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Agro Universities, India, People

Ramaswamy’s distinguished career also includes leadership roles at renowned organizations such as Vedanta, Shell, Cadbury, and Unilever.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announced the appointment of Ramkumar Ramaswamy as its new Director of Corporate Services. Ramaswamy brings to the institute a distinguished portfolio, with over 25 years of extensive expertise in leading the finance function in large multinational and Indian companies.

A Chartered Accountant with a degree in Commerce, Ramaswamy has held key positions across various sectors including consumer goods, chemicals, oil and gas, natural resources, and steel. Most recently, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and whole-time Director at Jindal Steel and Power, a leading publicly listed company. His distinguished career also includes leadership roles at renowned organizations such as Vedanta, Shell, Cadbury, and Unilever.

Ramaswamy has a rich and varied leadership experience of working with multicultural teams in high growth business environments, leading business turnarounds, long-term strategy development, mega projects, large scale change management, organizational design and restructuring and digitalization initiatives. His finance functional experience and expertise includes corporate governance, risk management, funding and treasury, investor relations, project and change management, internal controls, ethics and compliance and driving business outcomes and impact.

Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, welcomed the appointment noting that Ramaswamy’s proven track record makes him an invaluable asset to the ICRISAT team.

“I am delighted to join the team at ICRISAT, an organization renowned for its commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainable development,” shared Ramaswamy. “I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to drive forward our mission of improving livelihoods and ensuring food security across the semi-arid tropics.”

Ramaswamy’s distinguished career also includes leadership roles

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, India

The pilot plant is designed to produce 0.2 tons of biogas daily and the anticipated output is about 1 lakh standard cubic meters of biogas in FY 2024-25.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) announced the commencement of a pilot Biogas plant at its Manesar facility in the fiscal year 2024-25, harnessing the untapped potential of in-house food waste and Napier grass as resources at its plant. The initiative is in alignment with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s ‘Waste to Energy’ program, reflecting our commitment to sustainable practices and innovative waste management solutions.

In FY 2023-24, the company invested Rs 120.8 crores towards commissioning renewable energy initiatives like solar power and biogas. It has further pledged to increase the investment approximately fourfold to Rs 450 crores spread over three years starting FY 2024-25. This will significantly boost MSIL’s environmental sustainability initiatives.

The pilot plant is designed to produce 0.2 tons of biogas daily. The anticipated output is about 1 lakh standard cubic meters of biogas in FY 2024-25. It will offset approximately 190 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Imbibing principles of circularity, the company will be using food waste from canteens and Napier grass as raw materials. The pilot biogas plant will provide energy for the manufacturing processes of company’s Manesar facility. The residual organic manure will be utilised in horticulture effectively making it a zero-discharge model.

Speaking on the company’s upcoming green energy initiatives, Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “Energy is one of the critical inputs in the manufacturing process. As we ramp up our production capacity from around 2 million to 4 million by 2030-31, we are also accelerating our efforts to increase the share of sustainable and renewable energy sources across our operations. This is in line with Suzuki’s Environment Vision 2050 and Govt of India’s renewable energy focus. The biogas plant at Manesar is another step towards fostering a cleaner and more sustainable energy landscape at MSIL and the industry at large. Just as we are bringing multiple technologies in our products, we would also focus on multiple renewable energy sources to make our operations greener.”

Furthermore, Takeuchi added, “We strategically invest in our existing and upcoming facilities to ensure they are environmentally sustainable by optimizing energy consumption, integrating renewable energy sources, implementing efficient waste management protocols, and conserving water resources. The learning from this pilot will be implemented at our upcoming world-class manufacturing facilities.”

The pilot plant is designed to produce

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Oilseeds, Pulses

 Production of Wheat is estimated at 1129.25 LMT which is higher by 23.71 LMT from previous year’s wheat production.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released Third Advance Estimates of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24. From the last agricultural year, the summer season has been segregated from Rabi season and incorporated in the Third Advance Estimates. Hence, this Advance Estimates of area, production and yield includes Kharif, Rabi & Summer season.

This estimate has been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from State Agricultural Statistics Authorities (SASAs). The data received has been validated and triangulated with information received from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group and other agencies. Further the climatic conditions, previous trends, price movements, mandi arrivals etc. are also considered while preparing the estimates.

