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Biofuel industry, India, Nature, Opinions, Sustainable Energy

 By Ramakrishna Y B, Former Chairman, National Working Group on Biofuels, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

India’s fastest growing economy is fuelled by energy. India’s energy consumption has more than doubled since 2000 and is growing rapidly. Oil and gas account for over 35 per cent of the total energy consumed in the country. Over 87 per cent of oil and around 44 per cent of gas consumed in the country are imported. India is the third largest consumer of oil after the US and China. The successful implementation of National Policy on Biofuel will not only help steadily move towards energy self-reliance but will help boost the rural economy, employment generation, additional income to farmers and create a clean and green environment in the process fulfilling the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Net Zero initiatives.

The NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the Biofuel Programme in 2014. It was a shocking and surprising revelation that implementation of Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) was hovering around just 1.4 per cent on pan India basis as against a target of achieving 20 per cent blending by 2017.  A National Working group was constituted in 2015 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) to draw a new road map and suggest ways for effective implementation of the program. A Biofuel cell was also created in MoP&NG. Biofuel substitution was identified as a highly potential opportunity to achieve the Prime Minister’s target to reduce fossil fuel import by 10 per cent by 2022.

National Policy on Biofuel 2018

The Government of India took a decision to shift the Biofuel Programme from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to MoP&NG in early 2018. MoP&NG soon came up with a New National Biofuel Policy – 2018. The policy aimed to utilise, develop and promote domestic feedstock for production of biofuels thereby increasingly substituting fossil fuels contributing to energy security. It also aimed at climate change mitigation apart from employment generation in a sustainable way.

The goal of the policy was to achieve about 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol and about 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030.  This goal will be achieved by

Reinforcing ongoing ethanol/biodiesel supplies through increasing domestic production

Setting up 2nd generation bio refineries

Development of new feedstock for biofuels

Development of new technologies for conversion to biofuels

Creating suitable environment for biofuels and its mainstreaming

The NBP-2018 allows ethanol production from B- Molasses, sugar cane juice, sugar syrup, crops such as sugar beet, sweet sorghum, corn, cassava, rotten potatoes and surplus & rotten food grains unfit for human consumption. These initiatives came as a boon to the sugar industry bogged down with excess sugar production, unattractive domestic and international prices, and accumulated dues to sugarcane growers. Even the government had to spend several thousand crores of rupees to subsidise the export of sugar to sail over the excess sugar production to an extent of 6-8 million metric tonnes (MMT) a year in the market. Sugar mills, while balancing the sugar production to ensure meeting domestic demands, started building additional distillery capacity and fully utilising the under-utilized capacities. 

There has been a lot of debate about the policy allowing the food grain for production of ethanol. The food vs. energy security arguments re-surfaced. The policy was a well thought out exercise. India is the largest producer and exporter of cereals globally. Having met its own and export demand more than 40 MMT of food grain was declared unfit for human or animal consumption. The rationale was to divert this surplus for ethanol production. Several interventions are being offered to grow sugar beet, sweet sorghum and especially corn involving the farming community in the marginal and under productive arable land. Broad basing the feedstocks for first generation ethanol also resulted in investment decisions to set up several hundred grain based standalone distilleries.

Growing ethanol supplies

Government of India policies coupled with the overwhelming response from the sugar industry, independent distilleries and not in the least aggressive blending programme by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) resulted in achieving the 10 per cent blending target five months ahead of the target date of October 2022.  As of date (June 2024) the pan Indian blending has crossed 15 per cent  and E20 is being sold through 14000 retail outlets. All these new initiatives are expected to help reach more than 15 billion litres per annum of first-generation ethanol by 2025. It is estimated that the country needs about 10 to 11 billion litres of ethanol to achieve a 20 per cent blending target by 2025. The surplus ethanol will be marketed as E100 (there are already 350 retail outlets selling E100) and diverted for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) production.

The commitment demonstrated by all the stakeholder has given the confidence to the government of India to advance the 20 per cent blending target from 2030 to 2025. With a 10 per cent blending target achieved in May 2022, India enters into the league of three nations to have achieved this milestone besides Brazil and the United States of America.

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

 By Ramakrishna Y B, Former Chairman, National

Biofuel industry, India, Opinions, Sustainable Energy

By Dr S S V Ramakumar, Chief Technology Officer & Member, Management Committee, AM Green

India, as per estimates, generates every year approximately 20 MMT of surplus agricultural residues of different crop varieties. Discounting some quantity of the same for animal/cattle fodder, a large amount of the same is available for value addition. In the absence of proper value addition avenues, often these residues will pose disposal issues and end up as environmental menace, when resorting to burning. Recent technological advances make these residues a precious bio-energy resource. Many green energy options can be derived from these residues like second generation ethanol (E2G), compressed biogas and a host of platform green chemicals. The recent value-added green product that is being thought of from these residues is sustainable aviation fluids (SAF). Let’s explore the possibilities.

