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Home2024 (Page 63)
Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Start ups

The first version of akṣara will cover nine crops viz. paddy, wheat, maize, sorghum, barley, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, and millets for 5 countries in the Indian subcontinent.

 Cropin Technology, a global Agtech company enabling intelligent agriculture, announced the launch of ‘akṣara’, the sector’s first purpose-built open-source (Apache 2.0 License and with no restrictions) Micro Language Model (µ-LM) for climate smart agriculture, built on Mistral’s foundation model. ‘Akṣara’ is designed to address the problems faced by the underserved farming communities in the Global South by removing barriers to knowledge and empowering anyone in the agriculture ecosystem to build frugal and scalable AI solutions for the sector. With the goal of democratizing access to digital technologies and modernizing agriculture for the 21st century, Cropin aims to empower agricultural stakeholders, developers, and researchers to tackle global challenges like food security, climate change, resource conservation – water and soil, regenerative agriculture practices amongst others by providing access to contextual, factual and actionable information.

The first version of akṣara will cover nine crops viz. paddy, wheat, maize, sorghum, barley, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, and millets for 5 countries in the Indian subcontinent. These food crops collectively account for a substantial portion of the world’s food requirements and are the staple food for the population in the global south. Developed by Cropin and hosted on Hugging Face, akṣara is a frugal and scalable µ-LM built and fine-tuned on top of the Mistral-7B-v0.2 model. Recognizing the environmental impact of running large language models (LLMs), Cropin has meticulously compressed ‘akṣara’ into 4-bit from 16-bit by using QLoRA or Quantization and Low-Rank Adapters (LoRA). The model seems to be more relevant than GPT-4 Turbo by almost 40% on randomly selected test dataset as measured by the ROUGE or the Recall-Oriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation scoring algorithm.The model ensures that the responses are factually relevant and brief while minimizing the compute and storage resource requirement.

It was fine-tuned with more than 5,000 high-quality question-response pairs specific to agriculture and more than 160k tokens in the context. These numbers are expected to increase as we add more crops, geographic locations and use cases. To ensure that the model remains faithful to the question, it is grounded by using techniques like RAG or Retrieval Augmented Generation by cross referencing an authoritative subject matter experts’ knowledge base.

This initiative also demonstrates Cropin’s commitment to sharing knowledge, and ethical and responsible use of AI for agriculture. The Cropin Al team used Google’s People + AI Guidebook and discussions with Google’s Responsible AI team to help guide the model’s design process. The aim was to ensure the model’s alignment with key responsible AI principles, reduce biases, promote the use of AI for sustainable agricultural practices (practices involving biological controls, soil conservation, water conservation, companion planting, preserving beneficial plants and insects), and ensure the equitable distribution of benefits across farming communities in the Global South.

This open-source initiative aims to support agronomists, agri-scientists, field staff, and extension workers and gradually extend the services to farmers in multiple languages, considering the need for local language support. Cropin believes that transforming global food systems requires equipping industry think tanks and researchers with the best decision-making tools and information. This knowledge should then be disseminated at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the announcement, Krishna Kumar, Founder & CEO, Cropin said, “In an era where Large Language Models are reshaping jobs, businesses, and customer interactions, the spotlight is now on industry-specific models trained on niche and comprehensive domain data as the ‘next big thing.’ These models can potentially transform agriculture, paving the way for a new era of tech-driven farming in a sector that has traditionally seen limited technological advancement. Domain-specific AI models for agriculture are expected to attract significant investments, offering a practical and economically viable approach to food systems transformation. Akṣara reinstates our commitment to leading the tech-driven agricultural movement in the years ahead, significantly impacting small-scale farmers’ lives”.

The first version of akṣara will cover

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, India, Speciality Chemicals

Company joined hands with Deepak Fertilizer & Petrochemical Corporation Ltd. for Nitric Acid Expansion Project.