Total foodgrain production is estimated at 3288.52 LMT, which is slightly lower than foodgrain production of 2022-23 while higher by 211.00 LMT from average foodgrain production of last 5 years (2018-19 to 2022-23) of 3077.52 LMT.

Total Rice production is estimated at 1367.00 LMT as compared to 1357.55 LMT in 2022-23, showing an increase of 9.45 LMT. Production of Wheat is estimated at 1129.25 LMT which is higher by 23.71 LMT from previous year’s wheat production.

Production of Shree Anna is estimated at 174.08 LMT showing a marginal increase of 0.87 LMT from 2022-23 production. Further, Production of Nutri/Coarse Cereals is estimated at 547.34 LMT which is higher by 46.24 LMT from average Nutri/ Coarse Cereals production.

Production of Tur is estimated at 33.85 LMT which is marginally higher by 0.73 LMT from last year’s production of 33.12 LMT. Production of Lentil is estimated at 17.54 LMT which is higher by 1.95 LMT than the previous year’s production of 15.59 LMT.

The production of Soybean is estimated at 130.54 LMT and production of Rapeseed & Mustard is estimated at 131.61 LMT which higher by 5.18 LMT to last year’s production. The production of Cotton is estimated at 325.22 Lakh Bales (of 170 Kg each) and production of Sugarcane is estimated at 4425.22 LMT.

While preparing the Kharif crop production estimates the Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) based yield has been considered. Further, the process of recording CCEs have been re-engineered by the implementation of Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) which was rolled out in 16 states during the Rabi season. The yield results received under DGCES has been predominantly used to arrive at rabi crop production. Further, summer crop production is based on the average of last 3 years yield.

The details of production of various crops are given as under:

Total Foodgrains– 3288.52 LMT

Rice -1367.00 LMT

Wheat – 1129.25 LMT

Maize – 356.73 LMT

Shree Anna– 174.08 LMT

Tur – 33.85 LMT

Gram – 115.76 LMT

Total Oilseeds– 395.93 LMT

Soybean – 130.54 LMT

Rapeseed & Mustard – 131.61 LMT

Sugarcane – 4425.22 LMT

Cotton – 325.22 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

Jute – 92.59 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each)

 Production of Wheat is estimated at 1129.25

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Seeds

The partnership extension will advance research initiatives that aim to develop improved rice varieties with multiple tolerances for biotic and abiotic stresses.

Bioseed and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently agreed to an amendment of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will extend their ongoing partnership for a further five years, advancing research initiatives that aim to develop improved rice varieties with multiple tolerances for biotic and abiotic stresses. The amendment will extend the partnership for a further five (5) years, from May 2022 to April 2027.

A seed and biotechnology company, Bioseed is a wholly owned subsidiary of DCM Shriram Limited, one of India’s largest agricultural conglomerates. Bioseed’s partnership with IRRI is through IRRI’s Bio-Innovation Center (BIC), a membership-based program that enables public and private sector partners to leverage the institute’s world-class research infrastructure, expertise, and resources for the development or scaling up of their own products or research solutions. Bioseed has been a BIC member since August 2020.

Bioseed and IRRI have several collaborative projects currently ongoing. These include:  Evaluation of transgenic maize events for resistance to fall armyworm; Evaluation of transgenic events of rice for drought and salinity tolerance and introgression of selected events in the elite parental lines of Bioseed Research Philippines Inc. rice hybrids; Gene editing rice for improved grain yield, drought tolerance, and leaf blight and blast resistance; Development, characterization, and evaluation of transgenic lines of rice for drought and salt tolerance and enhanced nitrogen assimilation; and Transgenic rice events evaluation for drought tolerance, nutrient utilization, and yield improvement.

 Signatories of the amendment were Dr Ajay Kohli, Interim Director General of IRRI, and Dr Paresh Verma, Chief Executive and Research Director of Bioseed SE Asia. Witnessing the signing were Dr. Gururaj Kulkarni, IRRI Bio-Innovation Center Director, and Devadatta Sirdeshpande, Executive President and General Manager of Bioseed Research Philippines.

