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HomePosts Tagged "seed"
Company News, Water, World

Revolutionising irrigation for growers with autonomous execution

Source.ag, the provider of AI solutions for fruit and vegetable growers, launched Source Irrigation Control: an autonomous irrigation solution that intelligently adjusts irrigation strategy execution in response to changing weather conditions and plant data.

The newest addition to Source.ag’s product suite helps growers scale operations and improve irrigation management while decreasing the need for manual intervention and the time to adapt to new seed varieties or locations. The grower sets the irrigation targets, and Source Irrigation Control does the rest. Using AI models fed with weather forecasts and plant data to predict water and nutrient uptake, this new market innovation saves resources and growers’ time. Growers can set irrigation targets to suit their preferred cultivation strategy, combining their cultivation knowledge with Source.ag’s data science capabilities. 

Source Irrigation Control’s data-driven irrigation solution offers growers multiple benefits in terms of crop quality, resource management, and business growth opportunities. The system predicts the water and nutrient uptake of plants and then applies its findings to a proactive irrigation plan that promotes root growth and healthy root development. Because AI is used to assess and clean sensor data which then updates growers’ unique irrigation models regularly, growers are free to spend their time on other value-added activities. The reduction in manual intervention means growers can manage many more hectares, allowing them to quickly scale operations. Equally, the system’s adaptability makes coping with new circumstances, climates, or seed varieties easier and more cost-effective.

Revolutionising irrigation for growers with autonomous executionSource.ag,

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

Bee keeping, India

Government committed towards increasing overall potential of beekeeping industry in the country

National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, organised a National Workshop on Role of Agri Startups in Honey Value Chain at NSRTC Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Beekeepers, Honey Startups and FPOs, stakeholders in beekeeping, officials from various Ministries/ Government Organisations/ Institutes, State Departments of Horticulture, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/ Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), etc participated in the workshop.

Dr N K Patle, Additional Commissioner (Horticulture) and Executive Director, NBB briefed about the role of role of Agri Startups in Honey Value Chain. He also highlighted the role of National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) and its contribution in the beekeeping sector, including promotion & facilitation for honey startups and FPOs.  He highlighted that implementation of NBHM scheme is also intended to strengthen the infrastructure facilities for honey collection, storage, processing, testing & branding centres, which ultimately enhance the potential of beekeeping in the nation. He invited Honey Startups and FPOs to avail the facilities available under NBHM and adopt beekeeping in a scientific manner to get additional income through honey and other beehive product.

Startups from MANAGE and other states shared their experience and explained about their products being marketed in the country. They also highlighted the importance of Honey Value Chain being created by various stakeholders. These startups are promoting honey sector by Queen breeding, comb, raw honey production and food supplement of bee pollen.

Government committed towards increasing overall potential of

China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Seeds, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand

The Asia Pacific accounted for the fastest region, during the forecast period, in terms of volume and value

According to the report titled ‘Seed Treatment Market by Type, Application Technique (Coating, Dressing, Pelleting), Function (Seed Protection and Seed Enhancement), Formulation, Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds, Fruits & Vegetables), and Region – Global Forecast to 2027’, published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated at $6.1 billion in 2022; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3 per cent to reach $9.2 billion by 2027.

The Asia Pacific accounted for the fastest region, during the forecast period, in terms of volume and value, respectively. The Asia Pacific consists of the largest developing countries with vast agricultural lands as compared to other regions. The per capita income of the region depends on the agricultural activities conducted in the countries. The key countries that play an important role in the agriculture sector in this region are India, China, Japan, and Thailand.

Cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, are the leading agricultural commodities grown in these countries. Rice cultivation and the predominance of small-scale manufacturers are widely seen across all the countries of Asia Pacific.

Asia Pacific seed treatment market is projected to grow with the highest CAGR due to the growing agriculture industry in China and Japan. Demand for seed treatment has been growing in this region, due to global players increasing their investments of business lines in agricultural inputs to exclusively meet the demand of crop growers to attain export quality. Additionally, the regulations for seed treatment are favourable in this region. China is estimated to account for the largest share in the Asia Pacific seed treatment market.

The Asia Pacific accounted for the fastest

Agro Universities, Seeds, Start ups

The last date for the receipt of the application is May 31, 2022

The Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI), Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has invited applications for Cohort IV of Uddam (pre-seed) and Udaan (seed) from the agripreneurs/agristartups of Punjab and its neighbouring states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir).

Giving details, Dr TS Riar, Principal Investigator, said that the last date for the receipt of the application is May 31, 2022. Applicants can apply online or offline. The application form and other related information can be downloaded from www.paupabiraftaar.co.in, he informed. Dr Riar said that PABI has produced several entrepreneurs (male and female), who are running their agri-businesses successfully in Punjab after acquiring training from PAU’s Skill Development Centre and availing facilities being offered under PABI. The training will help in becoming the youth financially independent, he added.

