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Collaborations, Company News, Environment, India, Nature, Sustainability

The technology used for this pioneering approach will reduce the typical forest development timeline from five to two years, showcasing a commitment to impactful environmental change.

Leading clean energy provider CEF Group is making strides in redefining urban green spaces with the launch of a groundbreaking project – the City Forest in Ghaziabad — under its initiative called Urban Farmer. This transformative endeavour, in collaboration with the Ghaziabad Development Authority and supported by IOCL, signifies a monumental step towards environmental sustainability in urban settings. The City Forest project aims to establish a lush 2-acre green space within two years, utilising the innovative Miyawaki technology.

The technology used for this pioneering approach will reduce the typical forest development timeline from five to two years, showcasing a commitment to impactful environmental change. Key highlights of the project include the strategic land allocation of a 2-acre parcel by the Ghaziabad Development Authority, ensuring optimal impact and accessibility for the community. Besides, generous support from IOCL exemplifies a shared vision for a greener, more sustainable urban environment.

Maninder Singh, Founder & CEO of CEF Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “The City Forest project embodies our collective commitment to sustainable practices and environmental well-being. Through Urban Farmer, we’re not just creating gardens; we’re building boutique forests that enrich urban landscapes and foster a deeper connection with nature.”

Urban Farmer’s commitment to biodiversity is underscored by the plantation of 25,000 saplings using the Miyawaki technique, fostering a resilient ecosystem with a diverse range of native species. In addition, a dedicated two-year maintenance plan ensures the sustained health and vitality of the City Forest, further solidifying Urban Farmer’s commitment to long-term environmental stewardship.

The City Forest is poised to significantly improve air quality, acting as a natural filter and reducing pollutants. It also helps to regulate temperatures, reducing the urban heat island effect in polluted areas. Moreover, it serves as a communal space for residents, promoting outdoor activities and enhancing overall quality of life.

Under Maninder Singh’s leadership, Urban Farmer brings a wealth of experience and passion for creating green spaces that transcend traditional boundaries. The City Forest project by Urban Farmer stands as a beacon of sustainable urban development, showcasing the transformative power of environmental consciousness and innovative technology.

The technology used for this pioneering approach

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, India, R&D

The partnership will focus on creating next-generation workflows for emerging applications such as Polar Pesticides, PFAS, and Antibiotics.

Agilent Technologies, a pioneer in analytical laboratory solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes (NRCG) to co-develop advanced analytical workflows and address critical gaps in emerging food safety protocols.

As India cements its position as a key global player in food production and exports, there is an increasing need to focus on the quality of food products and adherence to domestic and international safety regulations. The country’s status as one of the leading producers and exporters of cereals, spices, fruits and vegetables, and seafood underscores this necessity.

The collaboration between Agilent and NRCG will leverage Agilent’s global expertise in food safety solutions alongside NRCG’s extensive experience in analytical workflow development. This synergy aims to expedite the creation of cutting-edge workflows targeting PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), polar pesticides, antibiotics, and other emerging applications, ensuring that Indian food products meet stringent regulatory standards.

The partnership will focus on creating next-generation workflows for emerging applications such as Polar Pesticides, PFAS, and Antibiotics. These innovative workflows will enhance food safety practices and contribute to India’s sustainable reputation as a reliable food producer and exporter.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr Kaushik Banerjee, Director, ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, said: “ICAR-NRCG is delighted to announce its collaboration with Agilent Technologies, which aims to improve the nation’s food safety capabilities with a sustainable approach. In 2012, NRCG published its first GC-MS/MS based multi residue testing procedure for simultaneous analysis of 375 food contaminants using an Agilent GC-MS/MS system, which provided the most comprehensive scope of residue monitoring those days. Since then, the process has progressed with the development and implementation of a variety of analytical methodologies for the benefit of stakeholders in the food sector.”

