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Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, India, Textile industry

ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. introduced the CREMIT technology to fight the Pink Bollworm issue as a sustainable alternative to traditional insecticides.

Cotton is one of the most important commercial crops in India, accounting for around 23 per cent of the total global cotton production. However, the recent Pink Bollworm (PBW) attack has become a significant threat, causing extensive devastation to the cotton crop, especially in Northern India. Additional to crop loss, farmers are also likely to shift from cotton to other crops, further straining water resources.  To counter this trend, India’s leading textile company Sportking India collaborated with ATGC Biotech, Reviving Green Revolution Cell and Team Athena Pvt. Ltd. to launch an initiative, ‘San-Vardhan’ (Cotton You Can Trust) in Punjab and Haryana. Under this initiative, ATGC Biotech launched a technology called the CREMIT (Controlled Release Enhanced Mating Interruption Technology) which enables eco-friendly population control by implementing ‘Insect Family Planning’ as a sustainable alternative to traditional insecticides, thus reducing insecticide usage on the crop and soil, thereby ensuring better PBW control.

San Vardhan is a holistic approach to tackle the PBW issue, including package of practices of agronomy, nutrients, etc.  It will also enable traceability of the produce. This is currently being implemented across 2,000 acres in three districts of Punjab and Haryana with about 500+ cotton farmers being trained on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). The CREMIT technology’s efficacy is supported by several peer-reviewed publications including by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)-Ludhiana, CICR-Nagpur, JAU-Gujarat, ANGRAU-Guntur, and MPCKV-Rahuri.

According to Munish Avasthi, Managing Director, Sportking India Limited, “The reduction of cotton output is a big loss to smallholder cotton farmers, ginners, yarn manufacturers, cotton fabrics and the entire value chain. PBW is becoming a costly pest for cotton farmers threatening income and livelihood, disrupting cotton supply. We are extremely happy to fund the CSR project “San-Vardhan” (Cotton You Can Trust) with CREMIT technology to help address the PBW and support North India cotton farmers.”

The biggest causes of productivity loss in cotton are disease, weeds and unprecedented climatic conditions. Hence, there is an urgent need to improve the techniques of producing and improving cotton productivity in India.  There are many options available for farmers towards improving cotton. Interventions through precision farming, regenerative and sustainable agriculture practices and targeted solutions can help farmers with new practices.  Expert advisory services to address region-specific / localized issues and promoting eco-friendly inputs is another option. New-age tools like AI-powered predictive analytics, crop forecasting to enhance yields and reduce losses can also help farmers greatly. Many digital platforms and mobile apps also facilitate access to market information, best practices and training resources/modules as well.

According to Dr. Baljinder Saini, Executive Director, Reviving Green Revolution Cell (RGR Cell), the implementing partner for this project, “Innovations in farming along with the adoption of good agronomic practices by farmers can help increase agricultural productivity in cotton farming. I am extremely happy that the textile industry is coming forward to help the cotton farmers and hope to see similar initiatives being launched in Central and South India cotton growing areas.”

The learnings from the North India project as well as a scientific approach in agronomic practices, application of nutrients and other agri inputs, is imperative for attaining better productivity and income enhancement for farmers. Leading Textile organizations can launch similar projects in Central and South India to help cotton farmers increase productivity, improve quality, and reduce costs thereby enabling inclusive growth for farmers, making substantive contributions in meeting domestic consumer and industry needs – in short, making cotton farming more sustainable.

ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. introduced the CREMIT

Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, Horticulture, India, Start ups, Supply Chain

The partnership intends to facilitate Camposol’s market entry through the implementation of a tailored approach using Ninjacart’s knowledge and data systems.

Camposol, the largest blueberry producer in Peru, has partnered with Flipkart-backed B2B agri-start-up Ninjacart to bring the exotic fruit to India with the objective of getting the supplies year-round. The blueberry market in India is undergoing a transformation as a result of the strategic cooperation between Camposol and Ninjacart. This transformation is being brought about by Ninjacart’s digital marketplace, technology-enabled supply chain, innovative solutions, and data-driven approach. Through the utilisation of Ninjacart’s knowledge and data systems, this partnership intends to facilitate Camposol’s market entry through the implementation of a tailored approach. This is accomplished by leveraging Ninjacart’s enormous network of over 100,000 stores. Additionally, the relationship improves Camposol’s operational stability in India by providing data-driven insights based on volume. This makes it possible for Camposol to gain access to other cities and consumers more quickly. In addition, Ninjacart ensures complete traceability across the whole supply chain, with the goal of enhancing consumers’ awareness of the origin and safety of quality blueberries.Ninjacart has developed an application that monitors the health of these exotic fruits and offers statistics of inventory on a daily basis.

