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Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech

GM technology goes beyond Bt Cotton and has larger application in sustainable agriculture

Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) is celebrating the power of technology like Bt Cotton in making India the world’s leading producer. World Cotton Day is celebrated on October 7 every year.

 

Ram Kaundinya, Director General, FSII said, “Many factors influence the outbreaks of pests. Pink Ball Worms (PBW) existed and was controlled with chemical pesticides and other practices even before Bt Cotton came into the country. Many measures related to ginning of cotton, movement of cotton seed for oil extraction, transportation of cotton from infected areas to other areas, destruction of plant residues from cotton fields are needed to control the spread of an infestation.”

 

Dr Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, FSII said, “Bt cotton controlled all the bollworms very effectively and continues to do so. Pink Bollworm outbreak could be a result of very good control of other bollworms, but it is also because we have not introduced more advanced upgrades of Bt technology, thanks to the activism and regulatory logjam. The needs of the farmers have been neglected. In many states implementation of a proper package of agronomic practices have provided good relief from PBW. GM technology goes beyond Bt Cotton and Herbicide Tolerant cotton. It has many other applications like water use efficiency that reduces the use of water in cultivating crops, nitrogen use efficiency that reduces the use of nitrogenous fertilisers in crops, heat tolerance that helps crops to grow under higher temperatures, improving the nutritional profile of crops, etc. Many of these applications help us to preserve natural resources and improve the nutrition of the poorer sections of society. Rejecting all of them under the umbrella of GM crops is completely irrational and dangerous.” 

 

Dr Bajaj, “We must realise that no technology gives permanent and complete solutions. For a technology to last 15-20 years without up-gradation and still give good results is a major achievement. Instead of criticising the technology, we should advocate for the up-gradation and integrated management of the technology. We need a basket of technologies including organic, crop protection chemicals, fertilisers, biotechnology interventions and breeding improvements for the farmers to have the awareness and freedom to choose the best and long-lasting solutions.”

GM technology goes beyond Bt Cotton and

Supply Chain

The two companies will use agribusiness technologies, development resources and innovate last-mile dairy supply chain solutions for markets in India and abroad

America’s leading dairy technology, services, and intelligence provider, Dairy.com, has made its first investment in India with the acquisition of Mr.Milkman, a leading last-mile dairy supply chain SaaS platform based out of India. The company has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Mr.Milkman to strengthen its integrated supply chain solution offerings for dairies worldwide.

The two companies will use their combined agribusiness technologies, development resources, and industry expertise to enable and innovate last-mile dairy supply chain solutions for markets in India and abroad.

Dairy.com and Mr.Milkman are positioned to thrive in India as their solutions are ideally suited to successfully supporting the country’s exponential rise of e-commerce and its increasing consumer demand for convenience, value, food safety, ease of payment, and product variety from the industry.

“Indian dairy sector and milk brands in India will need to employ technology at every level, right from procurement of milk to last delivery mile to grow and be successful. Milk brands in India and around the world operate on slim margins, and since milk prices have a cap, the only way to grow profits is to become more efficient – which can only happen through the implementation of technology,” said Milkman Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Samarth Setia.

The two companies will use agribusiness technologies,

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides

The post-emergence herbicide will help to control narrow and broad leaf weeds in the onion crop

Insecticides (India) Limited recently launched OXIM, the new herbicide that will effectively control both narrow as well as broadleaf weeds. Oximwill is marketed by Insecticides (India) under its popular ‘Tractor Brand’.

Oximis is effective when used 15-20 days after sowing or transplanting the onion crop or two to three-leaf stages of the weeds. Especially it is very helpful for the areas where the onions are sown directly. Here the manual weeding is very difficult and expensive, so Oximwill turns out to be a good solution for these areas.

“The new herbicide OXIM is focused on the onion farmers so that they get better control of both narrow leaf and broadleaf weeds together. Oxim will help the onion farmers of Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP, Gujrat, Bihar and Rajasthan,” says Rajesh Aggarwal, MD, Insecticides (India).