The aviation industry accounts for 2-3 per cent of global CO2 emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a part of larger climate goals has put forward the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). As per CORSIA standards, the compliance phase starts from 2027 from which time, each country needs to reduce its aviation emission footprint by 50 per cent by 2050 from a base line of 2005 levels.

Aircrafts are normally propelled by petroleum derived jet fuel and global annual consumption at pre-COVID levels is 360 billion litres. Emission reduction measures in an aircraft generally by efficiency improvement, electrification and resort to clean fuel propulsion by hydrogen. Any engine modification is extremely cost & time intensive, and rest of the measures stated are farfetched. Hence, the easiest of CORSIA emission compliance measures is to blend a certain permissible amount of clean burning bio-/sustainable aviation fuel in the normal jet fuel. This way one can easily meet the emission reduction target by virtue of lesser CO2 emissions emitted by SAF. The blending percentage of SAF depends on its nature and production pathway and the target quantum of emission reduction being aimed. The blending percentage, to start with, varies from as low as 2 per cent to as high as 50 per cent.  

Production Pathways

Presently, there are nine pathways approved by ASTM International, formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials, to produce SAF from various feedstocks. These are coal, Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), fermented sugars and alcohols.  As far as India is concerned, Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) and HEFA based technologies are more suitable. More than HEFA which suffers feedstock availability concerns, ATJ is a more plausible technology. Alcohols (mostly ethyl alcohol) can be produced from a variety of bio-feedstocks including agri residues. That’s how agri residues caught the flight of imagination of one and all for value addition into SAF. The degree of value addition can be inferred from the fact that SAF is currently priced three times higher than conventional fossil-based ATF (jet fuel).

The ICAO proposes SAF blending as 2 per cent by 2025, 5 per cent by 2030,17.5 per cent by 2035, 40 per cent by 2040, 45 per cent by 2045 and 65 per cent by 2050. A recent announcement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the Centre stipulates the indicative target of 1, 2 and 5 per cent of SAF blending in ATF in India by 2027, 2028 and 2030 respectively initially for international flights. One per cent blending of SAF by 2027 as per current Indian ATF consumption levels is equivalent to around 100 TPD, if we restrict to only international flights. Many leading countries like Brazil, Norway, the USA, the UK and Indonesia have announced blending targets ranging from as low as 0.5 per cent immediately to up to 30 per cent    by 2030 and various fiscal incentives and reward schemes for blending in place.

Ethanol can be produced from essentially two or three pathways using agri/bio feedstocks. Most common way of producing ethanol is by fermentation of sugar/sugar syrup or sugar cane molasses, maize which is known as 1G pathway.  Lignocellulosic agri residues like rice, wheat, paddy straw, various specialised grasses (energy crops like Napier, Switchgrass etc.) can also yield ethanol through a 3-step bio-chemical process of pre-treatment, hydrolysis (saccharification) and fermentation which is also known as E2G. There is a third pathway where CO2/CO emissions in the off-gases of steel mills and refineries can be fermented to yield ethanol (which we can call third generation ethanol (E3G). All these types of ethanol can be further upgraded through chemical processes to form SAF. Of these, the carbon intensity of 1G ethanol is estimated to be high and hence SAF produced from the 1G feedstock is not EU RED-II/III compliant thereby making them barred presently for European markets. Indian and the US regulatory systems accept SAF produced from any type of ethanol.   

Indian ethanol production projections by 2030 from all routes explained above would reach the 2000 crore litre mark. Of this quantity, even if gasoline blending by 2030 at 20 per cent requires 1000 crore  litres, India would be surplus in ethanol. Hence, ATJ pathway is one of the potential pathways to produce SAF in India. IndianOil has announced the construction of 86 KTPA of SAF plant at their Panipat Refinery using LanzaJet (USA) ATJ technology. Several private players are also in the process of setting up commercial scale SAF facilities in India.

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

By Dr S S V Ramakumar,

Biofuel industry, India, Opinions, Sustainable Energy

 By Santanu Gupta, Executive Director (Alternate Energy), Indian Oil Corporation

The global bioenergy landscape is evolving rapidly, with countries around the world recognising its potential to address climate change, enhance energy security, and promote sustainable development. India, with its abundant biomass resources and growing energy demand, is uniquely positioned to lead in the bioenergy sector, particularly in the production and utilisation of Compressed Biogas (CBG). Let’s delve deep as to how CBG can be a new hope for energy independence for India.

