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Agbiologicals, Australia, Collaborations, Company News, Fungicides

The new bio-fungicide, set to launch in 2026 for winter crops and spring turf, addresses the growing challenge of foliar diseases in cereals, canola and turf applications.

ADAMA, a global leader in crop protection solutions, has announced a partnership with Elemental Enzymes, a US-based life sciences company, to introduce an innovative biological fungicide to the Australian market.

The new bio-fungicide, set to launch in 2026 for winter crops and spring turf, addresses the growing challenge of foliar diseases in cereals, canola and turf applications. Utilizing Elemental Enzymes’ patented peptide technology, the product will offer a novel mode of action to protect against fungal diseases like septoria tritici and septoria nodorum in wheat.

By stimulating plants’ natural defenses, the bio-fungicide will complement existing chemical fungicides, helping to manage disease resistance and improve crop health. This innovative peptide technology will support conventional fungicides by activating the plant’s natural immune response to diseases. ADAMA Australia will exclusively distribute the bio-fungicide for broadacre crops and turf, while also exploring additional applications through its research and development program.

“We are excited to partner with Elemental Enzymes to bring this innovative technology to Australian growers,” said Steve Scott, General Manager of ADAMA Australia. “The increasing prevalence of fungal diseases and the growing resistance to traditional fungicides highlight the urgent need for new solutions. This bio-fungicide offers a promising approach to enhance crop protection and sustainability. We are committed to rigorous testing and development to ensure this product delivers tangible benefits to Australian farmers.”

This partnership aligns with ADAMA’s strategy to provide innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions that deliver high return on investment and meet the evolving needs of farmers worldwide.

The new bio-fungicide, set to launch in

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India, People

Before joining IFFCO-MC, Varshney served as the National Head of Marketing at Dhanuka Agritech, further cementing his reputation as a leader in the industry.

In a significant leadership change, Manoj Varshney has assumed the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at IFFCO-MC Crop Science Pvt. Ltd recently. Varshney brings to the table an impressive background in agricultural sciences and rural management, holding a BSc in Agriculture from G.B. Pant University, Pantnagar, and a PGDM in Rural Management from XIMB, Bhubaneswar.

Varshney carries around 20 years of rich and diverse experience Nationally and Internationally, primarily in Marketing of Agri inputs.  Varshney, in his earlier roles, held different positions i.e. Product Manager, Marketing Manager, General Manager, and Marketing Leader in across all the inputs viz. Seeds, Speciality Fertilizers, and Agrochemicals. Before joining IFFCO-MC, Varshney served as the National Head of Marketing at Dhanuka Agritech, further cementing his reputation as a leader in the industry.

Recognised as one of India’s top 30 influential marketing leaders, Varshney has been honoured with numerous awards throughout his career. His appointment is a strategic move by IFFCO-MC, as the organization looks forward to leveraging his dynamic leadership to achieve new milestones.

IFFCO-MC welcomed Manoj Varshney, a young and dynamic leader from the industry and look forward to touch new heights under his exemplary leadership.

Before joining IFFCO-MC, Varshney served as the

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

Company reported PAT Rs 331 Cr in Q1 FY25 vs Rs 505 Cr in Q1 of previous year.

Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading Agri solutions provider is in the business of Fertilisers, Crop Protection Chemicals, Bio products, Specialty Nutrients, Organic Fertilizer and Retail. The Company has reported the financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2024. Company’s total income for the quarter ended June 2024 was at Rs 4,783 Cr vs. Rs 5,740 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023. The profit after tax for the quarter was at Rs 309 Cr as against Rs. 494 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023. Company’s EBITDA for Q1 was Rs. 507 Cr vs. Rs 710 Cr in Q1 of previous year. Company reported PAT Rs 331 Cr in Q1 FY25 vs Rs. 505 Cr in Q1 of previous year.

Nutrient and Allied Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended June 2024 was at Rs 4,198 Cr as against Rs. 5,192 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023, registering a year-on-year de-growth of 19 per cent. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs 436 Cr vs. Rs. 672 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023.

