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Agrotech

Mr. Forster will assume the role of CFO of International Brands and Mr. Cheetham becomes COO

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on the global growth of Cannabis and CBD-rich hemp is pleased to announce that the Company has transferred two of its experienced executives to assist in the launch of MYM International Brands Inc. (“International Brands”).

The Company’s CFO, Mark Forster, and its COO, Paul Cheetham have joined the International Brands team to launch global expansion efforts of CBD-rich consumer products in a wide variety of categories, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and health and wellness.

Mr. Forster will assume the role of CFO of International Brands and Mr. Cheetham becomes COO. In addition, at the Company’s request one of its existing independent directors, Mr. Andrew Kent, will also provide assistance by serving on the board of International Brands as an independent director, and accordingly Mr. Kent will step down as an independent director of the Company while in that new capacity.

“The growing global demand for CBD-rich consumer products has presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on,” said Erick Factor, CEO of MYM International Brands Inc. “Our experience and contacts in the CBD-rich hemp cultivation and processing business allow us to be leaders in the procurement and development of CBD-rich consumer products.”

Mr. Forster will assume the role of

Acquaculture

Farm operators can utilize FAI to fine-tune their feeding schedules, ensuring fish are always satiated.

UMITRON PTE. LTD. launches Fish Appetite Index (FAI), the world’s first real-time ocean-based fish appetite detection system.

UMITRON FAI uses efficient machine learning and image analysis techniques to extract relevant data from video streams that can then be used to accurately quantify fish appetite. FAI software has already been rolled out to existing customers to optimize their feeding operations.

Over the past twenty years the aquaculture industry has been expanding at an exponential rate with annual production tripling during this brief time span. At the same time, however, aquaculture feed prices have also risen dramatically. This presents an ever-growing challenge for farmers since feed costs account for a majority of their operational overhead. Farmers must walk a tight line: underfeeding their fish risks lower growth rates and slower time to market, while overfeeding increases costs and potentially harms the environment. New data analytics technologies such as IoT devices and machine learning offer farmers a solution to improve their feeding operations.

The FAI algorithm takes in the same visual information that humans would and then scores fish appetite and presents it in an easy to understand chart. When used in tandem with a smart feeder such as UMITRON CELL, the feed time intervals and amounts can be automatically adjusted with minimal human interference. Farm operators can utilize FAI to fine-tune their feeding schedules, ensuring fish are always satiated. This is easily done via their smartphones with the UMITRON app, where they can check and remotely adjust feed settings based on the FAI feedback.

FAI benefits farmers by reducing wasted feed, improving profitability as well as environmental sustainability. FAI in combination with technology such as CELL allows farmers to stay onshore during dangerous weather conditions or holidays while still keeping a close eye on their fish stocks. Furthermore, it reduces the need for every employee to be an expert at feeding and instead frees workers to focus on other tasks that improve fish welfare.

Existing UMITRON customers have already begun using FAI alongside CELL. “Today, there are many companies developing machine-learning algorithms for a variety of industries but only testing them under ideal conditions. The UMITRON Fish Appetite Index on the other hand is already being embraced by our existing customers at their ocean-based farm sites where it operates under real world conditions. It might be difficult for some of our potential customers to completely trust artificial intelligence at first, but FAI is an important tool that can be used to increase productivity and reduce waste,” said Masahiko Yamada, managing director of UMITRON. 

“Our appetite analysis approach is being developed with customer feedback in mind. UMITRON will continue to develop similar value-added software services that can be automatically rolled out to our existing customer base. Also, we are open to developing other practical applications after discussions with potential customers or equipment partners,”  added Takuma Okamoto, CTO of UMITRON.

UMITRON is looking for partners interested in using FAI for species such as Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, European sea bass, and gilthead sea bream. Similarly, UMITRON is looking for feeding system manufacturing partners who wish to utilize data analysis software such as FAI to improve their current products.

 

Farm operators can utilize FAI to fine-tune

Industry Reports / Analysis

Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East

Precision Viticulture market worldwide is projected to grow by US$809.6 Thousand, guided by a compounded growth of 8.4%. Staying on top of trends is essential for decision makers to leverage this emerging opportunity.