The Prime Minister of India along with the leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius and UAE, launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) on September 9, 2023, on the side-lines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. As of date, 24 countries and 12 international organisations have joined the GBA. GBA will support worldwide development and deployment of sustainable biofuels. There are already worldwide interactions on Biofuels through GBA.

The Government of India has put several policies in place to boost bioenergy. The National Policy on Biofuels – 2018 (NPB) which was amended in 2022 is a major step towards development of a sustainable biofuels ecosystem across the country. The policy categorises biofuels as “Basic Biofuels” namely First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and “Advanced Biofuels” – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, Compressed Biogas (CBG). NPB has set a target of 20  per cent  ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26. As per the “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25”, the estimated requirement for 20  per cent  ethanol blending in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 is approximately 1016 crore litres and this quantity of petrol will be replaced by ethanol. As per the Roadmap, a successful E20 programme can save the country about $4 billion per annum. Similarly, a target of 5  per cent  blending of biodiesel in diesel has been considered under NPB by 2030.

India is focusing on biogas and CBG as part of its strategy to diversify its energy mix. Derived from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, such as agricultural residues, cattle dung, and municipal solid waste, CBG is purified and compressed to be used as a vehicular fuel, industrial fuel, commercial fuel or injected into the natural gas grid.

CBG offers numerous benefits to our country and the environment. Production of CBG will assist in increasing the green energy mix, reduce import dependence, create employment especially in rural areas and reduce pollution due to crop burning. This will largely create value and employment in the rural economy across the supply chain from biomass collection to plant operation. CBG contributes to cleaner air and better public health compared to conventional fossil fuels. Production of CBG is also in alignment with Centre’s programmes of Climate Change mitigation, import reduction, energy security through replacement of fossil fuel, “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, “Make in India”, “Swachh Bharat Mission” and creating a circular economy.

The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative, launched in 2018, is a key government programme aimed at promoting CBG production and its use as a vehicular fuel. This initiative aligns with India’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and enhancing energy security.

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

 By Santanu Gupta, Executive Director (Alternate Energy),

Carbon Farming, India, Opinions, Sustainability

 By Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) has an important and critical role to play in decarbonising the industrial and power sector. Since CCUS is at a nascent stage of deployment, government support and incentives are needed to promote the adoption and development of CCUS technologies at a commercial scale in India. The next decade is that of CCUS – where global capture of CO2 will increase manifold, investments will be at an all-time high and hundreds of such facilities will be built – the world shall look up to India in its carbon management plan. The time is right for India to progress towards a dedicated national CCUS Mission, taking inspiration from endeavours like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, National Solar Mission, etc. Let’s look at how India is looking at CCUS as an opportunity in meeting four of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN and can join the league of major world economies in the CCUS world map.

India stands at a critical juncture in its clean energy journey. We are the world’s third-largest CO2 emitter, yet committed to ambitious decarbonisation goals of 45 per cent emission reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2070. While the expansion of renewable power is a notable success in India’s clean energy transition, the power sector accounts for only a third of total emissions, which are expected to decline as renewables replace fossil fuels.

The growing industrial economy emits close to another third of the aggregate emissions that are hard to lessen, due to the use of fossil fuels not only as a source of energy but within the process itself, and will continue to increase, unless new technologies and carbon abatement mechanisms are deployed. At the same time, while we phase down the use of fossil energy sources over time, India will be dependent on coal for a long time, to support the ever-increasing energy demand and meet the requirements for affordable and reliable baseload power.

To read more click: E-Magazine – AgroSpectrum Asia

 By Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI

AgroPolicy, India, Interaction, Opinions

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways Government of India

Bioenergy is a promise for the better future of India and indeed a win-win situation for our country. It has the potential to address several issues being faced by the country- from income to independence, savings to sustainability and employment to entrepreneurship. It has the potential to increase farmers’ income, make the nation self-sufficient in fuels with oil import substitutes, save the country’s huge funds, provide a sustainable alternative in the energy sector, grow employment prospects and provide entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly in the MSME sector. Let’s explore this further.

I have been observing and saying that we need to find alternative to fossil fuel. Oil import for fossil fuels like petrol, diesel and gas is currently costing our country Rs 18 lakh crore per year. Thus, the oil import Bill is a matter of serious concern for our economy. Finding alternatives to fuel imports to save the nation’s fund is paramount for our economy. If this huge amount being spent on oil import is saved, it can be utilised for the development of the country.

