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India, Interaction, Seeds

FSII & FIJEEHA organised ‘Transforming Agriculture: Women, Technology, and Sustainable Growth’ workshop ahead of International Women’s Day.

Despite facing challenges such as limited access to inputs, markets, technology, training, and credit, as well as issues related to land ownership and low incomes, women in Indian agriculture have demonstrated remarkable resilience. By advocating for policies that support women’s empowerment, improving access to essential resources like technology, and acknowledging women’s invaluable contributions, significant progress can be made towards creating a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector, experts said.

Noted experts, speaking at a workshop ‘Transforming Agriculture: Women, Technology, and Sustainable Growth’ organised by Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and Forum for Indian Journalists on Education, Environment, Health & Agriculture (FIJEEHA), echoed such sentiments ahead of International Women’s Day.

Highlighting the role of women in agriculture, Anuja Kadian, Director, FSII, and Government & Industry Affairs Director (Asia Pacific) Corteva Agriscience said, “Despite their significant involvement, rural women are predominantly viewed as labourers rather than recognized as farmers in their own right. There also exists a huge gender income gap which unfortunately is also widening due to the climate stressors.”

“Implementing policies and programs that recognize and formalize the status of women as farmers, ensuring they have equal access to land ownership, credit facilities, and agricultural resources is important. Promoting gender-sensitive agricultural extension services and training programs tailored to women’s needs can enhance their agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change,” Kadian added.

Shirley Thomas, Project Director of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Indore highlighted how the agency was constantly working on enabling women farmers to embrace technologies to make farming easy and more remunerative. Dr Anita Rani, Principal Scientist in Plant Breeding at ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research highlighted the significance of women in agriculture. Dr Monica Jain, Professor & Head of the Department of Life Sciences at Maharaja Ranjit Singh College of Professional Sciences, shared her experience of how it was imperative to empower women on the farm.

Progressive women farmers who brought transformation in their farming practices by adopting precision technologies and better agronomy solutions and inspired their neighbouring women farmers resulting in doubling farm incomes were also felicitated.   

Ananda UVL, Director at FSII; Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at East-West Seed India; and Director for East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, India highlighted how women farmers, including in MP, are increasingly embracing precision agriculture methods, utilizing GPS technology and data analytics for efficiently managing resources like water, fertilizers, and pesticides, resulting in higher crop yields and minimized environmental harm. “With access to timely training and education, rural women can enhance their role in agriculture, fostering both personal growth and contributing to the state’s development,” Ananda further said.

FSII & FIJEEHA organised ‘Transforming Agriculture: Women,

Agrotech, Dairy, Live Stock, World

Forever Feed Technologies has selected JR Automation, a global leader in advanced automated manufacturing, to build climate-positive indoor feed mills designed by FFT that will dramatically save water and reduce carbon emissions

Forever Feed Technologies (FFT) and JR Automation (JRA) have announced a definitive agreement to design and build on-farm controlled environment feed mills for large-scale dairy and beef cattle producers. With this partnership, FFT and JRA will design and deliver custom automated systems that maximise the productivity and effectiveness of Forever Feed’s water and carbon emission reduction technology, improving both farm operations and meeting a growing demand for sustainably produced high-quality animal feed.

Forever Feed Technology selected JR Automation based on their problem-solving, partnership-focused approach and advanced automation expertise, spanning multiple industries, and supported by over 2,000 highly skilled employees with manufacturing facilities worldwide.

“Speaking as both a dairy producer and co-founder of Forever Feed, partnering with JR Automation gives me the confidence that the Forever Feed Mill solution will be able to produce an uninterrupted daily supply of fresh nutritious feed for our animals, and will be robust enough to economically scale on our farm, and many others like us, who each feed thousands of dairy and beef cattle,” said Jack de Jong, Chairman of Forever Feed Technologies.

With this partnership, JR Automation provides Forever Feed Technology with a unique single-source solution for the complete integration of FFT technology and data information, providing greater speed, flexibility, and efficiencies; giving agricultural leaders around the world a solid and profitable path to reducing water use and greenhouse emissions.

