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AgroPolicy, Finance, Horticulture, India

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $98 million loan to improve horticulture crop farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials, which will boost their crops’ yield, quality, and resilience to climate impacts. 

This project supports India’s agricultural transformation. ADB’s financing will support the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program (CPP), which was announced in February 2023 to establish clean plant centres and a certification scheme that will ensure farmers can purchase disease-free planting materials from private nurseries. 

“Horticulture is considered a primary engine for enhancing Indian farmers’ income due to its high value and nutritional importance. Ensuring the health of plants is vital to improving the productivity of farmers, especially since India has become among the top global producers of horticulture crops,” said Sunae Kim ADB Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist. “Plant health management will also help farmers adapt to climate change, as rising temperatures not only cause extreme weather events but also affect pest and disease behaviour.” 

The project will establish at least six clean plant centres dedicated to maintaining disease-free foundation materials. These centres will feature laboratories equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic testing methods and will be staffed with experts who are trained in clean plant operating procedures and diagnostic testing protocols. The project will also develop regulatory frameworks for the CPP, in partnership with private nurseries and researchers. It will roll out a clean plant certification scheme, accrediting private nurseries, and testing and certifying their planting materials. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.    

The project will be implemented by the

Finance, Sustainability, World

The financing supports domestic food production, reduces import dependency, and addresses food security challenges arising from economic, climate, and regional political uncertainties

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bank Respublika Open Joint Stock Company signed a 34 million Azerbaijan manat loan (around $20 million) to support women borrowers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) involved in agricultural production, processing, and trade in Azerbaijan.

The financing supports domestic food production, reduces import dependency, and addresses food security challenges arising from economic, climate, and regional political uncertainties. Boosting the agriculture sector has significant potential to reduce poverty as most of the country’s food is produced by smallholder farmers.

“MSMEs are essential to lift incomes and create jobs in Azerbaijan, as they employ more than two-thirds of working people and nearly 40 per cent of registered women-owned businesses are in the agriculture sector. Bank Respublika is a longstanding reliable partner of ADB and its work aligns with ADB’s goal of improving food security, strengthening agriculture, and helping women to access finance, training, and markets. We look forward to our continued partnership with Bank Respublika” said Candice McDeigan, ADB’s Azerbaijan Country Director.

A majority of private businesses in Azerbaijan are MSMEs with almost half of them located in rural areas. Despite their importance, MSMEs struggle to access financial resources, making it harder for them to secure bank loans than larger firms. The country’s financial sector is slowly recovering from the impact of COVID-19 while currency-related risks continue to be a concern in the banking sector.

“Bank Respublika is a strong and valued partner due to its significant presence in rural areas, focus on MSMEs, and commitment to improving financial access for women and rural customers,” says Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations. “This deal draws from our regional experience, particularly the advantages of using local currency to strengthen capital markets.”

ADB will also issue a Manat-denominated bond to support the loan. ADB will also work with Bank Respublika to promote gender equality through a professional development certification program for women employees and tailored financial services for female clients. ADB will work with Bank Respublika to develop gender-disaggregated loan data and provide training to loan agents on understanding women’s business concerns.

The financing supports domestic food production, reduces

Company News, Environment, Sustainability

The company is launching the insurance scheme in collaboration with Blue Marble, a specialist in climate insurance

On the occasion of International Coffee Day, Nestlé announces that it is piloting a weather insurance program in Indonesia for more than 800 smallholder coffee farmers that supply coffee to its brand Nescafé. The company is launching the insurance scheme in collaboration with Blue Marble, a specialist in climate insurance. The insurance provides financial protection to help farmers cope with unpredictable weather patterns of rainfall and severe drought.

Marcelo Burity, Global Head of Nestlé’s Green Coffee Development, said: “This weather insurance helps to establish a support mechanism for smallholder coffee farmers in Indonesia. It allows them to access financial resources to re-establish their crops in the event of irregular weather conditions while building resilience in coffee farms.”

The insurance uses satellite-based climate data to determine when coffee output has been impacted by either too much or not enough rainfall during key phases of the crop cycle. Payments are issued automatically to registered coffee farmers that have been affected, according to the severity of the weather.