Secondly, fossil fuels pose serious threat to environment in terms of pollution they cause. This is a matter of serious concern as it could lead to increase in the respiratory and lungs related diseases. Reduction in pollution and moving towards sustainability is also possible by biofuels and bioenergy. One more cause for very serious pollution in parts of North India is burning stubbles in the farm after harvesting. Interestingly, stubble burning and bioenergy are complementary to each other. The stubbles can be used for bioenergy resolving three issues at a time – a) giving farmers income for waste which they are burning 2) converting the stubbles into biomass for different forms of bioenergy and 3) providing a solution to the problem of pollution caused by stubble burning.

Focusing on bioenergy development will also lead to farmers’ development. The condition of the agriculture sector in India is not satisfactory. Despite having surplus production of wheat, sugar, rice and corn, the agriculture sector is contributing only 12 to 14 per cent to the GDP of the country and the fact remains that almost 65 per cent of the population of the country is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. As a result, the rural population, particularly poor, unemployed and small farmers, has to face serious problems. To improve their condition, the agriculture sector’s contribution to the GDP should be more than 25 per cent and for that we need to go for the crop diversification – shifting our focus to energy crops.

Shifting to Viable Alternatives

Diversification of agriculture towards power and energy generation is the need of the hour. We have shifted our focus on the production of ethanol, methanol, Bio-CNG, Bio-LNG, Bio-bitumen and hydrogen (Green fuel). Alternative energy, green fuel, bio energy are very important for the development of the country.

To increase the use of alternate fuels, the government has launched various schemes like blending petrol with ethanol, producing first, second and third generations ethanol, allowing mixing lignin in bitumen etc. Recently the union cabinet has approved the production of ethanol from sugarcane, bamboo, B-molasses and C-molasses, foodgrains and broken rice and corn.

India is having surplus production of sugar, and the rate of sugar is less in the Brazil market. Hence, it is advisable to use surplus sugarcane for the production of ethanol. We have already started blending 15 per cent ethanol in petrol and very soon we will achieve the 20 per cent ethanol blending target. Automobile companies have started the production of cars fitted with flex engines which run fully on ethanol. Toyota has already produced flex engine cars and others like Tata, Suzuki are also about to launch flex engine cars. The flex engines generate 60 per cent of electric power and require 40 per cent of ethanol. If you compare the cost with petrol, the flex engine vehicles cost only Rs 25 per litre.

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

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport &

Biofuel industry, India, Interaction, Sustainable Energy

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways was speaking at the inaugural of International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy & Technologies 2024 in Dwarka, Delhi.

“Promoting the biofuel sector in India would benefit the country’s agriculture sector. Bioenergy sector is set to reach 50 per cent of fossil fuel in the next five years”, said Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways during the inaugural session of the India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo 2024.

Gadkari announced that 400 Ethanol pumps are starting in India, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Every year import of fossil fuel is 22 lakh tonnes.

He mentioned that it is not the problem with air pollution, but it is also a deep economic concern for the country. Today agriculture and allied industry share in GDP is 12 per cent, manufacturing 20-25 per cent, service sector 20-25 per cent. The promotion of the bioenergy sector will help to achieve a 5 trillion economy dream.

The 3-day event started from September 2, 2024, is organised by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) and MMActiv Sci-Tech Communications, is an International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy & Technologies at Yashobhoomi – India International Convention & Expo Centre in Dwarka, Delhi. It represents a significant step in advancing the bioenergy sector and is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Dr Pramod Chaudhri President, IFGE & Executive Chairperson, Praj Industries, Ravindra Boratkar Founder Member of IFGE and Managing director of MM Activ Sci -Tech Communication, were present at the inaugural session.

AgroSpectrum September 24 issue devoted to the bioenergy sector in India was published by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and dignitaries during the inaugural session.

 Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated that the government is making efforts to increase the use of biofuels in India. The target year for achieving 20 per cent ethanol-blending has been advanced by five years to 2025, and there are plans for 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030. Additionally, oil companies have been directed to sell 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, and BIS specifications for higher ethanol blends (E12 and E15) indicate the government’s emphasis on biofuels and alternative energy sources.

IIT Delhi and IFGE signed an MoU for the Centre of Excellence at IIT Delhi for Bioenergy. The Biodiesel Association of India also facilitated awards to Indian Oil Corporation, Emami Agrotech, Blue Stone Energy, and Kem Energy.

The event will feature diverse exhibitors from the bioenergy, biofuel, biomass, CBG (Compressed Biogas) production, ethanol end users, technology providers, equipment, and machinery EPC industries.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, Road Transport

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, Fungicides, Herbicides, India

Velzo® fungicide, Vayobel® herbicide and Ambriva® herbicide will help fruits & vegetables, paddy and wheat farmers tackle challenging diseases and weeds.

