Connect with:
Wednesday / April 16. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
HomePosts Tagged "UPL"
AgroPolicy, India, Interaction

Panel discussion on Govt policies & Farmers’ Aspiration to Shape Agritech Landscape

AgroSpectrum Technovate 2025, a premier conference dedicated to exploring the intersection of agriculture and technology, kicked off in Navi Mumbai, today. The two-day event brings together industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and policymakers to discuss and showcase the latest advancements in agritech. With a focus on sustainable practices and cutting-edge technologies, the conference will address the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector in the 21st century.

A panel discussion on ‘Government policies & Farmers’ Aspirations to Shape Agritech Landscape’ on the inaugural day of AgroSpectrum Technovate 2025 was moderated by Dr Sudhir Kumar Goel, Former Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Marketing, Government of Maharashtra. The panellists included Dr S Ganesan, Vice President-Agriculture Policies and Outreach, UPL AG; Rajvir Rathi, Director-Agricultural Affairs & Policy, IM-IBSL Lead-Traits Licensing Business, Bayer CropScience.

Dr Goel started by asking whether government policies are conducive in the agri-tech landscape. While answering about the aspirations of the government, Rathi mentioned three major trends: aggregation and collectivisation, mechanisation and digitalisation. Innovation and technology are the need of the hour for the agri-sector. Whether seeds, fertilisers, irrigation techniques, crop health management, nutrition management, storage, post-harvest, etc, need to be linked to the market demand. We should always remember that a farmer is producing for himself, for the nation and then for exports. A farmer should be provided with real-time data about the prices so that the products can be sold easily.

According to him, the other important thing is to know what is essentially native when a farmer sows seed in the ground till the crop is harvested. Giving information about rainfall and other weather parameters can help in the better management of crops.

Dr Ganesan mentioned that there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of current agricultural practices. He opined that though the current output of Indian agriculture is double that of the US, still India is lagging. The problem lies that the pride of Indian agriculture is missing, and we are shedding tears on farmers earning less, but no one is talking about market access. This is where the need for better access is needed.

He cited examples of how Brazil has been the most successful country in the global export of agricultural products and has access to over 200 countries in the world. He talked about addressing the aspirations and reality in the agri sector. Farmers are the ones who know more than policy makers and agricultural institutions in India, as he mentioned.

All the panellists agreed upon the need for new tech innovations where farmers get the right information. How fast real-time data can be shared with farmers can bring in much-needed change in the agri-sector. The collaboration will help meet the aspirations of the farmers.

Panel discussion on Govt policies & Farmers’

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro Universities, Collaborations, Company News, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, R&D, Seeds

Key areas identified for joint projects included agro-chemicals, seeds, microbiome research, agro-machinery, farmer training and food processing.

The teams from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and UPL engaged in discussions to explore potential collaborations for technology development and its transfer to farmers’ fields. Key areas identified for joint projects included agro-chemicals, seeds, microbiome research, agro-machinery, farmer training, food processing, and more. It was also proposed that, to advance these collaborative efforts, the R&D team from UPL could visit ICAR-IARI for one-on-one discussions with the relevant research groups in the respective fields.

Dr C H Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, highlighted the research, education, and extension agenda of IARI and opportunities for collaborations in emerging research priorities. He also emphasised the placement opportunities for IARI students in agro-industries. Heads of divisions presented various research themes during the visit.

Key areas identified for joint projects included

Climate, Collaborations, Company News, Environment, Finance, Funding, Interaction, Microfinance, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy

In partnership with Gram Panchayat, UPL is developing a 11-acre pond in Talodra and a 2.5-acre pond in Dadheda village

UPL, as part its “Inclusive Development and Growth” thematic focus area, in partnership with Gram Panchayat, continues to strengthen its commitment to
sustainable development through impactful projects in Talodra and Dadheda villages in Gujarat. These initiatives focus on preserving natural resources while fostering community engagement. Under this initiative, UPL is developing a 11-acre pond in Talodra village to enhance rainwater conservation and promote sustainability. As part of this effort, a tree plantation drive was conducted along the pond’s boundary, with 100 trees planted to boost biodiversity and foster a greener ecosystem. The event was graced by Mr. Dhandhal, Additional Collector, Bharuch, Mr. R.D. Jadeja, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Bharuch, Ms. Meena, Range Forest Officer (Wildlife), Jhagadia, Mr. R. S. Rahaveer, Range Forest Officer (Social Forestry), Jhagadia, Mr Pravindan Gadhavi, Unit Head, UPL Jhagadia and Mr. Rishi Pathania, Vice President – CSR, UPL Ltd.