“Oxim will have a good avenue in Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat in the western zone in the coming Rabi season. We look forward to a good response from the market for this product as we have received for Hachiman,” says PC Pabbi, Sr Vice President, Insecticides (India).

The post-emergence herbicide will help to control

Finance, Start ups

The startup will utilise the fresh capital for its business growth, expansion and other general corporate activities

Pune-based agritech startup AgroStar is raising Rs 53 crore in a funding round led by Aavishkaar Bharat Fund, Accel India and Bertelsmann. The fresh infusion seems to be part of the startup’s Series D round.

The startup is raising Rs 47.3 crore from Aavishkaar Bharat Fund, Accel India and Bertelsmann by allotting a total of 1,68,178 Series E Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) at an issue price of Rs 2816.06.

AgroStar will also raise Rs 5.2 crore by allotting 20,796 optionally convertible redeemable preference shares (OCRPS) to Innoven Capital India. The startup will utilise the fresh capital for its business growth, expansion and other general corporate activities.

The startup will utilise the fresh capital

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Organic

A Certificate of Declaration was issued that will enhance the coconut production by the farmers and the coconut value-addition enterprises

The entire Union Territory of Lakshadweep has been declared as the Fully Organic Territory. Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister during his recent visit to Kavaratti applauded the four major programmes of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lakshadweep of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi during the occasion. The minister presented the Certificate of Declaration to the Praful Patel, Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

 

The Certification is under the PGS-India, a Participatory Organic Guarantee Programme of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. The certification will enhance the coconut production by the farmers and the coconut value-addition enterprises in the islands paving the way for increased value-addition and local employment generation bringing in big economic gains for the islands.

 

The minister commissioned the Poultry Feed and Organic Manure Making Unit of the ICAR-CMFRI, KVK, Lakshadweep established in association with the ICAR-CIFT, Kochi as a part of demonstrating the ICAR-CIFT’s technology for the production of poultry feed and organic manure from fish wastes. The unit can produce One Tonne feed/manure per day and will be operated by the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Kavaratti on a commercial basis. The Tuna Fishery of Lakshadweep generates nearly 3,000 tonnes of waste annually which can yield nearly 4,000 tonnes of poultry feed/manure every year.

 

Singh also inaugurated the UT Level Demonstration of Coconut Sap (Neera) Chiller Box Technology of the ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, Kerala by the KVK by distributing the sap chiller boxes to two farmers from the different islands. 

 

The Lakshadweep is the Second Union Territory / State to be declared fully organic after Sikkim.

 

A Certificate of Declaration was issued that

AgroPolicy, Environment, Oilseeds, Sustainable Energy

The union agri minister emphasised on a special package and assistance for NE states that is likely to change the socio-economic status of the farmers

National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm Business Summit for the North Eastern States was held in Guwahati. The conference began under the chairmanship of the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar with the watering of the oil palm plant and showcasing of a film on an oil palm plantation.

 

Tomar emphasised playing an equal role in the development of the crop and assured to make major investments for seed nurseries, drip irrigation, technical back up, set of mills, purchase centres and training of farmers. Special package and assistance for NE states will change the socio-economic status of the farmers and will open employment opportunities in the established oil palm mills along with infrastructure development, said the minister.

 

Tomar further informed that the Mission with a total outlay of Rs 11040 crore will bring an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm plantation with 3.28 lakh hectares in the North-Eastern states and 3.22 in the Rest of India in next five years.

 

Certificates for FPOs formed by NABARD were distributed and an MOU was signed with ABPRL and Numaligarh Refinery to establish the first-of-its-kind biorefinery in India to produce renewable green fuel bioethanol.

 

Books titled Glimpses of NMEO-Oil Palm in NE States by Oilseeds Division, DA&FW and Improved Management Practices of the Oil Palm Cultivation in NE States by ICAR-IIOPR and Assessment Report were released. 