The last date for the receipt of

Agrotech, Europe, R&D, Seeds

The centre will focus on service development to help farmers meet the challenges of a changing agricultural sector

Corteva Agriscience has opened a new Center for Seed Applied Technologies (CSAT) in southwest France, to help Europe’s farmers get their crops off to the best start and achieve a successful harvest.

The centre in Aussonne is the first for Corteva in Europe and its third worldwide. The CSAT will focus on service development, with a strong scientific investment that will be part of new seed treatment solutions to help farmers meet the challenges of a changing agricultural sector. Seed treatments can protect young plants from pests and disease and help tender seedlings get off to a vigorous start that improves productivity.

CSATs act as a laboratory, testing centre and seed treatment plant, with rigorous processes in place for the discovery, formulation and real-world testing of seed-applied technologies. This process enables seed treatments to protect and perform to solve on-farm challenges, delivering value for growers.

As a result, more farmers can benefit from innovations in seed treatment ensuring application dose accuracy, improved field performance and increased productivity for farmers, as well as enhancing sustainability in line with Corteva Agriscience’s sustainability commitment.

The CSAT will also work with business collaborators to provide services and tests to help improve the quality of seed treatments.

The centre will focus on service development

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Seeds, World

The purpose of the seed treatment application is to help the seed and the germinating plant fight various soil pests and diseases

Bee Vectoring Technologies International announced positive results in the progress of its proprietary biological control agent Clonostachys rosea strain CR-7 in the seed treatment market – a significant new revenue opportunity for the company. The BVT trials conducted in 2021 were built on the positive results from the proof-of-concept work done in 2020 in both the US and Switzerland.

 “This marks the first data we have for CR-7 on a major row crop such as soybeans,” said Ashish Malik, CEO, BVT. “This is the type of crop that gets the attention of the major global multinationals, and we have generated interest from as many as eight companies to whom we presented our results from the 2021 work. One of them is conducting their independent trials as well.”

 In the 2021 trials, soybean seeds were treated with CR-7 together with, and in comparison to, other seed treatment products before they were planted. The purpose of the seed treatment application is to help the seed and the germinating plant fight various soil pests and diseases, and to help with the emergence and vigour of the plant in its early stages, allowing the crop to better reach its genetic yield potential. The advantage of this approach is precision: unlike foliar sprays, seed treatments get 100 per cent of the product on the plant, and in some cases, impart properties that benefit the plant throughout the growing season.

BVT conducted seed treatment trials with well-established soybean researchers in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, with very positive results. When CR-7 was added over the base seed treatment, it resulted in healthier plants during the vegetative stages when the plants are growing leaves, stems and roots to accumulate the resources they will need for the flowering and reproductive stages. During this stage, plants with the CR-7 treatment had on average 36 per cent greater below-ground fresh biomass (a measure indicating the strength of the plant’s root system) and 16 per cent greater above-ground fresh biomass (a measure indicating the amount of tissue in stems and leaves) over the base seed treatment.

In addition, the trials showed CR-7 to be an effective treatment against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a huge disease problem for soybean growers. Caused by the soil-borne pathogen, Fusarium virguliforme, that attacks roots and the lower stem of the plant, the disease affects flowers and young pods, resulting in a significant loss in crop yield. The results showed CR-7 to have equivalent control of SDS to current industry standards for both chemical and biological products. BVT will continue with further work in seed treatment in 2022, including the second year of field trials.

The seed treatment market is a specialized one with different channels in the major growing regions, where things like understanding the genetics of the seed varieties and relationships to the seed companies are important. It is a market that BVT intends to be a technology provider for partners to develop.

The purpose of the seed treatment application

Agro Universities, Interaction

The need for developing the climate-smart and high-quality fodder varieties was highlighted by the Chief Guest, Dr DK Yadava, ICAR

The ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh has recently virtually organised the “Forage Scientists & Seed Producers’ Interface Meeting of Kharif Fodder Crops”.

The Chief Guest, Dr DK Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR emphasised that the sensitisation and showcasing of the varieties will help in increasing the breeder seed indent of the new varieties. The need for developing the climate-smart and high-quality fodder varieties was highlighted by Dr Yadava.

Dr Amaresh Chandra, Director, ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh stressed on apprising the stakeholders about the new varieties and their potential/specialities to suit the various niches.

About 75 participants from ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi; State Agricultural Universities, NGOs, Private Companies, Regional Fodder Stations, DADF and NDDB, etc., attended the meeting.

The need for developing the climate-smart and high-quality