“We have built a strong relationship with Forever Feed and look forward to delivering an integrated solution that advances the productivity and sustainability of the dairy and beef cattle sector through the FFT Feed Mill,” said Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation.

Forever Feed Technologies has selected JR Automation,

Agrotech, Company News, World

NanoCote Core is the first product engineered to complement existing fertilisers, elevating the performance of the granular fertiliser industry to new heights

Nano-Yield proudly unveils the NanoCote brand, a groundbreaking nanotechnology-based granular fertiliser coating. NanoCote Core is the first product engineered to complement existing fertilisers, elevating the performance of the granular fertiliser industry to new heights. 

Mark Slavens Nano-Yield President and COO highlighted the ease of use and benefits of this technology, saying, “Our team is proud to have engineered this technology in a way that is seamless for blending operations. You can spray it on any type of dry granular fertiliser. It dries very quickly without heat or any other specialised equipment.” Director of Research & Development, Garrett Olsen, explains that the nanoparticles serve as a delivery mechanism, with a primary focus on increasing nutrient uptake by plants. “Our goal was to create a user-friendly formulation that maximises plant nutrition. Every component in NanoCote products serves a purpose and drives the entire formulation.”

NanoCote Core brings substantial benefits to farmers and blenders, along with positive impacts on soils and the environment. Brooke Rosqvist, NanoCote Brand Manager, emphasised these outcomes, stating, “NanoCote Core reduces dust, cleans machinery, and minimises wear and tear on equipment, benefiting both farmers and blenders. Moreover, it boasts impressive sustainability credentials by being biodegradable, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly granular applications. This will especially be appealing to those interested in regenerative ag practices.” 

NanoCote Core is the first product engineered

AgroPolicy, Environment, India, Sustainability

The G20 member countries reaffirmed their commitment towards combatting the environment and climate crisis, but with a renewed sense of urgency

The Second G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting concluded in Gandhinagar with shared views and accordance on outcomes of the priority areas. Building on the discussions from the first ESCWG, constructive deliberations among the G20 countries took place on Arresting Land Degradation, Accelerating Ecosystem Restoration Enriching Biodiversity; Promoting a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy and Encouraging Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy.  The G20 member countries reaffirmed their commitment towards combatting the environment and climate crisis, but with a renewed sense of urgency. All the G20 countries agreed on the pressing need for concerted global efforts and the immediate action required, given the current scenario. After technical sessions delving deep into the outcomes of the three priority areas identified by ECSWG under the India Presidency, the countries highlighted several action points on how to bring about a meaningful change.

The key inputs collated from deliberations over the 1st ECSWG, focused group discussions and the written inputs shared by the member countries were the highlight of the session on Biodiversity, Land degradation and ecosystem restoration during the pre-lunch session of the second day. The session witnessed engaging deliberations among the delegates on the two priority landscapes identified under India’s Presidency and presentations on the proposed Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap (GIR) and draft publications on a compendium of best practices by experts from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

The G20 member countries reaffirmed their commitment

Environment, India, Interaction, Sustainability, World

The FAO conference focuses on increasing crop yields with less environmental impact

The need for innovative approaches to agriculture that make crop production efficient and resilient to shocks and disruptions came under the spotlight at the opening of the first Global Conference on Sustainable Plant Production organised by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Under the theme Innovation, Efficiency and Resilience, the hybrid event held at the FAO headquarters will focus on how to sustainably produce more food, with less of an environmental impact and ways to strengthen local and diversified communities’ agrifood systems. 

The conference which runs from November 2-4, comes at a time when global demand for food, feed, fuel and fibre is increasing, with estimates that the world will need 50 per cent of food by 2050 to feed the increasing global population. Currently, some 8.28 million people face hunger and a third of the world’s population – 2.3 billion people – do not have access to adequate food.

In his opening remarks, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu called for the need to speed up action in addressing these issues.