Crop Protection Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended June 2024 was at Rs 551 Cr as against Rs. 556 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs 63 Cr vs. Rs 55 Cr for the quarter ended June 2023.

Commenting on the financial results, S Sankarasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO, Coromandel International Ltd. said, ″During the quarter, Coromandel made sequential recovery, registering healthy volume sales in Nutrients and Crop Protection businesses despite the delay in onset of monsoons. However, margins for the fertilizers business were impacted due to lower subsidy rates and rise in input costs.

Strengthening its backward integration capabilities has been one of the core focus areas for the company. Towards this, the fertilizer business has commenced activities for its Phosphoric acid (650 tpd)-Sulphuric acid (2000 tpd) complex at Kakinada. Further, to improve the operational efficiency and throughput at its phosphate mines at BMCC, Senegal, the company is setting up a fixed processing plant which is expected to be commissioned during the 2nd quarter of the year. During the quarter, the company commissioned Nano DAP plant at Kakinada and has set up Urea Super Phosphate unit at Nimrani, MP.

Crop Protection business volumes improved by 5 per cent driven by growth in technical and formulations. The company introduced ten new products during Q1 including four patented products. Its inlicenced formulation ‘Prachand’ has received very encouraging response from the market and business intends to introduce such novel formulations in coming periods by partnering with global innovators. The business has also finalized plans for setting up multi product plants for herbicide and fungicide manufacturing and activities for the same will commence during the year. The company continues to take progressive steps in strengthening its capabilities in Speciality chemicals and CDMO space.

Company reported PAT Rs 331 Cr in

Agribusiness, Company News, Finance, India

Profit Before Tax for the quarter stood at Rs 3,158 million, compared to Rs 4,061 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Bayer CropScience Limited announced its unaudited results for the first quarter (Q1) of Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. For Q1 ended June 30, 2024, the Company registered Revenue from Operations of Rs 16,312 million, compared to Rs 17,396 million in the corresponding period of FY 2023-24. Profit Before Tax for the quarter stood at Rs 3,158 million, compared to Rs 4,061 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Commenting on the quarterly results, Simon Wiebusch, Vice Chairman/Managing Director and CEO, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “Despite the slow progression of monsoons and the impact of low reservoir levels on our first quarter, we still achieved a 3 per cent growth in liquidation. Business picked up towards the end of June, coinciding with increased farming activity, indicating a positive market shift. However, supply constraints in our seeds business affected availability and increased the cost of corn seeds. Although revenue from operations declined, we maintain optimism for the upcoming season due to promising monsoon coverage across the country. Nevertheless, we remain sensitive to rain distribution, cropping patterns, and price pressure resulting from high industry inventories.”

Simon Britsch, Chief Financial Officer, Bayer CropScience Limited, while speaking about the quarterly results said, “We continue to focus on sustained operational expense management and rigorous working capital discipline, including targeted efforts in receivable collections. As we look forward, we maintain an optimistic outlook on our future prospects, confident in our ability to build momentum and steady growth investments.”

Profit Before Tax for the quarter stood

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

Competition Commission of India (CCI) also approved acquisition of equity shares of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited by Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed amalgamation of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers with Paradeep Phosphates Limited and proposed acquisition of equity shares of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited by Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited.

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) is a company under the Adventz group of companies (Adventz group). The majority shareholding in PPL is held by ZMPPL. ZMPPL is a 50:50 joint venture between Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd (ZACL), a company belonging to the Adventz group and OCP S.A. (OCP). PPL is primarily engaged in the production and marketing of complex phosphatic fertilizers.

Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (MCFL) is a company under the Adventz group. The majority shareholding (i.e. 54.03 per cent) in MCFL is held by ZACL. MCFL is primarily engaged in the production and marketing of complex phosphatic fertilizers.

Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited (ZMPPL) is a 50:50 joint venture between ZACL and OCP. ZMPPL currently holds 56.08 per cent equity stake in PPL. ZMPPL carries out trading of fertilizers.

