Connect with:
Monday / February 3. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
HomePosts Tagged "Director General"
Agro Universities, Climate, Finance, Funding, R&D

Grant will be used to lead an innovation research initiative called CropSustaiN that is designed to reduce the nitrogen footprint of wheat cultivation.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant of up to USD 21.1 million to CIMMYT for a groundbreaking initiative to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture, by developing new wheat varieties that are capable of reducing agriculture’s nitrogen footprint. The CropSustaiN initiative could have sweeping implications for global food security and environmental sustainability.

As the global population approaches the 10 billion mark, the reliance on fertilisers to boost agricultural production has become an essential, yet environmentally challenging, practice. A Century-long dependence on these additives has allowed food production to keep pace with the growth in human population. However, the use of fertilisers across various farming systems is now causing severe ecological stress. The leaching of nitrogen into natural ecosystems, coupled with the release of greenhouse gases, is pushing the Earth’s environmental limits to a critical threshold.

To address this, an ambitious new research initiative aims to shrink the nitrogen footprint of agriculture by developing a breakthrough technology based on nature’s own solutions: a natural process called biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded CIMMYT a grant of up to USD 21.1 million to lead an innovation research initiative called CropSustaiN that is designed to reduce the nitrogen footprint of wheat cultivation.

“Success in this initiative could lead to a major shift in agricultural practices globally, benefiting both the planet and farmers’ livelihoods. In addition to using less fertiliser, cost for the farmer will be minimal because all the components are already in the seed. This initiative could, potentially, be extended from wheat cultivation to include other staple crops like maize and rice,” says Claus Felby, Senior Vice President, Biotech, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

“BNI could be a part of how we revolutionise nitrogen management in agriculture. It represents a genetic mitigation strategy that not only complement existing methods but also has the potential to decrease the need for synthetic fertilisers substantially. The mitigation potential of better nitrogen fertiliser management could be as impactful for the Global South as the Green Revolution,” explains Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT.

Revolutionary mitigation approach

Rooted in a seed-based genetic strategy, BNI leverages a plant’s innate ability to suppress soil nitrification through the release of natural compounds. This approach potentially promises to curb the use and leaching of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers—a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution—without compromising wheat yield or soil vitality. The BNI-method contrasts with synthetic nitrification inhibitors and could offer a more scalable and cost-effective solution, potentially reducing nitrogen fertiliser usage by 20%, depending on regional farming conditions.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has already laid the groundwork for CropSustaiN by funding related BNI research at CIMMYT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Aarhus University, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Copenhagen -thus fostering an ecosystem for research innovation.

Grant will be used to lead an

Agbiologicals, Agro Universities, Biofertilizers

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for production of Bio nano fertiliser with a capacity of 40 lac litre per annum.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, launched ‘Uttam Pranaam’ – Bio nano Phosphorous, a significant product towards fostering self-reliance in the agricultural sector. ‘Uttam Pranaam’, an innovative solution that not only aligns with the PM-PRANAM programme’s emphasis on nano-fertilisers but also embodies the spirit of indigenous innovation and sustainability. TERI’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity while ensuring environmental safety resonates with the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, where farmers have access to cutting-edge technologies for sustainable and profitable farming practices.

Collaboration brings forth bio nano Phosphorous fertiliser, promising enhanced productivity, reduced environmental impact, and empowerment for farmers nationwide. Nano fertilisers with their tiny size improve plant uptake and nutrient assimilation by up to 95 per cent. By reducing the use of conventional fertilisers up to 25-30 per cent, nano fertilisers enhance the crop yield and resistance to stress.

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for production of Bio nano fertiliser. With a capacity of 40 lac litre per annum, the facility is one of its kind where nano fertilisers would be produced using a biological process and a disruptive fermentation technology. The capacity can easily be scalable to 2 crore litre per annum within just a short period of 3 months. The facility was inaugurated by Dr Dhawan and her team from TERI, accompanied by Mr Vinay Pal Jain, Managing Director, Hindustan Rasayan Private Limited. The launch of ‘Uttam Pranaam’ Bio nano Phosphorous fertiliser by TERI and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited marks a transformative step towards sustainable agriculture, echoing India’s commitment to innovation and self-reliance in the agricultural sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, said, “These fertilisers will help to reduce the GHG emissions which are adversely impacting the environment. Green fertilisers are an alternative that the world is looking for, and nano fertilisers offer this opportunity. TERI is proud to have come up with a product that will help the planet reduce the GHG emissions.”

Ashish Srivastava, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, unveiled the product highlighting, “Uttam Pranaam is not just a fertiliser; it’s a game-changer. Its biologically safe formulation doesn’t just reduce energy consumption, it revolutionizes it. By significantly slashing transportation costs, this innovation becomes more than just cost-effective; it becomes the catalyst for empowerment in the hands of our farmers.”