FMC Corporation, a leading agricultural sciences company, announced the launch of three cutting-edge crop protection solutions in India today. The new herbicides and fungicide complement FMC’s current robust portfolio of insecticides and reaffirms the company’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Indian farmers with science and innovation-driven crop solutions.

Ronaldo Pereira, President of the FMC Corporation, Pramod Thota, President of the FMC Asia Pacific region and Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India, were present at a launch event for Velzo® fungicide, Vayobel® herbicide and Ambriva® herbicide, and to celebrate this significant milestone in FMC’s journey in India. The activities included field visits where the team interacted with farmers and a ceremony in Hyderabad where FMC’s top channel partners in India were honoured by the company’s senior leaders for their resolute commitment to work together for the introduction of innovative products and new services.

Velzo® fungicide, a specialty fungicide designed to combat Oomycete diseases in grapes, tomatoes, and potatoes, will help grapes farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka address the challenge of Downy mildew. Additionally, it will help control Late blight for potato and tomato farmers across the country. Vayobel® herbicide, a pre-emergent and broad-spectrum weed control solution for transplanted rice farmers nationwide, will help to establish a robust crop foundation. Lastly, Ambriva® herbicide, powered by Isoflex® active, features a novel mode of action to tackle the issue of resistant Phalaris minor weeds, giving wheat farmers in the Indo-Gangetic plains a new tool for resistance management.

“Technology forms the backbone of agricultural growth, and FMC’s focus remains on investing in innovative, science-based solutions that not only enhance crop productivity and resilience but also support sustainable farming practices,” said Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India. “Providing Indian farmers with these latest advancements in crop care emphasizes our commitment to empowering them with solutions tailored to their regional needs. We look forward to launching additional innovative products in the near future.”

India is a top market for FMC globally. Powered by its strong research and development pipeline, the introduction of Velzo® fungicide, Vayobel® herbicide and Ambriva® herbicide is a testimony to FMC’s commitment to delivering innovation excellence to address the evolving challenges faced by Indian growers. By supporting farmers with sustainable technologies, FMC is contributing to a safe, secure, and sustainable food supply, with minimal impact on the planet.

Velzo® fungicide, Vayobel® herbicide and Ambriva® herbicide

AgroPolicy, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Oilseeds

The report comprehensively explores the current state of the country’s edible oil sector and its future potential.

The report titled “Pathways and Strategies for Accelerating Growth in Edible Oils Towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta” was released by Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman, in the presence of Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), ICAR institutes, and industry players yesterday. The report was presented by Dr Neelam Patel, Senior Advisor (Agriculture), NITI Aayog.

The report highlights that over the past decades, per capita consumption of edible oil in the country has seen a dramatic rise, reaching 19.7 kg/year. This surge in demand has significantly outpaced domestic production, leading to a heavy reliance on imports to meet both domestic and industrial needs. In 2022-23, India imported 16.5 million tonnes (MT) of edible oils, with domestic production fulfilling only 40-45 per cent of the country’s requirements. This situation presents a substantial challenge to the country’s goal of achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils.

The report comprehensively explores the current state of the country’s edible oil sector and its future potential. It presents a detailed roadmap to address existing challenges, focusing on bridging the demand-supply gap and developing new approaches to attain self-sufficiency. Under a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario, the national supply of edible oil is projected to increase to 16 MT by 2030 and 26.7 MT by 2047.

The report considers three distinct approaches for demand forecasting to gain a multifaceted understanding of future edible oil needs: (i) ‘Static/Household Approach’ utilizing population projections and baseline per capita consumption data, assuming a short-term static pattern in consumption behavior; (ii) ‘Normative Approach’ based on the recommended healthy intake levels established by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN); and (iii) ‘Behavioristic Approach’ recognizing the potential for behavioral shifts in food consumption patterns due to evolving lifestyles and dietary habits driven by increasing income levels and price fluctuations under two scenarios: in Scenario I, where consumption is capped at 25.3 kg per capita (the average of developed countries), the demand-supply gap is projected to be 22.3 MT by 2030 and 15.20 MT by 2047. In Scenario II, which considers a higher consumption level of 40.3 kg per capita (comparable to the USA), the gap widens to 29.5 MT by 2030 and 40 MT by 2047. In the BAU situation, the country’s edible oil demand will reach Scenario-I by 2028 and Scenario-II by 2038 where under the high-income growth circumstance, assuming an estimated 8 per cent annual growth, The country’s edible oil demand is expected to Scenario-I as early as 2025, a three-year advancement compared to the BAU situation and Scenario-II by 2031, seven years earlier than anticipated in the BAU situation, showcasing even higher demand due to accelerated economic growth.

The report comprehensively explores the current state

Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Drones, India, Start ups

The partnership will be implemented in phases, starting with key agricultural regions and expanding to cover the entire country.