In addition to this partnership, the governments of Peru and India are currently engaged in preliminary discussions for the establishment of service and product agreements. Ninjacart is currently making preparations to expand its presence in the market for exotic fruits and will begin importing exotic fruits such as cherry, avocado, and other such fruits.

Camposol will, as a first step, promote its blueberries in metropolitan areas, and at the same time, it will make various efforts to build a habit of consuming berries among Indians. This is all part of Camposol’s strategy to expand its reach in India. After reaching the goal that was established earlier, Camposol will proceed to expand its presence into tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, which served to formalise the partnership between the two companies. The purpose of this strategic collaboration is not only to increase the availability of blueberries in India, but also to build greater agricultural linkages between Peru and India in the future to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Camposol’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Sergio Torres said, ” Through the utilisation of Ninjacart’s market knowledge, a curated entrance strategy is ensured, which allows for the smooth introduction of blueberries of superior quality to the Indian market. As a result of their enormous distribution network, consumers all throughout India will have easy access to fresh and premium blueberries through more than 100,000 retail outlets. By working together, we are in a position to reimagine the accessibility and perception of blueberries, making it possible for consumers all throughout the country to have access to product that is both fresh and of excellent quality.”

Ninjacart’s Co-founder and Head of International Business, Sharath Loganathan said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Camposol, which will leverage their superior sourcing capabilities for strong supply.” As the most important blueberry exporter in Peru, Camposol’s vertically integrated operations guarantee that their products are of the highest possible quality and are distributed in an effective manner throughout their activities. Our excellent ties with kirana stores, supermarkets, modern trade outlets, e-commerce/quick commerce platforms, and HoReCA partners make it possible for global brands to access premium customers in a smooth manner.

The partnership intends to facilitate Camposol's market

Agribusiness, Company News, Middle East countries, People

Hili will succeed Steve Hawkins, who has been appointed President of Syngenta Crop Protection and a member of the Syngenta Group Leadership Team.

Israel based ADAMA Ltd., a leading crop protection company, announced that its board of directors has appointed Gaël Hili as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. Hili will join the Syngenta Group Leadership Team and will be based in Tel Aviv.

Hili will succeed Steve Hawkins, who has been appointed President of Syngenta Crop Protection and a member of the Syngenta Group Leadership Team, based in Basel, effective October 1, 2024. Steve will continue to be fully dedicated to driving ADAMA’s ongoing business and transformation plan until his official appointment.

Hili has dedicated most of his career to the agriculture industry, starting with operational and commercial roles at Dow AgroSciences in Europe and later at Dow Chemical Company, where he served as Global Marketing Director. In 2017, he joined Syngenta as Head of Europe East, where he led the team to significant market share growth in both the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses. Since December 2023, he has served as the Head of Europe Syngenta CP and Seeds Field Crops. Hili holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France.

Jeff Rowe, President and CEO of Syngenta Group, said: “I am pleased to welcome Gaël Hili as the new CEO of ADAMA and member of the Syngenta Group Leadership Team. Gaël brings extensive experience and a proven track record of driving profitable growth and leading successful organizational change. He is the ideal candidate to accelerate the implementation of ADAMA’s transformation plan, successfully launched by Steve and the Global ADAMA Leadership Team earlier this year, to address the near-term financial health of the company and capture the fast-growing Value Innovation customer segment in ADAMA’s leading markets. Under Gael’s leadership together with ADAMA’s strong Leadership Team, and the continued support of Syngenta Group, I am confident that ADAMA will turnaround, revalue and reposition for the benefit of all its stakeholders including customers, employees, investors and bondholders around the world.”

Gaël Hili commented: “I am honoured to take on the role of President and CEO at such a pivotal time for ADAMA. The Transformation plan has already shown promising improvement in ADAMA’s cash flow, demonstrating our commitment to financial health and operational excellence. My focus will be on accelerating this momentum, ensuring we meet our profit and cash targets over the next three years. By building on the solid foundation laid by Steve and the leadership team, I am dedicated to driving long-term success and value for all our stakeholders. Together with ADAMA’s committed and professional global teams, we will continue to transform ADAMA into a stronger, more resilient company.”

