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Foodgrains, R&D, Start ups, Sustainability, World

A selection of enterprises that are helping transform agrifood systems are to receive tailor-made help

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the SEED partnership officially launched the SDG Agrifood Accelerator Programme, an instrument designed to help agrifood system start-ups develop their businesses while contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alternative approaches and innovative solutions are needed to transform global agrifood systems in the face of challenges such as rapid population growth, economic downturns, extreme climates and changing consumption patterns.

During a virtual event held at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, 12 innovators from around the world used a workshop to showcase how they are contributing to the SDGs while supporting such a transformation in their local context.

The small- and medium-sized enterprises were selected among the hundreds that comprise the portfolio of the adelphi-hosted SEED partnership. They are to be supported by the programme in three areas: financial readiness, innovation potential, and market reach. The kind of help they will receive includes assistance in the development of business, marketing or investment plans, as well as advice on how to approach potential financiers or how to go digital.

“Together with SEED we want to explore how the innovators involved can make a difference in the transformation of agrifood systems locally as we work towards achieving the SDGs globally,” said Stefanos Fotiou, Director of FAO’s Office of Sustainable Development Goals. “Leveraging the network of innovators from SEED and nurturing local agrifood solutions through a tailored innovation support package opens new ways for FAO to have an on-the-ground impact.”

A selection of enterprises that are helping

Sustainability

The awards programme was jointly organised by the Energy Research Institute, the International Water Association and the United Nations Development Programme

FMC Corporation, a leading agricultural sciences company, has been conferred a Certificate of Recognition for its exemplary contribution towards water stewardship in India at the inaugural TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Awards 2021-22 on World Water Day 2022. The awards programme was jointly organised by the Energy Research Institute, the International Water Association and the United Nations Development Programme.

FMC runs an ongoing campaign under its flagship Project Samarth that seeks to provide access to safe and potable drinking water to 200,000 farmer families by 2024 in India. Project Samarth has to date commissioned 57 community water purification plants in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, benefiting nearly 100,000 farming families.

Ravi Annavarapu, President, FMC India said, “Our goal is to empower the farming community and raise living standards through various initiatives and community outreach programmes like Project Samarth. Over 4,000 FMC technical field experts engage with farmers about good agriculture practices and the sustainable use of water to enhance productivity while optimising water use. We endeavour to educate the community at large about best practices in water consumption, and we are grateful for this recognition by TERI-IWA-UNDP. It motivates us to move forward on our mission of water stewardship.”

Apart from commissioning water purification plants, FMC also promotes the sustainable use of water in agriculture through its wide network of technical experts and channel partners.

The award was received by Raju Kapoor, director of Public and Industry Affairs, FMC India, in the presence of The Chief Guest Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary Lokpal of India, Former Additional Secretary Jal Jeevan Mission and Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India.

The TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Awards aim to encourage the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by way of reducing the water footprint among various stakeholders through the adoption of the ‘water neutrality’ approach.

The awards programme was jointly organised by

Sustainability

It will be the first landmark global event in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Thailand is hosting the International Horticultural Expo 2026 in Udon Thani, a northeastern province. It will be the first landmark global event in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The mega-event will be featuring the theme “Diversity of Life: Connecting Water, Plants, and People for Sustainable Living” driven by the ‘3S’ food and farming policy and BCG economic model of the government and SDGs of the United Nations.

At the annual general meeting 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) agreed to the Thai proposal in which International Horticultural Expo 2026 will be hosted in Udon Thani province during November 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027. The proposed theme is “Diversity of Life: Connecting Water, Plants, and People for Sustainable Living”, citing the site’s unique wetland area and the special connection between water, natural resources, and the people living in it. 

Presenting the proposal at the handover ceremony of the event to a new host destination was HE Dr Chalermchai Sree-on, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives,who was head of the Thai delegation.

According to Dr Chalermchai, Thailand is committed to contributing to the global food security through the ‘3S’ farming and food policy, focusing on Food Safety, Food Security, and Sustainability. This aims to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while adhering to the climate aspiration of the Paris Agreement. Such commitment can serve the theme and presentation of the Expo in Udon Thani and will help shed light on the sustainability issue, inspire and ignite collaboration on global actionable measures towards sustainability living with minimal cost to the ecosystem’.

Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), who represented Thailand in the official bid for the Expo, emphasised the government’s development strategy and national agenda to promote the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model or BCG as a new development model that seeks to drive socio-economic growth while minimising and even reversing the negative impacts on the environment. The strategy will be of great contribution to Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026.

The Udon Thani Expo 2026 is expected to cost 2,500 million baht in investment and attract 3.6 million visitors over 134 days during the expo.

It will be the first landmark global

Agrotech

The innovation center in Mumbai provides product testing and application support tailored to local needs, with specific focuses on the Agriculture, Home and Personal Care.

Nouryon, a global specialty chemicals leader, has expanded its office and research centre by doubling the office footprint in Mumbai, India, to better serve local customers and support long-term growth plans in Asia Pacific.

 The Nouryon commercial team in Mumbai is focused on key end-markets including Agriculture and Food, Home and Personal Care, Paints and Coatings, Natural Resources and Polymer Specialties. The office will also be home to Nouryon’s new global Sales Administration and Information Management (IM) hubs, as well as other supporting functions including Human Resources, Finance, R&D, and Customer Service.

“Nouryon is committed to serving our valued customers in India with sustainable and innovative solutions supported by our strong R&D capabilities,” said Sobers Sethi, Senior Vice President Emerging Markets and China at Nouryon.

The innovation center in Mumbai provides product testing and application support tailored to local needs, with specific focuses on the Agriculture, Home and Personal Care, and Paints and Coatings end-markets. 

“India is an important market for Nouryon. We are pleased to invest further in the region to support our commercial activities focused on attractive end-markets,” said Larry Ryan, Executive Vice President and President of Performance Formulations and Americas at Nouryon.

 In April 2021, Nouryon announced a joint venture with Atul to begin production at Anaven, the country’s largest monochloroacetic acid (MCA) plant in Gujarat, reaffirming its commitment to India.

In 2020, the company installed solar panels at its organic peroxide site in Mahad. Recently, the company also introduced sustainable solutions to help customers become more sustainable, including additives for anti-viral paint coatings, biodegradable crop protection ingredients, and products for cool roof coatings that further reduce the need for air conditioning. With primary focus on sustainable development, Nouryon aims to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of a more sustainable society in India.

The innovation center in Mumbai provides product

China, Environment, Nature

Alibaba Group targets 50 pr cent carbon intensity reduction for Scope 3 by 2030

Alibaba Group Holding Limited has announced a pledge to achieve carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2030 and introduced a Scope 3+ target, a pioneering initiative aiming to facilitate 1.5 gigatons of decarbonisation across its business ecosystem by 2035. Details about its goals, including thinking and definition of the newly introduced concept of Scope 3+, are shared in the inaugural Alibaba Carbon Neutrality Action Report. Alibaba aims to provide updates annually with progress verified by accredited auditors.

“We aspire to be a force for positive, innovative change in society. Our ESG strategy is predicated on our mission to be a good company that will live for 102 years and it is the vital foundation for Alibaba’s future development,” said Daniel Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group. “We will leverage our unique influence as a platform operator to mobilize actions and behavioural changes among consumers, merchants and partners in China and around the world with our newly proposed Scope 3+ target of reducing 1.5 gigatons of carbon emissions by 2035.” 

Alibaba Group is committed to carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and has set a 50 per cent carbon intensity reduction target for Scope 3 by 2030 using 2020 levels as baseline. Alibaba Cloud will bear responsibility for a higher Scope 3 target and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 in all three scopes. 

Alibaba will adopt a systematic and science-based approach to plan and manage decarbonisation initiatives. It includes leveraging energy-saving and efficiency-improving technologies to reduce emissions; actively transforming the energy structure with progressive use of renewable’s; and exploration of carbon removal initiatives. As a general principle, the company prioritises carbon reduction over removal, and removal over offset. 

Alibaba Group Holding Limited has announced a