The report addresses this very need and provides the latest scoop on all major market segments. Guidance Systems, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 8.7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$866.4 Thousand by the year 2025, Guidance Systems will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

While global megatrends sweeping through the market influence the primary direction of growth, regional markets are swayed by more granular locally unique business drivers. Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 7.2% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$33.3 Thousand to the region’s size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years.

Over US$64.6 Thousand worth of projected demand in the region will come from other emerging Eastern European markets. In Japan, Guidance Systems will reach a market size of US$50.5 Thousand by the close of the analysis period. As the world’s second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 11.6% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$208.5 Thousand in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders.

Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.

Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Ateknea Solutions (Spain); Groupe ICV (France); John Deere (USA); QuantisLabs ltd. (Hungary); Teejet Technologies (USA); TerraNIS (France); Topcon Corporation (Japan); Trimble, Inc. (USA)

 

Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces

Agro chems – Fertilizers

Executives will gather to trade agricultural inputs and discuss investment, partnership, and innovation across the African supply chain

The premier fertilizer marketplace returns to Cape Town International Convention Centre from 1-3 October 2019. The three-day conference is now established in the fertilizer trading calendar and is highly respected by those working in the region for the quality of the agenda and premium networking. The conference is collaboration between CRU and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP).

The CRU Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness conferences regularly attracts more than 300 attendees, including senior executives from the international fertilizer supply chain and key stakeholders in African agribusiness. Omri Van Zyl, Executive Director, Agri SA is the voice of 28,000 commercial farmers across South Africa and will give the keynote presentation. He is joined on the agenda by other well-known thought-leaders and strategists in the African agriculture sector such as Dr. John Purchase, CEO, Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) and Frans du Plessis, Managing Director of GWK AGRI.

Ma’aden is the conference’s lead sponsor and the global fertilizer supply chain is once again sending senior representatives to conduct meetings with traders and distributors. Companies such as Arab Potash, Dangote Industries, Evergrow, OCP Africa, Omnia, PhosAgro, Sabic, Sirius Minerals, Toyota Tshusho and many more, have already confirmed their participation.

The conference is officially endorsed by the Western Cape Government – Agriculture Department, and WESGRO, plus key industry associations such as: FERTASA, the Agrodealers Association of South Africa (ADASA), and the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). The conference will be opened by Her Excellency Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Former Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at The African Union. Policymakers from across Africa, representatives of SME hub agrodealers from across the continent, and SME farmers from the Western Cape will be sponsored to attend, courtesy of our partners AFAP, and the support of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Attendees value the conference for the excellent networking opportunities with hard-to-reach senior decision-makers. Networking opportunities are plentiful –  during frequent networking functions in the lively exhibition, or in the many available private meeting rooms, all facilitated by an online networking platform including the delegate list with full contact details.

Tom Willatt, Portfolio Director at CRU Events said “We are delighted to be working so closely with key industry partners, and it will help ensure the discussions meet the needs of the whole sector, whether they are smallholder farmers, large commercial agribusinesses, fertilizer producers, or policymakers from across Africa. I am sure the 2019 conference will build on all of the excellent connections and discussions started at our previous events.”

Presentations at the conference will include: the latest updates on strategies to boost fertilizer trade, understanding the agribusiness landscape, key drivers of fertilizer demand, agri-input and finance strategies for smallholder farmers, case studies from major agribusiness stake holders on how to boost trade, and supply chain developments. This year will also feature a site visit to the Langgewens Research Farm, operated the Western Cape Government – Department of Agriculture, where visitors can see conservation agriculture in practise.

The event is supported by key sponsors such as Ma’aden, Bagtech and Evergrow for Speciality Fertilizers, and boasts a large exhibition which includes AGI, EMT, Ensymm, Global Conveyors, Kimleigh, Nectar Group, and the United Fertilizers Company.

 

Executives will gather to trade agricultural inputs

Schemes - NABARD

The senior officials of the State Governments, Commodity Boards and other stakeholders made presentations on their initiatives in increasing the agricultural exports and integrating the export value chain with the primary stakeholders

The Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India and APEDA, in association with NABARD and with the support of other Govt. of India departments such as Agriculture, Food Processing, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and the State Governments recently organized the National Stakeholders Consultation Meet on Agri-Export Promotion- Opportunities, Challenges & Way Forward.