The partnership extension will advance research initiatives

AgroPolicy, Floriculture, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Vegetables

The production of fruits is expected to reach 112.63 million tonnes in 2023-24, mainly due to increases in production of Banana, Lime/Lemon, Mango, Guava and Grapes.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Second Advance Estimates of 2023-24 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops compiled on the basis of information received from States/ UTs and other Governmental source agencies.

Highlights of 2023-24 (Second Advance Estimates): 

The horticulture production in the country in 2023-24 (Second Advance Estimates) is estimated to be about 352.23 million Tonnes, decrease of about 32.51 Lakh Tonnes (0.91 per cent) over 2022-23 (Final Estimates).

Increase in production of Fruits, Honey, Flowers, Plantation Crops, Spices and Aromatics & Medicinal Plants is seen over 2023-24 (Final Estimates) whereas decrease in Vegetables.

The production of Fruits is expected to reach 112.63 million Tonnes, mainly due to increases in production of Banana, Lime/Lemon, Mango, Guava and Grapes. On the other hand, production of Apple and Pomegranate are expected to decrease as compared to 2022-23

Production of Vegetables is envisaged to be around 204.96 million Tonnes. Increase is expected in production of Bottlegourd, Bittergourd, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Tapioca, Carrot and Tomato, whereas, decrease in production is envisaged in Onion, Potato, Brinjal and Other Vegetables.

Production of Onion is expected to be at 242.12 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Second Advance Estimates) compared to 302.08 Lakh Tonne last year, a decrease by about 60 Lakh Tonne.

Potato production in the country is expected to around 567.62 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Second Advance Estimates) that is, a decrease by about 34 Lakh Tonne, mainly due to decrease in production reported in Bihar and West Bengal.

Production of Tomato is expected to be around 212.38 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Second Advance Estimates) compared to around 204.25 Lakh Tonne last year, an increase by 3.98 per cent Lakh Tonne.

The production of fruits is expected to

Agribusiness, Company News, Farm Mechanisation, Finance, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during May 2024 were at 37109 units, as against 34126 units for the same period last year.

 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group, announced its tractor sales numbers for May 2024. Domestic sales in May 2024 were at 35237 units, as against 33113 units during May 2023.Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during May 2024 were at 37109 units, as against 34126 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 1872 units.

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said “We have sold 35237 tractors in the domestic market during May’24, a growth of 6 per cent over last year. Coupled with timely arrival of southwest monsoon in Kerala and northeast states and forecast of an above normal monsoon has improved the on-ground sentiments of the farmers. Land preparation activities for Kharif crops are expected to begin on time, which is likely to boost tractor demand in coming months. In the exports market, on the back of OJA exports to USA, we have sold 1872 tractors, a growth of 85 per cent over last year.”

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during

Collaborations, Seeds

With this MoU, the organisations aim to increase awareness about and implement Legal Seed and Plant Practices worldwide.

CIOPORA joined forces with the International Seed Federation (ISF) and 11 other organisations representing and defending the interests of plant breeders worldwide to collaborate in the fight against illegal seed practices (ISP) through a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the ISF World Seed Congress 2024.

The organizations participating are CIOPORA, ISF, the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), Euroseeds, the Seed Association of the Americas (SAA), the Anti-Infringement Bureau for Intellectual Property Rights on Plant Material (AIB), the Breeders Trust, CropLife International, Gestión de Licencias Vegetales (GESLIVE), SICASOV, Seed Innovation Protection Alliance (SIPA), and SeedsInnovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI).

Organisations leaders sign MoU

With this MoU, the organizations aim to increase awareness about and implement Legal Seed and Plant Practices worldwide. These practices promote value creation in the agricultural and horticultural sectors and foster innovation for farmers and growers. Such innovation is crucial to the development of plant varieties that meet the current and future needs of plant breeders, including adaptation to the impacts of climate change and resistance to different pests and diseases.

“It is time that we act together to raise awareness about not only the magnitude but also the serious consequences that illegal activities in seeds may have not only economically to seed companies and farmers but also to consumers,” said Marco van Leeuwen, President of ISF.

Michael Keller, Secretary General of ISF shared: “The MoU was signed here at our centennial congress to send a clear message: events like the ISF World Seed Congress must not become a platform for infringers to trade in illegal seeds. In fact, ISF has put in place a procedure to exclude entities and individuals who are proven to commit illegal seed practices from future congresses.”