“Smallholder coffee farmers in Indonesia are vulnerable to climate risks and need access to insurance to protect against extreme weather events,” said Jaime de Piniés, CEO of Blue Marble. “We are proud to partner with Nestlé and its brand Nescafé to develop innovative ways to support the climate adaptation of smallholder coffee farmers and their families.”

This initiative is an integral part of the Nescafé Plan 2030, the brand’s vision to support the long-term sustainability of coffee and to help improve farmers’ livelihoods. Based on the results of the pilot, Nestlé will determine whether to expand the approach to other Nescafé sourcing locations around the world.

Changing agricultural practices requires access to knowledge and time to learn and implement. By moving to regenerative agriculture, coffee farmers can help restore soil health, reverse biodiversity loss, and strengthen ecosystems. Doing so also helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Nestlé has contributed to the ’Regenerative Agriculture for Low-Carbon and Resilient Coffee Farms – A Practical Guidebook,’ developed by the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). This guidebook provides field agronomists, trainers and professionals working with coffee farmers with a set of best practices that they can use and adapt to different farming contexts, helping farmers transition to regenerative agriculture. These best practices include agroforestry, intercropping, soil conservation and cover crops, integrated weed and pest management, integrated nutrient management, efficient water use, waste valorization, landscape actions and the rejuvenation of coffee trees with well-adapted varieties.

Pascal Chapot, Global Head of Sustainable Agriculture Development at Nestlé, said: “The guidebook gives coffee farmers a set of field actions they can implement tomorrow to help them become more resilient to climate change and to diversify their sources of income. Knowledge is key, and we hope that this guidebook makes these regenerative agriculture practices more accessible to farmers and supports an accelerated transition towards them. This is essential to tackling the climate challenges ahead.”

Mirjam Pulleman, senior soil ecologist and co-author of the guidebook said: “Creating real impact on the ground requires learning from real experiences with farmers in different origins and providing incentives to support farmers in their journey. The best practices highlighted in the guidebook are a starting point. Each practice will need to be tailored to the specificities of each country of origin, the different farm types, the surrounding landscapes and the resources available.”

The company is launching the insurance scheme

Agrotech, Company News, R&D, Sustainability, World

The 2022 report details FMC’s progress in three focus areas: protection, innovation and engagement

FMC Corporation published the 2022 sustainability report, Science-Driven, People-Focused Solutions for Agriculture. The 12th annual report presents the company’s progress on key sustainability commitments, goals and targets, including net-zero emissions, sustainable innovation, product stewardship, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Despite unprecedented challenges in 2022, sustainability remained core to how we operate and serve customers around the world,” said Mark Douglas, president and chief executive officer. “By setting aggressive targets and embedding sustainability across the organisation, we continue to deliver real results that benefit agriculture and society while having a direct impact on the long-term viability and success of our company.”

The 2022 report details FMC’s progress in three focus areas: protection, innovation and engagement. Introduced in 2022 as part of its long-term sustainability strategy, these focus areas guide the company’s efforts to address climate change, advance sustainable farming practices and improve the representation of women and minorities in the industry. Key highlights in the report include FMC’s emissions reduction strategy, which resulted in a 3 per cent reduction in absolute Scopes 1 and 2 emissions and a 2 per cent reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions. These reductions demonstrate strong progress toward the company’s goal to achieve net zero by 2035, which was verified by the Science Based Targets initiative in early 2023.

The report also highlights FMC’s continued investments in new synthetic technologies as well as innovative biological solutions, like pheromones and peptides, to bring unique, environmentally friendly crop protection solutions to farmers worldwide. As part of its increasingly sustainable product portfolio, 100 per cent of new synthetic products in its development pipeline meet the company’s sustainable innovation criteria. Additionally, the company has one of the fastest-growing plant health platforms in the industry.

“FMC is uniquely positioned to deliver solutions to key challenges in agriculture and the environment,” said Karen Totland, vice president and chief sustainability officer. “With world-class innovation capabilities and strategic partnerships, we continue to deliver new technologies that help farmers sustainably protect their crops while building resiliency to climate impacts.”