Secretary, Commerce, GoI; Secretary, MoFPI, GoI; Additional Secretary, Agriculture, GoI; Chairman, APEDA; Joint Secretary, Fisheries; Joint Secretary, Commerce; Senior officers from Coffee Board, Tea Board, Spices Board and MPEDA; senior officials from State Governments and Banks participated in the consultation meet.

Anup Wadhawan, Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Commerce, during his opening remarks focused on the potential and opportunities in the agri export sector and initiatives of the Government of India. Emphasizing a coordinated effort being the key mover for ensuring growth in export of agri produce and processed food products he urged the States to identify nodal agencies, initiate measures to establish the entire logistic chain, traceability and other supportive measures. He also urged upon banks to support through credit.

Pushpa Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) in her address emphasized the importance of food processing and the need for large number of aggregators at village/cluster level for all kinds of agricultural produce including allied sectors. She informed that the Ministry of Food Processing is promoting a chain of clusters for food processing and various line departments need to encourage supporting necessary infrastructure for agro processing and exports in a more coordinated manner. She mentioned that NABARD being a key player in agriculture and rural development, need to play a critical role for facilitating the credit support to boost agri-export value chain.

Addressing the consultation meet Dr. H K Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD emphasized on the linkage of exports and enhancement of income of farmers. He also stressed on the need to ensure ecosystem support for enhancing export of agricultural produce and processed food products. Pointing to the need for a collaborative effort, he urged the participants to contribute effectively in development of a road map for promotion of agri exports especially in view of the target of doubling of agri exports.

Dr Alka Bhargava, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India focused on the need for ensuring market linkages for farmers to enable realization of remunerative prices of their produce. She mentioned that the Agriculture Ministry is coming out with a comprehensive policy for promoting 10000 FPOs in the country. However, the production of market driven quality produce of processable varieties is the need of the hour through appropriate policy interventions. She urged the State Governments to adopt the model contract farming act and APMC act for facilitating demand based production and appropriate market linkages.

The senior officials of the State Governments, Commodity Boards and other stakeholders made presentations on their initiatives in increasing the agricultural exports and integrating the export value chain with the primary stakeholders.

The meet ended with vote of thanks from the CGM, NABARD and the resolve on the part of all stakeholders to work together in a coordinated and supportive manner to achieve the goal of the Agriculture Export Policy.

 

 

The senior officials of the State Governments,

Agrotech

As part of the effort, the company is testing two brick and mortar stores using its Farmmi Baba brand

Farmmi, Inc. a leading agriculture products supplier in China, has announced it is testing offline stores to expand its brand presence and revenue growth.  

As part of the effort, the company is testing two brick and mortar stores using its Farmmi Baba brand.  The initial brick and mortar stores are located in Hangzhou in the Puyan agricultural market in the Binjiang District and the Dinghai agricultural market in Jianggan District.

Yefang Zhang, Farmmi’s Chairwoman and CEO, stated, “We are always working to increase brand awareness of our e-commerce platform and seeking to expand our profitable growth.  As has been seen in other product categories, physical stores can play a hand-in-hand role in the success of online e-commerce platforms as consumers can gain higher confidence by seeing and trying products before buying.  In our case, we are able to open a physical presence on a very cost effective basis because the stores we are testing are located in agricultural markets rather than higher priced shopping malls.  The location suits us well because it is a natural location with built in customer foot traffic for the agricultural products Farmmi specializes in providing.  We are optimistic about the potential for physical stores but will be conservative in our expansion plan in order to limit our potential financial exposure.”

Farmmi’s brick and mortar stores will initially feature Sanpin Yibiao agricultural products and a variety of fresh vegetables.  Sanpin Yibiao agricultural products are high-quality geographical indication products that are organic, pollution-free and environmentally friendly.  While these products have typically been reserved for high-end consumers, the stores will increase access to a broader base of consumers. 

As part of the effort, the company

Pulses

HB4 trait now has regulatory approval in more than 80 percent of the global soybean market

Verdeca, a joint venture between Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. and Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. have announced that it has successfully completed the regulatory review process and received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its HB4® drought tolerant soybeans, which will allow for commercialization in the U.S. market. The approval comes two years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) approval of Verdeca’s HB4 trait in 2017.

The HB4 stack is Verdeca’s newest product release from its pipeline of traits developed to benefit soybean producers through quality improvement, stress mitigation and management practices.

