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HomePosts Tagged "President" (Page 2)
Agbiologicals, Biofertilizers, Fungicides, Herbicides, India, Opinions

By Harshvardhan Bhagchandka, President, IPL Biologicals

Driven by factors such as increasing demand for organic and natural products, rising concerns about food safety and security, and a growing focus on sustainable agriculture practices, the growth prospects for biological solutions in the agri-industry look promising in 2024 as well.

There is no denying the fact that India is a country with an agrarian economy, where a large number of people depend on agriculture. And in today’s ever-evolving era, various crop cultivations have revealed the country’s agricultural wealth. The country’s economy relies greatly on agriculture, providing employment and food security for its large citizenry. To highlight this fact, Statista indicates that more than 151 million people earn their living in this industry, which generates diverse advantages and accounts for approximately 18 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Nonetheless, in addition to the benefits, other health and environmental problems have taken centre stage, causing negative consequences for the agriculture sector and threatening its viability. Issues such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and the excessive and injudicious use of pesticides have led to decreased crop yields and increased health risks for farmers and consumers. In a bid to address these challenges, various trends have emerged, including sustainable farming practices, technical developments, and government laws decreasing chemical inputs and boosting organic sustainable farming. Nevertheless, it is still a complex process to achieve agricultural production while considering protecting the environment and safeguarding the health of farming populations.

Despite various trends, biological solutions have emerged as a beacon of hope to address these concerns. In agriculture, biological solutions refer to the use of natural creatures such as beneficial insects, microbes, bacteria, and fungi to manage pests and diseases, improve soil health, and boost crop growth. They are gaining popularity because they can lessen reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, thereby avoiding harmful environmental and human health implications. The biological solutions are equally sustainable in the long run, as they promote biodiversity and ensure ecosystem-based services necessary for a robust farm system. Thus, biological solutions come forth as a sustainable approach to farming that can help reduce the negative impact of conventional agriculture on the environment and human health.

Biological solutions: A cognizance and its types

Have you ever wondered how we can make agriculture more sustainable? Well, the answer lies in the use of biological solutions! These amazing products are derived from natural sources and work in tandem with traditional synthetic solutions to create a better environment for our crops. But wait, not all biological solutions are created equal! While some are certified organic, others are not. But not to worry, because these products come in a variety of forms, including biostimulants, biofertilisers, biofungicides, bioinsecticides, and many more.

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

By Harshvardhan Bhagchandka, President, IPL BiologicalsDriven by

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India

The program educated medical fraternity to recognize and treat symptoms of agrochemical poisoning effectively.

FMC India, an agricultural sciences company, concluded a safety awareness program for the farming community in Akola district on using agrochemicals in a safe and judicious manner, in partnership with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Maharashtra. The program educated Doctors in the district to recognize symptoms of agrochemical poisoning and treat chemical exposed patients effectively. 

The safety awareness program covered 7,500 farmers and 80 Doctors. The program saw participation from senior Maharashtra government officials, the district health officer, and Dr. Jay Shah from the FMC Poison Control Center.  The workshop was aimed at preparing the medical community in rural Maharashtra, which has experienced a steady stream of reports of exposure cases in recent years. This was done by teaching local physicians the fundamentals of treating accidental pesticide exposure. 

FMC India started the awareness program in 2020 in Akola district to promote the adoption of safe agricultural practices and prevent accidental cases of agrochemical poisoning amongst the farming community. This year, the workshop was attended by more than 75 doctors operating across Akola, including the District Agriculture Officer and the District Health Officer with their respective teams.  

 Ravi Annavarapu, President, FMC India said, “FMC India has always demonstrated a strong commitment to the well-being of India’s farming community. Through this safety awareness program, we want to improve farmers’ awareness and knowledge of using agrochemicals in a safe manner, while preventing accidental poisoning. Every year, FMC provides more than a million farmers in India with training on the responsible and safe use of pesticides. We believed it was appropriate to provide local physicians with the same training in order to assist them in detecting and treating any cases of pesticide exposure. We will steadily scale up the program to reach the wider farming community in the state.”