 

Oil palm players, viz Godrej Agrovet, Ruchi Soya, Shivaisis and 3 F oil palm were present for the Summit. 3 F oil palm and Ruchi Soya have committed to setting up mills in Arunachal Pradesh over the next year. Ruchi Soya will also set up an oil palm mill in Mizoram. 3 F oil palm mentioned they would invest around Rs 1200 crores. 

 

Union MoS of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhary and Sobha Karandlaje, MoS, DoNER BL Verma and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu attended the National Summit.

 

Minister of Agriculture, Sikkim Loknath Sharma, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam JishnuBarua, Chief Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh Naresh Kumar, Principal Secretaries of the states, Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary, GoI were present.

The union agri minister emphasised on a

Live Stock, Start ups, Supply Chain

Emerges as India’s first D2C Unicorn

Bengaluru-based Licious has emerged as India’s first D2C Unicorn. The tech-powered, D2C fresh animal protein brand in the country, achieved a billion-dollar valuation post receipt of funding worth $52 million led by IIFL AMC’s Late Stage Tech Fund.

The achievement of Licious Unicorn status is expected to not only further the journey of the brand but unlock the next level of opportunities for the animal protein sector through an inflow of investment, talent and the emergence of more start-ups that will help raise the bar in all aspects.

Vivek Gupta and Abhay Hanjura, Co-Founders, Licious, said, “Even though the funding for D2C sector has grown significantly, FMCG is still not considered the most attractive category. We expect that Licious’ Unicorn status will change that. The fresh meats and seafood sector are still largely underserved and unorganised that holds a vast opportunity of $40 billion. As the category leader, we aim at paving the way for the second wave of young start-ups that can join hands in fully harnessing the potential that the industry has to offer. We will continue to build the category through investments in technology for supply chain excellence, product innovation, talent, and vendor partner upgrades.”

They added,” In the coming years, you will see Licious work towards building a sustainable, responsible business that will reimagine the animal protein category in India through an optimal mix of global influence & products curated for the Indian palate. But most of all, you will see us championing the cause of the fresh meats and seafood sector as we continue to put it in the front row of consumer businesses in India.”

The company also recently announced their pledge to comply with the lofty global ESG standards, setting new benchmarks for sustainability and governance.

Emerges as India’s first D2C UnicornBengaluru-based Licious

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Environment, Sustainable Energy

The MoU is aimed at establishing mutual relations between scientific, technical and administrative personnel of the two organisations

The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has entered into an agreement with Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun for research, transfer of research, technology and exchange of academic affairs.
The FRI is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that carries out research, education, training and extension on forest and forestry and other allied sciences in India.

The MoU is aimed at establishing mutual relations between scientific, technical and administrative personnel of the two organisations as well as the creation of facilities for the exchange of scientific technology, technologists and experts and their proper placement. Dr RS Sidhu, Registrar, PAU and Dr NK Upreti, Group Coordinator (Research), Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.


The MoU is aimed at establishing mutual

Environment

Commits to reshape the role of global agriculture in the fight against climate change

UPL has joined The Climate Pledge (‘TCP’) as the first signatory from the agricultural inputs, solutions, and technologies sector. Joining TCP emphasises a wider commitment led by UPL to reimagine sustainability, and transform the role of agriculture as a positive contributor to meeting the challenges presented by climate change, food security, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. In addition, over the last five years, UPL has reduced its carbon emissions by 26 per cent and have taken a goal to reduce our carbon emissions by an additional 25 per cent by 2025.  UPL has made extensive use of sustainability-linked loans as a part of our capital structure to ensure that the link between actions and their impact is established.

Jai Shroff, Global CEO, UPL, said, “At UPL we believe that global agriculture is about to play its most important role yet  – having first nourished the planet with abundant food, it will now sustain us through a transformational role tackling climate change. Achieving this will rely on reimagining sustainability through the power of partnerships, and by joining The Climate Pledge we are reinforcing our commitment to collaboration, sustainability, and leadership in our industry. We are excited to join a community that will share knowledge, ideas, and best practices.”