“HB4 is a novel soybean trait that enhances the traditional herbicide tolerance package to provide yield stability across diverse environments,” said Martin Mariani Ventura, general manager of Verdeca. “Approval of this technology in the United States is a significant step for the successful commercialization of HB4 technology in the global soybean market.”

With USDA approval, the HB4 trait now has regulatory approval in more than 80 percent of the global soybean market. The HB4 trait has already been approved in Argentina and Brazil, with regulatory submissions currently under consideration by China, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay. Import approval from China is needed for commercial launch in Argentina, and is now expected in 2020.

More than 30 million of the world’s soybean hectares are grown in the United States. While the 2019 growing season has challenged many U.S. soybean growers with too much water, key soybean production areas – including some areas within the United States – just last year suffered reduced yields due to water and heat stress.

“Trials in Argentina have shown a positive impact of the HB4 trait stack on soybeans there,” said Raj Ketkar, president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences. “The USDA and FDA approvals are important steps in our continued drive to commercialize this trait in key markets.”

“This approval in the U.S. is an important step for Verdeca. The HB4 trait was recently approved by Brazil as well, and we now expect approval in China in 2020 to launch our commercial efforts in Argentina,” said Federico Trucco, CEO of Bioceres Crop Solutions.

Arcadia Biosciences and Bioceres Crop Solutions formed Verdeca in 2012 to deploy next-generation soybean traits in all key production regions, beginning in South America and North America, which together represent nearly 80 percent of the harvested soybean hectares globally.

HB4 trait now has regulatory approval in

Agro chems – Fertilizers

The acquisition enables Bioenergy DevCo to increase BTS Biogas’ technology footprint in North America

Bioenergy DevCo, a leading global developer of anaerobic digestion facilities that create renewable energy and healthy soil products has acquired BTS Biogas, which will operate as an affiliate and enable new operation and expansion of anaerobic digestion in North America. 

Headquartered in Bruneck, Italy, BTS Biogas is a European pioneer in the field of anaerobic digestion with a 20-year history in the industry and 200 plants located around the world. By transforming organic waste into natural gas and an organic soil amendment, anaerobic digestion reduces landfill waste, as well as carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

The acquisition enables Bioenergy DevCo to increase BTS Biogas’ technology footprint in North America, working closely with municipalities and companies to help them efficiently, cleanly and affordably dispose of organic waste while producing clean, renewable natural gas that can be used by utilities.

“Almost three years ago, our team began working with BTS Biogas to expand the use of large-scale, modular anaerobic biodigesters. By building relationships with cities and towns throughout the United States, we are confident that this proven technology will become an essential tool in reducing pollution from waste and fighting climate change as the world aims to transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Shawn Kreloff, founder and CEO of Bioenergy DevCo. “While operating as affiliated entities, we aim to shift mindsets by demonstrating how this proven technology can change organic waste from being a pollution problem to a renewable energy solution.” 

Organic waste is traditionally either incinerated and emitted as an environmental pollutant or left in a landfill where it rots and releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Through the use of anaerobic digester technology, Bioenergy DevCo offers an environmentally smart, proven technology to break down biodegradable waste materials naturally, using microorganisms.

This natural chemical process creates two important products at an industrial scale. First is renewable natural gas, which can be burned cleanly and turned into a versatile source of renewable energy by being injected into a national electric grid or used as a transportation fuel as compressed natural gas.  Second, is a product called digestate, an organic soil amendment with the same organic and storm water management capability as compost.

“With this investment, we are pleased to support expansion into North America as we continue to work independently in Europe to advance the adoption of this technology, expand anaerobic digestion know-how and strengthen the financial soundness of waste-to-energy projects,” said Jeff Henslin, CEO of BTS Biogas. “This affiliation between the two companies is an evolution that allows us to offer the North American market not only the most advanced technological solutions for bioenergy and renewable natural gas production from organic waste, but also enables us to support projects of great strategic and economic value with developers throughout the world.”

The acquisition enables Bioenergy DevCo to increase

IT

Ag Leader will issue a limited beta release of CartACE™ for InCommand® displays

Ag Leader, the leader in year-round precision farming technology widely known for the first commercially successful yield monitor has announced a limited beta release of a new grain cart connectivity feature, CartACE. Powered by Ag Leader’s InCommand display, CartACE gives the grain cart operator assistance while unloading on-the-go.