The Proposed Combination comprises of: (i) the proposed amalgamation of MCFL with and into PPL, on a going concern basis (Proposed Merger); and (ii) the proposed acquisition of 3,92,06,000 equity shares of MCFL by ZMPPL from ZACL (Proposed Acquisition) (the Proposed Merger and Proposed Acquisition are collectively referred to as the Proposed Combination).

Competition Commission of India (CCI) also approved

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, Finance, India, Seeds

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to a revenue drop of 7 per cent.

 Agrochemical major, UPL Ltd., reported financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2024. Revenue growth for the first quarter was flat at 1 per cent, driven by 16 per cent increase in volumes, 14 per cent decline in price and a negative 1per cent Fx impact.

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to a revenue drop of 7 per cent and EBITDA drop of 30 per cent YoY.

Net Debt increased by $639 million in Q1FY25 vs year end March 24. The corresponding increase last year was $1,136 million.

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Mike Frank, CEO, UPL Corporation Ltd., said: ″We continue to see strong fundamentals in the global crop protection market, with farmgate demand for our products at or above last year levels in most regions.

Herbicides led the growth in North America, driven by glufosinate and clethodim. Our herbicide performance in Brazil also did well. Fungicides growth was led by higher volumes in Europe and North America.

Revenue growth in our Natural Plant Protection (NPP) business was impressive, up 10 per cent versus last year, driven by a strong performance in Europe, among other regions.

Our contribution margin compressed by 600 bps vs Q1FY24. This was primarily due to price decline, and partially offset with lower cost of goods. Increased freight costs and foreign exchange were also headwinds on margins this quarter.

From an SG&A perspective, we continue to remain disciplined, and the organization is focused on making improvements in the operating model and driving efficiency throughout the enterprise. ″

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Ashish Dobhal, CEO, UPL SAS, said: ″On our India Crop Protection business (UPL SAS), we continued our efforts to restructure the business through strict credit policies and tighter credit terms, which lead to a postponement of sales closer to season, and the consequent impact on Q1FY25 revenues. However, our contribution margins and cash flows have improved and working capital reduced, giving us the confidence that this is the right structural move for us in India”.

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Bhupen Dubey, CEO, Advanta, said: ″On our global seed platform, Advanta, we saw some headwinds in Q1FY25 on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to the impact on sales and EBITDA margins. ″

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of

Agribusiness, Company News, Finance, Funding, India, Speciality Chemicals, Start ups

With this new round, the company plans to double down on their R&D capabilities and add more geographies where key customer segments lie.

Speciality chemical manufacturing startup Scimplify announced today that it has raised USD 9.5 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Omnivore, alongside Bertelsmann India Investments and existing investors 3one4 Capital and Beenext. Scimplify is a leading specialty chemicals company in India offering a science-first, end-to-end contract manufacturing platform for agrochemicals, pharmaceutical APIs, and flavours & fragrances. In 2023, the global speciality chemicals market was valued at over USD 800 billion, with agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals contributing to more than 60 per cent of the market. Notably, India stands as the 2nd largest exporter of agrochemicals worldwide, and the overall Indian chemical industry is poised to reach double in output by 2027. Scimplify’s diversified services encompass contract research and commercial chemical manufacturing across various sectors, including agrochemicals, pharmaceutical APIs, and flavours & fragrances. With increasing demand for new formulations to support the green transition, shifts in global supply chains away from China and towards India, as well as manufacturing incentives from the Indian government, Scimplify is strategically positioned to cater to a substantial customer base in India and across the globe.

Based out of Bengaluru, Scimplify was founded in 2023 by Salil Srivastava and Sachin Santhosh. Salil previously led the chemicals vertical at Zetwerk and began his career with ITC Limited, while Sachin is an IIT-Madras alumnus who was earlier with Bizongo and began his career with of Business. The founders launched Scimplify to enable comprehensive solutions for the global specialty chemical industry with an emphasis on green manufacturing, quality, and innovation. With this new round, the company plans to double down on their R&D capabilities and add more geographies where key customer segments lie.