FMC India has a track record in supporting the farming community through initiatives and outreach programs like Project Samarth (Safe Water Initiative), UGAM (promotion of good soil health practices), and Project Madhushakti (collaboration with GB Pant University to develop entrepreneurship among rural women through beekeeping). 

The program educated medical fraternity to recognize

Agrotech, India, Interaction, Seeds

Sameer Manohar Sawant, President, Namdhari Seeds shares his views on the status of the seed industry in India. Edited excerpts:

Namdhari Seeds, founded in 1985, is a prominent player in the global vegetable and flower seed industry. Initially, the company focused on contract seed production for exports but later ventured into breeding programs to develop hybrid crops tailored for the Indian market. Their hybrid seeds have propelled them to a leadership position in India’s vegetable seed sector. With 500 commercialised hybrids across 2,00,000 hectares of open fields, greenhouses, and net houses catered by a network of 1500+ distributors, globally, today, the company has become an established name in the contract production market. All this is credited to its expertise and world-class IP protection stemming from over three decades of business built on trust and strong ethical practices. With a strong brand heritage, substantial investments in R&D, an extensive distribution network, and a diverse product portfolio, Namdhari Seeds is the preferred partner for numerous global seed players. Sameer Manohar Sawant, President, Namdhari Seeds shares his views on the status of the seed industry in India. Edited excerpts:

How is Namdhari Seeds contributing to the growth of the seed industry?

Namdhari Seeds is at the forefront of contributing to the growth of the seed industry in India. We are committed to advancing the sector through our comprehensive approach in research, production, and marketing of vegetable seeds.

Our research efforts are focused on developing high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-adaptive Vegetable seed varieties. By continuously innovating and introducing new cultivars, we aim to address the evolving needs of farmers and changing environmental conditions. We uphold stringent quality control measures in seed production to ensure that our seeds meet the highest standards. Our state-of-the-art production facilities employ the latest technologies to produce seeds that are reliable and superior in performance.

We actively engage with farmers to provide them with the knowledge and training required for successful cultivation. Our expertise and guidance help them optimise their crop production and ensure a profitable harvest. Through our robust marketing strategies, we enable farmers to access broader markets, increasing their income and opportunities. We connect them with the right channels, ensuring that their produce reaches consumers effectively.

Recently the company inaugurated a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility, dedicated to enhancing its existing Plant Pathology and Seed Health operations and NABL Accreditation. How will you leverage the seed industry in terms of adhering to international standards and incorporating the latest technological advancements?

The state-of-the-art greenhouse and NABL accreditation are critical steps in our journey to adhere to international standards and embrace technological advancements. They empower us to provide seeds of the highest quality, aligned with global expectations. We are excited to contribute to the growth and advancement of the seed industry, both nationally and on the international stage.

The new greenhouse facility is dedicated to enhancing our plant pathology and seed health operations. By providing a controlled and isolated environment, it enables us to conduct precise and thorough research on disease resistance and overall seed health.

This facility accelerates our research and development efforts. It allows us to test a wider range of seed varieties, closely monitor plant responses to diseases, and swiftly identify and develop resistant strains. This, in turn, expedites the introduction of disease-resistant and high-yielding seed varieties to the market.

The greenhouse facility is designed to meet international standards for research and seed production. It ensures that our seeds are not only high-performing but also compliant with global quality benchmarks. This is essential for export and to meet the needs of farmers who demand seeds of international quality.  

The Centre has recently launched SAATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App, a Centralised Online System for seed traceability. How will it help in mitigating the challenges in the seed industry?

The launch of SAATHI is a significant step towards addressing critical challenges in the seed industry. This centralised online system for seed traceability and authentication will provide several benefits. For instance, SAATHI will make the entire seed supply chain more transparent, allowing stakeholders to trace the origin and journey of seeds, from production to distribution. This transparency can help build trust among farmers, consumers, and regulatory authorities.

 By ensuring that seeds meet specified quality standards, SAATHI will help mitigate the issue of substandard or counterfeit seeds. It will empower farmers with confidence in the authenticity and quality of the seeds they purchase.

The system will support regulatory authorities in enforcing seed regulations more effectively. This can help curb the distribution of unauthorised or low-quality seeds. SAATHI will help in reducing fraud and malpractices in the seed sector. It can deter the distribution of counterfeit seeds and the mis-labelling of seed varieties.