The Nitric Acid Expansion Project, situated at DFPCL’s Dahej plant in Gujarat, entails the provision of comprehensive engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services, alongside Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) responsibilities for offsites & utilities. Central to the project’s scope is the expansion of the Nitric Acid plant, encompassing a 900 TPD Weak Nitric Acid Plant, 2 X 225 TPD Concentrated Nitric Acid Plant, and associated offsites and utilities, including storage and loading/unloading facilities. Licensors for the project include M/s Casale for Weak Nitric Acid and M/s KBR for Concentrated Nitric Acid.

Commenting on the significance of the project, Rajiv Menon, President and COO – Energy & Industrial Business, Tata Projects, mentioned, “The journey of Tata Projects has been quite noteworthy in recent years, evolving from its notable presence in Onshore Terminals to venturing into core process refinery units. The DPFCL acquisition further strengthens our resolve to be a diversified and technology driven EPC company. The Nitric Acid Complex project demonstrates our ability to engage in varied contracting models and reinforces our commitment to the Customer First Approach.”

“The partnership with TPL marks another significant milestone in DFPCL’s journey in the specialty chemical segment. This nitric acid plant is designed to optimise both capital and operational expenditure while prioritising energy efficiency and environmental sustainability with minimal NOx emissions.  With this partnership, we have aligned ourselves with the escalating demands of our customers across the rapidly growing pharma, steel, solar, and agri-industry sectors, where India is emerging as a prominent manufacturing hub”, said Arun Vijay, President- Projects, DFPCL.

Nitric Acid serves as an excellent Building Block Chemical for multiple sectors, encompassing Fertilizers, Specialty Chemicals, and Mining Chemicals. DFPCL is the leading player in the Indian Nitric Acid market, with a market share of over 45 per cent. Currently, the total Nitric Acid production capacity (CNA + WNA) is 1,120 KTPA, which is projected to increase to approximately 1,600 KTPA post-expansion, solidifying DFPCL’s position as one of Asia’s largest merchant Nitric acid players. Drawing on the 40 years of robust experience in Nitric Acidand demonstrated proficiency lean manufacturing and managing intricate supply chains, DFPCL is committed to delivering high-quality products to its customers.

Having commenced on the 19th February, 2024 and scheduled for mechanical completion by September 30, 2025, the project’s contract is structured as a FEED Plus EPCM Open Book Value contract convertible to LSTK later.

Rajiv further added, with a firm focus on Safety, Predictable delivery, and accountability as our core value we aim to enhance their production capacity and efficiency, while reducing environmental impact and operational cost.

Company joined hands with Deepak Fertilizer &

Agribusiness, India, Opinions, Sustainability

By Raghav Arora, CTO & Co- Founder, Statiq

The agricultural sector offers numerous opportunities for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), spanning from agri-logistics to on-farm activities. EVs have the potential to decrease pollution and transportation costs associated with moving farm produce due to their cleaner and energy-efficient power. What’s more, deploying EVs results in significantly less noise pollution compared to diesel and other fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Creating a sustainable future demands the collective effort and collaboration of various stakeholders across sectors. While commercial commuter and passenger vehicles always face the eye of the storm from environmentalists who constantly call for cleaner energy, many industries need to align their practices and operations to the clean energy movement for sustainability and better outcomes; one of them is agriculture.

With tractors and payloads, heavy-duty ridgers, and other work and transport vehicles used on farms, agriculture and other food systems is a major contributor to global warming. In fact, agriculture and food systems, including farming practices, land use, crop and livestock production, energy consumption, and food consumption, collectively accounted for 31 per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

This is enormous and creates a gap for adopting more renewable energy-powered equipment and vehicles on farms. Electric vehicles, for instance, can play a major role in cutting down carbon emissions in the agri sector and create a safer, cleaner, and climate-conscious industry.

Sustainability in agriculture: The role of EVs in India

The surge in electric vehicle registration in India in recent years is occasioned by a number of factors, including the need to cut down on carbon emissions and the quest for a sustainable feature. Within the Indian agricultural space, which 70 per cent of its rural population depends on and makes up 15per cent of the nation’s GDP, there is a growing consciousness about the impact of conventional vehicles and equipment powered by fossil fuels.