 AVPL International, a leading name in the Indian drone ecosystem and a pioneer in revamping the agricultural landscape through technology, has formalised a strategic partnership with DeHaat, a prominent agri-tech platform in India. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in efforts to modernise the agricultural sector by merging advanced technology with grassroots agricultural expertise.

The initiative will see AVPL International’s advanced agricultural technologies being integrated with DeHaat’s well-established network, providing farmers with improved tools and resources. Additionally, AVPL International will provide training to create Dronepreneurs who will be appointed at DeHaat stores to offer drone services to farmers. These Dronepreneurs will be responsible for providing Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) at each DeHaat store, including data sharing and precision farming initiatives over the next three years. The partnership will be implemented in phases, starting with key agricultural regions and expanding to cover the entire country.

Moreover, the partnership will focus on opening stores in agricultural mandis owned by state governments, in association with the National Council of State Agriculture Boards. AVPL International will also provide DaaS services across 70 locations for conducting non-agri training and deploy one drone entrepreneur for DaaS at each DeHaat store.

AVPL International, with a presence across 12 states, also has a collaboration with the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) to conduct drone spray operations across an expansive 50 lakh acres, spanning eight states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Amrendra Singh, DeHaat’s Co-Founder, commented, “This partnership with AVPL International aligns perfectly with our mission to empower farmers through cutting-edge technology. By integrating AVPL’s drone and agri-tech solutions with our established network, we aim to significantly enhance the productivity and efficiency of our existing farmer base. This collaboration will not only improve yield but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the farming practices across our vast network.”

DeHaat is one of the fastest-growing start-ups in the Agri-Tech sector and one of the few companies providing end-to-end solutions and services to the farming community in India. DeHaat is building AI-enabled technologies to revolutionise supply chain and production efficiency in the farming sector. Currently, it operates in 12 Indian agrarian states with an extensive network of over 15,000+ DeHaat Centres and 503 FPOs, serving more than 2.7 million farmers. Additionally, DeHaat offers AI-enabled crop advisory for over 30 crops in regional languages.

Preet Sandhuu, Founder of AVPL International, added, “We are pleased to support DeHaat in its endeavour to empower farmers and make agriculture sustainable in India using advanced technology. Our collaboration with DeHaat is a major step forward in our mission to transform agriculture in India. Together, we aim to provide farmers with the tools and support needed to excel in today’s competitive environment.”

By integrating DeHaat’s extensive farmer network with AVPL International’s innovative technological solutions, the alliance aims to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in farming practices across India.

To further strengthen this collaboration, AVPL International will establish a Project Management Unit dedicated to training and skilling 140,000 candidates. These efforts will focus on promoting candidates as agri-entrepreneurs, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to adopt new technologies and innovative farming practices. The training will encompass a wide range of areas including drone training, drone manufacturing, agri-trainings, agri-retail, and multi-sector skill development, all aimed at creating “Dronepreneurs” and agri-entrepreneurs.

Farmer City International Pvt Ltd (FC), a subsidiary of AVPL International, is also a crucial part of this partnership. FC is dedicated to empowering farmers and enhancing economic opportunities through a unique phygital model that integrates physical stores with digital platforms. As an aggregator of agri-tech start-ups, FC aims to transform Indian agriculture by providing farmers with training, certification, market linkages, and a wide range of agricultural services and products.

The partnership will be implemented in phases,

Acquaculture, Agribusiness, Agro Universities, Agrotech, Animal Health, Collaborations, Company News, India, Live Stock

The VNN vaccine developed by CIBA can prevent vertical transmission of the disease to the offsprings and prevent mortality in fingerlings.

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading vaccine manufacturer, has announced partnership with Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institute for the commercial development of a recombinant monovalent viral nervous necrosis vaccine for finfish developed by CIBA.

IIL ventured into aqua business in October 2022 by launching products for aquaculture health market dealing with pond management and fish or shrimp gut management and subsequently announced commercial development of fish vaccines with ICAR’s CIFE, Mumbai and CIFA, Bhubaneswar. India is the 3rd largest fish producer in the global sphere and more than 65 per cent of India’s fish is through Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture. The main constraint to aquaculture globally, however, is disease with an estimate that 20 per cent of all cultured aquatic animals are lost because of infectious diseases, amounting to >10 billion USD in losses annually on a global scale.

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) or viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) is an acute viral disease affecting several species of marine, brackishwater and freshwater fishes. The disease causes up to 100 per cent mortality in larval and early juvenile stages. Adult fish when infected, is asymptomatic, but can transmit the virus to the offspring through eggs and gonadal fluids.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals Limited said, “IIL is the first in India to get to fish vaccines. We are covering different kind of fishes (fresh water, brackish water, etc.) and culture conditions (pond, cage culture, etc.) and are aware of the challenges associated with being the first, having been in similar situations for many other livestock vaccines. We are working at multiple fronts in defining pathways for commercial development of fish vaccines in India”.