The pond is being transformed with walkways and seating, creating a space for both environmental and community benefit. Similarly, in Dadheda, UPL is developing a 2.5-acre pond to enhance water conservation and support sustainable development. The project includes deepening the pond to optimize rainwater harvesting, benefiting local agriculture and replenishing groundwater resources. To engage the community and highlight the importance of collective action in conserving natural resources, a friendly cricket match was organized to promote community engagement. The event brought together local teams in a
spirited competition and was attended by dignitaries such as Police Inspector Mr. Rathod, GIDC Police Station, and Mr. Aakash Vasava, Assistant Engineer, Notified Area Authority, GIDC Jhagadia, and Mr Pravindan Gadhavi, Unit Head, UPL Jhagadia.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Rishi Pathania, Vice President – CSR, UPL, said, “At UPL, our objective is to drive sustainable and positive change within society through responsible practices. Inclusive Development and Growth is at the heart of our community initiatives. By developing ponds, planting trees, and promoting ecological balance, we are committed to restoring natural resources and enhancing community well-being. These efforts empower rural communities to become stewards of their environment, aligning with our vision for a greener, more resilient future for all.”

Encouraging the localities, Mr. Dhandhal, Additional Collector, Bharuch, said, “The work being done by UPL in Dadheda and Talodra sets a great example of how public-private partnerships can address critical needs like water conservation and biodiversity. These initiatives will have a lasting impact on
both the environment and the well-being of the community.” In addition to these, UPL has made significant strides in protecting and restoring ecosystems through various conservation efforts. The Sarus Conservation Project has seen a remarkable 186% increase in the crane population, rising to 1,431 in 2023-24 from 500 in 2015-16. In 2023-24, over 132 vultures were documented in Khambhat, Gujarat. UPL has also planted over 2,10,255 trees in different areas of
Gujarat and 4.17 lakh mangrove saplings across 200 acres of the coastal belt in Vagra Taluka, Dahej, Gujarat. In the last five years, 20+ water conservation structures have been built, conserving approximately 24 lakh cubic meters of water. UPL has also established 125 eco-clubs in schools, involving over 5,400 members and sensitizing 17,000+ students to environmental protection. These efforts reflect UPL’s dedication to environment conservation and sustainable development, ensuring that communities thrive alongside a healthier ecosystem.

In partnership with Gram Panchayat, UPL is

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Collaborations, Company News, Dairy, India, Live Stock, Sustainability

Under the multi-phase, multi-year agreement, the company and CH4 Global will develop a comprehensive roadmap targeting key livestock markets in India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Agricultural solutions provider UPL Limited announced that company has signed a strategic partnership agreement with CH4 Global to distribute a methane-reducing feed supplement for cattle across major livestock markets. The multi-year collaboration will target India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, which collectively account for over 40 per cent of the global cattle population.

Methane Tamer, CH4 Globals flagship product innovation, is a stable, formulated cattle feed supplement based on whole Asparagopsis seaweed that has been shown in studies to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle by up to 90 per cent when used as recommended.

Under the multi-phase, multi-year agreement, the company and CH4 Global will develop a comprehensive roadmap targeting key livestock markets in India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The collaboration will establish specific business models to distribute CH4 Globals Methane Tamer cattle feed additive in each of these markets.

Jai Shroff, chairman and Group CEO, UPL, said, “Our OpenAg purpose places collaboration at the heart of progress, and through this partnership we aim to mark an important step in showing how agriculture can deliver on overall efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses. Methane is almost thirty times as harmful for global warming than CO2 and recent reports show the highest levels in 800,000 years, so its reduction must be our top priority. This initiative will present a new model for sustainable livestock which can be scaled globally, helping the industry reach net-zero for greenhouse gasses by adopting methane mitigation technologies, and demonstrating agricultures positive impact on the environment.”