ISP as “Illicit Trade in Food and Food Fraud”

Illegal seed practices may cover activities including counterfeit seeds, fraudulent labelling, intellectual property infringements, regulatory offences, trademark infringements, and thefts of proprietary material.

Although there is no hard data about the prevalence of illegal seed practices around the world, according to a recent survey conducted by ISF, they are widespread in many countries, affecting many crops, value chain actors and even consumers. Depending on the crops and geographies, illegal seeds may account for up to 50% of the market and have devastating consequences for farmers, who may face severe crop failures and economic losses. As a whole, these activities threaten the integrity of the seed sector and put farmers’ livelihoods, food production, and food security at risk.

As part of awareness-raising efforts, ISF has written a chapter on the implications of illegal seed practices in a publication of the World Trade Organization (WTO) entitled “Illicit Trade in Food and Food Fraud,” which was released.

In this publication, WTO’s Doaa Abdel-Motaal, Senior Counsellor, WTO Agriculture and Commodities Division, stated: ““Illicit trade and fraud in the agri-food sector has a wide range of impacts on various stakeholders, including consumers, farmers, agri-businesses, regulators and other operators within the food industry. Although the global cost of fraud to the food industry is difficult to determine given the clandestine nature of the activity, annual estimates are in the range of US$ 30-50 billion (which does not include losses associated with illicit trade in alcoholic beverages).”

“We must remember that plant breeders are those who, thanks to research in plant improvement, work every day to provide solutions from the farmer to the consumer. We develop new varieties to, for example, fight climate change, produce more with fewer resources, or reduce food waste,” said Antonio Villaroel, Managing Director of Gestión de Licencias Vegetales (GESLIVE).

“We are clear that together we can work harder and better, and reach more people with our messages, which support the fight against illegal seed practices and ensure that the work we do every day is valued. We cannot forget that the seed is the first link in the value chain,” said Mary Ann Sayoc, President of the Seeds Innovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI).

With this MoU, the organisations aim to

Biofuel industry, India, Interaction

Curtain Raiser of India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024 was held during the event in presence of IFGE members and industry leaders.

Experts and industry leaders from the bioenergy sector witnessed a fruitful panel discussion on bioeconomy and curtain raising of Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 24 at MCCIA in Pune on June 3, 2024. Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications jointly organised a Panel Discussion: “Shaping the Future Bio economy Way” and Curtain Raiser of India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024.  The event was formally launched by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways and Dr Pramod Chaudhari, President, IFGE & Executive Chairman, Praj Industries at a glittering function in New Delhi on February 21, 2024, in the presence of more than 250 industry representatives.

The panel discussion highlighted some of the major initiatives that the Government is taking in the bioenergy sector and also provided a platform to understand the challenges and opportunities therein. The panel discussion is a precursor to a much larger event India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024: An International Conference & Exhibition on Bioenergy and Technologies at India International Convention and Expo Center, Dwarka, New Delhi from September 2-4, 2024.

Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, IFGE in his introduction speech informed the audience about the government initiatives taken for the growth of the bioenergy sector. The panel discussion was moderated by Atul Mulay, Chairman, Bioenergy Committee of IFGE and President, Bioenergy, Praj Industries Ltd. In his speech, Mulay informed the audience about the background of bioeconomy and explained its different aspects.

Mulay said, “India has saved Rs 80000 crore through EBP20 programme out of which Rs 75000 crore are gone back to farmers, rural economy, and employment creation. In addition to this, EBP20 programme has reduced 150 lakh metric tonnes of carbon emission. Government declared investment plan of Rs 2 Lakh crore in the CBG programme for the development of CBG plants across the country. Government is aiming to increase sustainable Aviation fuel and green hydrogen by 2030 which creates new opportunities for the bioenergy industry.”

While emphasising on the increasing requirement of green fuel, Atul Kharate, COO, Indian Oil Adani Ventures Limited – IAV Biogas said, “The demand of green fuel such as biodiesel, CBG, ethanol is increasing across the country.  Considering this scenario, we need to triple our efforts for the development of the bioenergy sector.”

Experts also discussed the current status of the sugar industry in India and role of circular bioeconomy to the growth of the sugar industry.

