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Award, India, Interaction, People

Image: Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher, BioSpectrum (India and Asia), NUFFOODS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum, and Managing Director, MM Activ Sci Tech Communications receiving Exemplary Leadership Award from dignitaries at the Exhibition Excellence Awards ceremony.

Boratkar’s remarkable contributions and visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the industry: Award citation

Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher & Managing Editor, BioSpectrum (India and Asia), NUFFOODS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum (India and Asia) was presented the Exemplary Leadership Award in the Exhibition Excellence Awards in the Editor’s Choice category in his capacity as Managing Director of MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt Ltd., the parent company of all the media brands.

Exhibition Excellence Awards are presented annually for various events, exhibitions, conferences seminars, venues and personalities to recognise their contribution and felicitate the distinguished achievers of the sector. The awards are Asia’s iconic, only recognition initiative for the exhibition and convention industry.

The awards are given by the Exhibition Showcase, Asia’s most comprehensive media platform for exhibitions. This was the 8th edition of the Exhibition Excellence Awards and Summit 2024, held at the CIDCO exhibition and convention centre in Navi Mumbai.

The award citation said, “Boratkar’s remarkable contributions and visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the industry, shaping its trajectory for the better. Boratkar is a driving force in the organisational consulting, marketing, management and event organisation.”

MM Activ Sci Tech Communications, the publishing company of BioSpectrum (India and Asia), NUFFOODS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum, received awards for two of its shows. Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023, encapsulating Biotechnology, bagged the award as the Grand Conference, while the Start Up Mahakumbh 2024 received awards as Top Start-Up India Promotion Show and 1st runner up in the category Top New Show (B2C).

Image: Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher, BioSpectrum (India and

Agribusiness, Farm Mechanisation, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

After kickstarting its journey in India, the OJA range will subsequently be launched in North America, ASEAN, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Europe and the SAARC region.

 Mahindra Tractors, a part of the Mahindra Group and the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume, recently launched its revolutionary light weight tractor, Mahindra OJA 2121 in Madhya Pradesh. The new Mahindra OJA delivers exceptional results in puddling operations for crops like paddy. With the successful debut of this tractor, Mahindra is looking forward to a healthy demand for this product in the upcoming Kharif season.

After kickstarting its exciting journey in India, the OJA range will subsequently be launched in North America, ASEAN, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Europe and the SAARC region. Mahindra will also mark its debut in the ASEAN region starting with Thailand in 2024 with the OJA. The Mahindra OJA tractor range is exclusively manufactured at Mahindra’s state-of-the-art tractor facility in Zaheerabad, Telangana, one of India’s largest and most advanced tractor manufacturing plants.

Introducing a paradigm shift in the world of tractor design, the new OJA 2121 empowers farmers to achieve more, as it revolves around key attributes like robustness, progressiveness and unmatched functionality, setting new benchmarks for modern farming equipment. Designed to handle diverse agricultural tasks with stability and traction, the new OJA 2121 comes with 4WD as standard, is light-weight, and built to deliver cutting-edge performance.

Engineered with a 3-cylinder, powerful 3DI 21hp engine @2400 RPM and PTO power at 13.42 kW (18 HP), the OJA provides class leading power delivery and operational efficiency, with a segment first constant mesh gearbox configuration with synchro shuttle (optional) and transmission of 12 Forward + 12 Reverse gears. The advanced gear system, with multiple reverse gears enables farmers to work faster and comfortably in smaller farms.

After kickstarting its journey in India, the

Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, R&D, Seeds, World

The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on AI-mediated trait design for both corn and soybeans.

Syngenta Seeds, one of the world’s leading global agriculture technology companies, announced a collaboration with AI company InstaDeep, to bring Syngenta’s proprietary trait research and development capabilities together with InstaDeep’s Large Language Model (LLM) platform to accelerate the development of solution-providing crop traits for farmers. The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on AI-mediated trait design for both corn and soybeans.

