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HomePosts Tagged "Sustainable Farming Practices"
Agribusiness, Company News, India, Soil Health, Start ups, Sustainability

The 200 Smart FPOs initiative will focus on FPOs across Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

At the Rith Summit 2.0, Arya.ag, India’s largest integrated grain commerce platform, announced an initiative to transform 200 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) into Smart Institutions. The initiative, launched in collaboration with key partners, aims to empower FPOs by leveraging technology and fostering collaborations to improve efficiency, promote sustainable farming practices, and build climate-resilient value chains.

Prasanna Rao, CEO & Co-Founder of Arya.ag, stated the importance of this initiative in driving the evolution of FPOs. “We believe FPCs can evolve into Smart Institutions, which leverage technology to improve efficiency in input sales and output procurement and offer a diverse range of services. Smart FPCs will also play a crucial role in building climate-resilient value chains by promoting sustainable farming practices and through corporate collaborations to support sustainable sourcing of produce,” Prasanna explained.

The 200 Smart FPOs initiative will focus on FPOs across Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Arya.ag will work closely with these FPOs to provide them with access to technologies, training, and support to enhance their capabilities and drive sustainable growth.

Jai Prakash Yadav, an FPO leader, highlighted the positive impact of Arya.ag’s support: “Through Arya.ag, we were able to connect with agricultural centres for soil testing and provide training to farmers, empowering them to adopt sustainable farming practices.”

Arya.ag will implement its agritech solutions to empower Smart FPCs with tools for scaling operations and improving efficiency. The initiative will also provide AI-powered crop advisory services to enable data-driven decision-making and optimise farming practices. Moreover, Arya.ag will facilitate digital record-keeping of farming practices to ensure traceability and transparency throughout the value chain. Collaborations with corporate partners will be established to support sustainable sourcing of produce and create new market opportunities for Smart FPCs. Training and capacity-building programmes will be conducted to enhance the skills and knowledge of FPO members in sustainable farming practices and business management.

A key feature of the initiative is the creation of a platform to connect all stakeholders, including climate champions (corporates supporting the purchase of sustainable produce), to facilitate the trade of sustainably produced commodities. Anand Chandra, Executive Director of Arya.ag, added, “We believe that only a market-led model will enable FPOs to become a hub for sustainable practices. But we also need the FPOs to be ready for the market. The 200 Smart FPOs initiative reflects our commitment to driving sustainable agriculture and empowering these farming communities into Smart Institutions.”

The initiative has received support from key stakeholders in the agriculture sector, including government agencies, development organisations, and corporate partners. Arya.ag will work closely with these partners to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative and maximise its impact on the ground.

The launch of the 200 Smart FPOs initiative at Rith Summit 2.0 is an outcome of the stakeholder discussions from Rith 1.0 held in December 2023. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of farmers and contribute to the development of a more sustainable and resilient agricultural ecosystem in India.

The 200 Smart FPOs initiative will focus

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, R&D, Sustainability, World

It offers an effective value-in-use solution for agricultural plastics exposed to intense UV radiation, thermal stress, and inorganic chemicals commonly used in crop management and disinfection.

BASF launched Tinuvin® NOR® 211 AR to support film producers and converters globally in navigating the challenging landscape of plasticulture – the use of plastic materials in agricultural applications. This new high-performance heat and light stabilizer protects and prolongs the lifespan of agricultural plastics that require resistance to high levels of inorganic chemicals like sulfur and chlorine. Tinuvin NOR 211 AR offers an effective value-in-use solution for agricultural plastics exposed to intense UV radiation, thermal stress, and inorganic chemicals commonly used in crop management and disinfection.

The advancements in plasticulture, heavily influenced by polyethylene (PE) grades, have led to a growing trend in downgauging and a greater emphasis on the use of plastic materials. Downgauging involves reducing the thickness of plastic films while maintaining their performance, made possible by incorporating new polymer grades to enhance the mechanical properties of PE materials. At the same time, converters are investing in new equipment to increase the number of layers in their films thereby improving performance and durability. This transition to thinner and more durable films is crucial for the sustainability of agricultural plastics as it helps to reduce plastic waste, enhances production efficiency and facilitates practices like recycling and upcycling.

Tinuvin NOR 211 AR is a unique stabilization system that can be used in plasticulture, even in intensive horticulture, regardless of the application region’s severity of UV radiation, heat, and chemicals that are present. This new product solution is the best option when downgauging is required, especially in the presence of high levels of sulfur and chlorine. With the increasing use of inorganic chemicals in agriculture due to the adoption of “Integrated Pest Management” and “Organic Farming” practices, the need for effective stabilization of agricultural films is crucial.

“Tinuvin NOR 211 AR additive solution addresses a broad variety of challenges for agricultural plastics, including sustainability requirements, increased chemical exposure, longer use durations and downgauging trends,” said Dr. Bettina Sobotka, Head of Global Marketing and Development for Plastic Additives at BASF. “BASF’s NOR HALS solutions improve stabilization by moving beyond solutions based on secondary and methylated HALS. Through collaboration with agricultural plastic producers as well as farmers, we facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, creating solutions that will ultimately lead to improved crop yield.”

BASF’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is reflected in the expansion of its NOR® platform. Tinuvin NOR 211 AR, part of the VALERAS® portfolio, utilizes renewable electricity in production and optimizes product form to reduce energy consumption and emissions. It also improves material dosing precision, minimizes dust exposure, and promotes water and aquatic organism protection, leading to a safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly workflow. 

It offers an effective value-in-use solution for

Agrotech, Company News, Environment, North America, Sustainability

Provide the growers with the tools and knowledge to maximize yield and minimize environmental impact.

Tavant, Silicon Valley’s leading digital products and solutions company, announced a strategic partnership with Bayer, a global leader in agriculture solutions, to introduce innovative AgriTech solutions that will empower organizations to drive innovation and growers to optimize crop yields, reduce expenses, and minimize their environmental footprint.

“By developing pioneering solutions for transforming the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed, Tavant is poised to drive the agriculture industry forward and provide growers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving market.”

“Innovation in digital agriculture is critical for achieving sustainable farming practices and ensuring adequate food supply. Data is often fragmented and challenging to access throughout the supply chain and developing digital solutions from scratch can be costly, but we are arriving at a very exciting moment in modern agriculture,” said Ines Kapphan, VP of Data & Cloud Solutions, Climate and Digital Farming, Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Our work with Tavant provides innovators with readymade capabilities, so they can join Bayer and many other impactful companies in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges in agriculture.”

“Tavant is a strong proponent of innovation and digitalization in achieving sustainable yields and disrupting the farm to fork value chain. Over the past two decades, Tavant has invested significantly in developing sustainable and efficient farming practices. As a strategic system integrator for Bayer, Tavant is committed to helping growers achieve more with less and providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to grow crops sustainably while enhancing their profitability,” said Vikas Khosla, Chief Revenue Officer, Hitech, Tavant.

“By developing pioneering solutions for transforming the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed, Tavant is poised to drive the agriculture industry forward and provide growers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving market,” continued Khosla.

Provide the growers with the tools and