Hili will succeed Steve Hawkins, who has

Acquaculture, Sustainability, World

Global projections of exploitable fish biomass show declines of more than 10 percent, particularly under the high-emissions scenario, by mid-century for many regions of the world.

New projections highlight potential climate risks to exploitable fish biomass for nearly all regions of the world’s ocean, including top producer countries and those with high reliance on aquatic foods, according to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Global projections of exploitable fish biomass show declines of more than 10 percent, particularly under the high-emissions scenario, by mid-century for many regions of the world, said the report Climate change risks to marine ecosystems and fisheries: Projections to 2100 from the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project.

By the end of the century, under the high-emissions scenario, which projects global warming of 3–4.0 °C, declines worsen to 30 percent or greater in 48 countries and territories.

In contrast, under the low-emissions scenario, which projects global warming of 1.5–2 °C, changes stabilize between no change and a decrease of 10 percent or less across 178 countries and territories by the end of the century.

Notable declines include those for top fish producer nations, which worsen towards the end of the century under the high-emissions scenario, for example 37.3 percent for Peru’s and 30.9 percent for China’s Exclusive Economic Zones but stabilize under the low-emissions scenario.

The report was produced by the Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP), an international network of researchers working with FAO to understand the long-term impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and fisheries through a set of state-of-the-art numerical models. It was released during the Thirty-sixth session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI36) held between 8 and 12 July 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome.

The report comes on the heels of the latest edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), which showed that world fisheries and aquaculture production hit a new high of 223.2 million tonnes in 2022.

Reducing hazards to marine ecosystems

“Understanding the potential impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and their fisheries, and their associated uncertainties, is crucial to design adaptation programmes at appropriate scales,” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.

“Lower emissions significantly reduce end-of-century biomass losses for nearly all countries and territories compared to the high-emissions scenario. This highlights the benefits of climate change mitigation measures for fisheries and aquatic foods,” he added.

A comparison of the losses projected under both scenarios by the end of the century reveals that lowering emissions has marked benefits for nearly all countries and territories.

This includes Small Island Developing States, where people rely heavily on fisheries for food and income and where the ecological and socioeconomic risks posed by climate change are highest. For example, among the Pacific Islands States, 68–90 percent of the extreme end-of-century losses projected under high emissions are averted by the low-emissions scenario for the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

Achieving Blue Transformation

The report also pointed out that in order to assist countries in achieving FAO’s Blue Transformation vision of more resilient, equitable, and sustainable aquatic food systems, future FishMIP research will need to encompass other ocean and coastal uses in addition to fisheries.

This would obtain a more holistic view of managing marine natural resources in the face of climate change and inform trade-offs across sectors, including adaptive fisheries management and wider agrifood policies, aligned with priorities of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change and its Action Plan. It would also address linkages with freshwater and terrestrial resource use, for example the reliance of aquaculture on both marine and terrestrial systems, to help support policy directions at the nexus of climate change, biodiversity, water and food security, and health.

Global projections of exploitable fish biomass show

Agbiologicals, Biostimulants, Company News, R&D

Non-stressed and stressed almonds that were treated with Acadian biostimulants had 9 per cent and 2 per cent higher dry kernel weights than their non-treated counterparts.

Acadian Plant Health released expanded results of its multi-year California almond water use study, demonstrating how biostimulant technologies can help growers reduce water use while maintaining yield. Results show almonds treated with Acadian biostimulants with improved Stem Water Potential in both stressed and non-stressed situations.

Non-stressed and stressed almonds that were treated with Acadian biostimulants had 9 per cent and 2 per cent higher dry kernel weights than their non-treated counterparts.

Almonds are California’s top export crop and one of the state’s top three crops by value. As water reduction programs look to lower the local almond industry’s water use by 20 per cent from 2020 to 2025, alongside continued chronic water shortages, it is important to arm growers with effective tools. Particularly, as the state looks to significantly reduce its water use starting in 2026, biostimulant technologies are relevant for almond growers now more than ever.

Beginning in May 2021, UC Davis Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems Specialist Dr. Guilia Marino and her team at the 350-acre Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center – the University of California’s largest off-campus agricultural research facility – applied treatments of Acadian Organic to selected almond trees. Weekly assessments of midday stem water potential have shown consistently improved stem water potential and kernel weight in regular and deficit irrigation situations.

