due to no continuous flooding, targeted water application, lower percolation losses, and decreased evaporation. Studies suggest DSR can save approximately 33 per cent of the total water requirement making it a sustainable choice, particularly in water scarce regions.

However, weeds are a major problem under DSR which needs to be addressed in order to ensure the success of DSR. In this direction, concerted research at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi has led to the development of two RobiNOweed Basmati rice varieties, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 which are the first non-GM herbicide tolerant Basmati rice varieties tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL to be released for commercial cultivation in India.

Pusa Basmati 1979

Pusa Basmati 1979 is a MAS derived herbicide tolerant near-isogenic line of Basmati rice variety “PB 1121” possessing mutated AHAS allele governing tolerance to Imazethapyr 10 per cent SL with seed-to-seed maturity of 130-133 days and average yield of 45.77 q/ ha under irrigated transplanted condition across two years of testing in the National Basmati trials.

Pusa Basmati 1985

Pusa Basmati 1985 is a MAS derived herbicide tolerant near-isogenic line of Basmati rice variety “PB 1509” possessing mutated AHAS allele governing Imazethapyr tolerance with seed-to-seed maturity of 115-120 days and average yield of 5.2 t/ha under irrigated transplanted condition across two years of testing in the National Basmati trials.

He elaborated extensively on the package of practices tailored for these two rice varieties when cultivated under Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method. He stressed the importance of adopting necessary precautions for effective weed management in these crops. Given their tolerance to the broad-spectrum herbicide Imazethapyr 10 per cent SL, these varieties are poised to revolutionize weed control in DSR, thereby streamlining the cost of Basmati rice cultivation. Moreover, these varieties not only reduce the labour-intensive processes associated with weeding but also mitigate the environmental impact of traditional rice cultivation methods. This underscores their potential to contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture practices and the overall well-being of the agricultural ecosystem.

Dr. P.K. Singh, Commissioner of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, underscored the importance of these varieties and appreciated the contribution of IARI in bringing improvements in the varietal traits targeted towards saving water, increasing yield with better climate resilience.

Dr D.K. Yadav, ADG(Seeds) at ICAR in New Delhi, emphasized the boon these two Basmati rice varieties would represent for farmers in the Basmati GI area. He highlighted the paramount importance of seeds as the primary input for crop cultivation.

Notably, IARI Basmati rice varieties hold a staggering 95 per cent share in the country’s total Basmati rice exports, which amounts to a whopping 51,000 crores. Dr Yadav urged farmers to actively promote these improved varieties to safeguard the food security of the nation. As a tangible step forward, seeds of these varieties were given to four farmers hailing from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The other interested farmers were provided the seeds of these varieties from SPU on payment basis at a nominal price.

Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Drones

These hubs will focus on global employment in drones, IoT, agriculture, and allied sectors.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and AVPL International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish 70 Skills and Incubation Hubs across India. These hubs will focus on global employment in drones, IoT, agriculture, and allied sectors. This initiative aims to enhance vocational training and skill development, positioning India as a leader in global skill development.

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting the advanced training facilities and globally recognized certification programs it will bring to the youth. AVPL International will upgrade 50 existing training facilities to Global Skills and Incubation Hubs (GISH) across 12 Indian states. These hubs will offer certificate courses from prestigious institutions like IITs and IIMs and dual certification programs with international accreditation bodies through NSDC International.

Deep Sihag Sisai, Founder and Managing Director of AVPL International, emphasised the transformative impact of this initiative, aiming to uplift the local workforce and set a new benchmark in drone, IoT, agriculture, and allied sector training. The comprehensive training programmes will target 1,40,000 candidates annually, providing them with IIT-certified courses and internationally recognised accreditations.

The agreement underscores the shared vision of NSDC and AVPL International to drive skill development and foster economic growth through enhanced training and education.

These hubs will focus on global employment

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, India

In FY 2023-24, the Company’s Revenue from Operations remained flat at Rs 51,032 million, compared to Rs 51,397 million in the previous year.

Bayer CropScience Limited announced its results for the financial year (FY) and quarter ended March 31, 2024. In FY 2023-24, the Company’s Revenue from Operations remained flat at Rs 51,032 million, compared to Rs 51,397 million in the previous year. Profit Before Exceptional Items & Tax stood at Rs 9,414 million, compared to Rs 8,863 million in the previous year, representing an increase of 6 per cent.