For example, there are electric tractors available that can perform the same tasks as conventional ones, including crop spraying, mowing, and harvesting, provided the appropriate attachments are used. Electric tractors operate emission-free, thus posing no threat to the environment. However, they often remain inaccessible to smallholder farmers in India and other regions worldwide.

Ensuring access to electric vehicles for farmers is a responsibility that falls on both the Indian government and development partners, who must offer support and incentives. Facilitating the availability of these vehicles and equipment is crucial.

The significance of such initiatives lies in the potential to decrease supply chain costs in agriculture by up to 70 per cent through the adoption of electric vehicles. Moreover, when integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), these EVs and machines can considerably enhance efficiency and productivity.

Opportunities for EV adoption in agriculture and agri-logistics

The agricultural sector offers numerous opportunities for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), spanning from agri-logistics to on-farm activities. EVs have the potential to decrease pollution and transportation costs associated with moving farm produce due to their cleaner and energy-efficient power. What’s more, deploying EVs results in significantly less noise pollution compared to diesel and other fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Added to these are energy independence, multi-purpose use, and improved performance which form other benefits of EV adoption in agriculture. This means that farmers will get more value for their effort, leading to improved livelihoods in communities and overall economic benefits.

Furthermore, many governments of the world, including the Indian government, offer subsidies and incentives to promote EV adoption. The fact that this revolution is taking place in the agri sector indicates they will pay even more attention to the efforts of transforming from petrol and diesel vehicles and machines to electric alternatives.

Overall, India’s vision to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070 is achievable if the right steps are taken. Agriculture can greatly benefit from these undertakings by effectively leveraging the advantages of green energy to enhance food security not only for India but also for the global community.

By Raghav Arora, CTO & Co- Founder,

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Start ups

The franchisee store aiming to create sustainable, women-led agribusinesses that prioritise community health and economic independence.

 In a significant step towards empowering women in agriculture and promoting nutritional security, India’s first women-led Agri Input franchisee store, a collaborative effort between Greenday Kisan Ki Dukan and HarvestPlus Solutions India, was inaugurated in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. The groundbreaking franchise was launched by Navneet Kaur, a local farmer’s daughter with a strong academic background in chemistry and biology, embodying the spirit of self-reliance and community service.

The store’s opening was marked by a ceremony attended by Ravinder Grover, Global Business Manager at HarvestPlus Solutions, alongside the dedicated team from Greenday, local farmers, gram Pradhans, and members of the community. The event highlighted the critical importance of enhancing nutrition through advanced agricultural practices, focusing on the use of biofortified crops to combat malnutrition and build a healthier future.

Navneet Kaur, the pioneering franchisee, shared her vision, stating, “Taking on this franchise allows me to blend my scientific background with my commitment to my community. It’s more than a business; it’s an opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by increasing access to nutritious foods.”

“We are proud to empower women in agriculture and promote nutritional security through this initiative. This marks a pivotal moment in enhancing nutrition through advanced agricultural practices, with a focus on using biofortified crops to combat malnutrition and pave the way for a healthier future for all,” said Ravinder Grover, Global Business Manager, HarvestPlus Solutions.

“Empowering communities through innovation and nutrition is our mission; today marks a milestone in that journey,” stated Prateek Rastogi, CEO, Greenday

The Greenday Kisan Ki Dukan and HarvestPlus Solutions India collaboration represents a model for future agricultural retail, combining the latest in biofortification research with grassroots empowerment and education. This franchisee store in Khairabad is the first of many planned outlets aiming to create sustainable, women-led agribusinesses that prioritize community health and economic independence.

As we celebrate the launch of this pioneering initiative, we look forward to witnessing its positive impact on local farming practices, nutritional awareness, and the empowerment of women in the agricultural sector.

The franchisee store aiming to create sustainable,

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, Finance, Schemes - Banks

Funding will be used for company’s upcoming 12 TPD Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant at Ajbapur Sugar Unit in the state of U.P.