InstaDeep has developed a state-of-the-art language model, AgroNT1, trained on trillions of nucleotides from agriculturally relevant crop species, to interpret the complex language of the genetic code. This next-generation AI technology learns from nature and was designed to accurately predict how genes are regulated, potentially enabling a new level of trait control and crop performance.

“We are excited to collaborate with InstaDeep and bring forward insights from advanced AI to accelerate the advancement of our proprietary trait pipeline, enabling us to bring innovative and effective solutions to challenges facing agriculture,” said Gusui Wu, Global Head of Syngenta Seeds Research. “The potential of LLMs to understand the language of DNA opens new opportunities to gain insight and to more quickly deliver traits farmers need to enhance and protect yields.”

“Our collaboration with Syngenta Seeds is a major milestone for InstaDeep and the transformative agricultural science our Genomics AI team is helping pioneer,” said Karim Beguir, InstaDeep CEO and Co-Founder. “We’re excited by AI’s potential to discover and deliver new traits critical for advancing a more sustainable, resilient, and productive food system.”

The initial phase of the collaboration will

Company News, Dairy, India, People

Sunil has worked with Deloitte Consulting in the greater Los Angeles area, leading teams in technology and operations.

Sid’s Farm, a Telangana-based premium dairy brand, announced Sunil Potturi’s appointment as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over twenty years of experience in consulting, product development, strategy, and operations management, Sunil brings a wealth of expertise to the team. His strong business management and technology background is set to drive Sid’s Farm towards its goal of continuous innovation and growth.

Throughout his distinguished career, Sunil has demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead digital transformations and successful product launches across multiple companies. His skills in product management, client relationship management, program and portfolio management, and building high-performance global teams will be invaluable as Sid’s Farm continues to expand its technological capabilities.

Dr Kishore Indukuri, Founder of Sid’s Farm, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Sunil Potturi to Sid’s Farm. His strategic vision and passion for technology perfectly align with our mission to deliver high-quality products and services. Sunil’s extensive experience and proven leadership will be instrumental in driving our future growth and innovation.”

Prior to joining Sid’s Farm, Sunil was an entrepreneur and startup advisor with notable roles including Co-founder and CEO at Cintelio, which was acquired by High Radius, where he served as Associate Vice President. He also held the position of Chief Delivery Officer at Mediamint, supporting global clients in digital marketing and technology services. Earlier in his career, Sunil worked with Deloitte Consulting in the greater Los Angeles area, leading teams in technology and operations.

Sunil holds a Bachelor of Engineering from CBIT, Hyderabad, and has completed the Senior Management Program from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Sunil Potturi shared his excitement about joining Sid’s Farm: “I am honoured to join Sid’s Farm as the CTO. The company’s commitment to delivering quality products by leveraging the latest technologies resonates with my professional goals. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Sid’s Farm to achieve our strategic goals.”

Sunil has worked with Deloitte Consulting in

Agro chems – Fertilizers, AgroPolicy, India

Allocation for fertilizer sector increased from 5.5 lakh tonnes per annum to 7.5 lakh tonnes per annum of Green Ammonia.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) with a target to achieve production capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum of Green Hydrogen in the country by the year 2030.

Under the Mission, MNRE had issued the Scheme Guidelines for implementation of SIGHT Programme – Component II: Incentive for Procurement of Green Ammonia Production (under Mode2A) of the NGHM on 16.01.2024. Mode 2A caters to the requirements of the fertilizer sector. As per the said Guidelines, the capacity available for bidding under Tranche I of Mode 2A was 5,50,000 tonnes per annum of Green Ammonia. Thereafter, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) also issued Request for Selection (RfS) for selection of Green Ammonia Producers through a cost based competitive bidding process.

As the implementation of the Mission is gaining traction, the demand of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives from various sectors is also increasing. In response to the increase in demand of Green Ammonia from the fertilizer sector, MNRE has decided to amend the Scheme Guidelines dated 16.01.2024 by increasing allocation under Mode 2A Scheme for Fertiliser sector by 2 lakh tonnes per annum i.e. the existing allocation of 5,50,000 tonnes per annum of Green Ammonia has been increased to 7,50,000 tonnes per annum. This is a significant step towards demand creation of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives in the country.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on 04th January 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores up to FY 2029-30. It will contribute to India’s goal to become Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy Transition. The Mission will lead to significant decarbonization of the economy, reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, and enable India to assume technology and market leadership in Green Hydrogen.