“The country’s growing demand for food analysis is the focus of this public-private partnership. Laboratories that meet the requirements of regulatory bodies, such as FSSAI, APEDA, EIC, and Commodity Boards will receive significant support from this strategic collaboration. As I look ahead, there are exciting opportunities and important responsibilities on the horizon,” he added.

Agilent and NRCG will collaborate to enhance existing food safety workflows, ensuring robust testing and compliance with regulatory requirements. The partnership aims to advocate for the adoption of new regulations in the country. Agilent and NRCG will contribute to shaping food safety standards by actively participating in policy discussions. Agilent and NRCG will publish methods and articles related to emerging regulations. These resources will provide valuable insights to the scientific community and promote best practices.

Technical personnel from both organizations and the industry will benefit from joint workshops and skill development programs. These initiatives will foster knowledge exchange and empower professionals to implement advanced analytical techniques. Agilent and NRCG will organize webinars and panel discussions to share expertise, discuss challenges, and explore solutions related to food safety.

Speaking about the partnership, Dr Samir Vyas, Country General Manager of Agilent in India said, “This strategic partnership not only aims at bolstering the supply chain with safe and nutritious foods but also seeks to boost India’s growth trajectory in global exports through technological advancements. By fostering skill development among technical personnel via training sessions and workshops, Agilent, together with NRCG, is committed to setting new benchmarks in food safety standards.”

The partnership will focus on creating next-generation

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, India, Inputs

 In line with Asia Pacific strategy, BASF is developing solutions specifically for local market needs.

 Piercing and sucking pests pose a significant threat to agricultural crops in India, causing extensive damage amounting to 35 to 40% loss in the productivity and yield of the produce. Farmers in India can now manage this challenge with Efficon®, a new BASF insecticide launched today. Efficon is powered by BASF’s new active ingredient, Axalion® in a specialised formulation.

With its unique mode of action, Efficon Insecticide is among the first compounds in the market introduced under the new IRAC group 36 which represents a totally new class of insecticides (Group 36 — pyridazine) which has no known cross-resistance with existing products in the market, making it a superior insecticide resistance management tool.

Efficon Insecticide was first launched in Australia in 2023. India is one of the earliest countries in the world to obtain this new novel chemistry that will help support farmers manage tough sucking pests.

In line with Asia Pacific strategy, BASF is developing solutions specifically for local market needs. “At BASF, everything we do we do for the love of farming. We are dedicated to listening and working alongside farmers to understand their needs, so that we apply our expertise to help them successfully face the enormous challenge of protecting crops from pests and boosting productivity, supporting the biggest job on earth,” said Simone Barg, Senior Vice President, BASF Agricultural Solutions, Asia Pacific.

A valuable aspect of Efficon Insecticide is its unique mode of action. It is highly effective on multiple life stages of target pests like Aphids, Jassids and White flies. Upon application, Efficon quickly stops insects from feeding and plant injury. It provides long lasting residual control due to its systemic properties.

Due to its systemic properties, Efficon provides long lasting residual control even to the new crop growth. “This innovation reaffirms BASF’s commitment to help farmers across boundaries in managing a variety of existing sucking pests. Efficon will help Indian farmers in effective and long duration protection against insect pests in wide variety of crops like cotton and vegetables. Efficon is also highly compatible with non-target organisms and beneficial insects, including pollinators, when applied according to label instructions,” said Giridhar Ranuva, Business Director Agricultural Solutions, BASF India.

“This milestone with Efficon supports our goal of developing an insecticide portfolio that helps farmers worldwide. BASF is committed to helping Indian industry and agriculture maximize their potential. Indian growers deserve access to advanced solutions to help them achieve better yields managing resistance with innovations in sucking pests,” said Dr Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “We are convinced that by providing farmers with effective and sustainable solutions, we can support them to meet the growing demand for food while reducing the impact on the environment, “he added.

 In line with Asia Pacific strategy, BASF

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Collaborations, India, Supply Chain

The partnership will innovate solutions aimed at streamlining operations and resolving bottlenecks in the food supply chain.