Dr. Priyabrata Pattnaik, Deputy Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals Limited added “IIL as a leading “One Health” organization is committed to developing vaccines for different fish pathogens with a long-term strategic objective of reducing use of antibiotics in aquaculture there by antimicrobial resistance in environment”.

Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA said “viral nervous necrosis is a major threat for brackishwater aquaculture. The VNN vaccine developed by CIBA can prevent vertical transmission of the disease to the offsprings and prevent mortality in fingerlings. The vaccine can play a significant role in controlling the loss due to VNN in India and other Asian countries”.

Aquaculture in India suffers economic losses due to infections caused by several bacterial, viral, fungal, and other aetiological agents. Currently these infections are being managed by anti-infectives and other conventional measures with varying degree of success. With the rising concern pertaining on anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and chemical free food products both at global and domestic platforms, there is a growing need for better control measures against these infections. Currently there is no fish vaccines available in India on a commercial scale to prevent aquaculture infections.

The VNN vaccine developed by CIBA can

AgroPolicy, India, Sugar industry, Sustainable Energy

The government has approved the allocation of 23 lakh tonnes of rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) stock for ethanol production.

The central government has allowed sugar mills and distilleries to produce ethanol from sugarcane juice, syrup, and B-heavy molasses for the ethanol supply year 2024-25. This decision reverses a previous ban imposed on December 15, 2023. The Director of Sugar in the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution issued the order lifting the restriction. This decision aligns with agreements between the Food Ministry, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, and oil marketing companies (OMCs). Both ministries will closely monitor the diversion of sugar for ethanol production to balance it with domestic sugar supply needs.

In addition to this, the government has approved the allocation of 23 lakh tonnes of rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) stock for ethanol production. Ethanol producers will be able to participate in FCI auctions to purchase this rice, which can be used as feedstock.

Last year, due to low sugar production estimates and rising prices of sugar, government banned the production of ethanol from sugarcane juice, syrup and B-heavy molasses production at sugar mills. Earlier FCI stopped selling rice for ethanol production due to rising prices. The government has set a target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol to 20 by 2025., which is at the level of 13 per cent as per the latest data.

To ensure sufficient domestic sugar supplies, the government has also maintained a ban on sugar exports, despite industry claims that there is adequate stock for export. The industry has called for the export ban to be lifted, citing expectations of better sugar production in the upcoming season.

 Government has also announced that he Food Ministry will continue to monitor sugar production in collaboration with the Petroleum Ministry to ensure a balanced approach to ethanol production and sugar supply.

Welcoming Decision

The sugar mills body, Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), has welcomed the decision made by the government. Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA, said, “We welcome the decision taken by the government to lift the restriction on ethanol production. On behalf of the industry, ISMA would like to thank the Government of India. Lifting the restriction and allowing unrestricted ethanol production from sugarcane juice, B-Heavy Molasses, and C-Heavy Molasses for ESY 2024-25 is a significant relief for the industry.”

The government has approved the allocation of

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, India, Live Stock, Schemes - Govt

These initiatives are expected to generate more than five lakh employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mumbai and Palghar in Maharashtra on 30th August 2024. PM will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects at CIDCO ground, Palghar.

 During his visit, PM will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 218 fisheries projects worth around Rs 1,564 crores, aimed at bolstering the sector’s infrastructure and productivity across the nation. These initiatives are expected to generate more than five lakh employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.

Prime Minister will launch the National Roll Out of Vessel Communication and Support system at a cost of around Rs. 360 crores. Under this project, 1 lakh transponders will be installed in a phased manner on mechanised and motorised fishing vessels in 13 coastal States and Union Territories. The vessel communication and support system are indigenous technology developed by ISRO, which will help in establishing two-way communication while fishermen are at sea and also help in rescue operations as well as ensure safety of our fishermen.

Other initiatives to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the development of fishing harbours and Integrated Aquaparks, alongside the adoption of advanced technologies such as the Recirculatory Aquaculture System and Biofloc. These projects will be implemented across multiple states and will provide crucial infrastructure and high-quality inputs to enhance fish production, improve post-harvest management, and create sustainable livelihoods for millions involved in the fisheries sector.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for important fishery infrastructure projects including development, upgradation and modernization of fishing harbours, fish landing centres and construction of fish markets. This is expected to provide necessary facilities and hygienic conditions for post-harvest management of fish and seafood.