“We know that the grain cart seat cannot be filled by just anyone, and it is getting harder to find experienced operators to fill critical roles in farming operations. It takes a certain level of expertise to fill this role, which we’re approaching in a practical and economical way that we believe many of our customers could easily adopt and benefit from,” explained Joe Holoubek, Ag Leader Product Manager. “We aim to turn what might be an average vehicle driver into a skilled grain cart operator through providing the right tools and assistance during high stress and high error prone harvest tasks.”

CartACE simplifies the grain cart operator’s job by sharing a live map of the combine’s progress and location through InCommand displays, helping the operator know when and where the combine needs to unload and which part of the field to drive on. The InCommand display in the grain cart automatically generates a guidance line alongside the combine and the operator simply presses a button to engage autosteer. While the operator is still responsible for safe operation of the vehicle, they can now focus their attention on unloading on-the-go. 

“Connecting the operation and automating some critical tasks, enables operators and machines to work better together and provides a huge productivity and confidence boost. We can do it using current technology already in the cab,” added Holoubek. “We believe this is a needed step toward the future of farming that most operations can take advantage of today without a huge investment or stepping too far outside their comfort zone.”

Ag Leader will issue a limited beta

R&D

The facility provides turnkey solutions and a simple pathway to enter the multi-billion dollar cannabis and organic foods markets

Micro Lab Farms, the premier provider of automated indoor micro-farms for rapid production of legal cannabis and other crops, announced it is opening a new Research and Development Center, showroom, and sales center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 2.5 acre facility will provide local support for farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the Midwest, and turnkey solutions to those seeking to enter rapidly growing cannabis and organic food markets.

In states such as Oklahoma, which have a relatively easy pathway to entry, Micro Lab Farms’ proprietary GrowPod platforms can allow almost anyone to become a licensed, legal grower of cannabis, and participate in the fastest growing sector in America.

Micro Lab Farms has licensed GrowPod technology from GP Solutions (OTC:GWPD). GrowPods are finely tuned, automated, transportable and scalable micro farms that have been shown to grow cannabis and other crops at a faster rate than conventional means of agriculture.

GrowPods allow cultivation to take place year-round, which maximizes ROI. The systems are sealed from outside pathogens, contaminants, pesticides and chemicals, and produce clean and robust crops.

Micro Lab Farms’ new facility will also stock a full selection of GP Solutions proprietary soil mixtures, which contain no animal products. This is critical in the cannabis industry because many other soils and additives can contain harmful pathogens and bacteria that have the potential to contaminate crops and cause testing failures.

The Micro Lab Farms R&D Complex will also host tours and information seminars on cannabis and organic farming.

The facility provides turnkey solutions and a

Agro chems – Fertilizers

Consistent Operational Performance with Improvements in Food and Fuel Segments

Darling Ingredients Inc. a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries,has announced financial results for the 2019 second quarter ended June 29, 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Overview

  • Revenue of $827.3 million
  • Net income of $26.3 million, or $0.16 per GAAP diluted share
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $115.5 million
  • Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) delivers $1.25 EBITDA per gallon
  • Consolidated adjusted pro forma EBITDA $159.4 million
  • DGD issued partner dividend of $17.7 million in April 2019, with a subsequent dividend of $37.8 million in July 2019
  • US bond refinanced, lowering borrowing cost and extending maturity with extinguishment costs incurred in quarter

For the second quarter of 2019, the Company reported net sales of $827.3 million, as compared with net sales of $846.6 million for the second quarter of 2018. The reduction in net sales of $(19.3) million is mainly the result of lower global protein prices and the divestiture of the Company’s industrial residuals business in May 2018 which was partially offset by the increase in sales volumes of the specialty pet food business and increased collagen sales values.

Net income attributable to Darling for the three months ended June 29, 2019 was $26.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(30.4) million, or $(0.18) per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2018.  The increase in net income over the same period in fiscal 2018 reflects the absence of the following one-time costs realized last year: debt extinguishment costs of $23.5 million related to Euro bond refinancing; the loss of $15.5 million from the sale of Terra Renewal Services subsidiary; and $15.0 million of restructuring and impairment charges incurred as a result of the Hurlingham, Argentina, gelatin plant closure.