In a significant move towards modernizing food procurement and distribution processes, the Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department (UPFCSD) has chosen Ingen Technologies to develop efficient delivery of essential commodities to the state’s citizens. The partnership held to implement Ingen’s smart GPS vehicle tracking system – SecuTrak, for two pivotal initiatives: food grain procurement from 40 District Authorised Purchase Centres and Fair Price Shop automation under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) implementation.

The contract underscores Ingen Tech’s commitment to leveraging technology for operational optimisation, enhanced transparency, and timely delivery of essential goods and services. By addressing objectives, including leakage reduction and real-time delivery notifications, Ingen Tech aims to deliver tangible benefits to the citizens of Uttar Pradesh while setting new standards in logistics management.

The project entails the installation of GPS devices in approximately 8,000 vehicles used for the transportation of NFSA food grains from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns to Fair Price Shops throughout the state. These GPS devices will enable real-time monitoring of vehicle movement, adherence to predefined routes, and prompt notification of any deviations or delays to concerned authorities.

Ingen Technologies has become an official partner with the Food & Civil Supplies Department, UP; it will aim to address supply chain challenges through technological integration. The partnership will innovate solutions aimed at streamlining operations and resolving bottlenecks in the food supply chain.

Ingen Technologies will deploy its flagship product, SecuTrak, to achieve project goals, such as reducing leakage, providing real-time delivery notifications, and enhancing stakeholder convenience. Furthermore, Ingen plans to integrate GPS technology into the system to precisely track shipment locations, ensuring optimal route planning and minimising delivery delays.

Speaking about the contract, Ashish Agarwal, Co-Founder & CTO, Ingen Tech, “We are honoured to have been chosen by the Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department for this crucial project. SecuTrak is poised to revolutionize logistics management across various sectors, including agriculture, dairy, fleet, courier, cargo, railways, and SMEs. Our advanced GPS-based tracking solutions will ensure the efficient and transparent distribution of food grains under the NFSA, ultimately benefiting millions of citizens.”

In addition to providing GPS devices, Ingen Tech will develop and deploy a comprehensive software solution, including device applications and a Management Information System (MIS) portal. The software will facilitate route configuration between FCI godowns and Fair Price Shops, geo-fence key storage locations and routes, and enable seamless monitoring and reporting of vehicle movement.

The partnership will innovate solutions aimed at

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, Finance, Funding, India, Start ups

With the newly secured funding, the company’s primary focus will be on developing proprietary edge computing drones specifically for precise crop monitoring and variable pesticide application.

BharatRohan, a pioneering agtech firm specialising in drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing, has announced the successful completion of a significant funding round. The company secured 2.3 million USD in a pre-IPO round from notable investors, including Villgro Innovation Foundation, Caspian, RevX, and Venture Garage (with a group of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals as investors), marking a strategic blend of debt and equity financing.

With the newly secured funding, the company’s primary focus will be on developing proprietary edge computing drones specifically for precise crop monitoring and variable pesticide application. These drones will be made available to rural entrepreneurs through franchise-based models, enabling them to offer CropAssure® Services to farmers. Additionally, the company plans to design and develop compact hyperspectral & multispectral sensors for drones.

BharatRohan is poised to expand its operations and offerings in 15 Indian states, covering 10 lakh acres by 2025. It has shown promising growth, increasing revenue 3x and profit by 200 per cent from the last financial year. While continuing to provide its drone-based crop monitoring Decision Support System (DSS), the company also ventured into procuring residue-free farm produce grown through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices implemented by farmers who utilise its BharatRohan CropAssure® Services. BharatRohan aims to introduce its pesticide residue-free farm produce to global consumers, thereby expanding its reach and impact on a global scale.