In Q4 of FY 2023-24, the Company registered Revenue from Operations of Rs 7,915 million, compared to Rs 9,825 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Profit Before Exceptional Items & Tax for the quarter stood at Rs 1,054 million, compared to Rs 1,921 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Commenting on the quarterly results, Simon Wiebusch, Vice Chairman/Managing Director and CEO, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “Despite weather challenges and lower reservoir levels affecting crop protection volumes, our performance remained resilient. While revenue from operations witnessed a decline owing to Roundup™ price developments and proactive channel management, our corn seeds business continued its growth trend. Prudent spending kept operational expenses flat. We remain positive on the overall agricultural landscape in India and reconfirm our commitment to sustainable growth which entails dealing with the cyclical nature of our business proactively.”

Speaking on the FY results, Simon Britsch, Chief Financial Officer, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “Our full-year performance reflects our fortitude amidst market shifts and extreme weather events. Despite challenges such as higher material cost, our strategic focus on channel inventory has ensured sustained market outperformance. Our proactive cost management also helped bolster our bottom line. With operational expenses lowered and a strong bottom line to show for it, we stand poised for continued growth and success.”

In FY 2023-24, the Company’s Revenue from

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, Start ups

Company is preparing to launch the Krishak V2 in the market, with plans to make it available to farmers across the country.

General Aeronautics Pvt Ltd (GAPL) has announced that company has achieved a significant milestone with its latest agri drone, the Krishak V2, receiving DGCA type certification. This certification marks a major step forward in the field of agricultural technology, as the Krishak V2 is set to revolutionise traditional farming practices.

Company mentioned the specifications of the Krishak V2 Drone. The Krishak V2 is a medium-category drone, weighing about 49.30 kgs and capable of flying at a maximum height of 98.43 feet. It boasts a range of advanced features designed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity. These features include Active Sense & Avoid for autonomous flying, best in class endurance with more than 6 acres per battery charge, Real-time monitoring, Over-the-Air software update capability, Higher accuracy, Precision Agriculture Ready with Variable Rate Technology, Advanced Path-Planning for complete spray coverage, and Smart Tamper-proofing integration, among others.

 The company mentioned that with the Krishak V2, we aim to transform conventional agricultural practices by providing farmers with cutting-edge technology that enhances productivity and efficiency. The DGCA certification is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of agricultural technology.

GAPL also stated that the Krishak V2 will help farmers improve their yields while reducing the environmental impact of farming practices. GAPL is now preparing to launch the Krishak V2 in the market, with plans to make it available to farmers across the country. The company is also exploring opportunities to expand its reach internationally. 

Company is preparing to launch the Krishak

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, North America

Aramax Intrinsic brand fungicide has been approved by the EPA to provide plant health benefits, such as helping to improve turf stress tolerance.

BASF is introducing Aramax™ Intrinsic® brand fungicide, a dual-active fungicide that delivers broad-spectrum control of 26 cool- and warm-season turf diseases, like snow mold, large patch, brown patch and dollar spot on golf course fairways.

Aramax Intrinsic brand fungicide combines the strength of two powerful active ingredients, pyraclostrobin and triticonazole, for long-lasting residual disease control up to 28 days.

“Aramax Intrinsic brand fungicide adds to our strong portfolio of fungicides at a value price on fairways when compared to our Honor Intrinsic and Navicon Intrinsic brand fungicides,” said Jeff Vannoy, Senior Product Manager, Turf Solutions for BASF. “We are also equally excited to be entering the snow mold and large patch markets for the very first time and can’t wait for customers to see the outstanding results.”

In addition to providing excellent disease control, Aramax Intrinsic brand fungicide has been approved by the EPA to provide plant health benefits, such as helping to improve turf stress tolerance and help enhance growth efficiency, resulting in healthier playing surfaces all season long.

Aramax Intrinsic brand fungicide has been approved

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Finance, Investments, World

  Through this partnership, AGCO intends to leverage Innova’s expertise in identifying and supporting high-potential startups at the forefront of agricultural technology.