Steve Meller, President and CEO of CH4 Global, said, “We are thrilled to join forces with a market leader like UPL to accelerate the global adoption of Methane Tamer. UPLs vast footprint across the key markets and its trusted relationships with farmers make them an ideal partner as we scale up to meet the massive need for enteric methane reduction solutions.”

Under the multi-phase, multi-year agreement, the company

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India, Speciality Chemicals

The Joint Venture company is expected to commence commercial supplies by Q1 FY 2026-27.

Agrochemical major and a leading player in the Indian specialty chemicals industry, UPL has announced that the company has entered into a 50%-50% joint venture (JV) partnership with Aarti Industries (AIL), a leading player in specialty chemical intermediates for manufacturing and marketing of specialty chemicals that find application in multiple downstream industries.

This arrangement is a first of its kind partnership between two large Indian companies to develop, manufacture and market the downstream and value-added chemical intermediates for global markets. This arrangement builds on the existing relationship of AIL and UPL that spans over two decades.

The JV shall engage in supply of downstream derivatives of amines that have diverse applications in agrochemicals and paint industries. The arrangement combines the strengths of the two partners, with AIL and UPL providing key raw materials for manufacturing the desired chemicals.

The JV company is expected to commence commercial supplies by Q1 FY 2026-27 with a peak annual revenue potential of Rs 400-500 crore in next 2-3 years.

Raj Tiwari, CEO of UPL Specialty Chemical Business, said, “This is a landmark deal among two Indian chemical powerhouses coming together to deliver innovative specialty chemicals to the world”.

This collaboration is in-line with our broader strategy of expanding into downstream derivatives of newer chemistries to spearhead the growth of specialty chemicals platform. This arrangement will leverage on long standing relationship between UPL and AIL and the manufacturing capabilities of the two companies.

UPL is mainly engaged in the agro business of production and sale of agrochemicals, field crops, vegetable seeds and non agro business of production and sale of industrial chemicals, chemical intermediates, speciality chemicals.

The Joint Venture company is expected to

Company News, People, World

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership in pre-harvest and post-harvest industries, business operations, sales, marketing, and delivering strategic projects at national, regional, and international levels

UPL Ltd. and DECCO WW, part of the UPL Group of companies, responsible for developing and distributing its portfolio of post-harvest solutions, announced the appointment of Manish Sirohi as the Chief Executive Officer of DECCO WW.

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership in pre-harvest and post-harvest industries, business operations, sales, marketing, and delivering strategic projects at national, regional, and international levels. Manish joined UPL in 2004 and has held various positions across different markets, most recently serving as Global Commercial Head of DECCO WW. In this role, Manish was instrumental in unleashing new business value and driving double-digit top-line and bottom-line growth in 2023 despite the challenging industry environment.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL said, “Post-harvest solutions are a core part of our business and a crucial component of our sustainable future. These solutions are not just about preserving foods; they’re about sustaining livelihoods, ensuring food security, and minimising waste in an increasingly demanding world with a rapidly growing population. Manish has an impressive 20-year history with UPL, and is the natural choice to lead DECCO WW into its new phase of growth to become the post-harvest global leader.”

Manish brings to the role extensive leadership

Company News, Fungicides, World

UPL to acquire Corteva Agriscience’s global mancozeb fungicide business outside of China, Japan, South Korea and EU member countries

UPL Ltd. the global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, announces the planned acquisition of Corteva Agriscience’s solo mancozeb global fungicide business outside of China, Japan, South Korea, and EU member countries.

The acquisition will give UPL ownership of Dithane, the original global mancozeb brand which has provided farmers with a reliable disease management solution, as well as access to Rainshield technology which enables crop protection in wet weather conditions.

Mancozeb is a highly effective protective fungicide used to prevent plant diseases across a range of crops, including rice, soybean, wheat, onions, potatoes, and other vegetables and fruits. Across the crop protection industry, mancozeb is also an increasingly important tool in managing fungicide resistance. UPL, the market leader in this technology, was instrumental in introducing mancozeb for soybean production in 2014, where it proved effective in controlling fungal diseases and boosting growth and yield.

Christina Coen, Chief Marketing Officer of UPL Corporation Ltd. said: “This acquisition is a meaningful milestone for UPL and for farmers, it strengthens our portfolio of solutions and leadership in the multisite fungicide market. We are committed to expanding our offering for plant disease management, and supporting farmers globally to achieve sustainable crop yields and enhanced food security outcomes.”