“Current agricultural practices are unsustainable. Investment is urgently needed. They are putting pressure on the environment and on our finite natural resources, including biodiversity, land and water,” he said, noting how to land the conversion from natural ecosystems to agriculture is contributing extensively to deforestation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions, this in a context where the threats from plant pests and diseases are increasing and are compounded by the effects of the climate crisis.

“We cannot continue ‘business as usual need to get on a technology ivenainable track. That’s the only solution. Tomorrow’s agriculture will need to produce more food with a lower environmental footprint – this means producing more with less. And also, we need to produce more diversity and more quantity in situ,” Qu said.

“Science-based sustainable plant production can enable this,” he added. The Conference brings together FAO Members, farmers, scientists, development agencies, policymakers civil society and private sector representatives to discuss farmer-centric agricultural practices that produce more while considering ways to mitigate the impact of climate change and geopolitical disruptions among other issues.

Discussions will focus on ways in which to achieve food security by using the right seeds, diverse and adaptable food cropping systems and efficient management of natural resources. Pest management, ad mechanization and digitalization will also feature in the sessions.

This conference aims to raise awareness about the contribution of sustainable plant production to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at the regional and national levels and demonstrate ways in which FAO can lead members in this direction.

The FAO conference focuses on increasing crop

Company News, Environment

The addition of the new facility in central Georgia fortifies Local Bounti’s distribution with the ability to directly service 19 retail distribution centres within an approximate 400-mile radius of the facility

Local Bounti Corporation, a breakthrough US indoor agriculture company combining the best aspects of vertical and greenhouse growing technologies, has recently announced the commencement of farming operations at its new innovative controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility in Byron, Georgia.

“We are cementing our presence in the East Coast market with our new Georgia facility, providing Local Bounti with a bi-coastal presence that is able to service the growing demand for our products,” said Craig Hurlbert, Co-CEO of Local Bounti.

The addition of the new facility in central Georgia fortifies Local Bounti’s distribution with the ability to directly service 19 retail distribution centres within an approximate 400-mile radius of the facility. The East Coast presence enhances service to the Company’s customers and the approximately 10,000 retail locations that they operate across 35 US states and Canadian provinces. Further, the facility will provide additional capacity to meet existing demand from the Company’s direct relationships with blue-chip retail customers, including Albertsons, Kroger, Target, and Walmart, as well as Whole Foods and AmazonFresh.

Local Bounti plans to install its innovative Stack & Flow Technology at all of its facilities, and is in the process of initial planning to install Stack & Flow at its Georgia facility, which was acquired in the previously announced transaction with Pete’s, to further expand revenue generating capacity.

The Company has started the expansion of the 3-acre facility, which will double the facility capacity to 6-acres and has the opportunity to expand to 24 acres to execute growth initiatives and broaden its product offering.

The addition of the new facility in

Bee keeping, R&D

The researchers note that changes in temperature had more of a negative impact than other factors, such as precipitation or floral resources

According to new research by Simon Fraser University, Canada temperature changes have negatively impacted most species of bumble bees over the past 120 years. The researchers note that changes in temperature had more of a negative impact than other factors, such as precipitation or floral resources.

“Bumble bees are important pollinators for wild plants and for the crops humans rely on for food. That’s why we need to develop conservation strategies that account for the future impacts of climate change on bee populations,” says study lead Hanna Jackson, a Masters student in the M’Gonigle Lab in biological sciences at Simon Fraser University.

Jackson and her colleagues analysed an existing dataset containing records on 46 bumble bee species across North America between 1900 – 2020. They created two occupancy models – one focused on time and the other on environmental factors. They found that six bumble bee species decreased through time, 22 increased and the remaining 18 were stable.

They noted that temperature and precipitation both increased, on average, between 1900 and 2020 in the post-industrial revolution period. Temperature changes had primarily negative impacts on bumble bees, with 37 of the 46 species exhibiting greater declines or less positive increases in occupancy under observed temperature changes compared to if the temperature had remained constant.

Therefore, researchers concluded that changing temperatures are a major environmental factor driving changes in bumble bee community composition.

Study collaborators include US-based Pollinator Partnership, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California.