Consistent Operational Performance with Improvements in Food

Oilseeds

USDA deregulation of proprietary canola gives aqua farmers and feed manufacturers access to sustainable aquafeed source

Aquaculture farmers will have access to a sustainable, plant-based source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for aquafeed, now that the USDA has deregulated Cargill’s proprietary canola for cultivation in the United States. Currently, aquafeed for farm-raised salmon contains fish oil to help fish reach desired EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acid levels.

By combining technology from BASF with its canola innovation capabilities and aquaculture expertise, Cargill is able to provide farmers access to Latitude™, a plant-based alternative that relieves harvesting pressure on wild fish populations, while meeting the market need for a reliable supply of long-chain omega-3s at a predictable price.

“This approval means we are on target to deliver Latitude™, our sustainable, fish oil alternative made from canola oilseeds to aquaculture farmers and feed manufacturers. It represents another key step in creating a global supply chain that can meet a critical environmental challenge,” said Mark Christiansen, managing director for Cargill’s specialty oils business.

Cargill has been testing omega-3 canola varieties under permit in multiple locations in Montana since 2015, and with USDA deregulation, Cargill plans to advance the commercialization of its long-chain omega-3 canola trait in a tightly-managed closed loop supply chain. The USDA deregulation is an important step in the regulatory approval strategy for Cargill’s new omega-3 canola.

BASF generated the data package and submitted the application for USDA regulatory approval of Cargill’s proprietary long-chain omega-3 canola.

“We are committed to excellence in meeting the extensive regulatory and stewardship requirements that accompany a new, genetically-optimized crop, and to assuring strict adherence to all applicable regulations,” said Ralph Paulini, vice president of regulatory & stewardship for seeds & traits at BASF. “Our efforts are validated with the USDA deregulation of Cargill’s omega-3 canola.”

USDA deregulation of proprietary canola gives aqua

AgroPolicy

Integration of farmer database by 2020 to weed out cases of multiple insurance on same plots

‘National Conference on Risk Mitigation through Tech Innovations in Agri Insurance’ was recently organised by FICCI.

Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani, CEO, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Joint Secretary (Credit), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare present at the conference said that the country needs a technological breakthrough to make crop insurance scheme a success in India.

Dr Bhutani said that despite spending Rs 30,000 crore on PMFBY, it was getting negative publicity as large numbers of farmers have complained about non-payment of claims due to the use of a primitive technology.

“I have always maintained that PMFBY is a good scheme riding on primitive technology of crop cutting experiments (CCEs). This is a system which has been in vogue in the country since long,” he said, adding that there was a need for a technological breakthrough which can be an alternative to CCEs.

CCE, which forms the basis of calculation of yields, computation of losses and finally computation of claims, is vulnerable to manipulations, seen in many states, and also the process of random sampling of farming plots, at times, results in benefits not reaching the farmers hit with calamity, Dr Bhutani said.

“Farm level assessment of the yields without a technology breakthrough is a logistic nightmare and the cost of implementing a farm level insurance in the country would be more than the subsidy government is providing today,” he added. 

For better implementation, the government is experimenting with weather based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS) which has its own challenges mainly because of the way the term sheets have been designed. Dr Bhutani, mentioned that, Maharashtra government has corrected the term sheets bringing down the premium rates and the scheme was doing better.

As for the lack of density of automatic weather stations in the country for executing WBCIS, satellite based data at lower level can supplement in its implementation, he said.

Further, he said that the government is doing pilots for smart sampling and crop cutting rationalization. It will roll out in more states. Smart sampling does away with random generation of the plot number and the government selects the point where the crop cutting has to happen as a centralized based assessment.

Dr Bhutani highlighted that the ministry is making a comprehensive database of farmers. “There are cases of one plot being insured 5-8 times. Aadhaar helps only up to a point but beyond that you will have to link it to land records. By 2020, we should have a robust system through integration of farmer database.”

Rajiv Chaudhary, CMD, Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd said that the State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), which are present in every district, can be engaged to design more appropriate term sheets for the weather based crop insurance products for specific crops in specific regions.