The 2022 report details FMC's progress in

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Agrotech, India, Inputs, Sustainability

India has been advocating the values of living in harmony with nature since ancient times

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, presenting India’s point of view, addresses various sessions at the G-20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Tomar said that Government of India, under leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is addressing the sustainability challenges facing agriculture and food systems and several important initiatives have been taken to address these issues. He said that the Government of India is committed to the benefit of small and marginal farmers and many important schemes are being run for their welfare.

Tomar said that India will enable farmers to respond to current and future crises by improving their access to inputs, technology and markets.

India is committed to further the economic well-being of its farmers by organising small and marginal farmers into groups, promoting agri-startups and investments in agricultural infrastructure, launching the world’s largest crop insurance programme and conducting various activities like facilitating digitisation of agriculture. 

Tomar said that India is promoting millet cultivation considering millet’s tolerance towards harsh climatic conditions as well as their nutritional value. In the concluding session Tomar said that India has been advocating the values of living in harmony with nature since ancient times.

India has been advocating the values of

Company News, Environment, R&D, Sustainability

Aleph Farms, the first cultivated meat company to grow steaks directly from non-genetically engineered animal cells, has nnounced that it has been officially recognized by the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) as an Innovation Sprint Partner. As part of this innovation sprint, $40 million is being invested in cellular agriculture R&D over the next five years through Aleph Farms. 

It will introduce its products into global markets as soon as regulatory processes conclude and approvals are finalized. 

Cultivated meat is also far more efficient than cows at converting feed into meat. By requiring 95% less land, cultivated meat opens up new opportunities for land use, including producing more food and re-wilding habitats for biodiversity, the latter of which further reduces emissions.

“Enhancing food security via cellular agriculture empowers communities and fosters regional cooperation, spurring economic growth in the process. This is why we are especially proud to be allocating these R&D funds as an AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint Partner,” said Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. “With cellular agriculture, humanity is better equipped to overcome significant food-related challenges and bring agricultural systems back into balance.”

Aleph Farms, the first cultivated meat company to

Agro Universities, Climate, India, Nature, R&D, Sustainable Energy

On August 8, 2022, The ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (IGFRI) signed an MoU with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. 

IGFRI and TERI will collaborate in various areas including: 

– Rehabilitation of Red Mud Dumping Area and other degraded    areas such as Fly ash ponds, Coal, Limestone and Lignite Mines into Green Belt Development through grassland/ silvipasture / hortipasture.

– To provide suitable grass and fodder species, whenever required in research projects.
– Support in developing joint proposal preparation  as consortium partner for various agencies
– Improving Livelihood of farmers and  Forest Dependent Communities
– Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Vulnerability for adaptation
– Biodiversity Conservation
– Ecosystem Services and Carbon Finance Mechanism
– Training and capacity building on above subjects

IGFRI and TERI will implement joint research projects of common interests requiring expertise and logistics from both the parties and study impacts.

On August 8, 2022, The ICAR-Indian Grassland

Company News, Environment

The event united a select group of representatives from academia, policy, finance and the private sector under the theme ‘Food Futures in a Changing Climate: Reimagining the role of agriculture as a pathway to Net Zero’

The second edition of the OpenAg Symposium, hosted by UPL Limited, a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD), Somerville College, University of Oxford, has outlined a series of policy positions, technological interventions, and financial models to transform food systems as positive contributors to global decarbonisation efforts.

The event united a select group of representatives from academia, policy, finance and the private sector under the theme ‘Food Futures in a Changing Climate: Reimagining the role of agriculture as a pathway to Net Zero’. Following a keynote by Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, panellists from Brazil, India, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, and Kenya, proposed a series of policies and interventions to ensure future food systems are efficient, resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

Jai Shroff, Global CEO of UPL, commented, “At UPL, we believe that agriculture has a decisive role to play on the path to decarbonisation during this crucial window for action in the fight against climate change. The discussions we’ve heard at this year’s OpenAg Symposium demonstrate the growing appetite for the innovation and cross-sector collaboration required to transform the climate-positive contribution of food systems around the world.”

The event united a select group of

Environment

The company plans increase the initiative to 100,000 acres of spring Maize

Gram Unnati, India’s first integrated agri-tech solutions company, worked closely with multiple stakeholders to help farmers in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand save 4,000 liters per acre by bringing climate-compatible agriculture to over 5,000 acres of farmland.