Allocation for fertilizer sector increased from 5.5

AgroPolicy, India, Pulses

Stock limits for each pulse is 200 MT for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT at depot for big chain retailers.

In order to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, and also to improve affordability to the consumers in respect of tur and chana, Government of India has issued an order where it has imposed stock limits on pulses applicable to wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, millers and importers. The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2024 has been issued with immediate effect.

Under this order, stock limits have been prescribed for tur and chana, including kabuli chana, until 30th September, 2024 for all States and Union Territories. Stock limits applicable to each of the pulse individually will be 200 MT for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT at depot for big chain retailers; last 3 months of production or 25 per cent of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher, for the millers. In respect of importers, the importers are not to hold imported stock beyond 45 days from the date of Customs clearance. The respective legal entities are to declare the stock position on the portal (https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp) of Department of Consumer Affairs and in case the stocks held by them are higher than the prescribed limits then, they shall bring the same to the prescribed stock limits by 12th July, 2024.

The imposition of stock limits on tur and chana is a part of slew of measures taken by the Government to crackdown on prices of essential commodities. The Department of Consumer Affairs had been closely monitoring the stock position of pulses through stock disclosure portal. The Department had, in first week of April, 2024 communicated State Governments to enforce mandatory stock disclosure by all stockholding entities, which was followed up with visits to major pulses producing States and trading hubs across the country from last week of April to 10th May, 2024. Separate meetings with traders, stockists, dealers, importers, millers and bigchain retailers were also held to encourage and sensitize them for truthful disclosure of stocks and maintaining affordability of pulses for the consumers.

It may be recalled that the Government had reduced import duty of 66% on desi chana w.e.f. 4th May, 2024 in order to augment the domestic production. The duty reduction has facilitated imports and elicit higher sowing of chana in major producing countries. As per report, chana production in Australia is estimated to increase from 5 lakh tons in 2023-24 to 11 lakh tons in 2024-25 which is expected to be available from October, 2024 onward.

Sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad are expected to increase significantly in this season due to high price realization by farmer and above-normal monsoon rains predicted by IMD. Further, import of current year crop of tur from East African countries are expected to arrive from August, 2024 onward.

These factors are expected to help in bringing down the prices of Kharif pulses like tur and urad in the coming month. Arrival new crop of chana in Australia and its availability for import from October, 2024 will help in maintaining availability of chana to the consumers at affordable prices.

Stock limits for each pulse is 200

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Start ups

The Android-first POS software company will streamline Otipy’s newly launched physical electric cart’s billing, digital weighing, inventory, and more.

QueueBuster, a leading Android-based point of sale (POS) solution provider, has announced a strategic mandate with Otipy, India’s premier fresh produce app that delivers farm produce within 12 hours of harvest. This collaboration aims to transform the retail experience for customers by integrating QueueBuster’s advanced POS technology with Otipy’s innovative approach to fresh produce retailing using Electric Carts.

The partnership will see QueueBuster’s cutting-edge POS technology seamlessly integrated into Otipy’s newly launched physical electric carts, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. With real-time billing, inventory management, CRM loyalty programs, and integrated weighing scale functionalities, Otipy will be able to deliver faster checkouts and a streamlined shopping experience for its customers.

QueueBuster’s POS solution offers a comprehensive suite of features, including 70+ real-time sales and inventory reports and seamless integration with 50+ software, hardware, and payment systems. One of its key highlights is the seamless integration with weighing scales, enabling auto weight recording and billing processes.