While speaking about the growth opportunities for the sugar industry Dr Kakasaheb Konde from Vasantdada Sugar Institute said, “A lot of resources are available in the sugar industry for developing new value-added products from molasses and bagasse. Sugar industry needs to diversify its product portfolio into different value-added products. Bioeconomy will help to serve in this aspect.”

 The panel discussion also highlighted the challenges and opportunities in the biomass supply chain. Experts discussed the need of developing infrastructure for biomass procurement and transportation in rural areas.

Tushar Lowalekar, Founding Member and Chief Business Officer, Biofuel Circle informed about the challenges in the biomass supply chain in the country. “In India the supply chain of biomass is unorganised. Farmers need support in equipment, procurement and transport. There is a huge need to develop an infrastructure for the biomass supply chain. Financial support from government and private firms will play a vital role in the development of the biomass supply chain”, he said.

Lowalekar also added that use of technology will surely help in making the biomass supply chain stronger.

In the second part of the event, the curtain raiser video of India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024 was screened for the information of the audience.

Dr Pramod Chaudhari, President, IFGE & Executive Chairman, Praj Industries informed about the latest trends in the bioenergy sector. Chaudhari said, “India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024 will be focused on Bio-Energy and technologies involved in the sector are picking pace in terms of combating environmental externalities. This expo is a timely initiative of IFGE for shaping the bioenergy sector of India”.

Y.B Ramakrishna, Chairperson, IFGE CBG Producer Forum, Former Chairman- Working Group on Biofuel, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in his speech emphasised the need of in-situ management of agriculture- residue in order to mitigate the challenges in the supply chain.

“Private industry should develop sustainable models for the management of crop residue in rural areas. There is a need of scaling up new technologies for conversion of feedstock into value added products. Also, the validation of by-products from agri-waste is also important for the growth of the sector”, said Ramakrishna.

 Dr Reji Mathai, Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) mentioned about opportunities for the bioenergy sector in his address. He said that the Automotive industry and players in the bioenergy sector should come together to bring out new solutions in the sector.

Ravindra Boratkar, Founder Member, IFGE & Managing Director, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications, proposed vote of thanks. He also proposed a vote of thanks to all those who are supporting the event and those who supported to organise the curtain raiser function. Boratkar informed about the highlights of India Bio Energy & Tech Expo, 2024 in his concluding remarks. He said that the Expo & Conference highlights include concurrent shows such as India CBG & Tech Expo, India Biomass and Tech Expo, India Ethanol & Tech Expo, India Biodiesel & Tech Expo, India Waste to Energy & Tech Expo, and India Bio-Mobility & Tech Expo.

Curtain Raiser of India Bio Energy &

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, Finance

Company reported PAT of Rs. 2,833.91 million in FY24 registering 18 per cent growth over previous year.

 Praj Industries (Praj), announced its audited financial results for the quarter and full year ended March 31, 2024.

 In Q4 FY24, company’s income from operations stood at Rs 10,185.646 million (Q4 FY23: Rs. 10,039.845 million; Q3 FY24: Rs.8,286.226 million). Company’s PBT is at Rs. 1,230.237 million (Q4 FY23: Rs. 1,128.133 million; Q3 FY24: Rs. 919.217 million). Company posted PAT of Rs. 919.361 million in Q4FY24 (Q4 FY23: Rs. 881.151 million; Q3 FY24: Rs. 704.143 million). Company’s order intake during the quarter Rs. 9240 million.

 In FY 24 company’s income from operations stood at Rs. 34,662.784 million (FY23: Rs. 35,280.378 million).  Company has posted PBT of Rs. 3,774.608 million in FY24 (FY23: Rs. 3,187.249 million). Company reported PAT of Rs. 2,833.909 million in FY24 (FY23: Rs. 2,398.182 million).The consolidated order backlog as on March 31, 2024 stood at Rs. 38,550 million (FY23 order backlog at Rs. 34,140 million).

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Mr. Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, Praj Industries said, “Our quarterly and annual results reflect business development across different dimensions of our portfolio and our ability to create, deliver and capture value to an increasing base of diverse customers. Praj is on a path to transform its business with additional focus on emerging segments of CBG, SAF and ETCA in near to midterm future while expanding the share of international business in the overall pie.”

Key Developments:

• Praj is very proud to announce successful commissioning of Commercial scale CBG plants based on press mud and rice straw as also achieving of benchmark results for yield. With this Praj now has proven commercial scale CBG projects operating on three key feedstocks namely- spent wash, pressmud and rice straw.