The acquisition is limited to Corteva’s solo formulations of mancozeb, with Corteva retaining ownership of premix formulations. The transaction is subject to customary approvals and is expected to conclude Q1 of FY24-25. This acquisition includes all data, registrations, trademarks for Corteva’s solo mancozeb products, and a license to the Rainshield technology but excludes manufacturing and formulation facilities.

UPL to acquire Corteva Agriscience's global mancozeb

Company News, Sustainability, World

UPL is the first agrochemical company included in the esteemed Dow Jones Sustainability World and Emerging Markets Indices

UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, announces its inclusion in both the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Emerging Markets Indices (DJSI).  These prestigious global indices are exclusive to the most outstanding companies in sustainability performance.

This inclusion is based on UPL’s outstanding performance in achieving the highest scores in the agrochemical sector in the S&P Global 2023 Corporate Sustainability Assessment, as announced in November.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is one of the globally renowned sustainability ratings for Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG). The DJSI World Index includes the top 10 per cent of major global companies by industry, reflecting their best practices in sustainable development. Similarly, the DJSI Emerging Markets Index recognises the top 10 per cent of the largest 800 emerging market companies, each selected for their exceptional ESG practices.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL Group, said: “We are so proud to be the first agrochemical company to be included in the DJSI World and Emerging Markets Indices. This milestone underlines our mission to reimagine sustainability and our ongoing journey towards a better future for our customers, our partners, our employees and the planet”. UPL’s excellent sustainability rating places the company among the top global performers. This recognition is a testament to UPL’s commitment to sustainable business practices, aligning with the best-in-class benchmarks for investors who prioritize long-term shareholder

UPL is the first agrochemical company included

Company News, Sustainability, World

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide

UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions has achieved a score of 76 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) powered by S&P Global Switzerland, outperforming the industry average of 24 and placing the company as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide.

This achievement demonstrates UPL’s continued commitment to sustainability and harnessing the decarbonisation potential of the agricultural industry. This year, the UN initiated SBTi and has validated and approved UPL’s Science Based Targets. Over the last 3 years, UPL has reduced its carbon emissions by 21 per cent, its water consumption by 40 per cent, and its waste levels by 57 per cent. UPL has also partnered with renewable energy companies to establish hybrid solar-wind energy power plants and increase its renewable energy usage to 30 per cent.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL Group, said: “As we advance our mission to Reimagining Sustainability for farmers and food systems, we are taking bold steps to reduce our environmental impact, strengthen our social responsibility initiatives, and improve our governance practices – and we are proud that DJSI has recognised this. We remain focused on breaking new ground for our industry and look forward to progressing our sustainability initiatives as we get closer to our 2040 carbon-neutral commitment.”

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Award, Company News, India, R&D

11 companies in India and one in Sri Lanka received awards for their consistent above-the-bar innovation performance.

Clarivate Plc, a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, announced the winners of South Asia Innovation Awards 2023 at its Innovation Forum held in Mumbai, India. 11 companies in India and one in Sri Lanka received awards for their consistent above-the-bar innovation performance.

The methodology used to select the top innovators in South Asia closely mirrors that of the annual Top 100 Global Innovators™ from Clarivate, which identifies organizations that sit at the very top of the global innovation ecosystem. The Top 100 Global Innovators uses a complete comparative analysis of global invention data to assess the strength of every patented idea, using measures tied directly to their innovative power. The report analyses data from the Derwent World Patents Index™ (DWPI™) and the Derwent Patents Citation Index™.

Nicholas Mason, Head of Intellectual Property markets, South Asia Pacific, Clarivate, said: “The winners of our South Asia Innovation Awards 2023 are transforming industries and creating a positive impact in society. South Asia is a populous region with great growth potential. We are committed to helping our customers in the region drive innovation by unlocking the full value of their intellectual property through our deep expertise, insights and solutions.”

“At UPL, we see innovation as a catalyst for driving real world impacts. We are delighted that our continued commitment to nurturing sustainable technological development and driving farmer-centric solutions has been recognised for the third time by the Clarivate South Asia Innovation Awards,” said Dr Vishal Sodha, Global IP Head, UPL Limited.