The holistic inventory feature will assist in better managing seed stocks, reducing waste, and ensuring that the right seeds are available at the right time.

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

Sameer Manohar Sawant, President, Namdhari Seeds shares

Agrotech, Biofuel industry, Company News, Dairy, India, Live Stock

As per the agreement, in initial phase 4 numbers of Biogas plants will be established in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat by 2025.

Banas Dairy, a prominent name in the dairy industry under the brand of GCMMF-AMUL, has taken a significant step by signing a three-party agreement between Suzuki R&D Centre India Private Limited (SRDI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation in India, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to establish Animal Dung based Biogas Production Plants.

The contract conclusion ceremony was held at the Embassy of India in Tokyo, Japan, in the presence of His Excellency Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan, along with T Suzuki, President, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, Shankarbhai Chaudhry, Speaker of Gujarat State Assembly & Chairman- Banas Dairy, Meenesh Shah, Chairman- NDDB, Jayen Mehata, Managing Director- GCMMF-Amul and Sangram Chaudhary, Managing Director- Banas dairy.

This meaningful collaboration began when Banas Dairy signed an MoU with Suzuki and NDDB in December 2022. This project is focused on making India cleaner and helping farmers earn additional income from by-products of their animal husbandry business. This cleaner energy of Bio CNG can be further utilized for production of Green Hydrogen as well as Liquid Bio Methane (LBM) as a green energy sources.

As per the agreement, in initial phase 4 numbers of Biogas plants will be established in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat by 2025. This numbers of plants can be further increased as per mutual agreement of all parties. These plants will play a crucial role in reducing pollution and preserving our environment and also generate green and clean energy, with a total investment of approximately Rs 230 Crores. Additionally, biogas filling stations will be set up alongside each plant to distribute fuel for CNG vehicles, and organic fertilizer production facilities will be established to promote Organic Farming.

Shankar Chaudhry, Chairman of Banas Dairy, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This project is a testament to the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is guiding us to create a greener India and provide our farmers with additional income opportunities with Net Zero Carbon Neutrality and promoting circular economy. These projects are an initial step to make Banaskantha district, an organic district and energy self-reliant district. We are proud to be part of this important journey.”

As per the agreement, in initial phase

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Opinions, Trade

Concerns over a possible increase in global food prices have been sparked by the news that India, the world’s top exporter of rice, has suspended export of its largest category of rice. The government prohibited the exports of any white rice types other than basmati after retail rice prices jumped by three per cent in a month due to damage caused by late but considerable monsoon rains. Food prices have risen as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and erratic weather patterns, and any cut in shipments might make the situation worse. Over forty per cent of global rice exports originate in India. The Indian government has adjusted its export strategy ‘to ensure adequate availability of non-basmati white rice in the Indian market and to allay the rise in prices in the domestic market’, after retail prices increased by 12.5 per cent over the course of a year.

As reported by the All-India Rice Exporters Association, the trigger for Government of India to ban export of white non-basmati rice from the country in mid-July came from the view point of impact of Biperjoy Cyclone, torrential rains just ahead of the sowing season and the apprehension that acreage under rice crop will be adversely impacted and hence there could be a danger to food security of the country.

Official statistics show that India ships out almost 18 million tonnes of rice annually to different parts of the world.  Seven million metric tonnes are white rice, eight million metric tonnes are parboiled, and three million metric tonnes are broken. According to official and exporter sources, Andhra Pradesh is responsible for 15-20 per cent of India’s total rice exports, including 30-40 per cent of parboiled rice and 1,000,000 metric tonnes of broken rice.

Owing to this recent development coming from the Indian government, there are mixed reactions developing in the domestic and the international rice trade market. Explaining further on this development, B V Krishna Rao, President, Rice Exporters’ Association of India suggested, ” It is unclear how the prohibition on rice exports will affect Andhra Pradesh farmers. One issue is that “not much” white rice is being exported from Andhra Pradesh. “If that is the case, then we can once again ship out parboiled rice. The restriction will have minimal effect on states that strictly enforce the Minimum Support Price (MSP) imposed by the Central government.”