• Y-o-Y growth of 62% in the international order book

• Praj is chosen to build state of the art modules for one of the largest Blue Hydrogen projects in

Europe.

• Praj was among the select invitees to participate in the ‘Interaction of Hon’ Prime Minster with Global

Company reported PAT of Rs. 2,833.91 million

Agribusiness, Company News, Speciality Chemicals, World

 Company’s green ethylene oxide, ethanolamines, and ethylene amines are sustainable alternatives that contribute to significant product carbon footprint reduction.

Nouryon, a global specialty chemicals leader, announced that it is now certified to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification standard ISCC PLUS for the production of green ethylene oxide, ethanolamines, ethylene amines, and the surfactants derived from these raw materials at its site in Stenungsund, Sweden. The Company is a leading global producer of ethylene amines and surfactants.

“We are pleased to serve our customers by supplying key building blocks such as green ethanolamines and ethylene amines based on sustainably sourced raw materials to contribute to lowering our customers’ product carbon footprint,” said Sirpa Engman, Vice President of Intermediates at Nouryon. “This announcement, in addition to our recent launch of green monochloroacetic acid (MCA), demonstrates our continued dedication to delivering sustainable solutions for our customers.”

Ethylene oxide, ethanolamines, and ethylene amines are key building blocks in the production of surfactants used in applications including cleaning, personal care, crop protection, oilfield, paper, and textile manufacturing. Surfactants are used to manufacture, amongst others, detergents, shampoos, and other cleaning agents applied in general cleaning applications, both in home and in industrial settings. Nouryon’s green ethylene oxide, ethanolamines, and ethylene amines are sustainable alternatives that contribute to significant product carbon footprint reduction while delivering the same high quality and performance.

“Our customers value high-performance solutions that also support their environmental targets,” said Brad Pearson, Vice President of Cleaning Goods at Nouryon. “The introduction of green ethoxylated surfactants to the household, industrial and institutional cleaning markets marks an important step in supporting our customers by providing high-quality cleaning solutions while reducing product carbon footprints.”

The Company is also a leading global monochloroacetic acid (MCA) supplier, having become the first to produce and achieve ISCC PLUS certification for green MCA, derived from sustainably sourced raw materials at its site in Delfzijl, the Netherlands.

As a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, Nouryon works to ensure that its products meet or exceed industry benchmarks for sustainability without sacrificing performance. Learn more about the Company’s overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption intensity, and other sustainability targets.

 Company’s green ethylene oxide, ethanolamines, and ethylene

Agri Genomics, Agrotech, Company News, R&D, World

Expanding the potential of CRISPR-based technologies through the collaborative innovation platform Shoots by Syngenta  .

Syngenta Group, one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, will provide rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research globally, as part of its commitment to foster innovation and drive sustainability in agriculture. These rights are accessible through its innovation collaboration platform Shoots by Syngenta.

The rights to certain intellectual property are related to optimized CRISPR-Cas12a as well as to gene-editing enabled breeding tools. Through CRISPR gene-editing, it is possible to deliver an improved plant that does not include DNA from a different species – more quickly and efficiently than otherwise possible in nature or through conventional breeding methods.

“The power of CRISPR technology has incredible potential to enable crop innovation to deliver value to farmers,” says Gusui Wu, Head of Global Seeds Research at Syngenta. “The increased use of CRISPR in agriculture can transform the way we approach plant breeding, accelerating the discovery and deployment of innovations that provide growers more productive and resilient crops. We are inviting universities and academic institutions from around the world to help us drive innovation to improve the sustainability of agriculture.”

As a leader in this wave of technological innovation, Syngenta scientists have been continuously innovating to improve CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies. Syngenta’s scientists have engineered CRISPR Cas12a to increase both its efficiency as well as utility, significantly optimizing it as a tool for crop improvement.

Syngenta has long been open to sharing technology with public and private entities, enabling straightforward, quick, and easy access to its proprietary technologies for academic and non-profit research use. One example is Syngenta’s vegetable licensing platform, which allows breeding companies and academic institutes to access and breed with Syngenta germplasm.