“The results are promising,” says Holly Little, Director, Research and Development, Acadian Plant Health. “We are seeing that using Acadian biostimulants to improve stem water potential can lower the frequency or volume of irrigation needed for healthy almond trees while protecting yields.”

“As environmental and regulatory water restrictions challenge global agriculture, adopting multidisciplinary and holistic water management will be key to sustaining future orchard systems,” says Dr Marino. “These preliminary results suggest Acadian Plant Health’s biostimulant technology has a positive effect on almond tree water status under experimental conditions and may reduce tree stress. Additional research will help determine the product’s impact on orchard productivity, as well as tree physiology and productivity.”

As almond growers in California adjust reduced water availability, Acadian Plant Health is committed to supporting them in delivering sustainable solutions that amplify crop performance.

Non-stressed and stressed almonds that were treated

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Company News, Dairy, Goat farming, India, Live Stock

By providing training and resources, the company aims to promote best practices in cattle management, ensuring that animals are treated with care and respect throughout their lives.

Nova Dairy announced the launch of a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving animal welfare within its cattle supply chain. This program underscores Nova Dairy’s commitment to ethical practices and sustainable agriculture, recognising that the health and well-being of dairy cattle are paramount to producing high-quality milk.

Nova Dairy’s initiative will focus on educating farmers across various regions about the critical importance of animal welfare. By providing training and resources, the company aims to promote best practices in cattle management, ensuring that animals are treated with care and respect throughout their lives.

As part of the initiative, Nova Dairy will provide farmers with practical guidance on how to transition to free-grazing practices. This includes building or modifying existing infrastructure, such as fencing and shelters, to accommodate the natural behaviors of the cattle. Furthermore, Nova Dairy is committed to continuous research and development in animal welfare practices. By collaborating with veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and agricultural experts, the company aims to stay at the forefront of ethical dairy farming.

“Farmers are the backbone of our supply chain,” said Ravin Saluja, Director at Sterling Agro Industries Ltd., “We believe that by empowering them with knowledge and tools, we can collectively enhance the health and productivity of our cattle, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved, from the farmers to the end consumers.”

The health of dairy cattle directly influences the quality and quantity of milk produced. A stressed or unhealthy cow is less likely to produce milk efficiently, which can have significant economic implications for farmers. By focusing on animal welfare, Nova Dairy aims to create a more resilient and productive supply chain.

One of the key components of Nova Dairy’s initiative is advocating for the freedom of cattle to graze naturally. Research and practical experience have shown that cows that are allowed to roam and graze freely exhibit better mental and physical health compared to those that are confined.

“When cows are tied and restricted, they experience discomfort and stress, which negatively impacts their milk production,” explained Ravin Saluja. “In contrast, cows that graze freely not only produce more milk but also have better mental well-being. Our goal is to help farmers understand and implement this natural approach to cattle rearing.”

By providing training and resources, the company

Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, Environment, India, Sustainability

 City-Farmer Partnership project in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka converts more than 1300 tonnes of solid waste to organic compost to fuel sustainable farming and convert dry waste into recyclables.

 Godrej Properties Limited, India’s leading real estate developer, partnered with the Chikkaballapur City Municipal Council (CMC) and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) for the City-Farmer Partnership project in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka to address the city’s waste management challenges and to promote scientific management of solid waste.

Focused on converting organic wet waste into valuable compost for farmers, approximately 759 tonnes of legacy waste was semi-processed into organic compost and supplied to 109 farmers across 17 villages of Chikkaballapur. The compost, processed from 1,000 cubic meters of waste, was provided at no cost to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices. Additionally, more than 569 tonnes of segregated wet waste have been processed through collaboration with 81 farmers.

A key aspect of this initiative and Godrej Properties’ focus is fostering a symbiotic relationship between urban and rural communities. To enhance and educate the farmer communities and stakeholders on the benefits of sustainable waste management practices, IIHS conducted multiple training sessions for more than 100 farmers on converting municipal waste into organic compost. Additionally, 45 CMC staff members were trained on key aspects of waste management. The training focused on the importance of segregated waste collection and transportation for the success of the city-farmer partnership project.

A series of ward-level and feedback meetings have been conducted as part of the City-Farmer Partnership for the Solid Waste Management (SWM) project to promote waste segregation at source. These meetings have been attended by CMC officials, the IIHS project team, Anganwadi workers, volunteers engaged in monitoring door-to-door collection of waste, and about 50 residents from each ward. To drive home the messaging and create awareness at the ground level, six street plays and a road show traversed key streets in Chikkaballapur, engaging citizens and commercial establishments with messages about the benefits of waste separation.