AGCO a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, today announced its recent investment in the Innova Ag Innovation Fund VI of venture capital firm, Innova Memphis. This fund investment is the first executed by AGCO’s recently launched corporate venture capital initiative, AGCO Ventures. The deal aligns with AGCO’s approach to support the next generation of farming through advanced solutions that promise a more automated, digitized and sustainable future for agriculture.

AGCO announced its recent investment in the Innova Ag Innovation Fund VI of venture capital firm Innova Memphis. The deal aligns with AGCO’s approach to support the next generation of farming through advanced solutions that promise a more automated, digitized and sustainable future for agriculture.

AGCO announced its recent investment in the Innova Ag Innovation Fund VI of venture capital firm Innova Memphis. The deal aligns with AGCO’s approach to support the next generation of farming through advanced solutions that promise a more automated, digitized and sustainable future for agriculture. Through this partnership, AGCO intends to leverage Innova’s expertise in identifying and supporting high-potential startups at the forefront of agricultural technology.

The Innova team is renowned for its focus on nurturing early-stage startups revolutionizing agriculture.

“This partnership enables us to tap into the latest innovations in the field. We are excited to announce our investment in Innova Ag Innovation Fund VI, a move that reflects our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in agriculture,” said Seth Crawford, AGCO Senior Vice President and General Manager, PTx. “This partnership enables us to tap into the latest innovations in the field, from automation and digitization to sustainability and efficiency, ensuring that we continue to provide our customers with the most advanced and effective solutions on the market.”

“We are immensely proud to partner with AGCO, a true leader in the agricultural sector, whose commitment to innovation and sustainability mirrors our own,” said Dean Didato, a partner at Innova. “This collaboration represents a unique synergy between AGCO’s industry expertise and our vision for a technologically advanced farming future and revitalized rural economies. Together, we are set to empower the brightest minds in agriculture, driving transformative solutions that promise to enhance farm productivity and profitability and secure a sustainable future for our planet.”

  Through this partnership, AGCO intends to

Company News, Environment, Soil Health, Sustainability, World

By 2026, ambitious target to recover over 300 thousand hectares of degraded land in Cerrado Brazil and regenerate agricultural soils in China.

Syngenta Group, the leading global agriculture technology company, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a world-wide conservation organization with the mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, today renewed their successful collaboration that links conservation goals with economic potential and addresses societal issues like deforestation and land degradation. The two partners have been collaborating since 2009 and entered into a global collaboration in 2018.

The new three-year collaboration builds on successful projects and focuses on further advancing business practices with the goals to scale up regenerative agriculture, improve resource efficiency to minimize impact of agriculture on climate, improve soil health, and promote habitat protection in major agricultural regions worldwide including the Cerrado region of Brazil, China, and the United States. The collaboration embodies Syngenta’s commitment to regenerate soil and nature, core to its new Group-wide sustainability priorities announced in April 2024.

Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer of Syngenta Group: “We are very proud to continue our collaboration with TNC and our partnership for impact. We want to further leverage our efforts towards a climate solution-oriented agriculture fueled by innovation and partnerships that regenerate soil and protect nature. Agriculture must not only feed a growing global population over the coming decades, but it also needs to fight climate change and safeguard natural resources.”

Syngenta has set an ambitious target to recover 1 million hectares of degraded land throughout Brazil, with a significant portion focused on the Cerrado where the TNC collaborates with the company.

The goal of the initiative is to make the restoration of degraded land the profitable option sought by farmers in Brazil when expanding their production, instead of clearing native vegetation. The REVERTE® program, originally designed by Syngenta and TNC for the Cerrado due to its significant potential, includes Itaú BBA bank as the organization offering a line of credit for the growers following socio-environmental criteria.

Michael Doane, Global Managing Director Food & Freshwater Systems, TNC: “REVERTE® aims to demonstrate, through an integrated solution involving good agricultural practices, financial tools, policy, and business models, the economic viability of restoring degraded pastures instead of opening new cultivation areas and avoiding deforestation. Restoring land in the Cerrado delivers soil and water conservation benefits, increases carbon sequestration, and can increase the resilience of the production systems to extreme climate events. The program aims to support the transformation of agribusiness in the Cerrado, generating social, economic, and environmental benefits today and in the future.”