DCM Shriram Ltd, a leading conglomerate with diverse business presence in Chlor-Vinyl, Agri-Rural, and Value-Added Businesses, announced the successful tie up of its sustainable finance facility in the form of transition finance of Rs 100 crores from Standard Chartered Bank, India to fund its upcoming 12 TPD Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant at Ajbapur Sugar Unit in the state of U.P.

This investment further reinforces the company’s commitment towards circular economy and sustainability. CBG will be produced using ‘Pressmud’ as a feed stock – a waste generated in the sugar manufacturing process. The state-of-the-art plant has been designed as a Zero Effluent Discharge Plant.

Amit Agarwal, Executive Director & Group CFO of DCM Shriram Ltd, said, “This is our second sustainable finance transaction in last 6 months, which underscores our unwavering commitment to assimilating ESG principles into our business philosophy and driving positive impact while generating value for our stakeholders. This also underpins our belief that Business success goes hand to hand with environmental stewardship, embodying our commitment to a more sustainable future.”

Shobana Chawla, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered Bank, India, said, “Sustainable financing continues to be one of the strategic priorities at Standard Chartered Bank. We have been assisting our clients transition to net zero, and at a group level have committed to mobilise USD 300 billion in Sustainable Finance by 2030. This facility to DCM Shriram is one such initiative.”

This collaboration between DCM Shriram Ltd and Standard Chartered Bank signifies a shared commitment towards fostering sustainability and responsible business practices, further solidifying their dedication to more responsible future.

Funding will be used for company’s upcoming

Agribusiness, Company News, Warehousing

Maersk’s new facility will provide end-to-end supply chain solutions, including storage, inventory management, and distribution, serving global and local customers.

A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) inaugurated its brand-new warehouse in Sri Lanka at Wattala, spread over 100,000 sq. ft. Present at the inauguration were Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, Biju Ravi, Head of Maersk Sri Lanka and Dr Parakrama Dissanayake – Deputy Chairman & Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC and other leaders. This new facility is a testament to Maersk’s commitment to providing integrated supply chain solutions, offering a strategic advantage for various global customers and local suppliers in the retail and lifestyle sector.

“Our new warehouse in Sri Lanka represents a strategic milestone in our commitment to strengthen our operations in the country. By leveraging Sri Lanka’s growing prominence as a logistics hub and investing in infrastructure that our customers have shown interest in, Maersk aims to deliver unparalleled value to its clients while contributing to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and development”, said Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia.

Strategically located in Wattala, a mere 11 km from the seaport, Maersk’s new facility is poised to leverage Sri Lanka’s advantageous geographical position as a vital hub for trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. With the country’s thriving trade sector and government initiatives to improve infrastructure and ease of doing business, Sri Lanka presents an ideal environment for Maersk to strengthen its presence in this strategic market.

The 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse offers export consolidation and 3PL services, with 50,000 sq. ft dedicated to each. Maersk’s new facility will provide end-to-end supply chain solutions, including storage, inventory management, and distribution, serving global and local customers. The 3PL facility allows suppliers to store their cargo and move quickly to consolidation points without losing time. Maersk’s next-door empty yard provides faster movement of containers into the consolidation point and then to the port. This new warehouse will be able to serve almost the entire Colombo market within four hours.

Maersk's new facility will provide end-to-end supply

Agrotech, Farm Mechanisation, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, R&D

 MVS will serve as a key platform for various functions, including ergonomics simulation, user experience testing of controls, customer clinics and design reviews for product development teams.

CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction solutions, announced the addition of a cutting-edge Multi-Vehicle Simulator (MVS) at the company’s India Technology Center (ITC). The first-of-its-kind MVS in the Indian off-highway segment will play a pivotal role in CNH’s global operations. This will serve as a key platform for various functions, including ergonomics simulation, user experience testing of controls, customer clinics, design reviews for product development teams, product validation and employee training.

Speaking at the inauguration, Friedrich Eichler, Chief Technology Officer, CNH, said, “The expansion and enhancement of our India Technology Center (ITC) exemplify our unwavering commitment to innovation, harnessing India’s rich talent pool. This strategic move reflects our dedication to leveraging top-notch expertise to drive technological advancements in the agricultural and construction sectors in the region for the region. The ITC is a cornerstone of CNH’s commitment to deliver technologically advanced products to our customers.”

