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HomePosts Tagged "Africa"
Nature, Soil Health, Sustainability, World

The funds will enable FAO to upscale national and regional capacity building in soil assessment and sustainable soil management worldwide

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomed an additional $3 million contribution from PhosAgro, Russia’s leading phosphate-based fertiliser producer, to support the efforts of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) to help more farmers implement soil-improving management measures and boost the capacities of national soil laboratories in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Near East.

With this top-up, FAO plans to distribute an additional 1 200 Soil Doctor’s Testing Kits – special kits for assessing soil condition – to certified Soil Doctors and trainers. Around 5,000 farmers will then be trained and supported to adopt sustainable soil management practices by 2026.

The three-year project also envisages promoting reliable and accurate soil and fertilizer testing through the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) and the consolidation of the International Network on Soil Fertility and Fertilisers (INSOILFER), promoting efficient and environmentally friendly practices consistent with the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use of Management of Fertilizers. Another major activity under the project is the application of ecosystem-based solutions to remediate on-farm soil pollution through the International Network on Soil Pollution (INSOP).

For the first time, PhosAgro funding will also support the implementation of measures for the recarbonisation of agricultural soils (RECSOIL). This initiative will allow farmers to boost productivity, enhance resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The contribution agreement was recently signed by Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, and Alexander Sharabaika, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of PhosAgro.

The funds will enable FAO to upscale

Agrotech, Company News

MustGrow to receive upfront license fees and milestone payments, royalties and manufacturing sales linked to development and commercial achievements

MustGrow Biologics Corp announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Bayer AG covering soil applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, excluding home and garden, turf and ornamental applications.

Under the terms of the Agreement, MustGrow will receive an initial upfront payment as well as additional payments linked to the achievement of certain business milestones. Upon the commencement of commercial sales, MustGrow will also be entitled to fees from royalties and manufacturing sales. Additionally, Bayer will be responsible for regulatory and market development work in the respective field of use necessary to commercialize MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies, including the development of the formulated product, conducting relevant regulatory data studies for regulatory submissions, filing regulatory submissions, registration with relevant regulatory authorities, and support, marketing, and commercial sales activities. MustGrow anticipates that the value of the upfront, milestone payments and Development Work could approximate $35 to $40 million over the next several years (not including additional fees from royalties and manufacturing sales).

“Biologicals are part of an exciting frontier that offers new solutions for the challenges that growers face across the world,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics for Bayer. “We’re committed to working with leading innovators like MustGrow to accelerate the development of innovative biological solutions that provide safe, sustainable options for farmers and are looking forward to continuing our work together.”

Under the Agreement, Bayer has also been granted a right-of-first-negotiation for a license to use MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies for use in bananas in particular applications, excluding postharvest applications. MustGrow expects to continue collaborating with Bayer to consider other potential applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies, including potential testing in regions not currently covered by the Agreement.

MustGrow to receive upfront license fees and

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Supply Chain, Trade

According to reports from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), exports of 143,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice have been permitted to Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore

India has exempted Singapore from the ban on rice exports due to their close strategic partnership, according to the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

According to reports from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), exports of 143,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice have been permitted to Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore. This adds two more countries to the exemption list. The breakdown is as follows: 79,000 tonnes to Bhutan, 14,000 tonnes to Mauritius, and 50,000 tonnes to Singapore.

Reports indicate that more than 40 nations rely on India for more than half of their rice imports. Countries in certain regions of Africa and South Asia import over 80% of their rice from India.

This is the first exemption to the rice export ban announced by the MEA..

Singapore is one of India’s closest allies in Southeast Asia, with trade ties that exceed $30 billion.

Singapore maintains strong ties with China, its largest investor and trade partner.

According to reports from the Directorate General

Europe, Horticulture, North America, Supply Chain, Trade

The resurgence of international travel has played a significant role in opening up new markets for durian

Agroforestry Group announced a remarkable surge in business across North America, Europe, and Africa. This growth is propelled by the resurgence of international travel, mounting consumer interest, and businesses seeking innovative selling propositions.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for durian primarily originated from the Asia-Pacific region. Domestically, Malaysia led the way, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. While these countries remain crucial markets for the company, Agroforestry Group has witnessed a surge of inquiries from new markets, indicating a significant expansion in interest.

Paul Martin, Managing Director of Agroforestry Group, stated, “The surge in enquiries from new markets, particularly North America, Europe and Africa, has been staggering. The unexpected volume of interest from these regions was almost non-existent before the pandemic.”

The resurgence of international travel has played a significant role in opening up new markets for durian. Tourists visiting Asia inevitably encounter durian in various forms, as durian products are widely available throughout the region, both in Malaysia and other countries. Notably, The United Nations World Tourism Agency (UNWTO) reports a remarkable 200 per cent year-on-year surge in international tourism, with travel figures reaching 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023.

The post-pandemic shift in consumer and business sentiment in new markets has emerged as a significant driving force. Consumers have become more curious and adventurous, eager to explore diverse products and experiences. In response, businesses are strategically catering to this evolving consumer landscape, offering unique and innovative products. As a result, durian has been gaining traction internationally, with F&B companies introducing it in North America, Europe, and even Africa.

The resurgence of international travel has played

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, R&D

The fund is committed by Morocco-based Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and the OCP Group to back breakthrough sustainable technology in India

Bidra Innovation Ventures (Bidra) has announced a $200 million commitment by Morocco-based, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the OCP Group. The initiative will expand Bidra’s investment scope to include innovations in sustainable agriculture, energy, water and other climate technologies with a focus on emerging markets like India, Africa, and others.