“The recent report released by the IPCC is the starkest warning yet that the systems supporting human life are reaching tipping points and that the window of time to act decisively is narrowing,” said Christiana Figueres, the UN’s former climate chief and now the founding partner of Global Optimism.

“This wake-up call from science must be faced with courage and conviction. In this light, it’s encouraging that 86 more companies – some of the largest household names in the world – are now joining The Climate Pledge, committing to accelerate their actions to tackle climate change in a timely fashion, and playing their part in building a low-carbon economy. I look forward to the fruits of the leadership we will see from this collective of 200 signatories that are now part of The Climate Pledge.” 

Commits to reshape the role of global

AgroPolicy, Interaction, IT

Deliberations were made on digital agri mission, climate change and its impact on crops

CropLife India recently organised its 41st Annual General Meeting & Open House, which witnessed the congregation of Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Minister of State, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; senior government officials, experts and industry captains on the cause of supporting the farmer.

 

The Open House – Virtual Conference, observed an inaugural session, India @ 75: Indian Agrochemical Industry; a Special Address on “Agrochemical Industry’s Contributions in Sustainable Food Systems” by Giulia Di Tommaso, President and CEO, CropLife International; a panel discussion on ’Policy & Regulatory Roadmap for Agrochemicals Sector”’ and a valedictory session on ’Way Forward for Indian Agrochemical Industry.’

 

In his Chief Guest address, Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, shared, “With this, the government has started the Digital Agriculture Mission. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has signed MoUs with the private sector to take forward digital agriculture, which aims to benefit farmers in every way while increasing their income.”

 

Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, opined, “The impact of climate change has a direct/indirect fallout on pests, which creates an impact on crops. The crop protection industry needs to leverage the R&D facilities, thus imbibing the policies of drone technology and artificial intelligence.”

 

Dr SK Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said, “India needs new molecules, which are safer and more effective. The industry needs to come forward and introduce new molecules; aligned with international standards, which will be welcomed with open arms.”

 

Dr Ravi Prakash, Plant Protection Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said, “The quality of the products are being monitored with the help of national laboratories, constantly and the use of the drone will be encouraged in the country.”

 

Dr KC Ravi, Chairman, CropLife India shared the need for a predictable, stable and science-based policy and regulatory regime for the proper growth of the crop protection sector is imperative; which promotes innovation and new product introduction to address the current and upcoming challenges faced by farmers; while paving the way with the introduction of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and drones”.

 

Asitava Sen, CEO, CropLife India mentioned, “CropLife India and its member companies have always believed in and demonstrated a constructive partnership approach with the government and other stakeholders, and would like to continue to contribute to strengthening the collaborative ecosystem.”

 

Deliberations were made on digital agri mission,

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agro Universities

The main aim is to develop a comprehensive solution that achieves complete plant health rather than just the containment of spread

The Innoterra India has signed a licensing agreement with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research for ICAR-FUSICONT. The FUSICONT is a bio-pesticide solution that battles Panama Wilt (TR4) disease affecting Cavendish bananas globally which reduces up to 90 per cent production losses and help save the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. The bio-pesticide is based on a novel technology that directly targets the deadly fungal disease currently responsible for the destruction of millions of tonnes of banana crops worldwide. 

 

The FUSICONT is in the advanced stages of commercialisation and has also received regulatory approval from Central Insecticide Board (CIB), Government of India. The main aim is to develop a comprehensive solution that achieves complete plant health rather than just the containment of spread.

 

The bio-pesticide has shown promising results in ICAR’s large-scale validation in hotspots of India and has proven to be a sustainable solution for the environment. 