By 2026, ambitious target to recover over

Agribusiness, Farm Mechanisation, Funding, Investments, Start ups, World

22 investments have happened through all three platforms and the fund in 2024.

ah! Ventures invests in Agrilectric Pvt Ltd, that was founded in May 2022 with the vision of making farming lucrative again by upgrading the existing farm machineries & equipment to be more cost-effective, smarter and easier to use, through its First Gear Platform. ah! Ventures has done 221 investments in 130 startups till date taking its total investment portfolio to Rs 437 crore (54 MN USD) with 17 exits and 55 follow on rounds. 22 investments have happened through all three platforms and the fund in 2024.

Tech advancement in recent years is making it possible for smart electric propulsion system to replace engine-based systems, the switch can be immediate and extremely lucrative when the said engine system is being rented. The Indian farming eco-system consisting mainly of small and marginal farmers, all right within this sweet spot, opening up a huge disruptive opportunity. With our 3 layered strategy of electrify first, smartify second and autonimify third, we hope to elevate the farming experience and make it lucrative again.

The first two products that have been developed are ‘e-negilu”, the patented 5.5 Kw electric tiller and “e-kathri”, the 2 Kw electric weed cutter. Running cost of both of them is less than 10 per cent of a conventional engine-based system, while capable of maintaining the same efficiency of work. The products are state of the art and comes with a host of features like speed/current and torque control, with capabilities of remote monitoring and debugging.

Pushpa Gopal, Founder at Agrilectric says, “Apart from developing our own products, on the soft IP side, we have incorporated our unique S3 (self-stabilising system) & MCSA (motor current signature analysis) tech. The S3 tech basically enables a 55-Year-Old woman or a 20-Year-old man to be able to till the land with the same amount of efficiency, thus empowering almost anyone to be able to do their own tilling, whereas the MCSA allows us to create a digital twin capable of predictive maintenance.

The two products have been made available to the farmers for testing and feedback at various events/fairs and agri institutes, the response has been quite remarkable (Check Our Video) and have actually forced us to prepone our fund-raising plans by around 3-6 months to start commercialization as soon as possible.”

Pushpa Gopal also adds, “We are grateful and thankful to collaborate with AH Ventures who share our vision of empowering small and marginal farmers, enabling and guiding us to traverse the nuances of building a business from scratch up.”

Amit Kumar, Senior Partner at ah! Ventures said, “We are extremely excited to partner with and support Agrilectric’s exciting initiative. The Agri space is ripe for disruption especially on the farm equipment front. I am sure the company with its thorough research and innovative approach will act as a changemaker in this ever-evolving space.” ah! Ventures is one of the world’s largest fundraising platforms for early-stage startups”.

ah! Ventures is one of the world’s largest fundraising platforms for early-stage startups raising up to 10 MN USD. ah! Ventures has three platforms: First Gear, which helps startups raise up to Rs 1 crore (USD 150K), Angel Platform, which helps startups raise up to 1 million USD and High Tables Platform, which helps startups raise 1-10 MN USD.

22 investments have happened through all three

Agribusiness, Company News, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Oilseeds, Trade

Total imports for oil year 2023-24 is estimated to be about 16.2 MMT vs 17 MMT in the previous year.

Bhavna Shah, Deputy CEO, NK Proteins Pvt Ltd made a presentation on Indian Vegetable Oils Scenario at a prestigious event organised by UOB Kay Hian in Malaysia on May 20, 2024. In her presentation, she highlighted key facts about the Indian Vegetable Oil Industry.

 Key highlights from presentation:

Vegetable Oil Market Dynamics

The domestic production of vegetable oils is projected to increase by 10-15 per cent in 2024. The increase in production is expected due to higher prices, good monsoon season, and robust domestic crop, with rapeseed significantly contributing to the rise. Import duties on vegetable oils are expected to remain unchanged until the conclusion of the ongoing general elections.

Import Projections

Total imports for oil year 2023-24 is estimated to be about 16.2 MMT vs 17 MMT in the previous year. Palm oil imports are anticipated to decline in 2024 (oil year) as it loses market share due to a narrow price difference with soft oils. India’s palm oil imports likely to register a decline from 10.1 million metric tons (MMT) in 2023 to 8.65 MMT in 2024. For soft oils, soybean oil imports are likely to increase from 3.87 MMT in 2023 to 4.2 MMT in 2024 and sunflower oil imports also likely to increase from 3 MMT in 2023 to 3.25 MMT in 2024. While the import of other oils likely to remain unchanged at 0.1 MMT in 2024.