This strategy underscores BharatRohan’s dedication towards incentivising farmers to adopt technology-driven, sustainable, and residue-free farming practices. This investment marks a significant milestone in BharatRohan’s journey. “It strengthens our resolve to enhance our services and expand our reach across the nation, ensuring that farming becomes more scientific, sustainable, and profitable,” stated founders Amandeep Panwar and Rishabh Choudhary.

Vivek Kumar, founder at Venture Garage Expressed that “BharatRohan is in a unique position using latest technology to solve one of the oldest problems of continuously optimizing farming and bridge farmers to most profitable markets. Growing at a rapid pace, we at Venture Garage, strongly feel that BharatRohan is on track to not only build a company championing sustainable and scalable agriculture but also deliver great earnings for their investors”.

“BharatRohan is well-positioned to spearhead the transformation of agriculture through cutting edge drone technology, providing sustainable solutions to age-old farming challenges while driving positive change locally and globally. We, at RevX Capital, are happy to understand BharatRohan’s unique working capital gaps and partner to provide customised solutions”, added Sibadittya Baidya, AVP-Investements, RevX Capital.

With the newly secured funding, the company's

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India, Inputs, Speciality Chemicals

This will enhance Company’s backward integration capacities and provide stable supplies of phosphoric acid for its fertiliser manufacturing.

Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading agri solutions provider, has commenced the project activity to set up its Phosphoric Acid-Sulphuric Acid complex facility at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Company’s Executive Chairman, Arun Alagappan, was present for the groundbreaking ceremony and S. Sankarasubramanian, Executive Director, Nutrient Business signed the key contracts with global technology partners. With an estimated outlay of Rs 1000 crores, the project is expected to be commissioned in two years’ time.

The proposed 650 ton per day (tpd) Phosphoric Acid facility is designed with advanced DA-HF (Dihydrate Attack-Hemihydrate Filtration) process technology and automated DCS system. This will enhance Company’s backward integration capacities and provide stable supplies of phosphoric acid for its fertiliser manufacturing by replacing more than 50 per cent of Kakinada plant’s imported acid requirement. The Company also plans to set up an 1800 tpd Sulphuric Acid Plant to meet the captive needs in phosphoric acid manufacturing besides augmenting power from the waste heat generation. Phosphoric acid and Sulphuric acid are used as key intermediates for manufacturing Phosphatic fertilizers like DAP and NPKs.

Currently, company’s fertilizer plants at Visakhapatnam and Ennore are fully integrated with captive Sulphuric and Phosphoric acid facilities and the proposed expansion plan at Kakinada will make this unit also an integrated complex. With a capacity of around 2 million tons, Coromandel’s Kakinada plant is the India’s second largest phosphatic fertiliser facility and contributes close to 15 per cent of nation’s NPK fertilizer output. The plant facility also acts as a habitat for countless diverse species of birds, while greatly contributing to biodiversity and conservation of the ecosystem.

Commenting on the occasion, Arun Alagappan, Executive Chairman, Coromandel International Limited stated, “This investment signifies a pivotal moment in Coromandel’s journey towards strengthening its self-sufficiency goals in fertiliser manufacturing. Over the past few years, we have been building our upstream supply chain with investments in mining project and creating intermediate products’ capacity at Visakhapatnam for Phosphoric and Sulphuric acid. The proposed Plant in Kakinada will be built on par with the best technology standards globally and enable stable supplies of phosphatic fertilisers to the farming community. This is in line with Government’s vision of “Atma Nirbhar” Bharat in fertiliser sector besides creating employment opportunities in the state of Andhra Pradesh.”

The company is also exploring investment support from the State and Central Governments, which can improve the project viability and ensure supply security for key raw materials used in fertiliser manufacturing.

This will enhance Company’s backward integration capacities

Company News, People, Supply Chain, World

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership in pre-harvest and post-harvest industries, business operations, sales, marketing, and delivering strategic projects at national, regional, and international levels.

