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Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, India, Seeds

Agreement focuses on commercialisation and distribution of disease-free, high-quality starting material to smallholder farmers in Kenya and India.

Bayer and Solynta have reached an agreement to collaborate on the commercialisation and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenyan and Indian markets. This partnership marks the entry of Bayer into the 20 million hectares global potato market, and its first collaboration with Solynta, a Dutch company focused on developing robust hybrid potato varieties for the world’s fourth largest crop by global production volume, and one of the most cultivated horticultural crops worldwide.

The collaboration will center around Solynta’s expert knowledge of potato breeding with the development of new robust potato varieties that will thrive in key potato growing geographies. This innovation will allow growers to plant potatoes from true seeds rather than the traditional planting of tubers. Growers will only need 25 grams of clean and disease-free true potato seeds per hectare to start a potato crop, compared to the 2500 kgs of perishable seed tubers previously required. Bayer will utilise its strong presence and distribution channels in the field to commercialize the varieties that are most suitable for these regions. The new hybrid potato varieties will be distributed in the form of true seeds by Bayer to potato growers in the most remote areas of Kenya and India.

 Benefits of True Potato Seeds

The ability to grow potato crops from true potato seeds, instead of from seed tubers, offers significant advantages to the potato industry. Seed tubers are more likely to carry disease or spoil in transit and are more expensive to transport and store. True potato seeds, on the other hand, are clean and disease-free, offering many advantages to the traditional starting materials used in potato growing. True potato seeds also have a shelf life of many years, are much smaller and economical efficient to transport and store. Additionally, true potato seeds are available year-round. Through hybrid breeding, true potato seeds can also be bred with additional beneficial traits, including disease resistances and climate resilience.

For Bayer, the addition of true potato seeds to its portfolio is in line with its regenerative agriculture strategy, focused on building more resilient and sustainable food systems. ‘We are excited to enter the collaboration with Solynta and to further support smallholder farmers,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division “Seed innovation is one of our key focus areas. We expect these true potato seeds to have a positive impact on local communities and on food and nutritional security in Kenya and India.”

“The addition of true potato seeds to our portfolio is a natural progression of the work our team continues to do to support smallholder growers and offer the latest innovations,” said Inci Dannenberg, President, Global Vegetable Seeds, Bayer. “We will utilise our already well-established distribution networks in India and Kenya to get true potato seeds into the hands of growers.”

Peter Poortinga, CEO of Solynta, pointed out that the true potato seeds are the result of almost two decades of work on hybrid potato breeding technology at Solynta. “Hybrid breeding is a proven technology in many existing food crops, which allows fast development of new varieties with desirable traits, such as disease resistances. As a company, we are delighted to join forces with Bayer on the introduction and distribution of our true potato seeds to these markets”, he concluded.

One of the largest challenges facing smallholders in both regions is the lack of high-quality starting material with suitable genetics to grow potatoes to feed their communities and improve their financial position. In both geographies, the need for quality starting materials to grow potatoes exceeds the availability. In Kenya, potato is the number two staple crop, and its growers are dependent on a limited supply of seed tubers which are often carriers of potato diseases.

India is the second largest market for potato in the world. With a fast-growing population and various climate zones within the country, there is a high demand for new robust potato varieties that can withstand potato diseases and are easy to transport. By using Solynta’s true potato seeds, smallholder farmers in both markets will benefit by gaining access to high quality starting material to grow their potatoes and feed their communities.

Agreement focuses on commercialisation and distribution of

Agribusiness, Company News, Farm Mechanisation, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, Start ups

 nurture.retail  has collaborated with Neptune and Pasura for streamlining Farm Equipment Procurement.

Bangalore based, nurture.retail , India’s leading B2B agri-input marketplace, announced its expansion into the farm equipment sector. As a part of this significant move, it has partnered with Neptune and Pasura, two highly respected brands, to deliver top-of-the-line spray pumps to farmers and agricultural businesses.

Recognising the increasing demand among agri-retailers for efficient agricultural machinery, nurture.retail seeks to streamline the procurement process through this initiative. It will offer Neptune and Pasura spray pumps for farmers online, featuring durable construction, advanced technology, ease of use, and high spraying efficiency to enhance agricultural development.

Neptune and Pasura are respected in the agricultural equipment industry. Neptune excels in high-pressure spraying, performance, and affordability, with ISO 9001:2000 certification and Bureau of Standards of India approval. Pasura provides eco-friendly, cost-effective products that perform efficiently without harming the environment or human health.