The researchers note that changes in temperature

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to be organically certified for postharvest applications

Pace International, a leading provider of sustainable postharvest solutions and technologies for the fresh produce industry, announced that BioSpectra 100 SC is now listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for organic use in the US.

The announcement comes six years after the introduction of the product when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) approved the product for postharvest applications.

BioSpectra received its OMRI Listed seal after completing the rigorous certification process and requirements set forth for organic crop production use.

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to be organically certified for postharvest applications. It provides a broad-spectrum decay control against several major fungal postharvest diseases across various crops and has shown better disease control compared to other organic alternatives.

“As the world’s needs continue to evolve, effective biological solutions will play a key role in protecting the quality and marketability of fresh produce. We are proud to continue to bring innovative sustainable solutions to our customers and the fruit packing industry, something that we strive for every day,” said Jorge Gotuzzo, Senior Director of Marketing.

This natamycin-based fungicide is the result of the fermentation process of naturally occurring soil micro-organisms and provides a new mode of action, inhibiting pathogen growth.

BioSpectra is the latest biorational fungicide to

Sustainability

This new carbon credit model will support farmers as they expand sustainable and regenerative practices

UPL Limited, a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, has announced the European launch of the Gigaton Carbon Goal, a new series of global initiatives to sequester one gigaton (one billion tons) of atmospheric carbon dioxide by 2040.

UPL will enable agri-ecosystems to create, implement and validate carbon emission and capture protocols. This will generate carbon credits that directly benefit farmers with the potential for additional revenue streams. This new carbon credit model will support farmers as they expand sustainable and regenerative practices, directly benefitting the environment and positioning agriculture as a climate-positive industry.

UPL will mobilise its resources, experience, and global network to identify, invest in, and supply the tools, techniques and technologies that can help equip and empower each farmer.

Jai Shroff, CEO of UPL Limited, said, “We’re reimagining sustainability to see agriculture become climate-positive and farmers empowered with new sources of income. Our partnership with FIFA, who share our commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive growth, exemplifies the goals of our OpenAg network, which puts collaboration at the heart of progress and sustainability. We look forward to working with FIFA and farmers to positively contribute to farmer livelihoods, the health and productivity of fields, our global food future, and the fight against climate change.”

The Gigaton Carbon Goal pilot phase is already underway with more than 100 000 farmers across 230 000 hectares in Europe, the Americas and Asia, and the initiative aims to cover more than 100 million hectares, the equivalent of 100 million football fields.

This new carbon credit model will support

Environment, Supply Chain

The two companies said the partnership would allow hemp farmers to take advantage of PanXchange’s deep knowledge of commodity trading

PanXchange, the industry market structure solution and benchmark price provider for US hemp, and the Washington DC-based National Industrial Hemp Council of America announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will support the growth of financial incentives for carbon sequestration for the US industrial hemp market.

Julie Lerner, founder, and CEO of PanXchange commented, “Partnering with a strong hemp membership and advocacy organisation like NIHC will help grow industrial hemp markets and related climate-smart agricultural practices across the supply chain.”

The two companies said the partnership would allow hemp farmers to take advantage of PanXchange’s deep knowledge of commodity trading and the potential impact of implementing climate-smart practices specifically for hemp growing and processing.

PanXchange is rolling out a transparent carbon program that provides farmers a viable path toward financial rewards for implementing regenerative agricultural practices. Moreover, Lerner explains that the PanXchange program gives farmers full ownership of the carbon credits earned and full agency to market the credits directly to buyers through its online trade platform.

The company already has 31,000 acres of croplands committed to the program for the 2023 crop year.

“Carbon sequestration and the voluntary carbon market are part of hemp’s renaissance and will be an important part of North American agriculture. This partnership will be a value-add for American farmers who choose to grow hemp.  Producers and the companies using these raw goods will also benefit alongside American consumers who will ultimately fulfill the promise of hemp’s potential to power our climate-smart economy,” said Patrick Atagi, President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council of America.