Umesh Kumar, SVP- Supply Chain at Otipy, expressed excitement about the collaboration, said, “At Otipy, our approach centers on direct procurement from farmers driven by demand predictions. This strategy eliminates intermediaries, guaranteeing fair payments and uplifting the farming community. Recently, with the introduction of our physical electric carts, we required a robust and user-friendly Point of Sale (POS) solution to streamline transactional data and ensure swift billing and efficient inventory management. Partnering with QueueBuster enables us to harness their advanced POS technology, enhancing our retail operations and delivering an unmatched shopping experience to our customers.”

Commenting on the association, Varun Tangri, CEO and founder, QueueBuster POS said, “We are excited to build a strong partnership with Otipy in their quest to deliver fresh farm produce through their newly launched Otipy electric carts. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the retail industry, especially for omnichannel and new-age brands seeking the right POS solutions for their offline businesses. With a focus on technology-driven efficiency and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by retail outlets and carts & kiosks, we are poised to transform the retail landscape.”

Both QueueBuster and Otipy are committed to revolutionizing the fresh produce retail landscape in favor of Indian agriculturists and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). By automating scattered farm produce retail and streamlining operations, this partnership aligns with the Make in India and Viksit Bharat initiatives championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, empowering local farmers and businesses while fostering economic growth and sustainability.

The Android-first POS software company will streamline

Agro Universities, R&D, Seeds

This collaboration aims to develop and commercialise high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are resistant to pests and adaptable to the changing climate.

To boost Vietnam’s rice production and quality, Vietnam Seed Corporation (Vinaseed), the country’s leading seed corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This collaboration aims to develop and commercialize high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are resistant to pests and adaptable to the changing climate.

IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto and Vinaseed CEO Nguyen Quang Truong signed the agreement during a workshop on developing a circular economy in rice production and processing on (DATE) in Can Tho City.

The MoU outlines several key areas of collaboration, including:

Knowledge sharing: Training and technology transfer in gene technology, rice breeding, and AI for rice characteristic assessment.

Genetic resources: Sharing genetic materials for testing and breeding rice varieties suitable for Vietnamese conditions.

Developing super rice: Joint research to create high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are pest-resistant and adaptable to climate challenges.

IRRI brings extensive experience in rice research to the table. It also manages the International Rice Genebank with over 127,000 unique rice gene sources. For Vinaseed, this vast genetic library will be a valuable resource for developing new rice varieties.

The company already has access to nearly 500 promising new rice lines that show resistance to various diseases and adaptability to conditions like drought, submergence, and salinity when it joined IRRI’s Network for Accelerated Rice Varieties for Impact in 2021.

The partnership between Vinaseed and IRRI holds significant promise for the future of Vietnam’s rice sector. By combining IRRI’s research prowess with Vinaseed’s market reach, Vietnam can develop and deliver high-quality, climate-smart rice varieties, ensuring food security and propelling the country’s rice industry further.

This collaboration aims to develop and commercialise

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Environment, Foodgrains, India, Sustainability

Company’s first five projects will cover 30,000 hectares and will deliver an annual reduction of 120,000 metric tonnes of CO2e emissions.

Mitti Labs, a pioneering tech-enabled project developer, has announced the initiation of its first projects aimed at transforming rice farming in South Asia. Working alongside the Syngenta Foundation, Ebro Foods and Dr Reddy’s Foundation, the company has launched five rice projects across India which will reduce methane emissions, increase water security and build farmer resilience.

Mitti Lab’s first five projects will cover 30,000 hectares and will deliver an annual reduction of 120,000 metric tonnes of CO2e emissions. The emissions reduction will generate high-quality credits that help to diversify credit buyers’ portfolios, as well as making a significant positive impact on water scarcity and farmer livelihoods within the region. The company’s projects are expected to expand to cover 200,000 hectares over the next two years.

To deliver these projects, Mitti Labs is working alongside more than 40,000 smallholder farmers to embed and measure more sustainable agricultural practices. Alongside the environmental benefits of the projects, the work will increase the financial resilience of participating rice farmers, who earn the majority of revenue from each carbon credit sold, increasing their annual incomes by up to 30 per cent.