Elaborating further on that note, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Mission Vice-Chairman M V S Nagireddy while speaking to media revealed, “Given that the season has already concluded, it is plausible to assert that there may not be any issues at present. The state government is acquiring a significant portion of the paddy cultivated inside the state, with the intention of distributing it through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Moreover, a significant portion of the agricultural yield, particularly high-quality strains such as BPT 5204 (Samba Mahsuri) in Andhra Pradesh or RNR 15048 in Telangana, is mostly utilised for local consumption.”

Projected consequences

How will India’s ban on exporting rice affect the global price of this staple? There are several variables to consider.

The extent to which export restrictions will be enforced is the first consideration. Global wheat prices spiked in response to India’s announcement that it would no longer allow wheat exports in 2022. However, as it became clear that India would honour existing letters of credit for wheat purchases and would continue to sell wheat to neighbouring countries for humanitarian purposes, prices began to fall. India’s wheat exports set a new high in 2022, but quantities decreased significantly towards the year’s conclusion.

The prohibition may have limited effects on the market if India maintains its policy of allowing the export of non-basmati rice to its neighbours or if the embargo turns out to be temporary. However, a “hard” ban might have serious consequences for nations that rely heavily on imports from India. Rice is not as heavily traded as other grains on international markets. In comparison to maize (16 per cent), wheat (27 per cent), and soyabeans (42 per cent), rice exports only account for around 11 per cent of total global production. In light of this, a ban on 40 per cent of global rice exports would place a strain on alternative suppliers and rice inventories, both of which have been depleted in recent years yet are required to cushion price consequences.

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

Concerns over a possible increase in global

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, India, People

D Narain (D), the current President of Bayer South Asia; Vice Chairman, Managing Director & CEO of Bayer CropScience Limited (BCSL) and the Global Head of Smallholder Farming for Bayer, will retire by end of November 2023.

Bayer today announced, that after more than 25 years of service, D Narain (D), the current President of Bayer South Asia; Vice Chairman, Managing Director & CEO of Bayer CropScience Limited (BCSL) and the Global Head of Smallholder Farming for Bayer, will retire by end of November 2023. Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch (Simon) will take over as President, Bayer South Asia and as Vice Chairman, Managing Director & CEO of Bayer CropScience Ltd (BCSL) on November 1st, 2023. Simon will take on these new responsibilities, in addition to his current role as Country Division Head (CDH) of India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka (IBSL) cluster in Crop Science.

Simon moved to India in December 2018 as Chief Operating Officer of IBSL cluster and in partnership with D established the cluster as a strong growth engine for smallholders before being appointed the Country Division Head (CDH) at the beginning of 2022. Simon started his career with Bayer in 1998 from the company’s headquarters in Germany. He built his professional experience by working in multiple divisions of the company across various geographies like Germany, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Before taking over his current role in India, he was the Chief Executive Officer for Bayer’s Crop Science Division in South-East Asia. Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Applied Sciences in Essen, Germany, and an MBA from the University of Bradford. He has more than two decades of experience in the agriculture industry. He currently lives in Mumbai with his wife Tanja and their children and will continue to operate out of Bayer’s office in Thane, Maharashtra.

D Narain (D), with a career spanning nearly three and half decades in global agriculture, has passionately strived to bring innovative solutions for the upliftment of smallholder farmers globally and with the efforts over the last 5 years, has established the global smallholder business as integral to the long-term growth of the company with a commitment of delivering outcomes of improving smallholder incomes and livelihoods. Over his entire global career, D has also played a pioneering role in bringing financing and risk management models to farmers across the world. In his most recent role, D led the successful integration of Monsanto and has positioned Bayer South Asia as one of the fastest growing regions for the company, a major global talent hub, and expanded ‘Centres of Excellence’ to support multiple global teams. D also with his outstanding ability to lead external engagement and thought leadership to shape the industry, leaves behind a strong network of external relationships and partners for Bayer globally.

Over the coming months, D Narain will work with his successors in India and Germany to facilitate a seamless transition before he retires from Bayer. Even after retirement, D will continue to collaborate with Bayer to expand its partnerships and thought leadership engagements with stakeholders, aimed at improving smallholder incomes and sustainability.