Speaking on this collaborative expansion, Ankit Laddha, Head nurture.retail, said, “Our expansion into farm equipment is a significant milestone in our journey to empower the agricultural community. By partnering with Neptune and Pasura, we will bring top-tier products directly to agri-retailers’ doorsteps, making high-quality equipment more accessible. This move underscores our commitment to enhancing productivity and sustainability in Indian agriculture through innovation and convenience.”

This partnership simplifies purchasing farm equipment, offering top-quality products accessible from home. nurture.retail ensures stringent quality standards, warranties, and dependable customer service. Customers benefit from competitive pricing, launch promotions, comprehensive support, order tracking, and seamless delivery.

Sharing their views on this collaboration with nurture.retail, Anudeep Gupta, Director at Neptune said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with nurture.retail and expand our reach in the digital marketplace. This partnership allows us to serve more agri-retailers with our advanced spray pumps, helping them support farmers in achieving better crop protection and higher yields. We believe that digital platforms like nurture.retail are the future of agricultural commerce, bringing efficiency and transparency to the sector.”

 nurture.retail  has collaborated with Neptune and Pasura

Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Fruits, Horticulture, Seeds

The new greenhouse features advanced climate control, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable practices, ensuring optimal conditions for year-round research and breeding.

Rijk Zwaan has announced the opening of its newest breeding greenhouse in Dinteloord, the Netherlands. This facility is dedicated to research and development related to new berry varieties. The new greenhouse features advanced climate control, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable practices, ensuring optimal conditions for year-round research and breeding. The facility was officially opened on Friday 21 June.

The opening ceremony was attended by Rijk Zwaan colleagues and construction partners. All guests had the opportunity to take a tour of the greenhouse. “Our new breeding greenhouse represents a significant step forward in our mission to innovate in the area of fruit and vegetable breeding,” says Michiel Zwaan, Crop Manager Berries at Rijk Zwaan. “The new facility allows our team to conduct year-round research in optimal conditions, accelerating the development of our new breeding programme for berries.”

Rijk Zwaan has been active in vegetable breeding since its foundation in 1924. Last year, the company officially launched a berries breeding programme aimed at broadening its product portfolio with strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.

Breeding Manager Pieter Egelmeers explains: “Berries are traditionally propagated vegetatively rather than from seeds. We are focusing on both propagation methods in our breeding programme. Building on our knowledge of research, breeding and seed production, we hope to bring new and innovative strawberry, blackberry and raspberry varieties to the market that will add value for growers and other chain partners.”

The new greenhouse features advanced climate control,

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, Herbicides, India

Best Agrolife aims to capture a market share worth Rs 200 crore within the first two years.

Best Crop Science, wholly owned subsidiary of Best Agrolife has been granted registration for indigenous manufacture of Haloxyfop R Methyl Ester Technical 96% w/w min u/s 9(3) by Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee.

Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester is a post-emergence herbicide extensively utilised to control both annual and perennial grasses. It is commonly applied to various crops, such as soybeans, groundnuts, pulses, and many others.

This innovative product is set to revolutionise soybean cultivation by offering a comprehensive solution for controlling a wide range of weeds. It will be launched nationwide under the brand name ‘Shot Down’. Best Agrolife aims to capture a market share worth Rs 200 crore within the first two years.

The broad-spectrum weed control offered by Haloxyfop R Methyl Ester Technical 96% w/w effectively targets a wide range of annual and perennial grasses, ensuring enhanced crop safety with minimal impact on crop health. Its post-emergence application allows for targeted weed control during critical growth stages reducing competition for essential nutrients, water, and light. This leads to healthier, more productive crops and improved yield quality.

Best Agrolife aims to capture a market

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Supply Chain

Stock limit for Traders/Wholesaler is 3000 MT; Retailer is 10 MT for each of the retail outlet; Big Chain Retailer is 10 MT for each outlet and 3000 MT at all their depots.

In order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Government of India has decided to impose stock limits on Wheat applicable to Traders/Wholesaler, Retailers, Big Chain Retailers and Processors for all States and Union Territories. The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2024 has been issued with immediate effect from today i.e. 24th June 2024 and will be applicable until 31st March 2025 for all States and Union Territories.

Stock limits will be applicable to each entity individually such as Traders/Wholesaler- 3000 MT; Retailer- 10 MT for each of the Retail outlets; Big Chain Retailer- 10 MT for each outlet and 3000 MT at all their depots and Processors- 70 per cent of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by remaining months of FY 2024-25. Respective legal entities, as above, will have to declare the stock position and update them regularly on the portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login) of the Department of Food and Public Distribution and in case the stock held by them are higher than the prescribed limit then they have to bring the same to the prescribed stock limits within 30 days of issue of this notification.

Stock limit for Traders/Wholesaler is 3000 MT;

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