UPL Ltd. and DECCO WW, part of the UPL Group of companies, responsible for developing and distributing its portfolio of post-harvest solutions,  announced the appointment of Manish Sirohi as the Chief Executive Officer of DECCO WW.

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership in pre-harvest and post-harvest industries, business operations, sales, marketing, and delivering strategic projects at national, regional, and international levels. Manish joined UPL in 2004 and has held various positions across different markets, most recently serving as Global Commercial Head of DECCO WW. In this role, Manish was instrumental in unleashing new business value and driving double-digit top-line and bottom-line growth in 2023 despite the challenging industry environment.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL said, “Post-harvest solutions are a core part of our business and a crucial component of our sustainable future. These solutions are not just about preserving foods; they’re about sustaining livelihoods, ensuring food security, and minimising waste in an increasingly demanding world with a rapidly growing population. Manish has an impressive 20-year history with UPL, and is the natural choice to lead DECCO WW into its new phase of growth to become the post-harvest global leader.”

Manish Sirohi, CEO of DECCO WW said, “I am honoured to step into the role of CEO. I’ve had the privilege to grow with the company for many years and I’m excited to lead DECCO WW in its mission to transform post-harvest practices, leverage our expertise to drive innovation and make a meaningful impact across the agricultural landscape.”

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, Herbicides, India, R&D

With an estimated annual business potential of approximately Rs 2000 crores in the rice herbicide segment, BAL anticipates ″Orisulam″ to be an important growth driver.

Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL), a leading manufacturer of speciality and patented agrochemicals in India, has announced registration of two innovative formulations. Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL) group has been granted 9(3) Formulation Indigenous Manufacture (FIM) registration from CIB & RC for its patented formulation Bispyribac Sodium 0.25% + Penoxsulam 0.25% + Pyrazosulfuron Ethyl 0.20% GR. The three molecules of this combination belong to ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitors herbicide group. The ALS inhibitors disrupt essential amino acid synthesis in weeds providing triple the effectiveness in control of weeds.

BAL will be introducing this formulation in the upcoming Kharif season under the brand name “Orisulam.” With an estimated annual business potential of approximately Rs 2000 crores in the rice herbicide segment, BAL anticipates ″Orisulam″ to be an important growth driver.

″Orisulam″ is a broad-spectrum pre-emergence, early post-emergence and post-emergence contact and systemic herbicide for paddy. Its patented triple combination of three molecules ensures weed control of grasses, broad leaves, sedges. It offers a comprehensive strategy with a flexible window of application and the granular formulation has been specially designed for ease of application.

The Best Agrolife group also received 9(3) FIM vs FIT registration for Boscalid 25.2% + Pyraclostrobin 12.8% WG. This fungicidal combination is effective in specialty crops such as grapes for the control of downy mildew and powdery mildew diseases.

BAL has been making significant strides in its product portfolio. Earlier, the company received registration for its patented formulation ″Defender″, a groundbreaking formulation for effective control of BPH in the crop health segment in paddy.

This year, the company has achieved several milestones including the registration of Fomesafen Technical 95 per cent, patent for ″Tricolor″ formulation, patent for ″Warden Extra″ formulation, and the patent for ″Shot Down″ formulation.

With an estimated annual business potential of

Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D

 The portable sensors allow for quick evaluation of nutrition levels in indigenous food grains right at the farmer’s gate or in research fields.

Researchers at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are leading a transformation in crop testing, combining AI-driven models and pocket-size near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) devices. These portable sensors allow for quick evaluation of nutrition levels in indigenous food grains right at the farmer’s gate or in research fields.

Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, championed the integration of this disruptive technology into breeding pipelines and key points of relevant value chains. Aligned with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) strategy, Dr Hughes foresees the tool as a catalyst for the production of nutrient-dense crops, both in breeding programs and in farmers’ fields, a crucial element in the global fight against malnutrition.

“This technology is poised to expedite the breeding of nutrient-dense crops while facilitating their integration into the value chain. Our goal with this intervention is to provide quality assurance for the distribution of nutritionally fortified crops, so that they reach those who need them most,” remarked Dr Hughes.