The Shoots by Syngenta global innovation collaboration platform was created in 2023 with a goal to create partnerships aimed at finding solutions to some of the most complex challenges in food and agriculture. It brings together the external innovation ecosystem – comprising academics, research institutes, and other entities – together with Syngenta’s global network of more than 6,000 scientists, to develop solutions that mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and better serve smallholder as well as large-scale farmers. The platform is built upon the values of openness and transparency.

“At Syngenta, we truly believe that collaboration accelerates innovation,” says Stuart Harrison, Head of Global Seeds R&D Partnerships. “This new initiative has tremendous potential to not only result in exciting technology innovations, but to also drive critical crop solutions that will support farmers worldwide.”

Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, states: “By accessing these innovative technologies from Syngenta, the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and North Carolina State University can more broadly accelerate its capabilities in genome editing.  We are excited about the application of these technologies in our research programs as they will certainly enable improvement to a variety of crops to the benefit of the grower community.”

Expanding the potential of CRISPR-based technologies through

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Company News, Live Stock, Poultry

Biosecurity Solutions app provides push notifications on disease outbreaks and important updates in real time for early detection of risks.

 Biosecurity via cell phone or tablet: Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has developed a new app for farmers and veterinarians to enable them to protect livestock quickly and effectively in the event of disease outbreaks.

The LANXESS Biosecurity Solutions app offers a variety of functions that are specially tailored to the needs of farmers and veterinarians:

Product finder: With the product finder, users can quickly and easily select the biosecurity products suitable for their individual requirements. This takes into account the portfolio available in their country as well as local animal husbandry requirements and health regulations.

Push notifications: Push notifications inform users in real time about disease outbreaks and their development in their respective country. This allows users to react quickly and protect animal health.

Volume calculator: The volume calculator helps you to calculate the optimum dosage of cleaning agents and disinfectants. The correct dosage not only increases the efficiency of cleaning processes, but also ensures animal health and compliance with hygiene standards.

Document library: The app provides access to an extensive document library with technical data sheets, brochures and guidelines. Farmers and veterinarians can thus access important information at any time and expand their specialist knowledge.

Biosecurity Solutions app provides push notifications on

India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Oilseeds, Pulses, Trade

Let’s unravel this latest controversy propped up against one of India’s key exports.

As per the Spices Board of India the domestic spice market alone is valued at an astounding $10 billion, positioning India as the world’s largest consumer of spices. With over 200 spices and value-added products exported to approximately 180 countries, India has undeniably risen as a global spice powerhouse, with exports totaling $4 billion. What’s at stake here is of monumental value, one is the sheer economic worth of spices exports and second, and undeniably the most important, is the reputation of the country’s exports. Let’s unravel this latest controversy propped up against one of India’s key exports.

India, celebrated globally as a spice powerhouse, is now confronting mounting concerns regarding the safety of its esteemed spice exports. In the recent past, Singapore and Hong Kong suspended sales of select spices from Indian brands MDH and Everest due to suspected elevated levels of ethylene oxide (EtO), a cancer-causing pesticide. Furthermore, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated investigations into products from these brands for potential pesticide contamination.

Even Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the statutory authority in the Australian government health portfolio responsible for developing food standards and New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), the New Zealand government body responsible for food safety, have collected samples of Indian spices for investigations. Analysis by Reuters reveals that since 2021, an average of 14.5 per cent of US shipments of MDH spices were rejected due to bacterial presence. Despite these challenges, both brands assert the safety of their products.

The European Union (EU) has also sounded the alarm after detecting ethylene oxide in samples of Indian chilli peppers and peppercorns. Similar concerns have prompted regulatory investigations in the Maldives and Bangladesh.

Nepal on May 18 banned the sale and import of certain spice-mix products manufactured by Indian brands over alleged quality concerns. Four spice-mix products by MDH and Everest were banned in the Himalayan nation due to suspected ethylene oxide(EtO )contamination, according to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal.

This controversy is particularly unsettling given the stature of the affected brands. MDH, a 105-year-old family-run firm based in Delhi, boasts a diverse range of over 60 blended spices. Everest Food Products, established by a spice trader over five decades ago, prides itself on being India’s largest manufacturer of pure and blended spices, with exports to over 80 countries. Notably, Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have served as Everest’s brand ambassadors.