India is the world’s second largest rice producer, but the country faces significant threats to the livelihoods of rice farmers from the effects of climate change. Mitti Labs launched in India to tackle this. The company’s 120-person operations team works with on-the-ground community partners to activate grassroots networks and train participating farmers in new agricultural techniques that can reduce methane emissions by 50 per cent and water consumption by 30 per cent.

Xavi Laguarta, co-founder at Mitti Labs, commented: “We embarked on this journey with the belief that every climate problem is a climate solution. Our goal is to transform traditional rice farming, changing both the environmental footprint of rice and the lives of farmers who are already battling extreme climate-induced drought. We can’t ignore methane in the quest for net zero, and this means driving finance straight to the source, to help farmers adapt their agricultural techniques to a changing climate. We’re working closely with farmers and partner organizations to build confidence in a new type of rice farming, and a new type of carbon credit.”

The successful launch of Mitti Labs’ first five projects is just the start. The company has 10 more projects in the pipeline and, by the end of 2025, plans to mitigate 360,000 tonnes of CO2e per year whilst expanding geographically across Southeast Asia. This ambitious strategy will be supported by a planned funding round in early 2025.

Company’s first five projects will cover 30,000

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

The first plant under this collaboration will be established in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh soon.

Ray Nano Science & Research Centre announced a groundbreaking partnership with Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL). This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the agricultural sector, paving the way for innovative advancements in fertilizer technology.

The partnership between HURL and Ray Nano Science & Research Centre is set to redefine the future of urea manufacturing in India. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a shared vision for sustainable agriculture, this collaboration promises to deliver transformative solutions that will benefit farmers and the environment alike.

The first plant under this collaboration will be established in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh very soon. This facility will serve as the cornerstone for the production and distribution of Nano Urea, setting the stage for widespread adoption and substantial benefits for the agricultural sector.

Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) stands as the largest manufacturer of conventional urea in India. With a robust production capacity and a commitment to enhancing the agricultural landscape, HURL’s expansion into Nano Urea technology signifies a new era of growth and innovation. The potential for Nano Fertilizers is immense, offering more efficient and sustainable solutions for farmers across the country.

This agreement follows extensive evaluations and detailed discussions, underscoring the mutual commitment of both organizations to revolutionize the urea industry.  Mohanty, Chairman of HURL, remarked, “Nano Urea is just a beginning & we are going to work on many other products in future.” His statement reflects the shared vision of both entities to drive continuous innovation and sustainability in agriculture. HURL’s decision to partner with Ray Nano Science was based on three compelling reasons:

Extremely Promising Efficacy Reports: Rigorous testing and research have demonstrated the superior effectiveness of Ray Nano’s Nano Urea Technology, promising substantial improvements in crop yields and overall agricultural productivity.

100% Green & Patented Technology: Ray Nano’s Nano Urea Technology is environmentally friendly, aligning with global sustainability goals and reducing the ecological footprint of urea production.

Very Innovative Future Products: The forward-thinking approach of Ray Nano Science assures a pipeline of groundbreaking products that will continue to push the boundaries of agricultural technology.

The first plant under this collaboration will

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

The company anticipates capturing an 8 per cent market share, translating to Rs 500 crore in revenue within the first two years.

Specialty agrochemical manufacturer, Best Agrolife Ltd announced that it has received regulatory approval for Nemagen, a new patented insecticide formulation designed to combat resistant pests. The company is gearing up to launch this product in July under the brand name ‘Nemagen’.

 Lepidopteran pests, such as borers, have significantly expanded their host range and developed resistance to current insecticides. This resistance has led to substantial crop losses, ranging from 30 to 50 percent. Nemagen aims to address these challenges, providing an effective solution for farmers struggling with these destructive pests. Best Agrolife Ltd has received the 9(3) Formulation Indigenous Manufacture (FIM) registration for an under-patent formulation.

Nemagen, a highly effective broad-spectrum insecticide, is formulated with a unique technical combination of Chlorantraniliprole, Novaluron, and Emamectin Benzoate. This combination offers exceptional control over a wide array of pests, particularly targeting lepidopteran pests such as shoot and fruit borers, and also proving effective against Coleoptera and Diptera pests.