Siraj Hussain, Adviser, FICCI and Senior Visiting Fellow (ICRIER) and former Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing said, “If we can address the problems relating to WBCIS then perhaps the farmers can get their insurance claim in a much speedy manner than what has happened through crop cutting experiments.”

Jatin Singh, Member, FICCI National Agriculture Committee and Founder and Managing Director, Skymet Weather Services Pvt Ltd said, “Ravaged by the twin threats of floods and droughts, India’s water woes are of a paradoxical nature. The only way we can mitigate the risk to agriculture is through modern, accessible models of agri insurance.”

Dhyanesh Bhatt, CEO, Gramcover Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd said, “Access to high-quality information empowers the buyers. Information, at its best, reduces data clutter and focuses on essential facts, thereby helping the buyer, in this case, the farmers make informed decisions.”

Yogesh Patil, CEO, Skymet Weather Services said, “In the present scenario, efficient partnership models which can bring collective power of all stakeholders will be the game changer for agri insurance sector.”

 

Integration of farmer database by 2020 to

Agrotech

Key Competitors are Aerovironment, Agribotix, DJI, Dronedeploy, Eagle UAV Services, Parrot, Precisionhawk, Trimble Navigation, Yamaha Motor

Agriculture Drones market worldwide is projected to grow by US$8.9 Million, guided by a compounded growth of 30.3%

Staying on top of trends is essential for decision makers to leverage this emerging opportunity. The report addresses this very need and provides the latest scoop on all major market segments. Hardware, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 29.3%.

The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$8.1 Million by the year 2025, Hardware will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

While global megatrends sweeping through the market influence the primary direction of growth, regional markets are swayed by more granular locally unique business drivers.

Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 36.5% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$779.4 Thousand to the region’s size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$437.8 Thousand worth of projected demand in the region will come from other emerging Eastern European markets.

In Japan, Hardware will reach a market size of US$502.6 Thousand by the close of the analysis period. As the world’s second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 28.5% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$1.4 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders.

Competitors identified in this market:

Aerovironment, Agribotix Llc,DJI,Dronedeploy,Eagle UAV Services,Parrot SA,Precisionhawk Inc.,Trimble Navigation,Yamaha Motor

Key Topics Covered: 

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

  • Global Competitor Market Shares
  • Agriculture Drones Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2019 & 2025
  • Global Competitor Market Shares by Segment
  • Software (Type) Global Competitor Market Share Positioning for 2019 & 2025
  • Hardware (Type) Market Share Breakdown of Key Players: 2019 & 2025
  • Application of Drones in Agriculture
  • Review of the Increasing Imbalance between Population Growth and Food Supply
  • Agriculture as a Percentage of GDP by Region (2017)
  • Global Agricultural Area Breakdown by Country (2016)
  • Global Population Growth Rate: 2000-2100
  • Global Agricultural Production 1970-2015
  • Innovations
  1. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

    3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS
  • Growing Focus on Precision Agriculture Spurs Demand for Drones
  • Drones to Play an Important Role in Maintaining Food Security
  • Drones with Multispectral Camera Remote Sensing Drive Gains
  • Advanced Sensors Augment the Efficiency of Drone Technology
  • Growing Role of Drones in Field Mapping
  • Integration of Computer Vision Technology and Artificial Intelligence Aid in Better Yields
  1. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

    III. MARKET ANALYSIS

    GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

    UNITED STATES
  • Market Facts & Figures
  • US Agriculture Drones Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025
  • Software (Type) Market Share Analysis (in %) of Leading Players in the US for 2019 & 2025
  • Hardware (Type) Competitor Revenue Share (in %) in the US: 2019 & 2025
  • Usage of Computer Technology in US Farms
  • US Commercial Drones Market: Percentage Share Breakdown by Application (2019)

CANADA

JAPAN

CHINA

  • China – A Global Leader in Drones Technology Space
  • Competition in Chinese Drones Market

EUROPE

  • Market Facts & Figures
  • European Agriculture Drones Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2019 & 2025
  • Software (Type) Market Share (in %) by Company in Europe: 2019 & 2025
  • Hardware (Type) Market Share (in %) of Major Players in Europe: 2019 & 2025

FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

REST OF EUROPE

ASIA-PACIFIC

The “Agriculture Drones – Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

Key Competitors are Aerovironment, Agribotix, DJI, Dronedeploy,