Global shift & push for biofuels in India

Governments worldwide are urging businesses to transition away from fossil fuels. Biofuels are anticipated to play a crucial role in meeting COP 28 targets. India has also committed to reducing emissions by 45per cent by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Accelerating biofuel adoption is essential for meeting these emission targets, with replacing coal with biomass presenting a swift solution. As the third-largest ethanol producer, India is well-positioned to expand rapidly.

However, the limited availability and rising costs of feedstock are significant constraints to biofuel production. Non-edible sources face barriers such as unavailability, proper cultivation, regulation, high polyunsaturated fatty acids, and low unsaturated fatty acids content, but technological advancements could help overcome these challenges. Utilising used cooking oil (UCO) as a major feedstock could alleviate some limitations. Additionally, utilising by-products from biodiesel production efficiently can help offset the price of biodiesel, making it more economically viable.

Total imports for oil year 2023-24 is

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, India

During Q4 FY24, PI Industries has registered 9 per cent growth in agrochemical exports mainly driven by volumes and new products.

PI Industries Ltd. has reported Q4 FY24 consolidated net profit of Rs 369.5 crore in the fourth quarter-ended March, in comparison with Rs 280.6 crore in the year-ago period. Revenue for Q4 FY24 was higher at Rs 1,741 crore as compared to Rs 1,565.6 crore in Q4 FY23.

During Q4 FY24, PI Industries has registered 9 per cent growth in agrochemical exports mainly driven by volumes and new products. Meanwhile, domestic revenues were subdued with reduction of 5 per cent Y-o-Y mainly due to volume drop of 6 per cent driven by delayed and erratic spread of monsoon although favourable product mix and improved working capital management helped in containing the financial impact. Biologicals products’ revenue increased by 35 per cent Y-o-Y.

For the Financial Year ended March 31, 2024, PI Industries has reported 18 per cent growth in its revenue at Rs 7,665.8 crore as compared to Rs 6,492 in Financial Year ended March 31, 2023. During FY 2024, the company posted net profit of Rs 1,681.5 crore as compared to Rs. 1,229.5 crore, reflecting a growth of 37 per cent.

During FY 2023-24, PI Industries reported 19 per cent growth in agrochemical exports over a high based mainly on account of scale-up of existing products and introduction of 6 new products. Growth comprises volume growth of 18 per cent and 1 per cent from price, currency and favourable product mix.  More than 70 per cent of revenue growth came from new products. Domestic segment remained subdued due to erratic monsoon and El Niño conditions which led to long dry spells impacting insecticide and herbicide sales in certain geographies. Biologicals products’ revenue increased by 29 per cent Y-o-Y.

During Q4 FY24, PI Industries has registered

AgroPolicy, Dairy, Finance, India, Schemes - Banks

 PNB will provide finance to beneficiary organisations (BOs) in the cooperative sector, including milk unions/federations, multi-state cooperatives and producer owned institutions.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB) for providing finance to beneficiary organisations (BOs) in the cooperative sector, including milk unions/federations, multi-state cooperatives, producer owned institutions such as producer companies and NDDB’s subsidiary companies.  S Regupathi, Executive Director, NDDB and Dipankar Mahapatra, General Manager, PNB signed the MoU in the gracious presence of Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB. The agreement will be in effect for a period of 5 years.

 On the occasion, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB stated that the collaboration between the two organisations is crucial for expansion and development of dairy infrastructure for producer-owned institutions. Investing in dairy infrastructure will undoubtedly bring more efficiencies to the dairy value chain. This will enrich our efforts to find sustainable and innovative solutions to overcome the challenges posed by the increasing demand for milk and milk products.

 The Dairy Board will endorse eligible BOs to PNB for financing and provide technical and advisory support for the preparation of appraisal reports. Additionally, NDDB will offer periodic progress reports to PNB for projects being carried out by NDDB under the consultancy agreement.

 PNB will provide financial assistance in accordance with RBI Guidelines and internal guidelines from time to time on mutually agreed arrangement by way of term loans for development of dairying and other related infrastructure. This includes working capital assistance for the benefit of the BOs and term loans for development of dairy infrastructure, manufacturing of value added products, milk testing, cattle feed and feed supplements, milk transportation, marketing infrastructure, ICT infrastructure, research & development, infrastructure for renewable energy and other infrastructure for enhancing efficiency, packaging of dairy and other related commodities, training centres, dairy equipment manufacturing, biologicals & nutraceuticals, manure management. PNB will offer financial assistance at a competitive rate of interest and also explore the availability of interest subvention under Central/State Govt. Schemes.