The two companies said the partnership would

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

Company News, Sustainability

This report reflects Corteva’s continued transparency across the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts

Corteva, Inc has released its 2021 Sustainability and ESG Report, providing an update on the company’s progress on its commitment to deliver science-based solutions for addressing the world’s most pressing environmental, economic and social challenges.

This report reflects Corteva’s continued transparency across the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. The 2021 report reinforces the company’s focus on building an agriculture ecosystem where farmers, society and business can thrive, while underscoring Corteva’s commitment to enriching the lives of those who produce and those who consume. 

“The challenges facing society and the planet demand urgent action, and we believe agriculture plays a vital role in providing viable solutions,” said Chuck Magro, Chief Executive Officer, Corteva Agriscience. “By focusing on the areas which we believe will have the greatest impact toward achieving climate positive agriculture, we will create a more resilient and productive food system. We will rely on innovation and technology to guide our journey.”

“We support farmers around the globe with the necessary tools and innovations to produce what our food system demands while conserving resources and sustaining the land,” said Sam Eathington, Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Corteva Agriscience. “The progress in this report outlines the next phase of our sustainability work – and includes concentrated efforts in sustainable innovation, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and inclusion, diversity and equity.”

The 2021 Sustainability and ESG Report provides a global update on key social and environmental topics.

This report reflects Corteva's continued transparency across

Company News, Sustainability

Corteva is working as a partner to help Egypt pursue a sustainable and resilient future in its agriculture sector

The US GreenTech Business Delegation has toured Corteva Agriscience’s Met Bera seed production facility and viewed the business’ latest agricultural advancements first-hand, including the company’s industry-leading silage and grain hybrid solutions.

The visit formed part of an official countrywide mission initiated by the US Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with AmCham Egypt, comprising representatives from the US Departments of State, Commerce and Energy, and US companies across finance, healthcare, construction, agriculture, digital and aviation, amongst others. This initiative further demonstrates the United States’ ongoing support of Egypt’s green growth and climate adaptation and resilience priorities, ahead of COP27, which is set to be held in in Sharm El-Sheikh during November this year.

“The agricultural sector is critical to Egypt, as it accounts for approximately 15 per cent of Egypt’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is responsible for 28 per cent of the country’s employment,” says Tarek El Azab, Middle East North Africa Business Unit Leader, Corteva Agriscience.

“In our visit to Corteva’s seed plant, we saw first-hand a leading American company that is making a major positive impact for both Egyptian family farmers and the country’s economy and food security,” said Steve Lutes, Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce. “By bringing its innovation and best practices to Egypt, Corteva is working as a partner to help Egypt pursue a sustainable and resilient future in its agriculture sector.”

Corteva is working as a partner to

Sustainability

Summit Carbon Solutions has partnered with 32 ethanol plants across the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to develop the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world

A new study shows that Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon capture, transportation, and storage project will create jobs, generate new tax revenue for local communities, support local suppliers, and strengthen the Midwest regional economy. Ernst & Young, a global leader in accounting and professional services, conducted the study.

Summit Carbon Solutions has partnered with 32 ethanol plants across the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to develop the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world. This multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 12 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, while opening critical new markets for ethanol producers and bolstering the bottom line of corn growers.

“From the outset of this project, Summit Carbon Solutions has been committed to driving the future of agriculture by expanding economic opportunities for ethanol producers and by strengthening the marketplace for farmers in the Midwest,” said Jake Ketzner, Summit Carbon Solutions Vice President of Government and Public Affairs. “In addition to those benefits, the latest analysis shows the overwhelmingly positive impact of this multi-billion-dollar private investment, including the creation of thousands of new high-quality jobs, the utilisation of local suppliers and main street businesses, and tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenues that will help local communities fund our roads, hospitals, first responders, and more.”

Summit Carbon Solutions will strengthen the corn market and, by extension, positively impact the economy in all of the counties and communities across the Midwest. The report from Ernst & Young also includes county-level data showing the company’s total investment and the forecast for incremental annual property taxes generated.

Summit Carbon Solutions has partnered with 32