Salil Srivastava, Co-Founder of Scimplify, stated, “The backbone of Indian specialty chemical manufacturing are mid-sized factories that have built in-depth, chemistry specific expertise over decades. However, there is significant available capacity to double the national output in the next 5 years with the given infrastructure. Scimplify brings together unique products to these factories using cutting edge R&D along with consistent demand from global customers to utilize these capacities and provide a tech-enabled, full-stack offering to the modern agile customer.”

Mark Kahn, Managing Partner of Omnivore, observed, “Scimplify’s science-driven platform delivers affordable, sustainable agrochemicals and green chemistry intermediaries. By streamlining R&D and manufacturing of sustainable formulations, they’re meeting global demands and positioning India as a leader in sustainable manufacturing of chemical intermediaries. Their approach satisfies regulatory requirements, consumer needs, and environmental concerns, elevating industry standards.”

Rohit Sood, Managing Partner of Bertelsmann India Investments, added “We are excited to partner with Salil & Sachin on their venture to create value in the specialty chemicals industry through a full stack approach. Their unique science, technology & supply-first approach is best suited to leverage the increasing diversification of global supply chains while providing a big boost to the nation’s ‘Made in India’ drive.”

With this new round, the company plans

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

Sankarasubramanian brings a wealth of experience and has a proven track record as a Chief Financial Officer and a Business Head.

The Board of Directors of Coromandel International Ltd (CIL) announced the appointment of S Sankarasubramanian, Executive Director – Nutrient Business, as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coromandel International Limited with effect from 7th August 2024.

Sankarasubramanian brings a wealth of experience and has a proven track record as a Chief Financial Officer and a Business Head. He is a mathematics graduate from University of Madras, and a member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India, and has completed Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School in the year 2009.

His association with the Murugappa Group goes back to the year 1993. He started his career at E.I.D Parry (India) Limited in Corporate Finance, where he progressed through various roles before joining Coromandel International Limited in 2003.

During this tenure as business head of Nutrient segment, Coromandel has consolidated its position in the industry and grown profitably and diversified into new product portfolios including Nano technology and drone spraying services besides foraying into Mining operations. He also serves on the boards of Fertiliser Association of India, Tunisian Indian Fertiliser S.A., Tunisia, and Foskor (Pty) Ltd., South Africa, along with some of the company’s subsidiaries.

Sankarasubramanian brings a wealth of experience and

Agribusiness, Drones, India

Drone Planet’s established marketplace will now be part of AVPL, offering an even wider array of drones and parts to meet diverse needs, from agriculture to surveillance.

 AVPL International, a leader in the drone industry, announced its acquisition of Drone Planet. This strategic move is set to revolutionise the drone market by merging AVPL’s industry expertise with Drone Planet’s innovative platform.

The integration of Drone Planet into AVPL International brings several exciting enhancements. Drone Planet’s established marketplace will now be part of AVPL, offering an even wider array of drones and parts to meet diverse needs, from agriculture to surveillance. Additionally, Drone Planet’s comprehensive suite of services, including mapping, inspection, and rescue operations, will be seamlessly integrated into AVPL’s offerings, providing cutting-edge solutions across various industries. The addition of Drone Planet’s flexible loan options will make high-quality drones more accessible, simplifying the investment in advanced technology for both professionals and enthusiasts. Furthermore, Drone Planet’s job matching services will enhance AVPL’s efforts to connect skilled professionals with exciting new roles in the drone sector, broadening career possibilities. Drone Planet also offers the unique opportunity to select drone courses at affordable rates. By comparing training programmes, AVPL enhances its vision of a collaborative and collective approach, ensuring that top-notch training is accessible to a broader audience.

This acquisition marks a significant milestone for AVPL International, reinforcing its position as a key player in the drone industry. By combining resources and expertise, AVPL and Drone Planet are set to deliver unparalleled services and opportunities, shaping the future of drone technology.

Drone Planet’s established marketplace will now be

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

The fungicide formulation is particularly beneficial for tomato and potato crops in protecting them from early and late blight.