 PNB will provide finance to beneficiary organisations

Agrotech, Bee keeping, Company News, World

BeeHero-managed hives demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness, with an average of nearly 50 per cent more bee-frames per hive compared to the industry standard.

BeeHero, the pioneer of precision pollination, unveiled groundbreaking data-driven bee activity insights from the 2022-2024 almond pollination seasons. The company has revealed bee flight hour and bee frame insights via its cutting-edge sensor technology and AI-powered analysis that contribute to improved pollination practices.

In recent months, BeeHero cemented its position as the world’s leading provider of precision pollination as it surpassed the threshold of 300K hives under management, from which the company records more than 25 million hive samples daily. The new data is being released on World Bee Day, the date designated by the UN to raise awareness of the importance of these vital pollinators, the numerous threats they face, and how they contribute to sustainable agriculture and development.

Analysis of the previous almond seasons revealed that BeeHero-managed hives demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness, with an average of nearly 50% more bee-frames per hive compared to the industry standard. This superior performance translates into stronger colonies and enables BeeHero to optimise hive placement and reduce the number of hives required per acre in almond orchards, resulting in enhanced pollination at a lower input-to-output ratio for growers.

BeeHero also discovered a significant difference in the average daily bee flight hours (BFH) measured by its sensors as compared to the traditional bee flight hour calculations. While conventional bee flight hour methods (based on industry standard hives) recorded a total of 2.7 daily BFH over the 2022 and 2023 almond pollination seasons, BeeHero was able to more accurately measure almost double this amount, at 5.9 daily BFH, demonstrating that bees will indeed fly in suboptimal conditions. This revelation underscores the higher accuracy of BeeHero’s methodology over traditional calculations, which underestimate the actual flying time of bees due to a reliance on and proximity to local national weather stations, affecting industry crop yield predictions. Both this finding and BeeHero’s ability to provide stronger hives have widespread implications for not only almonds, but other seed, row, and specialty crops as well.

“We are excited to be consistently achieving new, pivotal milestones on our mission to transform pollination efficiency through transparency and data-driven precision,” explained Omer Davidi, CEO and Co-Founder of BeeHero. “Our findings showcase the critical nature of robust data in optimizing pollination activities, and our unique ability to provide previously unknowable insights – and as a result, stronger hives and more accurate yield predictions – to industry stakeholders. We look forward to continuing to reshape industry paradigms, empowering growers and beekeepers to better foster bee welfare and bolstering productivity for greater profitability.”

During the 2024 almond pollination season, BeeHero utilized various proprietary tools to extract its unparalleled dataset on bee behavior and pollination efficacy. The company introduced a Deployment Planning Tool, enabling beekeepers to visualize their almond orchards and strategically plan daily tasks for maximum efficiency. Additionally, its Hive Tracker offered growers real-time insights into hive shipment and placement, while BeeHero’s new mobile growers platform provided growers with seamless access to hives’ frame counts and other critical information and updates.

Following the culmination of the pollination season, BeeHero is providing personalized precision pollination reports for growers with insights into bee flight hours, bee frames, and how BeeHero’s data and technology have directly impacted their season. In alignment with this mission, a recent study conducted by BeeHero and the USDA explored how bee colony strength and hive entrance orientation affected honeybee foraging behavior, offering actionable insights to improve pollination efficacy. The research underscores the pivotal role of BeeHero’s proprietary technology in gathering data to drive operational efficiency, reduce costs, increase yields, enhance bee welfare, and promote sustainable agriculture.

“The findings from these past pollination seasons – both in our research and in the field – highlight the profound potential of our innovative technology to revolutionize pollination practices, fostering a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both beekeepers and growers,” said Yuval Regev, CTO and Co-Founder of BeeHero. “By illuminating intricate bee behavior patterns and ecosystem dynamics, we are pioneering a new frontier in pollination science and technology.”