In what may become a lesson in climate compatible agriculture to millions of Indian farmers, Gram Unnati worked closely with the local district administration, local maize processors, input companies, and lead farmers in a short span of 18 months prompting 2,000 farmers to switch to climate-compatible crops that are commercially viable as well. 

Commenting on the success of the project, Aneesh Jain, CEO and Founder, Gram Unnati, said, “The success of the project comes at a time when we are dealing with acute water shortage across the world. According to the United Nations, by 2050 more than five billion people could be affected by water scarcity. India, which constitutes 16 per cent of the total world population, has access to a meagre 4 per cent of the world’s water resources. The success of our pilot project in Uttarakhand will impact other farmers to shift towards climate compatible crops without having an impact on yield and returns.” 

“Gram Unnati intends to scale up this intervention to 100,000 acres of Spring Maize in the next five years. Not only would this reduce dependency on groundwater resources, but it will also help in making agriculture more remunerative for the farmers and more sustainable for the environment,” Jain added. 

The company plans increase the initiative to

Agrotech, Environment, Sustainability

BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline of seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological etc

BASF has announced its ten-year outlook on agricultural innovations that support food security for future generations while minimising the impact of farming on the climate and the environment. The company focuses on improving agricultural outcomes in major crops, like wheat, canola, soybean, corn, cotton, rice, as well as fruits and vegetables.

Within these major crops, BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline of seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological and chemical crop protection, as well as digital farming solutions and will launch major pipeline projects across all business areas over the next decade. The value of the innovation pipeline is strong, with an estimated peak sales potential of more than €7.5 billion. The importance of BASF’s products and solutions to society is growing, as the company systematically incorporates sustainability criteria into its agricultural research.

In 2021, it spent about €900 million on R&D in the Agricultural Solutions segment, representing around 11 per cent of the segment’s sales. In 2022, BASF will continue to invest in the research and development of agricultural innovations at a high level.

“Innovation in agriculture is essential to enable sustainable food production. We need to find the right balance for better yield – yield produced in ways that meet the demands of future generations, has minimal impact on the environment and helps farmers make a living,” said Dr Livio Tedeschi, President, BASF Agricultural Solutions.

BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline

Agro Universities, Environment, Sustainability

The weather station will aid farmers in managing pests and various diseases

The new Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at Department of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad established under the DST-ICRISAT collaborative Project on Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Research for Plant Protection: Pest and Disease Management has opened.

Dr RM Sundaram, Director, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad and Dr Mamta Sharma, Project Coordinator, Deputy Regional Director-Asia, ICRISAT, Hyderabad inaugurated the Station.

Dr MS Prasad, Head, Plant Pathology, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad underlined the project. Dr V Prakasam, Principal Investigator underlined the 12 Soil and Atmospheric Weather Parameters recorded in the AWS.

The weather station will aid farmers in

Environment

Scientists have identified a few promising chickpea genes encoding for enzymes like chitinase and endochitinase, which can provide some degree of defence against DRR infection

Indian scientists have identified that high-temperature drought conditions and low soil moisture content are favourable conditions for dry root rot (DRR), a disease that damages the roots or girdles the trunk in chickpea. This work will be useful for the development of resistant lines and better management strategies.

Dry root rot disease causes reduced vigour, dull green leaf colour, poor new growth, and twig dieback. If extensive root damage occurs, the leaves suddenly wilt and dry on the tree. The increasing global average temperature is leading to the appearance of many new plant disease-causing pathogens at a rate hitherto unheard of, one of them being Macrophomina phaseolina, a soil-borne necrotrophic that causes root rot in chickpea. Currently, the central and southern states of India have been identified as the prime chickpea DRR hotspots with an overall 5 – 35 per cent disease incidence. 

Considering the destructive potential of the pathogen and a real possibility of an epidemic scenario in future, a team led by Dr Mamta Sharma at ICRISAT embarked on a journey to unravel the science behind DRR in chickpea. 