Rohit Mohan, Chief Design and Sustainability Officer, Godrej Properties Ltd., said “We recognize the substantial challenges posed for urban waste management, including growing volume of urban waste and improper waste segregation. Engaging communities through initiatives such as training farmers to convert municipal wet waste into organic compost is one of our important projects catering to our long-term environmental goals. This collaboration with Chikkaballapur farmers highlights our dedication to positively collaborate with multiple communities and contributing towards solid waste management across Urban local bodies. By enabling local communities to turn urban solid waste into valuable resources, we seek to drive enduring environmental improvements and support sustainable farming practices. As environmentally conscious developers, we remain committed to promoting sustainable waste management practices through public-private partnerships and engagement with local communities.”

Godrej Properties has been focusing on driving awareness and capacity building for the need for sustainable waste management across urban and rural communities in addition to sustainable waste management across all construction sites. In FY24 Godrej Properties successfully diverted more than 43,000 tonnes of waste from landfills achieving Net Zero Waste to landfill status.

 City-Farmer Partnership project in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka converts

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, India

Sage leverages Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) services to scale its operations in real-time as demand increases, processing massive volumes of data.

Bengaluru based Cropin Technology, the world’s most advanced AI Platform for Food and Agriculture, today announced the launch of Sage, the planet’s first real-time agri-intelligence solution powered by Google Gemini. Cropin Sage converts the world’s agricultural landscape into a proprietary grid-based map with options of 3×3 meters, 10×10 meters, or 5×5 kilometers, delivering data and intelligence with unprecedented scale, accuracy and speed. This enables CPG players, seed manufacturers, food processors, multilateral organizations, financial institutions and governments to make informed decisions based on historical, present, and future data on cultivation practices, crop, irrigation, climate, and soil. Sage enables the Cropin Cloud platform to help agri-food businesses future-proof their production and supply chains.

This innovation from Cropin fuses state-of-the-art technologies such as Generative AI, multi-layered global climate data, a global crop knowledge graph, earth observation data and advanced crop models. This synergy aims to unlock the untapped potential of crop production planning, marking a significant advancement in precision and sustainable agriculture. Beyond analysing historical data on agriculture, crops, and weather patterns, Sage leverages advanced AI tools to forecast future yields. This translates to pinpointing the ideal locations and favourable conditions for growing crops on a global map, helping to build a robust and resilient food system – a previously unimaginable feat. At launch, Cropin’s enterprise customers can deploy Sage across geographic locations, providing intelligence on 13 key crops, including wheat, rice, potato, and maize, which collectively cover almost 80% of the world’s food demand. Cropin plans to build and deploy Sage globally in a phased approach, aligned with enterprise customer requirements and demand.

Google’s Technical Prowess Meets Cropin’s AI-Powered Agri-Intelligence

Cropin Sage is a visually rich and intuitive agriculture data intelligence platform built on Google Cloud. Building and managing such a platform to support global scale is a significant challenge, given that agricultural land spans 4.8 billion hectares worldwide. This vast area is influenced by numerous factors, including weather conditions, soil quality, water availability, socio-political developments, and farmer conditions. Creating a digital twin of all these factors is incredibly complex, contributing to the slower digitization of agriculture compared to other sectors. Over the past decade, Cropin has been developing its global crop knowledge graph to handle these complex datasets effectively.

Sage leverages Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) services to scale its operations in real-time as demand increases, processing massive volumes of data. On top of GKE, Cropin Sage also uses the Gemini Flash 1.5 model to convert user queries to SQL queries, which allows Sage to generate user-friendly, grid-based data in a visually appealing platform. The data is processed by Sage into different grid sizes and aggregated at different temporal frequencies, including yearly, seasonal, monthly, weekly, and daily, based on customer requirements.

“Cropin Sage redefines the landscape of agricultural intelligence, becoming an indispensable tool for navigating uncertainty and championing climate-smart agriculture. By ‘gridifying’ land parcels with proprietary algorithms and integrating layered insights, Sage forecasts crop futures using historical data and the impacts of changing climate and weather on an unprecedented scale. This empowers informed decision-making, securing both business interests and the global food supply chain. Sage is a testament to Cropin’s relentless dedication to transforming global food systems with state-of-the-art AI solutions,” said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Cropin.