Best Agrolife Ltd estimates the market size for products targeting lepidopteran pests to be approximately Rs 6,300 crore. The company anticipates capturing an 8 percent market share, translating to Rs 500 crore in revenue within the first two years following the launch of its new insecticide, Nemagen. Its versatility allows for application at various stages of crop growth, making it suitable for use on vegetables, field crops, fruit crops, and pulses.

The company anticipates capturing an 8 per

Biofuel industry, India, Interaction

Suhas Baxi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BiofuelCircle shares his view on the biomass supply chain with AgroSpectrum in an exclusive interview.

A cloud-based platform, the BiofuelCircle Marketplace links supply chain participants in rural areas with industry. Businesses are able to tap into a previously unregulated market for verified local biomass and biofuel providers. Suppliers of biomass and biofuels, in turn, are able to network with potential customers ranging in size from individuals to corporations. In a recent test auction on the BioFuelCircle platform, NTPC Limited successfully sold biomass pellets to NTPC Mouda. Suhas Baxi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BiofuelCircle shares his view on the biomass supply chain with AgroSpectrum in an exclusive interview.

In what ways do you think allied industries will use agri-waste in the future? How much agri-waste does India produce each year, and what percentage of that has been put to use by allied industries?

Every year, farms in an agricultural nation like India produce at least 235 million metric tonnes of extra agricultural residue. This amounts to around 25 per cent of India’s oil imports, which is the same as 125 million MT of coal or 600 million barrels of crude oil. When used in its entirety, this agricultural waste has the ability to provide 17 per cent of the nation’s energy demands, provide farmers with a new revenue stream, and boost employment opportunities in both rural and urban areas. The potential biomass market in our nation is large enough to fuel an economy worth forty billion dollars. But for a variety of reasons, over 70 per cent ends up in the trash or burned.

We must set up a whole farm-to-fuel ecosystem if we want to make the most of this opportunity. Coordinating and empowering all parties involved in the biomass supply chain would necessitate tremendous effort, considering the precarious nature of the rural-industrial connection. 

Could you please list the most significant obstacles in turning agri-waste into a high-quality product or service?

Research of India’s agricultural biomass sector reveals that inefficient supply chains are to blame for the country’s pollution and wasting problems.  Aggregation becomes more challenging when rural resources are fragmented, meaning that land holdings are tiny and dispersed. While biomass is needed continuously, it is only available for a short period of time each year during harvests. Logistics and storage costs are very high, which is another big problem. One more thing hurting the already-suffering rural suppliers: they can’t reach industrial buyers directly.

How is the government supporting companies which are working in recycling agricultural waste into a viable product?

This industry has been designated as a priority sector for loans by the government of India. Several programmes have been established by the Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. There is a demand for start-up capital in the biomass supply chain, biomass aggregation and processing, and bioenergy refineries. Providing tools is simply one part of the approach. Here is an area where the public and private sectors, in addition to the government, are working together to accomplish both short-term goals and long-term objectives.  As part of our Local Markets mechanism for the supply chain of biomass, we are collaborating with MNRE to establish biomass businesses in rural areas.

How technology can be the game changer in this drive of converting agri-waste to a formidable product?

A few million farmers, seasonal supplies, small rural businesses, round the year industrial demand and service providers for transport, quality, finance etc make for an interesting use case for digitalisation. To top it, traceability of biomass from its origin to its end use will create a reliable framework for carbon neutrality. Along the way, one also needs to address issues associated with incentivization, price discovery, standardisation, and supply reliability.

While applications such as food delivery, transport services etc which have a consumer end use have become popular, for biomass one needs a platform that makes it easy for millions of farmers to participate, while providing a robust framework for industries too. All this requires a strong technological connection which has to be coupled with a skilled and hardworking team. The biomass supply chain is still at a very early stage. We currently use about 20 per cent of the available Agri-residue biomass. At its maturity, the biomass product supply chain has a potential to be more than 40 billion US$ in annual turnover. The opportunity is for us to put a strong digital technology framework that creates ease, efficiency, reliability, and choice.