11 companies in India and one in

Agrotech, Biofuel industry, Company News, Environment, Sustainability, World

The search is on for AgTech Start-ups Advancing Natural and Biological Control Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems

UPL and Radicle Growth, have announced the Radicle Natural Plant Protection (NPP) Challenge by UPL. The Challenge sets out to invest $1.75M in start-up companies that are advancing natural and biological solutions to protect crops from biotic stresses such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects, arachnids, and weeds and follows ‘The Radicle Carbon and Soil Challenge by UPL’ which saw $1.25 million invested in early-stage companies in 2022.

NPP is a business unit of UPL, offering growers an extensive portfolio of natural solutions to increase crop resilience and protection, improve nutrition, and support soil health. Over the past decade, there has been a growing demand for natural solutions as an alternative or complement to synthetic chemistries as means of protecting crops whilst safeguarding the environment.

Mike Frank, CEO of UPL Corporation Ltd. Said, “Amidst the multitude of challenges facing farmers and food systems, natural solutions are critical to advancing agriculture in a way that delivers prosperity for growers, consumers, and the environment. Guided by our OpenAg purpose, we’re thrilled to be working with Radicle Growth to seek out start-ups that are pioneering the next generation of game-changing solutions. We invite entrepreneurs who share our aspirations to apply and join our journey to Reimagine Sustainability.”

Kirk Haney, Managing Partner, Radicle Growth, said, “Feeding our growing population is of utmost importance. We recognise that to transform our agriculture system and advance sustainable solutions in the food value chain, we need to find new technologies that are working on natural and biological control solutions. We are excited to work collaboratively with UPL to find and fund the best entrepreneurs worldwide who are solving these issues.”

A $1 million investment will be made in The Challenge winner and a $750,000 investment in the second-place winner in order to accelerate their growth. Apply now at https://radicle.vc/upl-npp/

Investment decisions will be made during a ‘Pitch Day’ in March 2024. A judging panel of industry experts will hear from 4-6 finalists who will be chosen from the global applicant pool. In addition to the funding, the winners will also get access to advice from both UPL and Radicle senior executives to help accelerate their company’s business and technical efforts.

The search is on for AgTech Start-ups

Company News, Foodgrains, India, Sustainability

UPL will supply technical expertise and selected agriculture inputs, while the Republic of Guyana will provide a suitable land parcel of 200 acres

UPL, a leading provider of Sustainable Agriculture Solutions, announced a collaboration with the Republic of Guyana to establish a 200-acre ‘Millets Model Farm’.  Jai Shroff, Group CEO of UPL group and Zulfikar Mustafa, Agriculture Minister of the Republic of Guyana, signed an MOU in Georgetown, Guyana with an aim to assess the adaptation of various millet varieties for growing and consuming in Guyana.  The signing of the MoU coincided with the visit of an Indian delegation to Guyana led by S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

In this partnership, UPL will supply technical expertise and selected agriculture inputs, while the Republic of Guyana will provide a suitable land parcel of 200 acres in Guyana and local farm operations will be done by the Republic of Guyana. 

Millets, also known as super food, are climate-smart, sustainable, rich in heritage, and highly nutritious food resources. In comparison with rice, millet production requires half of the water per acre as compared with rice, making it a water conservation crop that can also withstand other climatic conditions like droughts, floods, heat stress, erratic rainfalls, etc., than other crops, saving food loss, enhancing small farmers resilience.  

Sagar Kaushik, President, Global Corporate & Industry Affairs from UPL, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Republic of Guyana as the first country in Latin America to explore millet cultivation potential in Guyana, which will also benefit Small Holding Farmers.”

Explaining the initiatives further, Kaushik Said, said, “UPL is paving the path for millet cultivation and making important strides toward its vision of a food-secure world through this collaboration. This is a win-win situation for both Guyana and UPL. UPL’s expertise and technical know-how will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of this initiative, which can provide a sustainable livelihood to smallholding farmers globally.”

UPL will supply technical expertise and selected

Company News, Foodgrains, Sustainability, World

A dedicated food security programme for producing and importing countries in Africa, India, and Latin America

UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions will support a renewed commitment to strengthening developing world food production, storage, and supply chains with a ‘food security’ programme.