Sage leverages Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) services

AgroPolicy, India, Pulses

 It also pointed the diverging trends between wholesale mandi prices and retail prices, which seems to suggest that retailers are deriving higher profit margin.

The Department of Consumer Affairs organised a meeting with Retailers Association of India (RAI) here today to discuss the price scenario in respect of pulses and compliance to the stock limits for Tur and Chana prescribed in the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (First and Second Amendments) Order, 2024 dated 21.06.2024 and 11.07.2024. The meeting was chaired by Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India. RAI has 2300+ members and has about 6,00,000 + outlets in the country.

The Secretary, informed that prices of Chana, Tur and Urad in major mandis had declined by up to 4% in past one month, but retails prices have not seen similar decline. She pointed out the diverging trends between wholesale mandi prices and retail prices, which seems to suggest that retailers are deriving higher profit margin.

She also pointed out that sowing progress for Kharif pulses are robust. The Government has undertaken numerous efforts in facilitating enhanced production of Tur and Urad in major Kharif pulses producing States, including distribution of good quality seeds to farmers through NAFED and NCCF and the Department of Agriculture is in continuous engagement with the State Agriculture Departments to provide all necessary support.

Considering the current price scenario and Kharif outlook, Secretary asked retail industry to extend all possible support to the Government in its efforts to keep prices of dals affordable to the consumers. She informed that stock positions of all stockholding entities, including that of big chain retailers are being closely monitored to ensure that the prescribed limits are not breached. Breach of stock limits, unscrupulous speculation and profiteering on the part of market players would invite stern actions from the Government.

Retail industry participants assured that they would make necessary adjustments in their retail margins and maintain at nominal level to ensure availability of prices at affordable prices to the consumers.

The meeting was attended by representatives of RAI, Reliance Retail, D Mart, Tata Stores, Spencer’s, RSPG, V Mart among others.

 It also pointed the diverging trends between

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, India

 Agribot MX Drone provides Real-time data transmission to the cloud accessible through an intuitive dashboard on computer or AGRINET app on mobile phone.

IoTechWorld, a leader in agricultural drone technology, unveiled its latest innovation, the Agribot MX drone at the 22nd CODISSIA Agri Intex, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The company is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation which is specifically designed for the southern states of India and for progressive farmers’ advanced spraying requirements.

With this launch, IoTechWorld is planning to expand its footprint in southern states and is actively seeking channel partners to enhance distribution and service capabilities across the region.

As India’s number one agricultural drone, Agribot represents the pinnacle of advanced farming technology, aimed at revolutionizing the agriculture sector with advanced solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability. Visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to witness the Agribot MX drone, including the AGRIBOT A6 and the DRISHTI surveillance drone. The Agribot MX drone features cutting-edge technologies including Radar based ADAS (Advanced Drone Assistance Systems- drone detects obstruction and reroutes automatically) and Terrain Following capabilities, offers Real-time data transmission to the cloud accessible through an intuitive dashboard on computer or AGRINET app on mobile phone, powered by a high-quality Lithium-Ion battery with 25200 mAh which helps in spraying on 3 acres per charge and has life of more than 500 cycles.

Speaking on the participation Deepak Bharadwaj, Co-Founder & Director said “Our continuous innovation is our testament to providing advanced agricultural technology in India. We are committed to bringing advancement in the Indian Agri Sector. We have developed many spray service partners who are earning more than Rs.10lakh per year using our drones. We are proud to say that AGRIBOT is a machine that delivers value to Agri Entrepreneurs, Farmers, and society also. This launch not only underscores our commitment to revolutionizing farming practices but also signals our strategic expansion into southern states.

IoTechWorld is committed to advancing agricultural technology in India, said Anup Upadhyay, Co-Founder & Director at IoTechWorld. “Today marks a significant leap forward for IoTechWorld as we unveil the Agribot MX, our latest innovation in agricultural drone technology. We are proud to manufacture all our drone components in India, aligning with the Make in India initiative and contributing to the country’s technological self-reliance”. We are excited to bring our cutting-edge solutions closer to farmers, empowering them with advanced tools tailored to enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture”

In addition to showcasing its drone fleet, IoTechWorld will highlight the indigenously manufactured components of its drones, proudly supporting the Make in India initiative. This commitment to domestic manufacturing not only strengthens the local economy but also ensures the highest standards of quality and innovation in drone technology.

 Agribot MX Drone provides Real-time data transmission

Agribusiness, Company News, Speciality Chemicals, Trade, World

Envu will purchase the GSS business for a purchase price of $350 million, subject to closing working capital adjustment.