“This technological advancement also supports our sustainability goals by helping us reduce waste and improve quality by testing and evaluating our products in the virtual world before developing a prototype or testing them in the real world,” he added.

The Simulator is equipped with advanced features such as body tracking sensors, virtual reality headsets and devices, multiple display screens, video and audio conference capture and playback systems, related software, Software – Hardware integration, and an adjustable frame to replicate various cabs.

“The new Multi-Vehicle Simulator is a significant advancement in our R&D capabilities at the ITC,” said Ashish Sharma, Vice President and Managing Director – ITC, CNH. “With its cutting-edge features and versatile applications, it will empower our teams to innovate and refine our products to meet the evolving needs of our customers. This development is a further step towards CNH’s vision to position India as a key technology location, in addition to its role as an industrial hub.”

The company also announced an expansion of the ITC. The new floor, spanning 32,000 square feet is equipped with high-tech amenities including three R&D labs as well as collaborative work areas. The modern design and advanced technology in this new space will enhance the working environment and boost productivity of the teams.

Established in 2021, the ITC plays a strategic role in forging collaborative efforts with its sister R&D centers around the world to innovate and leverage the leading-edge technology and digital ecosystem in India, with increased efficiency to benefit customers. The center develops groundbreaking technologies, including software, embedded electronics, and data analytics, to support CNH’s India business as well as its global product portfolio.

 MVS will serve as a key platform

Company News, Vegetables, World

Produce packing innovation extends shelf-life, replaces ice, and creates transport efficiencies

Verdant Technologies is expanding the adoption of its HarvestHold Fresh product in Canada to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the North American broccoli supply chain. HarvestHold Fresh is an in-box sheet that uses an industry-standard ingredient, widely used in commodities like apples and flowers for more than two decades to extend freshness and shelf-life. HarvestHold Fresh is placed in produce boxes immediately after harvest to slow ripening and maturation so that produce can maintain its vitality and taste for longer. This innovation eliminates the need for ice when transporting broccoli, significantly reducing water use and optimizing space, which creates a more sustainable method of shelf-life preservation and makes transportation more efficient.

Empire Company Limited, parent company of Sobeys Inc. was the first major grocery retailer in North America to adopt the technology. Since 2022, Empire’s growing partners have been using the ice-less HarvestHold technology in bunch broccoli packing in Quebec and Ontario at its Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, and FreschCo banner stores. The collaboration is a major development in building a more sustainable and efficient broccoli supply chain. In 2024, the partners plan to expand nationally as part of a new supply chain innovation and sustainability initiative.

Produce packing innovation extends shelf-life, replaces ice,

Company News, People

Yu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Yara International

Royal Agrifirm Group has appointed Doris Yu as Managing Director of Asia. Yu has more than 20 years of experience in the food and agriculture industry and will be responsible for overseeing Agrifirm’s business in the Asia region.

Royal Agrifirm Group, a global agricultural company, has announced that Doris Yu has joined Agrifirm as its Managing Director in Asia, from a career that includes leadership positions at global companies such as Cargill and Royal DSM. Most recently, Yu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Yara International. With a track record of strategic leadership and business development, Doris Yu is positioned to lead Agrifirm’s team in advancing the company’s strategy and growth initiatives in Asia.

The appointment of Doris Yu comes as Jeroen Jeuken, Managing Director Asia, prepares to pursue other opportunities after nearly a decade of dedicated and committed service at Agrifirm. Under Jeuken’s leadership, the Asian region has achieved significant milestones in business development and growth, setting the foundation for further progress. He has played a pivotal role in navigating Agrifirm through significant challenges in Asia, including the complexities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the African swine fever outbreak. Agrifirm states that it extends its sincere gratitude to Jeroen for his contributions and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours.