Best Agrolife Group, a leader in providing innovative crop solutions, announced that it has been granted a patent for its latest groundbreaking innovation. This revolutionary fungicide formulation combines Trifloxystrobin and Valifenalate. While the group has several ternary patents, this is the first-ever binary patent that Best Agrolife has received.

India’s unique climate allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of fresh vegetables. As the second-largest vegetable producer globally, India contributes 15 per cent to the world’s vegetable production. However, its average yield of 17 metric tons per hectare is lower than that of many other countries. Fungal diseases have been a significant challenge, causing considerable losses in both yield and quality.

The novel combination of Trifloxystrobin and Valifenalate marks a breakthrough in crop protection. This innovative fungicide offers farmers a highly effective solution against harmful fungal diseases. It is particularly beneficial for tomato and potato crops, protecting them from early and late blight. Additionally, it provides exceptional defense against downy mildew in grapes, onions, and cucurbits, even at low doses. This advancement represents a significant leap forward in agricultural science, helping farmers safeguard their crops and improve productivity.

Best Agrolife Group’s strategic vision is deeply rooted in driving novel innovations within the agrochemical industry. By continuously investing in cutting-edge research and development, the company aims to introduce breakthrough solutions that address the evolving challenges of modern agriculture. This commitment to innovation enables Best Agrolife to develop advanced crop protection products that not only enhance yield and quality but also promote sustainable farming practices. Through its forward-thinking approach, Best Agrolife Group is dedicated to empowering farmers with effective, environmentally friendly solutions, thereby fostering agricultural growth and resilience.

The fungicide formulation is particularly beneficial for

Agro Universities, Agrotech, R&D

The innovative spray machine, categorized under class 15-03, is engineered to boost efficiency and productivity in agricultural practices, marking a significant advancement in the sector.

MasterBrain Agro Industries Pvt Ltd, a notable startup incubated by the Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has made remarkable progress in agricultural innovation. The company recently registered its groundbreaking agriculture spray machine design under design number 410796-001. This innovative spray machine, categorized under class 15-03, is engineered to boost efficiency and productivity in agricultural practices, marking a significant advancement in the sector. MasterBrain Agro’s achievement underscores its dedication to leveraging technology to overcome farmers’ challenges.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr S S Gosal lauded the startup’s accomplishment, stating, “MasterBrain Agro Industries’ innovative approach to solving agricultural issues is commendable. Their new spray machine design will undoubtedly enhance farming practices, greatly benefiting our farmers.”

Dr. TS Riar, Principal Investigator at PABI, also expressed his admiration for the team’s dedication. “The registration of this new design highlights the ingenuity and perseverance of the MasterBrain Agro team. Their commitment to innovation and excellence in agriculture is inspiring. This milestone also reflects the effective support and mentorship provided by PABI, and I am proud of our team’s efforts in nurturing such promising startups.”

Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Poonam Sachdev added, “MasterBrain Agro Industries has set a high standard with their new spray machine design. It demonstrates their ability to create practical and impactful solutions for the agricultural sector. We are excited to see the positive impact this innovation will have on the farming community.”

Dr Riar emphasized the support provided by PABI, adding, “At PABI, our goal is to empower startups to reach their full potential. The success of MasterBrain Agro Industries is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right guidance and resources. “

The innovative spray machine, categorized under class

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Foodgrains, India

The collaboration seeks to advance millet processing technologies and enhance the industrial application of millets in India.

Swiss technology firm, Bühler India has announced a strategic collaboration with Nutrihub. Nutrihub is the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India supported Technology Business Incubator hosted by the Indian Institute of Millet Research, ICAR – IIMR, Hyderabad.

The collaboration seeks to advance millet processing technologies and enhance the industrial application of millets in India. IIMR conducts strategic research to increase the productivity of millets and their diversified utilization at a national level.

India produces approximately 19-20 million tons of millet annually, yet only about 2 million tons are processed on an industrial scale. Bühler India, in collaboration with Nutrihub-IIMR, is committed to tackling the challenges in millet processing, focusing on extending shelf life, enhancing flour properties, and increasing processing yields.