What inputs are required for the growth of the biomass sector in India?

Technology, legislation, finance, and infrastructure are all important parts of the puzzle when it comes to expanding India’s biomass industry. Spending on research and development to enhance processing, conversion, and yield of biomass feedstock is one major requirement. Another area of focus is in-depth research into improved harvesting methods and the creation of disease-resistant biomass crops with increased yields. Cooperation with development organisations and international financial institutions for the purpose of obtaining financial and technical support can further support this industry. Biomass production and usage training sessions for technicians, farmers, and other business people can help in maintaining a healthy supply chain. Coordinated efforts across these many inputs are crucial to the success of India’s biomass sector. India can fully utilise biomass energy to promote energy security, rural development, and environmental sustainability by attending to technical, financial, infrastructure, human resource, and environmental concerns.

What are the growth strategies and plans of BiofuelCircle for FY 24-25?

The BiofuelCircle is working on an entrepreneurial approach to help FPOs and farmers increase their bioenergy capacity. They are receiving advice from MNRE, GIZ, and BAIF. Through its internet platform, BiofuelCircle has offered a new idea for a rural business: a Biomass Bank. This bank would help with collecting, aggregating, transporting, and processing biomass for green energy. Buyers and sellers of biomass and biofuels can use BiofuelCircle’s digital platform to find commodity- and region-specific prices, as well as to trade online at market-driven prices. A more transparent and predictable pricing structure encourages investments in storage and opens up financing opportunities in the bio-energy sector. Such linked regional marketplaces are the basis of the BiofuelCircle concept.

                                                                                           By Nitin Konde

Suhas Baxi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, India

 It aimed to address vulnerabilities and knowledge gaps in small-scale fish farming communities, promote climate-smart fish farming, and adopt climate-resilient technologies and infrastructure.

ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Energy and Resource Institute, a prominent non-profit research institute, to engage in collaborative research, extension, and capacity building in agriculture, fisheries, and allied sectors. The partnership aimed to address vulnerabilities and knowledge gaps in small-scale fish farming communities, promote climate-smart fish farming, and adopt climate-resilient technologies and infrastructure, and establish a knowledge-sharing platform along with market linkages.

Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, emphasized the significance of collaboration in promoting holistic and sustainable development of coastal life by leveraging the combined expertise of both institutes.

Dr. Elroy Pereira, Associate Fellow, TERI, emphasized TERI’s commitment to provide all necessary support to the institute in facilitating research, capacity building, and extension activities in the relevant fields.

 It aimed to address vulnerabilities and knowledge

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Transportation

On completion, Vadhavan Port will be one of the top 10 ports of the world.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved setting up a Major Port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharastra. The Project will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), an SPV formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with a shareholding of 74 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively. The Vadhavan Port will be developed as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft major port in Vadhavan, Palghar District, Maharashtra.

The total project cost, including the land acquisition component is Rs.76,220 Crore. This will include development of Core infrastructure, Terminals and other commercial infrastructure in public-private partnerships (PPP) mode. The cabinet also approved establishing the road connectivity between the Port and National Highways by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and rail linkage to the existing rail network and the upcoming Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor by Ministry of Railways.

The Port will comprise nine container terminals, each 1000 meters long, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The Project involves the reclamation of 1,448 hectares of area in the sea and the construction of 10.14 km of offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas. The Project will create a cumulative capacity of 298 million metric tons (MMT) per annum, including around 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalents) of container handling capacity.

The capacities created will also aid EXIM trade flow through IMEEC (India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor) and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor). The world-class maritime terminal facilities promote public-private partnerships (PPP) and leverage efficiencies and modern technologies to create a state-of-the-art terminal capable of handling mainline mega vessels plying on international shipping lines between the Far East, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Vadhavan Port, on completion, will be one of the top ten ports of the world.

The Project, aligned with the objectives of PM Gati Shakti program, will add to further economic activity and also have the potential for direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 12 lakh individuals, thereby contributing to the local economy.

On completion, Vadhavan Port will be one