D Narain (D), the current President of

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Company News, India

New Galaxy® NXT herbicide features dual mode of action technology to control grasses and broadleaf weeds in soybean crops.

FMC, a leading agricultural sciences company, announced the launch of drone spray services in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The company also launched Galaxy® NXT, a novel herbicide for soybean crops, one of the most cultivated crops in the state.

The new herbicide and drone spray service were launched in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, in the presence of Mark Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Corporation and Pramod Thota, President of the FMC Asia Pacific region. A live demonstration of self-propelled boom spray services, which are expected to be introduced throughout the country in the next three months, was also conducted successfully in farmers’ fields.

Approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the government body responsible for the regulation of air transport services in India, the drone service is expected to improve farm productivity while reducing the need for manual labour. Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) allow more control over spray uniformity and coverage, as well as improve the precision with which crop protection products like FMC’s premium and farmer-trusted brands Coragen® insect control and Benevia® insecticide are applied. Each spray drone can treat three to four acres in about 15 minutes, making the spraying job easier and more efficient. Using UAVs will also protect farmers from climatic risks like dehydration and heat stroke. FMC India has also been running customized training programs for farmers, advocating optimal use of input resources across crops grown in India. The spray services are available via the FMC India Farmer App in regional languages for ease of accessibility.

“FMC’s move is in line with the Indian government’s inclusive reforms to onboard drone and other spray services to modernize agriculture in the country,” said Ravi Annavarapu, President, FMC India. “Adoption of technology is critical to ensure crop protection and food security. India is at the forefront of innovating food systems, and this progress is best displayed in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which is market-driven, tech-positive and farmer-centric. Madhya Pradesh, one of the first states where FMC has introduced spray services, demonstrates our commitment to providing access and training to promote rural entrepreneurship. At the same time, we are pleased to offer innovative solutions for production of soybean ahead of the kharif season and will continue to contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh.” Annavarapu also added, “Through the launch of spray services to enable farmers in Madhya Pradesh to use our range of insecticides on various crops and the launch of a new product Galaxy® NXT herbicide for soybean growers, we are well equipped to meet the requirements of our partners and we will continue to localize and customize our services across the spectrum.”

New Galaxy® NXT herbicide features dual mode

Agrotech, Cold Storage, Company News, Packaging & Labelling, Supply Chain, World

As part of this multi-year project, Shank’s Extracts will expand its facilities to support current and future growth

Universal Corporation announced an approximately $30 million expansion project at its subsidiary Shank’s Extracts, LLC, a speciality ingredient, flavours and botanical extracts company, headquartered in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  As part of this multi-year project, Shank’s Extracts will expand its facilities to support current and future growth needs for additional liquid and dry manufacturing, packaging, and refrigerated storage. The project also includes installing other manufacturing capabilities to serve its customers better. “We are excited to announce this expansion in our facilities at Shank’s Extracts that will enable us to enhance and expand the product offerings of our plant-based ingredients platform,” stated George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation.

Universal expressed appreciation for the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the City of Lancaster for their coordination and support of this project. “Shank’s Extracts has a long and impressive history in Lancaster County, and DCED is proud to have worked with the company to ensure they continue to grow right here in Pennsylvania,” said Rick Siger DCED Secretary. “The Commonwealth has a lot to offer to food manufacturers, from our strategic location to our dedicated and skilled workforce.”

Universal Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a global business-to-business agri-products supplier to consumer product manufacturers, operating in over 30 countries on five continents.  We strive to be the supplier of choice for our customers by leveraging our farmer base, our commitment to a sustainable supply chain, and our ability to provide high-quality, customized, traceable, value-added agri-products essential for our customers’ requirements.  We find innovative solutions to serve our customers and have been meeting their agri-product needs for more than 100 years.  Since our founding in 1918, our principal focus has been tobacco, and we are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. Through our plant-based ingredients platform, we provide a variety of value-added manufacturing processes to produce high-quality, speciality vegetable- and fruit-based ingredients as well as botanical extracts and flavourings for the food and beverage end markets.

As part of this multi-year project, Shank's

Agrotech, Company News, Horticulture, India

To create a collaborative ecosystem to unlock the potential of the horticulture segment.

Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare organized a National seminar “India Horticulture Future Forum 2023” yesterday, to deliberate upon the future of Indian Horticulture and nutrition security concerns that can be alleviated through the Fruits and Vegetables segment. In this one of its kind events, the spotlight was on the challenges, opportunities, and advancements of the segment from the lens of empowering the smallholders for better economic prospects. The event involved presentations as well as panel discussions on effective policies, schemes, implementation models, and programs aimed at boosting the sector’s competitiveness and growth. The event was attended by senior policymakers, regulators, researchers, academicians, subject matter experts, corporates from across the value chain and representatives of financial institutions and importing countries.

The India Horticulture Future Forum 2023 held insightful sessions with an India-centric perspective, discussing development opportunities in the sector. The event featured several engaging sessions, including “AgTech Revolution focusing on Horticulture,” “Fruits and Vegetables for Better Health and Nutrition,” “Export Opportunity for India in Horticulture,” and “Insights into Policy Developments and Key Regulations.”

All these key pillars were deliberated upon by the experts with the aim to create diverse workstreams to address the key concerns and opportunities for the sustainable growth of the segment. Grant Thornton Bharat LLP served as the Knowledge Partner for this event and will be facilitating these task forces along with Bayer.

In a special message read out during the event, Narendra Tomar,Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India said, “The country has today graduated from largely targeting food security issues to nutritional security issues. In this setting, horticulture production is the key to address both the challenges.”

Speaking at the conference, D Narain, President, South Asia, and Global Head of Smallholder Farming, said, “India will witness a threefold jump in demand and consumption of horticultural crops within the next decade apart from the opportunities associated with global exports. In this context, the India Horticulture Future Forum is an effort to create a collaborative ecosystem to fully harness the potential of the horticulture segment from a macro lens of nutritional security and national economic growth while at the grassroots level, positively impacting the incomes and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers”.

Professor V. Padmanand, Partner, Grant Thornton LLP, said “Strengthening the horticulture value chain will involve interventions in the production, post-harvest and processing infrastructure and marketing and logistics space. Team Grant Thornton has been working extensively on these areas with the government, private stakeholders, farmers as well as global development partners. The need of the hour is to upscale best practices and models countrywide through synergized joint action.”

At the seminar, experts discussed urgent steps required to integrate and revamp the horticulture production and value chain system, promote healthier and more nutritious foods, and improve farmers’ income.

To create a collaborative ecosystem to unlock

North America, World

Van Duijn brings more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and international development

The International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) Board of Directors and staff announced the appointment of Henk van Duijn as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Van Duijn will assume his position and new responsibilities on January 1, 2023. IFDC is an independent Washington DC-based non-profit organisation that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
Van Duijn brings more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and international development, with a focus on Europe, Africa, and Asia. He has led an impressive portfolio of programs that empower agribusinesses to access and benefit from profitable markets. Prior to his selection as IFDC President and CEO, van Duijn served as Vice President, Corporate Services, and Chief Operations and Finance Officer at IFDC. Before that, he headed the 2SCALE program (2019–2021) and served as CEO of Bopinc (2014–2019). As a diplomat and civil service director in the Netherlands, van Duijn led the design, start up, and implementation of large-scale interdisciplinary programs as well as national and international public-private partnerships in Europe, Africa, and Asia. He holds a master’s degree in Land and Water Management from Wageningen University & Research.
Outgoing IFDC President and CEO Albin Hubscher will retire after four years of deftly leading the organisation to a renewed commitment to soil health. He was instrumental in formulating IFDC’s plan to develop a global innovation centre that will design and scale next-generation soil health and plant nutrition innovations.
Dr Rudy Rabbinge, IFDC Board Chair and Professor Emeritus at Wageningen University & Research, announced van Duijn’s appointment during a staff reception hosted by the IFDC Board on October 26, 2022. Rabbinge encouraged staff to “use this as an opportunity to maintain our organisation’s momentum.” Upon accepting the appointment, van Duijn told IFDC leadership and staff, “IFDC is well-positioned to lead global innovations in soil health and food security. Now, it is time for us to move confidently in the direction set for us. I am honoured and privileged to walk with you all.”

Van Duijn brings more than 30 years