Traditionally, assessing the nutritional quality of grains and feedstock could take a number of weeks, involving manual or partially automated processes and laboratory instruments. In contrast, mobile NIRS devices are more cost-effective and can assess over 150 samples per day per person.

These non-destructive and robust grain quality measuring devices provide timely information on grain composition and can be used to promote quality-based payments in the market—benefiting food producers, grain processing industries, and farmers alike.

“We see the adoption of portable technology for assessing grain quality as an important step in decentralizing and democratizing market systems, essential to promote the consumption of nutri-cereals. This transition can facilitate quality-driven payments for farmers, while providing quality assurance to health-conscious households moving forward,” noted Dr Sean Mayes, Global Research Director of the Accelerated Crop Improvement Program at ICRISAT.

 The portable sensors allow for quick evaluation

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, India

As part of the MoA, Drone Destination will undertake drone spray in 12 states across the country.

Drone Destination India’s leading Drone-as-a-Service provider and the largest DGCA certified Drone Pilot Training company, today announced the signing of an MOA with IFFCO to collaborate for spraying of IFFCO Nano fertilisers, Sagarika and other IFFCO Agri-Products using drones for up to 30 lakh acres of farmland across 12 states in India.

As part of the MoA, Drone Destination will undertake drone spray in 12 states across the country. These states include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand. The drones will be spraying IFFCO Nano Urea, Nano DAP, Sagarika, IFFCO MC Agro-Chemicals and other IFFCO & IFFCO JV’s Agri-Products, with the aim of enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency. Other benefits under the MOA include opportunities for sale of IFFCO agri-inputs/products for drone spray.

Commenting on the business win, Alok Sharma, Chairman, Drone Destination said, “We are elated to partner with the world’s top cooperative IFFCO for transforming Indian agriculture. Drones have a wide range of applications and their influence on agriculture, which is basic to human survival is revolutionary. Drones will bring efficiency, scalability, cost competitiveness, and speed to agricultural practices in India, enabling the sector to increase its contribution to GDP. As a leading player, spearheading the adoption of drones across multiple sectors, this is an important milestone for us in the journey towards drone adoption in the country.”

Chirag Sharma, MD & CEO Drone Destination added – “We thank IFFCO for choosing us and showing faith in our capabilities for implementing large-scale drone projects. This mandate will surely cement our position in the industry as the go-to company for executing large-scale drone projects in the country.”

As part of the MoA, Drone Destination

Agribusiness, Company News, E-commerce, Finance, Funding, India, Start ups

The funds will be utilised for team expansion, tech enhancement, and to introduce new product lines.

Fresh From Farm, a B2B2C platform for consolidating fresh fruit demand, has successfully raised USD 2 million in a Pre-Series A round with participation from Inflection Point Ventures. Spearheading this investment is Ashish Kacholia, a seasoned investor in the public markets. Fresh From Farm takes charge of retailers’ operations, overseeing procurement, handling, sorting, and distribution, enabling them to focus solely on driving sales.

The allocated funds will be utilised for team expansion, tech enhancement, and to introduce new product lines. This collectively aligns with Fresh From Farm’s growth strategy, positioning them for continued success and expansion in the marketplace.

Fresh From Farm is a leading online platform revolutionising the way fresh produce is sourced and delivered. With a commitment to quality and convenience, Fresh From Farm (F3) uses a proprietary tech interface to predict and create a demand-supply equilibrium to minimise wastage of fresh produce. F3, with its unique business model, converts fruit vendors into mini- franchises and sources, grades and handles fruit for them allowing them to focus on only sales. Rohit Nagdewani the founder of Fresh From Farm, has the experience of founding 2 other ventures in the past.

Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner, Inflection Point Ventures, says, “The concept of buying fresh fruits sounds fresh and healthy, but the process, however, is not. Behind every purchase lies a chain of individuals—farmers, labourers, and retailers—working tirelessly to bring these products to market. F3 steps in as a transformative force, streamlining this process with its tech-enabled platform. By offering transparency and efficiency, F3 empowers retailers to sell quality produce at fair prices, bridging the gap between affordability and profitability. Moreover, F3 champions sustainability by reducing wastage—a testament to its commitment to a healthier, more equitable future.”

Ashish Kacholia, Founder, Lucky Investments says, “The F3 team is solving a large problem for fresh fruits retailers by handling their sourcing logistics and helping their quality of life. Consolidation of demand in an otherwise fragmented and unorganized market is the key driver of the business. Rohit and his team’s deep expertise on the subject matter and their focus on unit economics allowed us to build conviction for the investment.”

Fresh From Farm operates at an impressive scale, with an annual recurring revenue of Rs 40 crores. Supporting this revenue stream is a dedicated team of 50 professionals, ensuring efficient operations and customer satisfaction. Anchored by a state-of-the-art facility spanning 20,000 square feet in New Delhi, the company leverages cutting-edge technology to uphold quality standards and meet market demand effectively. This robust infrastructure positions Fresh From Farm as a key player in the industry, poised for continued growth and success. Fresh From Farm has been able to deliver a partial exit to its early investors with more than 400 per cent returns.

Rohit Nagdewani, Founder, Fresh From Farm, says, “Our vision of becoming India’s largest Fresh Fruits company aligns with our efforts to expand aggressively in New Delhi/ NCR. While currently delivering at over 300+ locations every day, our key focus at wastage reduction and efficient demand consolidation have allowed for our retailer partners to earn an average of 29% more than working through traditional channels. On the growth front, we are aiming to touch Rs 100 crore ARR by the end of this calendar year.”

The funds will be utilised for team

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, India, Inputs

The Company aims to become one of the top three players in the customised WSF business in India by FY28.

Rallis India Limited, a Tata enterprise and a leading player in the Indian Agri inputs industry, announced the establishment of an automated 8000 Metric Ton WSF plant in Akola, Maharashtra. This strategic initiative underscores Rallis’ commitment to innovation, enhancing farm productivity and advancing sustainable agriculture practices.

Commenting on the inauguration of the WSF plant, Dr Gyanendra Shukla, Managing Director & CEO of Rallis, said, “Water-soluble fertiliser forms a crucial element within the ‘Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System’, a sustainable approach to comprehensive and balanced crop nutrition. This has also been confirmed through extensive research over several decades. WSF products are tailored for both foliar and fertigation applications. These products will play a pivotal role in improving soil health, enhancing nutrients uptake and promoting balanced crop nutrition.

Rallis’ investment in WSF plant reflects its commitment towards technological advancement and improvement in operational efficiencies. The Company aims to become one of the top three players in the customised WSF business in India by FY28.

The Company aims to become one of

Agribiotechnology, Agrotech, India, Interaction, Seeds

The experts highlighted the opportunities and challenges in effectively leveraging intellectual property to drive innovation and competitiveness in the seed and biotechnology sectors in India.

The agriculture sector in India is seeing a tremendous shift as it rapidly adopts new technology and innovations. A strong environment for intellectual property rights (IPR) is essential for India to fulfil its goals of becoming a “viksit” by 2047 and maintain its current pace of progress towards Amrit Kaal. Distinguished experts from the seed industry emphasised the importance of a strong intellectual property rights (IPR) environment and effective enforcement at a national conference called “Innovate, Protect, Prosper: Role of Intellectual Property Protection in taking India’s Seed Sector to the Next Level,” which was organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) on May 3 2024.

The experts highlighted the opportunities and challenges in effectively leveraging intellectual property to drive innovation and competitiveness in the seed and biotechnology sectors in India. In order to boost innovation and competition in India’s seed and biotechnology industries, the experts discussed the pros and cons of utilising intellectual property. Improving IP protection and enforcement processes, especially in the seed and biotech industries, easing the process of knowledge transfer and licensing agreements, understanding and complying with complicated regulatory frameworks, and raising stakeholder awareness and ability are all obstacles.