 

The main aim is to develop a

Agro Universities, Agrotech

Discussions were held on to include the medicinal and aromatic plants in the integrated farming system to enhance the farmer’s livelihood and equitable utilisation of the farm resources

Dr GR Chintala, Chairman, National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) along with the Regional Officers visited the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The chairman visited the institute’s research farm showcasing several state-of-the-art experiments on the integrated farming system (IFS), water harvesting for crop production, precision farming, gum garden, agri-voltaic system and Agri-Business Incubation Centre. He urged for including the medicinal and aromatic plants in the IFS to enhance the farmer’s livelihood and equitable utilisation of the farm resources. Dr Chintala applauded the institute’s efforts to improve the production technologies of fruit crops – ber, anar and date palm.

 

On his visit to the precision farming block fully equipped with the automated drip and fertigation system for efficient water management and facilitate precise use of nutrients, the Chairman was depicted the polyhouse-based vegetable production system having grafting technique for cultivation of cucumber, tomato and capsicum.

 

Dr Chintala was also demonstrated the ongoing experiment using Thermocol Ball Technique used for reducing the water evaporation from diggies or small farm ponds. The commercial utilisation of the newly developed carrier for the production of microbial cultures for use at the farm level was apprised to the Chief Guest.

 

In his address, the chairman stated about the high priority of the NABARD in dairy farming, conservation agriculture and post-harvest technologies. He stressed disseminating the benefits of research to the farmers.

 

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr OP Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur, Rajasthan apprised the Chief Guest about the institute’s achievements.

 

Discussions were held on to include the

Agro chems – Pesticides, R&D

The pesticide reduces the amount of plant damage caused by the beetle

Renaissance BioScience Corp, a leading global bioengineering company, announced that an independent test of its environmentally safe, RNA-based biopesticide technology conducted on Colorado potato beetle (CPB) larvae resulted in 98.3 per cent mortality and greatly reduced the amount of plant damage caused by the beetle. 

 

The proof-of-concept test, conducted by a leading international agriculture consultancy with expertise in pesticide evaluation, applied Renaissance’s proprietary yeast-based RNA interference technology that is designed to precisely target and turn off a specific CPB gene. This, in turn, resulted in high CPB mortality and protected the potato plant. A key characteristic and industrial benefit of the Renaissance novel proprietary RNA production and oral delivery platform technology is that it’s possible to include multiple different gene targets in each cell of the delivery system, thereby greatly reducing or eliminating the potential for CPB to develop resistance to this innovative biopesticide. 

 

Dr John Husnik, CEO, Renaissance BioScience comments, “Given that the large-scale, low-cost production of yeast is already readily available from well-established global yeast companies, our focus now is maximising effectiveness through further laboratory tests and field trials and organising appropriate commercial partners for the next phases of product development.” 

 

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is one of the most economically devastating pests facing potato crops in North America and Mexico, Europe, Russia and Eastern Europe, and in Asia, including in western and northeastern China. As the world’s leading producers of potatoes, China and India are at the leading frontier of CPB spread as it expands its range eastward. 

 

The pesticide reduces the amount of plant

AgroPolicy, Dairy

A website of AWBI was launched by Union Dairy and Fisheries minister that will benefit the end-users of animal welfare

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) celebrated World Animal Day at Kamdhenu Dham Gaushala (Nagar Nigam Gaushala), Gurugram, Haryana (run by Shri Chetan Dass Gosanvardhan, Sangel, Ujina) in the presence of Parshottam Rupala, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and Jai Prakash Dalal, Minister, Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Haryana. A website of AWBI was launched by Rupala that will benefit the end-users of animal welfare.

Sarvan Garg, Chairman, Haryana Gauseva Aayog while addressing the audience told that the Government of Haryana and Gauseva Aayog are working tremendously and the number of cows in the Gaushalas has doubled during the last decade and the livestock is free from various diseases like FMD etc.

Dr OP Chaudhary, Joint Secretary, (NLM and AW) & Chairman AWBI, while giving his welcome and introductory address told that the animal kingdom should also get their rights including five freedoms for the animals i.e. freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from fear and distress, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from discomfort and freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour.

A website of AWBI was launched by