Not the first time

However, this isn’t the first instance where Indian spices have encountered contamination issues. In 2014, Ipsita Mazumdar, a biochemistry expert, conducted tests on popular spice brands in Kolkata that produce chilli, cumin, curry powder, and garam masala. She discovered lead in the food colouring used to enhance the spices’ vibrant orange or red hues. More recently, in April, food and drug control authorities in Gujarat seized over 60,000 kg of adulterated spices, including chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, and pickle masala. These past incidents underscore systemic challenges in ensuring food safety.

In response to these concerns, Indian authorities have taken measures to address the issue. The Spices Board has issued guidelines to exporters to monitor ethylene oxide usage, while the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is conducting sample testing.

Despite these efforts, questions persist regarding the root cause of contamination and the efficacy of regulatory oversight. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, an independent researcher and environmental justice activist, remarked, “India has been a spice exporter for centuries. However, this image has been diminishing in recent years due to the government’s inadequate attention. We have yet to determine at which stage the contamination is occurring. Ethylene oxide is not used by farmers; it is most likely a post-harvest, post-processing residue.”

Donthi emphasises the necessity for comprehensive investigations and increased government attention to protect India’s reputation in the spice industry. The repercussions extend beyond regulatory actions, potentially affecting India’s spice exports significantly. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) of  the Spices Board cautions that escalating regulatory measures could endanger up to half of India’s spice exports, especially if major markets like China harbour doubts.

For consumers in the West, this controversy highlights the critical importance of traceability and transparency in the spice supply chain. In response to these challenges, industry experts advocate for a holistic approach to food safety, stressing the importance of transparency, rigorous enforcement, and clear communication.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Let's unravel this latest controversy propped up

Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Opinions

  By Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President, IPL Biologicals

India is one of the world’s top producers of food, and its agricultural sector generates more than 20 per cent of its total GDP, highlighting the significance of agriculture to the nation’s economy, according to McKinsey. However, there is an increasing awareness that the changing farming situation demands a comprehensive approach. With its integration of environmental sustainability, socioeconomic aspects, and soil health, this method represents a move towards more cohesive and sustainable agriculture operations. While India continues to play an essential role in global food production, adopting this comprehensive view is critical to ensuring the agricultural sector’s long-term survival in the face of changing environmental and economic forces.

As technology continues to transform the agriculture industry, IPL Biologicals has introduced novel approaches such as Microbots are becoming increasingly prevalent. With the ability to use microbes as precise robots in agricultural environments, Microbots technology has the potential to completely transform farming methods, ensuring they are safe. The integration of Microbots technology is a revolutionary step towards a precise, efficient, and sustainable future in the Indian agricultural landscape. This approach not only empowers farmers but also secures food security for future generations as precision, efficiency, and sustainability come together in the search for a more resilient agricultural sector.

Benefits of Microbots 

Maximise yields and higher ROI: The implementation of Microbots in Indian farming gives a great opportunity for creating significant yields and, thus, ensuring a successful and growing future in organic and regenerative agriculture. Farmers utilise microbials that are driven by micro-precision for functions such as fertilising and improving structure and quality soil, and pest control. This results in the minimisation of resource waste and better yields, which result in the higher return on investment (ROI). This technological advancement not only helps in boosting crop yield but also paves the way for resilience against environmental obstacles, hence securing a prosperous future for agriculture in India.

Empower robust farming: Microbot technology allows Indian farmers to grow crops of high quality by leveraging Microbots technology.  These microbials lead to no problem of pest recurrence, pest resurgence as well as pesticide residue as well. Through the integration of microbials, farmers gain increased productivity as well as the adoption of sustainable farming strategies, which eventually leads to a great future. Hence, this transformative technology reinvents the way agriculture is done, paving the way for increased productivity and resilience in the face of evolving agricultural challenges.

Enhanced nutrient uptake: A greater uptake of nutrients in crops is observed by Indian farmers who use Microbots technology. With their precise delivery of nutrients to plant roots, these microbials maximise absorption and encourage healthier growth. Microbots technology helps boost agricultural yields and soil health by making sure fertilisers are used efficiently. This improved uptake of nutrients not only increases output but also encourages organic and regenerative agriculture, improving soil health, creating the foundation for an agriculturally wealthy and resilient future for India.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

  By Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President, IPL BiologicalsIndia