These initiatives are expected to generate more

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, Funding, India, Start ups, Sustainable Energy

The company plans to develop advanced Bio-CBG plants, invest in research and development, and create more green jobs in the bioenergy and solid waste management sector.

Biofics Private Limited, a leading company in Bio-CNG Plant Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and decentralized waste management solutions, has successfully raised Rs 10.4 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round. The round was led by renowned investor Gunavanth Vaid, with additional participation from Upaya Social Ventures.

The newly raised capital will be strategically allocated to scale operations, advance technology, and expand Biofics’ market reach. The company plans to develop advanced Bio-CBG plants, invest in research and development, and create more green jobs in the bioenergy and solid waste management sector.

Commenting on the investment, Gunavanth Vaid expressed his enthusiasm for Biofics’ potential, stating, “Biofics Private Limited is at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions. Their expertise in Bio-CBG technology addresses environmental challenges while generating economic benefits. I am thrilled to be a part of their journey and to see the remarkable impact they will continue to make in the industry.”

Biofics Private Limited has established itself as a leader in waste management and bioenergy, diverting 100 million tonnes of waste away from landfills through innovative solutions. With over 500 projects installed across India and current order book close to Rs 500 crore, Biofics is poised for significant growth in the renewable energy market.

Sunil Mahapatra and Vikas Mishra, promoters of Biofics Private Limited, shared their excitement about the successful funding round, saying, “We are honoured to have the support of Gunavanth Vaid and Upaya Social Ventures in this pivotal stage of our growth. This investment marks a significant milestone in our journey to revolutionize the bioenergy and solid waste management sector. With this support, we are ready to accelerate our growth, enhance technological innovations, and expand our footprint in the renewable energy market.”

Biofics Private Limited, headquartered in Surat, is a leader in the waste management and bioenergy sector. The company specialises in the development and maintenance of Bio-CBG plants and decentralized waste management solutions, with a strong commitment to its mission of “Zero Waste to Landfill” & developing a closed loop “Circular Economy Ecosystem”. Their subsidiary, Biofics Organics, is a trusted developer of high-quality biofertilizers and biopesticides.

The company plans to develop advanced Bio-CBG

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - Govt

These initiatives aim at expanding the scope of eligible projects and integrate additional supportive measures to foster a robust agricultural infrastructure ecosystem.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved the progressive expansion in Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ to make it more attractive, impactful and inclusive.

In a significant move to enhance and strengthen the agricultural infrastructure in the country and support the farming community, the Government has announced a series of measures to expand the scope of Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. These initiatives aim at expanding the scope of eligible projects and integrate additional supportive measures to foster a robust agricultural infrastructure ecosystem.

Viable Farming Assets: To allow all eligible beneficiaries of scheme for creation of infrastructure covered under ‘viable projects for building community farming assets’. This move is expected to facilitate the development of viable projects that will enhance community farming capabilities, thereby improving productivity and sustainability in the sector.

Integrated Processing projects: To include integrated primary secondary processing projects in list of eligible activities under AIF. However standalone secondary projects would not be eligible and would be covered under MoFPI schemes.

PM KUSUM Component-A: To allow convergence of Component-A of PM-KUSUM with AIF for farmer/group of farmers/ Farmer Producer Organizations/ Cooperatives/ Panchayats. The alignment of these initiatives aims to promote sustainable clean energy solutions alongside the development of agricultural infrastructure.

NABSanrakshan: In addition to CGTMSE, it is proposed to extend AIF credit guarantee coverage of FPOs through the NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Pvt. Ltd. also. This expansion of credit guarantee options is intended to enhance the financial security and creditworthiness of FPOs, thereby encouraging more investments in agricultural infrastructure projects.

The expansion in the scope of AIF scheme is poised to further drive the growth, improve productivity, enhance farm incomes and contribute to the overall sustainability of agriculture in the country. These measures also underscore the Government’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector through holistic development of farm infrastructure in the country.

Since its launch by the Prime Minister in 2020, AIF has been instrumental in supporting creation of 6623 warehouses, 688 cold stores and 21 silos projects, resulting in additional storage capacity of about 500 LMT in the country. This includes 465 LMT of dry storage and 35 LMT of cold storage capacity. With this additional storage capacity 18.6 LMT of food grains and 3.44 LMT of horticulture produce can be saved annually. Rs. 47,575 Crore has been sanctioned for 74,508 projects under AIF till date. These sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs 78,596 Crore in agriculture sector, out of which Rs.78,433 Crore has been mobilised from private entities. In addition, infrastructure projects sanctioned under AIF have helped in generating more than 8.19 Lakh rural employment opportunities in the agriculture sector.

These initiatives aim at expanding the scope