A key part of this initiative is researching the most effective grinding methods to achieve superior product quality at Bühler’s Application Centre and Analytical Laboratory. The Application Centre fosters collaborative partnerships between industry experts and partners, featuring six process lines and over 30 machines to conduct comprehensive product and machine trials. Meanwhile, the Analytical Laboratory performs detailed physical, chemical, and quality analyses of grains to ensure superior product quality, reinforcing our commitment to advancing grinding techniques.

The collaboration seeks to advance millet processing

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Finance, India

Company has reported Rs 841.80 million Profit After Tax (PAT) in Q1FY25.

Pune based Praj Industries (Praj), announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. In Q1 FY25 company’s income from operations stood at Rs. 6,991.41 million (Q1 FY24: Rs. 7,367.22 million; Q4 FY24: Rs.10,185.64 million). Company’s Profit Before Tax before exceptional items is at Rs. 788.80 million for the period (Q1 FY24: Rs. 777.03 million; Q4 FY24: Rs. 1,230.23 million). PBT after exceptional items Rs. 1,070.37 million. Company has reported Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs 841.80 million in Q1FY25 (Q1 FY24: Rs. 586.72 million; Q4 FY23: Rs. 919.36 million). Order intake during the quarter is Rs. 8,880 million.

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, Praj Industries said, “This quarter’s performance reflects the changing dimensions of the business dynamics. We are witnessing a healthy build-up of opportunities in key strategic areas of the company’s business. Our continued focus on innovation at the leading edge of technology will enable us deliver healthy performance going forward.”

Key Developments:

• International order booking comprises 42 per cent from international markets.

• Praj has successfully produced the first batch Lactic Acid 90 per cent, a building block for bioplastic, at its State-of-the-art demonstration plant for BioPolymers in Jejuri near Pune.

• Praj has established a Centre of Excellence & Innovation (CoEI) with Vasantdada Sugar Institute for

the Integration of Farm to fuel model with alternate feedstock development

Company has reported Rs 841.80 million Profit

Agro Universities, Award, People, R&D

Dr Ali’s recognition will coincide with the Awards and Closing Ceremonies of the CSSP-SABRAO (Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania) 2024 International Conference on Breeding and Crop Science, which will be held on 15 August 2024.

The Crop Science Society of the Philippines, Inc. (CSSP) proudly announced that this year’s recipient of the Sant S. Virmani Hybrid Rice Award is Dr Jauhar Ali, IRRI Principal Scientist and Research Unit Leader – Hybrid Rice Technology for Industry of the Rice Breeding Innovations Department. Dr Ali also heads the Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC) and Project Leader and Coordinator for Asia & East South Asia to the Green Super Rice (GSR).

Dr Ali bested all other nominees after thorough deliberation and critical evaluation of the CSSP Achievement Awards Committee, approved by the 2023-2024 CSSP Board of Trustees. It is a fitting recognition as Dr Ali has just come from a successful Inception Meeting of the project with the Government of Madhya Pradesh entitled, “Development of Climate-resilient, Bio-fortified HYV of Paddy for Madhya Pradesh in Collaboration with IRRI,” jointly organized by IRRI and Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), held on July 24-26 in Jabalpur, India. Dr P.K. Mishra, JNKVV Vice Chancellor, congratulates the IRRI team and is eager to strengthen the research collaboration with IRRI through this project. Dr M. Selvendran, Secretary, Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development (FWAD), Madhya Pradesh Government, wants the IRRI technologies to bring socio-economic benefits to millions of tribal farmers in the rice belt through close collaboration with the JNKVV scientists.

Dr. Ali’s recognition will coincide with the Awards and Closing Ceremonies of the CSSP-SABRAO (Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania) 2024 International Conference on Breeding and Crop Science, which will be held on 15 August 2024 at the Crimson Hotel, Filinvest-Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The award includes a plaque and a cash prize.

Dr Ali’s recognition will coincide with the