“The acceleration of new innovations and technologies needed for faster growth of agriculture depends on an enabling environment for intellectual property rights protection,” stated Dr Raj S. Paroda, Founder and Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS). Innovators are encouraged to do better, invest, and create when they are convinced that their rights will be protected. Spending on breeding new, high-yielding types and hybrids that can withstand both natural and artificial challenges is one good example. The good news is that PPVFRA has given India a one-of-a-kind intellectual property framework that safeguards the interests of both plant breeders and farmers.

Many countries have learned the hard way that they need to strike a balance when it comes to intellectual property rights. Encouraging innovation and investment requires robust IP protection. Innovation may be accelerated and complex problems can be tackled with the help of collaborative research efforts, public-private partnerships, and open innovation frameworks.

India takes a progressive approach towards PVP learning from global best practices in intellectual property rights (IPR) for seeds and agricultural biotechnology. “We must also remember the rights of farmers as custodians of traditional varieties and the need for benefit sharing,” according to Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), who emphasised the significance of IP learning for the Indian seed industry. An effective intellectual property rights framework will do two things: encourage innovation and guarantee access to technology.

“For the common good of all parties involved, including farmers, conferences like this one are essential in raising seed and biotech industry and regulatory sector IP protection awareness, as well as in fostering discussion and cooperation among stakeholders regarding IP protection strategies, regulatory hurdles, and the trajectory of technology transfer in agriculture going forward.” “Additionally,” Dr Mohapatra stated.

Ajai Rana, Chairman of the FSII and Managing Director and CEO of Savannah Seeds, made the following statement regarding the importance of a well-rounded intellectual property rights (IPR) environment for the seed industry: “There needs to be a multi-faceted and collaborative approach towards building an effective policy and regulatory framework around IPR particularly in the seed industry. To achieve this goal, we must reform our laws, strengthen our institutions, include our stakeholders, and work together internationally to spur innovation that will allow us to address our most critical issues.”

Rana reiterated the need for improved internal intellectual property rights protection and enforcement and pushed for more public-private partnerships to boost R&D initiatives.

India can overcome the challenges it is facing in its seed and biotechnology sectors by developing a sophisticated IP strategy that draws on international best practices and insights. This approach can foster innovation, promote technology transfer, and overcome other obstacles.

By Nitin Konde

The experts highlighted the opportunities and challenges

Company News, Sustainability, World

The report is based on a study conducted over the first 18 months of the income accelerator program, in which a sample of 2,000 households spanning 28 cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire were examined

Nestlé’s income accelerator program is helping cocoa farmers substantially improve cocoa productivity as well as increase their net income, according to a report published by KIT Institute. The report states that high-quality pruning of income accelerator cocoa farms contributed to a 32 per cent increase in cocoa yields. The total net income of income accelerator households rose by 38 per cent, resulting in a higher proportion of these households achieving a living income.

The report is based on a study conducted over the first 18 months of the income accelerator program, in which a sample of 2,000 households spanning 28 cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire were examined.

The study additionally found that Nestlé’s program has effectively mitigated diseases and pests on farms, thanks to the implementation of good agricultural practices. The program has facilitated income diversification, promoted financial access and positively influenced women’s empowerment and child schooling rates. School enrollment is a key focus area of the income accelerator program, and the proportion of children attending school increased by 10 per cent points (vs. 5 per cent points in the comparison group). 

Furthermore, there has been a remarkable surge in the proportion of households investing in small businesses, such as agro-processing, boutiques, barbershops or soap-making. The increase is more than double, rising from 21 per cent in 2022 to 55 per cent in 2023. At the time of the study, these activities were still in an exploratory phase and had not yet generated significant income changes.

The report is based on a study