FMC Corporation, a leading global agricultural sciences company, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Global Specialty Solutions (GSS) business to Environmental Science US, LLC, known as Envu, an environmental science company providing innovations that protect and enhance the health of environments around the world. Envu will purchase the GSS business for a purchase price of $350 million, subject to closing working capital adjustment.

In November 2023, FMC announced plans to explore strategic options for GSS, which includes a line of products that serve a diverse mix of non-crop markets such as golf courses, professional sports stadiums and pest control. As FMC concentrates on innovating products and services for the global crop protection market, GSS no longer has a clear, strategic role in the company’s mid- or longer-term goals.

“Global Specialty Solutions is a profitable business with a strong history of growth. We believe this agreement with Envu will provide the attention and resources it needs to continue thriving,” said Pierre Brondeau, FMC Chairman and CEO. “With this divestment, FMC can focus solely on its core business.”

Envu, which was acquired by international private equity firm Cinven in 2022, is solely dedicated to the environmental science sector and sees GSS as an opportunity to support its growth strategy while continuing to deliver powerful innovations for customers in professional pest management, turf & ornamentals and more.

“As a focused company that is dedicated to delivering forward-thinking solutions for our customers, we are excited by the prospect of joining forces with the GSS business,” said Gilles Galliou, Envu CEO. “We see significant synergies and potential for accelerated innovation from the combination. In addition, as the successful outcome of a carveout transaction ourselves, we believe we are the ideal partner to help GSS through this transition and maximize our collective potential.”

Marco Strizzi, Senior Principal at Cinven, added: “We are delighted to bring together two highly respected, complementary businesses with a shared focus on delivering seamless customer service and product innovation in the attractive environmental science market. We see FMC GSS as a compelling addition to Envu strategically and financially and look forward to continuing to support the combined business’ strong growth trajectory.”

The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2024, subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. FMC intends to allocate all proceeds from the sale to debt reduction.

BofA Securities acted as financial adviser and McCarter & English was legal adviser to FMC, while Barclays acted as financial adviser and Baker McKenzie was legal adviser to Envu for the transaction. Further terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.

Envu will purchase the GSS business for

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Horticulture, India, Start ups, Sustainability

Project Unnati will collaborate closely with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the Mango Board, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), and various horticulture departments across different districts.

Coca-Cola India, in collaboration with Gram Unnati, is excited to announce the launch of “Project Mango Unnati,” with an aim to revolutionise sustainable mango cultivation initiative, focusing on the Alphonso and Totapuri varieties in Karnataka. Project Unnati will collaborate closely with state horticulture agencies such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the Mango Board, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), and various horticulture departments across different districts.

Project Mango Unnati will promote ‘Sustainable Agricultural Practices’ to enhance mango yields and farmer incomes by improving the quality, size, and shelf life of the fruit. This would help farmers achieve better market prices. The project will also demonstrate and facilitate the adoption of rejuvenation techniques for old and senile orchards and high-density plantation (HDP) practices.

Project Mango Unnati will also emphasise on sustainable agriculture through micro irrigation, integrated pest management (IPM), and water conservation techniques such as mulching and rainwater harvesting. Through this initiative farmers will receive training in safe and modern agricultural practices to ensure sustainable farming.

The project will provide crop advisory services, including climate forecasting and crop alert systems, to equip farmers with climate-smart techniques besides enhancing the traceability and sustainability of the crop that will help farmers achieve better returns for their produce. Special training modules have been designed to empower female farmers, promoting gender equality in the agricultural sector.

Commenting on the launch of the project, Aneesh Jain, CEO and Founder, Gram Unnati, said, “Gram Unnati is proud to partner with Coca-Cola India on this transformative project that underscores our commitment to sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment. By adopting modern practices and focusing on quality, we aim to significantly enhance the livelihoods of mango farmers in Karnataka. Together, we will drive sustainable growth and innovation in mango farming, benefiting farmers and the environment alike.”

“Farmers are the backbone of India’s horticulture system. With Project Mango Unnati, we aim to elevate the livelihoods of these farmers with advanced horticulture solutions, empowering them to significantly increase their incomes. This aligns with the Government of India’s vision for Atma Nirbhar Bharat, making the agrarian economy self-reliant”, said, Rajesh Ayapilla, Senior Director- CSR and Sustainability for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia.