The agreement was reached at the inaugural Earthna Summit in Doha, Qatar, with the governments of Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia alongside the Commonwealth Secretariat. The sessions were also attended by representatives from Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, AGRA, United Nations Development Programme, CGIAR, Chatham House, EMBRAPA, and the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak.

The Summit aimed to build new sustainability pathways for hot and arid environments as part of global efforts to address the moderate or severe food insecurity faced by one-in-four people globally. The summit sought to align South-South efforts and create a dedicated food security programme for producing and importing countries in Africa, India, and Latin America.

UPL contributed to the creation of this ‘food security’ programme through the open plenary session and closed-door technical discussions, in which experts agreed to explore a new working methodology for food security. This included ensuring the development of farmer resilience, capacity building and creating demonstration plots for climate-resilient crops.

Jai Shroff, Group CEO of UPL Ltd., said, “Our contention is clear: no one has food security until everyone has food security. And the key to security is farmer resilience. The results of our discussions in Doha show that there is a new urgency to address food security and new energy among developing world nations to agree on approaches that will deliver real results. We look forward to announcing our roadmap with Earthna and to developing initial projects across Africa as part of our Reimagining Sustainability mission and OpenAg commitment to collaboration.”

Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earth, said, “It is essential that the global community works together to encourage and enable self-sufficiency at national and international levels. I am delighted that at the Earthna Summit 2023, heads of state, QF’s Earthna and other partners have come together and committed to a new collaborative approach to enhance food security. I am confident that this programme will lead to lasting and impactful action, and make a significant contribution to these countries’ fight against climate change.”

A technical white paper will be prepared for the launch of pilot programmes in Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia.

A dedicated food security programme for producing

Company News, Environment, India, Nature, People

Symposium held to create awareness on occupational health situations in Agriculture.

UPL, one of the Global Agriculture industry leaders, in association with AIIMS, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Rajkot along with local Associations of Physicians had organised symposiums to train doctors on Toxicology emergency management. The symposium themed ‘Occupational Health- Agriculture’, aimed at spreading awareness among medical healthcare professionals about occupational health-related hazards in agriculture. It further intended to directly communicate the message to the medical fraternity, especially doctors from primary healthcare centres and district medical hospitals, about the right protocol of diagnosis and treatment whenever required. Over 1200 doctors have been trained so far through these symposiums.

Recently, the symposium was held in association with PDU Medical College, Rajkot and the Association of Physicians of India, with the theme of ‘Occupational Health- Agriculture’.

Speaking at the occasion, HC Kyada, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, PDU Medical College, Rajkot said, “Doctors at Primary level need to differentiate snake bites and other exposures including pesticides for adoption of the required treatment protocol. Most common poisonous cases are cobra bites, snake bite, ecstasy, dhatura, bhang etc. overdose. Different exposures need to be identified for adopting specific treatment protocols. A collaborative effort, in association with a prestigious institution like AIIMS, along with a trained workforce of doctors and health professionals, will certainly go a long way to bring best practices to the medical fraternity, especially working in rural areas.” 

Sagar Kaushik, President, Global Corporate and Industry Affairs, UPL said, “The crop protection industry has introduced environment-friendly crop protection products, including biologicals for pest control and plant health. Also, the expansion of Adarsh Farm Services (AFS) with mechanised machines by UPL has substantially reduced spraying exposure, for spraying workers and farmers, to almost zero levels in the last five to six years. UPL will organise such symposiums nationwide to bring awareness for the safe use of agrochemicals with support from its state medical fraternity”

Poisoning is a significant global public health hazard. The incidence of poisoning in India is among the highest in the world. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people die every year from toxic exposure. Poisoning happens due to several reasons including snakebites, occupational hazards at workplaces such as agriculture. According to a recent study, India accounts for almost 80 per cent of global snakebite deaths. In such situations, it is critical that local PHCs and Doctors are equipped and trained to deal with such toxic emergencies.

The symposium addressed key issues and approaches to toxicology emergencies at PHC and tertiary care hospitals, Pesticides and their medical management, Preventive aspects of toxic emergencies, Initiative from UPL for a safe and preventive approach to pesticide use especially with their Adarsh Farm Services with 3000 mechanised Spraying Machines for the farmers, Pesticide regulations in India, Medico legal aspects of toxic emergencies and more.

Symposium held to create awareness on occupational