Yu served as Senior Vice President and

Agbiologicals, Company News, Fungicides

Maxentis delivers dependable control of Septoria, Yellow Rust, and Brown Rust in wheat; Leaf Blotch, Net Blotch, and Rust in barley

ADAMA Ltd., a leading crop protection company, has announced the launch of Maxentis, a new versatile fungicide that delivers reliable control over a broad range of diseases in wheat, barley, and oilseed rape, to increase yields and improve income.

Maxentis delivers dependable control of Septoria, Yellow Rust, and Brown Rust in wheat; Leaf Blotch, Net Blotch, and Rust in barley; and Sclerotinia and Alternaria in OSR, helping bring peace of mind to farmers while simplifying and reducing the expense of their spray programs. In high-potential wheat areas, Maxentis can be used as a T1 application in a spray program with other fungicides, or as a standalone T1 or T2 broad-spectrum product in lower-potential areas. The non-SDHI formulation makes it an excellent partner for spraying programs, allowing farmers the flexibility to use an SDHI combination at the critical flag leaf stage of the wheat.

Two modes of action are combined to enhance the impact of Maxentis. This means that fungal diseases are controlled across multiple growth stages of the disease, resulting in greater efficacy and healthier crops.

Maxentis improves yields, while the ability to control numerous diseases in multiple crops with a single product increases convenience, reduces complexity and lowers costs, resulting in increased income for farmers.

Maxentis delivers dependable control of Septoria, Yellow Rust,

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, World

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX can be used in a variety of applications for the general disinfection of both indoor and outdoor animal housing, as well as in wheel and boot dips with minimal degradation by direct sunlight

Neogen Corporation announced that it has launched Neogen Farm Fluid MAX in Great Britain and will soon be available in other European markets, subject to global registrations and notifications. This dual-action disinfectant is designed for challenging farm conditions and is formulated for use as part of a Neogen Pathogen Programme.

An extension of the respected Farm Fluid product line, Neogen Farm Fluid MAX is specially designed to be applied as part of coccidiosis control protocols. It is proven to challenge and destroy oocysts, breaking the protozoa cycle and inactivating up to 100 per cent of sporulated and non-sporulated oocysts. At 2 per cent dilution, the disinfectant has demonstrated effectiveness on multiple field strains of Eimeria oocysts, including E. tenella, E. maxima, and E acervulina.

“Farm Fluid MAX is a robust and powerful solution, demonstrating our commitment to providing the highest-quality products for our customers around the world,” said Andy Hughes, Senior Director of Animal Safety, EMEA, at Neogen. “We have formulated this disinfectant with chlorocresol (CMK), a second biocide, and other supportive ingredients, including a solvent for increased solubility and a surfactant, making it the ideal solution for combating difficult farm environments.”

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX can be used in a variety of applications for the general disinfection of both indoor and outdoor animal housing, as well as in wheel and boot dips with minimal degradation by direct sunlight.

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX can be used

Poultry, Supply Chain, Trade

Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat

Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced that given a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh State in India, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry eggs from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no eggs were imported into Hong Kong from India last year.

“The CFS has contacted the Indian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Hong Kong has currently established a protocol

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

With SAP S/4HANA Greenfield, BAL will harness advanced analytics, machine learning, and automation capabilities, thereby bolstering decision-making and fostering innovation across the organisation.

Best Agrolife ltd announced a significant advancement in its digital journey through the successful integration of SAP S/4HANA Greenfield into its systems. This move signals a major stride towards optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and driving analytics-based growth for the company. This integration marks a comprehensive reengineering of the company’s digital infrastructure, facilitating streamlined processes, real-time insights, and heightened agility in responding to the dynamic agrochemical market demands.

With SAP S/4HANA Greenfield, Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL) will harness advanced analytics, machine learning, and automation capabilities, thereby bolstering decision-making and fostering innovation across the organisation. By consolidating finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and sales functions onto a unified platform, the company gains enhanced visibility and control over its entire value chain.