BeeHero-managed hives demonstrated a higher degree of

Agribusiness, Company News, Dairy, Finance, India

 Company plans to expand its operations by establishing new branches in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Godrej Capital, the financial services arm of Godrej Industries announced that it has launched dairy farm loans in strategic partnership with Creamline Dairy Products and Dvara E-Dairy. The company will provide financial assistance to small dairy farm owners across Maharashtra and South India. Creamline Dairy Products is a subsidiary of Godrej Agrovet (GAVL), which sells products under the brand name Godrej Jersey.

Godrej Capital is also looking to capture a significant market share of MSME lending in the southern states. Building on its momentum from the previous year, the company is looking to expand its operations by establishing new branches in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Manish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Godrej Capital, said “The disbursement of the first loan in Krishnagiri district marks just the beginning, as we actively seek to engage the dairy industry in other regions of TN and extend our support to farmers in AP, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.”

Despite its limitations, the dairy sector remains a key contributor to agrarian economy, supporting the livelihoods of 80 million farmers. Accounting for 70 per cent of the total cost of milk, feeding is the single most crucial aspect of healthy dairying and is the biggest factor influencing the milk productivity of cattle.

Bhupendra Suri, Chief Executive Officer, Godrej Jersey said ,“With access to quality feed being a key for the dairy farmers, the partnership will enable them to get easy access to finance for their feed and other farming needs. Leveraging this platform, farmers can increase cattle population and strive for higher productivity and better prosperity.”

“The arrangement will bring doorstep access to financial services, empowering dairy farmers to increase milk yield, meet their working capital requirements and make informed financial decisions”, Ravi KA, Managing Director, Dvara E-Dairy said.

 Company plans to expand its operations by

AgroPolicy, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Cold Storage, India, Live Stock, Supply Chain

This MoU will contribute to creation of a digital future via digitalization and remote temperature monitoring of cold chain by UNDP India.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India on Digitalization of Vaccine Cold Chain Management, Capacity Building, and Communication Planning.

The MOU was signed today at “We the People Hall”, UNDP Country office, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi between Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Caitlin Wiesen. UNDP Resident Representative in India. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the digitalization of vaccine cold chain management, capacity building, and communication planning in India.

Notably, UNDP and DAHD will jointly work on Strengthening Animal Health with One Health approach at centre. This step will contribute to creation of a digital future via digitalization and remote temperature monitoring of cold chain by UNDP India. This will ensure that vaccines are stored in an adequate temperature of prescribed limit of 2-8 degree Celsius which is important to increase immunization coverage and outreach. Currently, DAHD is supplying FMD (Foot and Mouth diseases) vaccine worth approximately Rs. 900 Crore this year and aims to cover 50 Crore large animals and 20 Crore small animals in FMD vaccination programme.

Through this MoU, technical assistance will be extended to CEAH to enhance its capabilities in animal husbandry practices. Other aspects of MoU cover support in planning and development of effective and inclusive livestock insurance programme and crafting and implementation of an effective communication plan for the department which will help in ensuring better propagation and outreach of the department’s activities. The partnership will also work on extension services and skill development initiatives to improve the technical know-how and capacities of stakeholders in the animal husbandry sector.

Addressing the meeting, Alka Upadhyay explained “With digitalization of the entire vaccine stock management system and providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures, the inequities in vaccine supply will be addressed by managing constraints of infrastructure, management information systems, and human resources. The vaccine cold chain management process, she added will be monitored with the help of new age technology and artificial intelligence through the Animal vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) developed by UNDP.

UNDP Resident Representative, Caitlin Wiesen, while signing the MoU, said that “Amid confluence of frequent zoonotic disease outbreak and climate change, animals and the communities engaged in rearing them are increasingly vulnerable. She added that through this partnership with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, UNDP will support and strengthen India’s first animal vaccine supply chain management system ensuring communities and animals are protected and further mitigating the risks at the human-animal-environment interface.”

Sarita Chauhan, Joint Secretary (LH), DAHD while explaining  the objectives of collaboration mentioned that, the essential but arduous work of real time monitoring of the vast cold chain infrastructure available across the country will be possible with the help of new age technology and artificial intelligence through the cold chain monitoring system developed by UNDP, which will support the Department to manage and deliver vaccines across the country in the right quantity, right quality, at the right time and right temperature with supportive supervision.

This MoU will contribute to creation of