This latest round of funding comes one year after Bidra launched a $50 million fund backed by the same investors focused on agriculture. In India, Bidra is an active investor in Niqo Robotics, a Bangalore-based agricultural robotics start-up focused on AI-powered sustainable spot spraying technology.

Over the past year, Bidra has nurtured multiple breakthroughs in technology. They have supported several innovative sustainable tech companies including Niqo Robotics, an AI tech-driven company that reduces chemical volumes, Agrospheres, an ag-tech company developing environmentally friendly crop protection products, and Pattern Ag, which uses predictive analytics to customise crop fertility plans.

“UM6P recognises the role innovation must play to sustainably solve global challenges,” said Amar Singh, Head of Group, Bidra Innovation Ventures. “We are grateful for UM6P’s visionary leadership and support as we continue to back innovators forging the future via sustainable technologies for Africa and beyond. Having OCP’s support is a tremendous advantage because now we can extend OCP’s regional know-how and distribution capacity to startups that are ready to scale. If you have technology that is ready for prime time, consider Bidra as a gateway to scaling your technology in India, Africa and beyond,” Singh further elaborated on the latest fundraising.

India-based startup Niqo Robotics from Bidra’s portfolio has made rapid strides over the past year and is gearing up to launch the world’s largest fleet of AI-powered green-on-green spot spray agricultural robots in India by June 2023. “We are immensely proud of our association with Bidra through the past year. We have amazing synergies, and our partnership has empowered Niqo Robotics to scale our breakthrough sustainable spot spraying solution from lab to land and potentially revolutionise crop protection applications in agriculture, worldwide,” said Jaisimha Rao, Founder and CEO of Niqo Robotics

Companies backed by Bidra not only benefit from the financial resources of UM6P and the OCP Group but also from the organisations’ domain expertise and expansive global footprint. Talent, customer, and capital – these are the three inputs that every founder is looking for. Bidra, UM6P and OCP are looking to assist disruptive sustainable technologies in all three.

The fund is committed by Morocco-based Mohammed

Agrotech, Company News, IT, Start ups

The partnership will bring entire agriculture ecosystem under one platform

Bengaluru-based TraceX Technologies, a blockchain-powered traceability platform that enhances food and supply chain transparency, has forayed into Africa by partnering with Ghana-based agritech consulting firm Univision to offer end-to-end traceability in the agriculture supply chain. Through this partnership, TraceX and Univision will bring the entire agriculture ecosystem under one platform. From smallholder farmers in Ghana to financial institutions that provide loans to farmers, all members of the agri supply chain will be able to interact and transact under one platform.

Univision Consultancy Ltd offers Ag-Tech consulting services, Agribusiness Mapping, Export Aggregator, and Business Support Services to clients both in Ghana and abroad.  As a part of its consulting services, they help agribusinesses in Ghana with the right Ag-tech platforms that would assist them to reduce their cost, improve their operational activities and also improve their yield per acre of their farms. Similarly, as a part of their agribusiness mapping services, they bring several smallholder farmers (cooperatives) together to cultivate a certain farm produce, link them to input companies and financial institutions who can support these farmers with inputs like quality seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, provide loans to the farmers, and finally, they assist them to market for their produce.

Commenting on the partnership, Isaac Ampiaw, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Univision, said, “One of the main reasons we chose to work with TraceX is that they enable us to bring all the key stakeholders of the ecosystem together under one digital platform. Additionally, they offer an offline and online model of communication that allows smallholder farmers to easily communicate with other members of the supply chain. We look forward to working closely with TraceX to offer end-to-end traceability in the agri supply chain”

Commenting on the partnership, Srivatsa Sreenivasarao, Co-Founder and CEO, TraceX, said, “Africa is a key geography for us because of the strong growth opportunities that exist for agribusinesses. Supply chain digitization has a lot of potential, particularly in West Africa, and we are happy to partner with Univision to tap into this opportunity. End-to-end digitization enables traceability, which in turn increases opportunities for smallholder farmers and improves their access to capital”.

The partnership will bring entire agriculture ecosystem

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Finance, Live Stock

$100 million will be used to reform agriculture and help alleviate the food crisis disproportionately impacting communities in Africa and South Asia.

During United Nations General Assembly week, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—alongside governments, philanthropies, the private sector, NGOs, and global and community leaders announced commitments totalling $1.27 billion to improve and save millions of lives.

Out of the total amount, $100 million will be used to reform agriculture and help alleviate the food crisis disproportionately impacting communities in Africa and South Asia. It will be given to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to support national governments in rebuilding resilient, sustainable local food systems. The other beneficiary will be the African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) to make fertilisers affordable and accessible for smallholder farmers.

The amount will be used by the CGIAR’s Nigeria-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture research center to accelerate work that is already supplying farmers with improved and new varieties of crops, such as beans high in iron; sweet potatoes naturally rich in vitamin A; and naturally hardy cassava, millet, and sorghum. The funding will also facilitate working with partners to supply sustainable feed and fodder to African families that depend on livestock as a critical source of income and nutrient-dense food. It will also be utilised to strengthen local food systems by empowering women farmers with the tools and resources they need to succeed and support their communities

“This week has underscored the urgency of the challenges we face, and the promise of sustainable solutions that save and improve lives,” said Mark Suzman, Gates Foundation CEO. “We can get back on track toward the SDGs, but it’s going to take a new level of collaboration and investment from every sector. That’s why our foundation is significantly stepping up our commitment to help confront crises now and ensure long-term impact across critical determinants of health and development,” he further added.

$100 million will be used to reform