Vimal Alawadi, MD of BAL, said “The adoption of SAP S/4HANA Greenfield represents a transition point in our digital journey. In addition to embracing formulation and technical innovation, we will walk the path of digitization. We recognise the value of analytics, digitisation, integrated operations and need for real time data for business intelligence. Our goal will be to maximize customer delight and shareholder value.”

The successful implementation was facilitated by the partnering with Samishti Infotech. Samishti Infotech played the crucial role in ensuring a seamless integration process and smoothing the transition of SAP S/4HANA greenfield into the company’s systems.

N Surendra Sai, Head of Strategy and International Business at BAL, spearheaded the implementation of this project. With three decades of experience encompassing Organizational Program Management, Business Analytics, Innovation, Startup Culture, and Technology. Sai has held leadership roles in both private and government sectors, including at or Wiprsations such as Wipro Technologies and DRDO.

With SAP S/4HANA Greenfield, BAL will harness

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Start ups

Agtech platforms reduce the digital divide in agriculture by empowering farmers with data-driven insights and encouraging them to be more tech-savvy.

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow’s research underscores the importance of digitising India’s farming and agricultural sectors and its potential to revolutionise the entire industry. By examining four major Agtech platforms in India, the study identifies and discusses the impact of these platforms’ network effects and how they enhance Indian agriculture.

This study is the first to outline the creation and leverage of such platforms by agribusinesses, government agencies, or cooperatives. The research conducted by Prof. Sanjeev Kapoor from the Centre for Food and Agribusiness Management at IIM Lucknow, and Prof. Neeraj Singh from the Marketing and Strategy Area at IIM Rohtak, has been published in the journal, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management.

The study focuses on four of India’s largest Agtech platforms: Dehaat, Samunnati Agrielevate, IFFCO Bazar, and KRIBHCO-CSC-eGov. Expert consultations and data analysis from several sources were conducted to examine their impact on network effects and how they enhance the platforms’ value proposition, particularly through matching, transactional, discovery, and evaluation.

Prof. Sanjeev Kapoor, Centre for Food and Agribusiness Management, IIM Lucknow, and the lead author of the study emphasized the significance of this research stating, “This study is the first to discuss partners for Agtech platforms. It investigates partners in both privately and collaboratively marketed Agtech platforms using a unique case research methodology. This study is relevant to the development of digital agribusiness strategies because of the rise of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and other democratic digital markets in the agricultural space. Practitioners and policymakers can utilise the emerging Agtech Value Proposition Canvas (AVPC) framework as an exercise to build and establish platforms for rural markets.”

The analysis identified essential complementary cores for an Agtech platform for emerging markets. These include third-party financial institutions for providing microcredit and facilitating transactions, as well as warehouse and logistic partners to enhance efficiency. Social media modules enable peer-to-peer feedback and information sharing, promoting transparency and increasing platform value by encouraging direct user interaction.

On the other hand, Dehaat and Agrielevate, as privately held companies prioritizing profit, adopt firm-led control and ownership governance, emphasising commercial performance and profit growth. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, but the cooperative method stands out for its inclusive, community-centered governance, aligning platform objectives with the interests of agricultural stakeholders and promoting a more engaged and community-driven ecosystem.

Dr. Neeraj Singh, from the Marketing and Strategy Area at IIM Rohtak, emphasises that the Agtech platform domain lacks comprehensive understanding in academic and management spheres. The study elucidates the structural and functional aspects of digital platforms for rural markets, offering a practical framework for agribusiness managers to identify relevant partner organizations and anticipate the impact of these actors on network effects and overall value proposition beforehand. A successful Agtech platform boasts a clearly defined value proposition, and partnering firms that align with it tend to fare better. The framework also suggests strategies for agricultural platforms to expand by enhancing the net-positive network effect.

These findings offer valuable insights for researchers, providing a deeper understanding of the types of complementors associated with agricultural platforms. The research can serve as a starting point for further exploration of issues such as low rates of farmer acceptance of these platforms. Moreover, by examining agricultural platform configuration and design aspects from stakeholders’ viewpoints, this research provides insight into Agtech platform dynamics.

Agtech platforms reduce the digital divide in