Bio nano Phosphorous has been developed by Dr Pushplata Singh and her team from TERI’s Deakin Nano Biotechnology centre. The launch of the Bio nano Phosphorous, under the brand name, ‘Uttam Pranaam’, launched in Bhatinda, Punjab, marks a significant milestone in agricultural innovation. As Punjab boasts a progressive farming community, this launch serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for farmers nationwide. It sets a precedent for the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies across the country, promising increased productivity, sustainability, and prosperity for farming communities nationwide.

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for

Agro Universities, India, Interaction, R&D

Programme aims to equip research managers and leaders with practical tools and strategies to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and steer agricultural research and development.

Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT, addressed Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) training participants on August 21, 2023, at the invitation of the ICAR – National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR-NAARM) in Hyderabad, India.

NAARM’s Executive Development Programme (EDP) for leadership development is tailored to empower national research managers and leaders in various roles, including Directors and Assistant Directors General, with enhanced leadership capacities and competencies.

The event began with the Presidential Address by Dr Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-NAARM, followed by an overview by Dr G Venkateshwarlu, Joint Director and Program Director.

Dr Hughes elaborated on the critical role of transformative leadership in driving positive change and fostering innovation within the realm of agricultural research.

Her insights provided a launchpad for the participants to embark on their own leadership journey within the National Agricultural Research and Education System while appreciating the synergies and opportunities through collaboration with international institutes and global research organizations.

The program ends on August 26th and aims to equip research managers and leaders with practical tools and strategies to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and steer agricultural research and development toward greater efficiency and impact.

Programme aims to equip research managers and

AgroPolicy, India, Opinions

By Ram Kaundinya, Director General, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII)

The Union Budget 2023-24, presented by the Finance Minister has many positive announcements for agriculture in general and a budget allotment of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The budget is an important instrument used by governments to shape public policy, economic growth and desired public responses to a country’s needs.

The most important announcement is the development of open source, open standards and interoperable Digital Public Goods (DPG) for delivering several services to the farmers. As we know digital technology is transforming our lives. A DPG like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has completely changed the landscape of payment systems in the country. Even many of the developed countries do not have such a system. The recently introduced Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) will also have a major impact on the scale-up of digital ecommerce businesses and consumers. Similar DPGs are to be developed for delivering multiple services to the farmers like a supply of inputs, crop advisory /health monitoring, credit, insurance, etc. Some private organisations like Agri Collaboratory, the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) are working on this subject, apart from several government organisations and the Agristack, launched by the government earlier. It is very heartening that the government has now focused attention on this subject through the budget announcement, which will help in making this a reality.

Setting up an Agri Accelerator Fund for startups in rural areas is another major announcement. This will go a long way in supporting the new wave of startups coming up in the food, agri and fintech sectors. Startups are working in the pre-sowing phase, cultivation-phase and post-harvest phase of crops, livestock, fisheries, poultry and other segments of agriculture. This fund will help in scaling up real innovations, including grass- root level innovations which can play a crucial role in making farming easier and reducing the drudgery of the farmer, apart from making it attractive for the youth and women to get into agriculture.

A micro-irrigation project has been announced in Karnataka as well, with an allotment of Rs 5,500 crore budget, aside from targeting Rs 20 lakh crore of agri credit. All these  are very positive measures to help agriculture and the farmers.

The Cooperative sector received a big boost in the budget, emphasising the need for a cooperative-based economic development model. This is in line with the recent announcements made about giving a major role to cooperatives in the supply of seeds to farmers. The budget talked about the computerisation of 65000 Primary Agricultural Credit Coop Societies at an investment of Rs 2516 crore. This will also help in setting up a national database of cooperative societies. Massive decentralised storage facilities will be set up for crop output in rural areas. There will be a scale-up of multi-purpose cooperative societies, dairy societies, fisheries societies, etc. These measures will help the rural areas in a big way and the farmers will benefit particularly well.

The thrust towards natural farming has continued in the budget. A few important announcements were made. An Organic Bioresources Scheme has been announced, which envisages setting up 200 compressed biogas plants at an investment of Rs 10,000 crore Large-scale biomass collection and distribution structures will be set up.

A Bharatiya Prakrutik Natural farming system will be established under the name GOBARDHAN Scheme. 10,000 bio-input resource centres will be set up to promote natural farming among one crore farmers. This is a massive program which hopes to convert almost 5 per cent of the farmers to natural farming. This could be a turning point in the history of natural farming in India. However the challenge of marketing products of such natural farming as value-added products through an identity-preserved supply chain system will remain a challenge, unless the government announces a separate programme for it. The profitability of the one crore farmers will depend on marketing their output at remunerative prices.

The budget should have addressed more deeply incentivising sustainable agricultural practices and smart agriculture, which will help in mitigating climate risk. Specific and well- targeted incentives for crop diversification, reducing water consumption and similar urgent needs could have been included in the budget. Promotion of natural farming is not a guarantee for sustainable agriculture.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Ram Kaundinya, Director General, Federation of