The team which closely monitored the disease identified that high temperatures ranging between 30 to 35 degrees, drought conditions, and less than 60 per cent soil moisture content are favourable conditions for dry root rot (DRR). 

This work supported and funded by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India at the Center of Excellence in Climate Change at ICRISAT proved the close association of this disease with climatic factors. The results have been published in ‘Frontiers in Plant Science’.  

The scientists explained that Macrophomina survives in a wide range of environmental conditions, even at extremes of temperature, soil pH, and moistures. In chickpea, DRR is highly prevalent during the flowering and podding stages coinciding with high temperature and drought conditions. They are now exploring ways to use the study for the development of resistant lines and better management strategies.

The team is also trying to address the disease favourable conditions identified from a molecular perspective. 

In a recent breakthrough in gene expression studies, scientists have identified a few promising chickpea genes encoding for enzymes like chitinase and endochitinase, which can provide some degree of defence against DRR infection. 

The team at ICRISAT, in collaboration with ICAR research institutes, has also adopted several multi-pronged approaches, including continuous surveillance, better detection techniques, development of forecast models, screening assays, etc., to fight against such deadly plant diseases.

Scientists have identified a few promising chickpea

Agrotech, Seeds

The company has associated with 34 suppliers to offer its latest services and transform the face of agriculture across India

AgriBazaar targets to enrol over 10 lakh armers through its intelligent data engine – Agribhumi. Agribhumi is the intelligent data engine through which AgriBazaar will be focusing on digitising the entire farmer’s crop journey. Agribhumi will have the following technology to ensure that every requirement of the farmer and his crops are available on the app or mobile. 

  • Block chain
  • Embedded systems
  • Internet of Things
  • Audio/Video Chat bot

Currently, tele-calling and sales visits by the staff are being done to train the farmers and introduce them to use the app. The company has partnered with 34 suppliers, including seed manufacturers and other input makers, to deliver inputs at the farm gates. 

Hoping to get 10 lakh growers’ registrations over the next 12 months, AgriBazaar will be providing intelligent data through Agri Bhoomi on its main app, in addition to its web-based portal. As a result, growers and stakeholders can seamlessly access relevant inputs like farm yield estimates and thus enhance their output. 

Besides remote sensing, the company will leverage satellite imagery for crop identification and estimation to provide farmers with information on climate-based cultivation patterns. Soon, it will also use other technologies to help growers estimate per hectare yield perform quality testing, selling and buying. 

AgriBazaar has successfully mapped yield estimates in three to four districts in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on a pro bono basis. The company has now been given the responsibility of mapping a few more districts in these states. AgriBazaar has also developed a proprietary algorithm for crop classification in mustard and wheat. The company gathers data and profiles besides details on product diversification and accordingly provides advisory on what earnings to expect and how to expand. 

The company has associated with 34 suppliers

Environment

The deadline to apply for this grant cycle is March 30, 2022, at 5 pm EDT

The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF), a private foundation with the vision to prevent and relieve hunger through sustainable agricultural development, has announced the launch of its new grant application cycle on the theme of “Climate Action Within the Context of Agriculture” for non-profit organisations with grant proposals between $20,000 – $300,000 and located anywhere across the globe.

In alignment with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) on “Climate Action” and AGCO’s purpose to deliver “farmer-focused solutions to sustainably feed our world,” the Foundation is accepting grant applications on climate action in agriculture. The AAF grant application platform, through its community investment software partner, Benevity, is running the application cycle from February 21 to March 30. This programme strengthens AAF commitment to its strategic focus areas and AGCO’s Farmer-First strategy while addressing global trends on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The Foundation’s first grant application cycle for 2022 seeks new project proposals from non-profits that combine various sustainable methods to tackle the specific climate change-related challenges of today’s farming communities. 

Grant eligible non-profit organisations must focus on climate action in the agricultural context that also aligns with any of the AAF thematic focus areas such as Nutrition & Sustainable Food Systems, Agricultural Education, Research and Innovation, and Farmer Community Development. The aim is to implement projects that promote sustainable climate solutions for farmers and the agricultural sector to benefit economies while also strengthening community development. 

The deadline to apply for this grant cycle is March 30, 2022, at 5 pm EDT. 

The deadline to apply for this grant