Project Unnati will collaborate closely with Krishi

Agbiologicals, Agrotech, Company News, World

Partnership will introduce naturally occurring endophytes to key agricultural markets

Syngenta Biologicals, a leader in cutting-edge agricultural biological solutions and Intrinsyx Bio, a Silicon Valley biotech company that promotes sustainable agriculture, announced a collaboration to bring a novel biological solution to agricultural markets globally.

The collaboration will boost farmers’ access to a custom selection of Intrinsyx Bio’s proprietary endophyte formulations. Endophytes – small microorganisms that colonize in plants – fix atmospheric nitrogen directly into the plant, increasing the availability and uptake of key nutrients such as phosphorus and micronutrients that are important for plant health. This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, offering farmers greater flexibility in their nutrient management strategies while lowering the environmental impact of farming. Formulations will be offered as seed treatment and foliar application in key agricultural crops.

“This collaboration reflects Syngenta’s commitment to transforming the future of agriculture, with innovations that improve the sustainability of farming,” said Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Syngenta Biologicals and Seedcare. “We’re particularly excited to offer a broad range of formulations that will help farmers take the care of young plants to the next level, while protecting the health of their soil.”

“This agreement represents another opportunity to expand the reach of our ‘biology that works.’ Partnering with Syngenta allows farmers around the world to benefit from endophytes proven mode of action and extensive field testing that improves nutrient use efficiency and increases crop yields,” said Greg Thompson, CEO of Intrinsyx Bio.

Syngenta has been investing significantly in strengthening its portfolio of biological solutions for both plant and seed health. Since its acquisition of Valagro in 2020, it has continued to invest heavily in research and development, while expanding its portfolio of cutting-edge biological solutions through various commercial and research collaborations. These efforts also reflect Syngenta’s commitment to helping agriculture achieve higher yields with lower environmental impact – a core pillar of Syngenta Group’s Sustainability Priorities.

Partnership will introduce naturally occurring endophytes to

Agribusiness, Agro Universities, Collaborations, R&D, Seeds, World

The collaboration will focus on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper Midwest.

Cargill and the Forever Green Initiative, a research platform in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota, are partnering to study winter camelina and domesticated pennycress.  The collaboration will focus on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper Midwest.

Cargill will bring expertise in crop improvement—including trait discovery, high throughput genotyping, genomic selection, trait development and cellular biology—to rapidly advance the diverse genetics from the University of Minnesota.  The application of these technologies will accelerate the development and commercial release of improved varieties of camelina and pennycress.

The project builds on a previously announced $2.5 million philanthropic grant awarded to the University from Cargill to accelerate research into crop biology and management.

“This support from Cargill will take our breeding and genomics work to the next level and help us develop even better varieties of camelina and pennycress for farmers in Minnesota and beyond,” said Mitch Hunter, associate director of the Forever Green Initiative. “We are incredibly grateful to Cargill for this very generous research partnership.”

Planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, winter camelina and domesticated pennycress are typically grown as intermediate oilseed crops that provide soil cover and have the potential to address key sustainability challenges in agricultural supply chains including water quality, soil health and ecosystem improvements. The crops can be used in a rotation with corn and soy or after small seed crops like wheat.

Given the high oil content of these crops, there is an emerging revenue opportunity to grow winter camelina and pennycress as cash crops, driven by rising demand for low-carbon intensity feedstocks. The seed oil can be refined into drop-in replacements for low-carbon transportation fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.

“Innovations in agriculture are critical to help feed and fuel the world sustainably while also addressing climate change,” said Lyle DePauw, crop innovation director for Cargill. “Cargill has a long history of partnering with the University of Minnesota and working alongside farmers to advance new market opportunities.  Winter camelina and pennycress have incredible potential to aid in the decarbonization of the global transportation system and support a more sustainable food system.”

Active pilots of camelina in process

Cargill is actively working with a small number of farmers in Minnesota and North Dakota to learn more about suitable growing conditions for camelina, with the first harvest wrapping up this month. There will be additional opportunities for farmers to explore winter camelina as an option for their operations starting August 1, as Cargill expands its pilot.

Minnesota farmers who participate in Cargill’s pilot program may be eligible for support through a Forever Green program called Environmental and Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO), which is funded by the Clean Water Council with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The EECO Program provides agronomic support, environmental benefit payments, and risk management payments to farmers who grow winter camelina. Interested farmers can learn more and enroll at z.umn.edu/EnrollEECO.

The collaboration will focus on the development