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HomePosts Tagged "USA"
Horticulture, Supply Chain, Trade

The container was flagged off by Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA at MSAMB’s Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi

INI Farms, India’s leading F&V exporter flagged off the first container of ‘Kimaye’ pomegranates to the USA. This is a groundbreaking development for Indian F&V exports as it marks the start of fruit exports to the USA via the sea route. Travelling nearly 20,000 km, this is the longest distance travelled by any Indian fruit in the world!

The outcome is the result of more than year-long joint efforts of APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry – GOI, Ministry of Agriculture Govt of Maharashtra, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), United States Department of Agriculture APHIS (USDA APHIS), NPPO, Pomegranate National Research Center and INI Farms. This encompassed various initiatives from farm registrations, training & monitoring, air shipment trials, development of sea protocol, static trials for shelf life extension and post-harvest treatment.    

The container was flagged off by Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA at MSAMB’s Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi (Navi Mumbai). The event was graced by dignitaries from MSAMB, Regional Plant Quarantine Station (RPQS – MoA&FW), US Consulate and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), APEDA and NRC Solapur. The consignment of 4200 boxes (12.6 tons) of ‘Kimaye’ pomegranates is set to sail to delight customers in the US

Today, India is the world’s largest producer of pomegranates, with over 2,75,500 hectares of land under cultivation. During the fiscal year 2022-23, the country exported over 60,000 metric tonnes of pomegranates to countries like UAE, the Netherlands, Oman, Bahrain and others. The successful export of pomegranates to the USA opens up a new opportunity for Indian pomegranate farmers and exporters and will open doors to other long-distance markets like Australia.

The container was flagged off by Rajesh

Acquaculture, Live Stock, World

China’s slow economic recovery impacting fishmeal and fish oil consumption

Cumulative total fishmeal production during the first ten months of 2023 was down by approximately 22 per cent compared to the cumulative production reported through October 2022, according to the IFFO reports. The predominant factor contributing to this decline must be attributed to the 60 per cent year-on-year decrease in Peru, whose activities were heavily affected by the El Niño phenomenon and the subsequent cancellation of the April-June first fishing season of the year.

As for fish oil, the total cumulative output in the first 10 months of 2023 was 20 per cent down year on year. The supply shortage in Peru (due to both fewer landings and lower oil yields) was here again the main cause for such negative performance. Chile remained the only country that registered a positive change year on year thanks to improved catches and higher-than-average oil yields in the South of the country.

The above figures are based on a list of countries considered in the IFFO reports – Peru, Chile, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, UK, Ireland, Faroe Islands, USA, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Mauritius and Spain

In Peru, around 66 per cent of the second fishing season’s quota had been landed in the north centre of the country. The early start of the second fishing season in the North-Centre of Peru, which took place in October and is usually scheduled in November, explains larger catches of small pelagics than usual when we compare October 2023 with October 2022.

In the USA, the menhaden fishing season officially ended in November. The new fishing season will resume in May 2024.

China’s slow economic recovery impacting fishmeal and fish oil consumption.

China’s domestic production of fishmeal and fish oil in quarter IV 2023 might exceed that reported in quarter IV 2022. Despite this, local fishmeal producers are encountering difficulties in selling their products due to a poorer demand and the abundance of standard quality fishmeal. As a result, the inventory of domestic fishmeal appears higher than it was a year ago. Cumulative imports of fishmeal from January to November have declined by 9.4 per cent year on year, in line with the weaker domestic demand from both aqua- and piglet feed producers and the reduced Peruvian supply.

China’s 2023 fishmeal consumption in aquaculture is not expected to surpass that of 2022, although a rebound in the global supply of marine ingredients might open new scenarios. Similarly, the pig sector is grappling with subdued prices, hovering around a low point. The anticipated higher seasonal demand for the period November-February has yet to materialise. At this point, farmers are banking on improvements in the second half of 2024.

China’s slow economic recovery impacting fishmeal and

Live Stock, Supply Chain, Trade

Bangladesh imported meat from 14 countries, with India being the largest source

The India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) has requested the government to allow buffalo meat import from India to meet the growing demand of the country, according to the local media.

Abdul Matlub Ahmad, IBCCI President has recently requested authorisation from the commerce ministry for the importation of frozen halal meat. In a letter, he stated that some members of the organisation are interested in importing the meat from India and have already applied for permission from the Directorate of Livestock under Section 23(33) of the Import Policy Order 2021-2024. Ahmad explained that the demand for meat products in Bangladesh has been rising steadily due to population growth and changing dietary preferences. He also noted that India has a reputable meat industry that adheres to international standards of halal food, hygiene, safety, and quality control. The chamber estimates that importing frozen halal boneless buffalo meat from India could result in a lower selling price of Tk 500-550 per kg compared to the current cost of local fresh meat at Tk 800-850 per kg. 

According to the Import Policy-2021-24 notification that was issued in April 2022 by the commerce ministry, prior approval has to be taken from the Department of Livestock for the import of meat including frozen buffalo (bovine) meat, said an earlier letter sent by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. 

The country produced over 8.71 million tonnes of meat in the FY 2022-23 against an annual demand of nearly 7.6 million tonnes, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).

According to a Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) concept paper, meat import increased four times in five years – from US$ 0.72 million in FY 2013-14 to nearly US$ 2.5 million in FY 2017-18.

Bangladesh imported meat from 14 countries, with India being the largest source.

Other countries included Ethiopia, France, Korea, Thailand, China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the USA, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Bangladesh imported meat from 14 countries, with

AgroPolicy, Biofuel industry, India

India’s Biofuel Standards Offer Significant Support to Industry

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India commits to complement the green initiatives of the country through the development of relevant standards. Through an official release, BIS also announced that the Indian Standards will significantly complement the objectives of the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), the multilateral forum announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 leaders’ summit held recently in New Delhi.

The BIS release also quoted the Director General, of BIS, Pramod Kumar Tiwari who said, “The announcement of Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit is a historic development in global efforts towards achieving clean energy goals. We, at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), being the National Standards Body of India, are committed to supporting this path-breaking initiative of the Government of India through the development of relevant Indian Standards and necessary quality parameters/performance specifications.”

The release also highlighted the key standards that would aid stakeholders including manufacturers, traders, and other entities dealing with biofuel or related matters. The release stated that espousing the ethanol blending program and the objectives of the GBA, BIS has developed the following nine Indian standards on biofuels:

IS 15464: 2022 Anhydrous Ethanol for Use as Blending Component in Motor Gasoline – Specification

IS 15607: 2022 Biodiesel B-100 – Fatty Acid Methyl Esters FAME – Specification

IS 16087: 2016 Biogas (Biomethane) – Specification (First Revision)

IS 16531: 2022 Biodiesel Diesel Fuel Blend B8 to B20 Specification

IS 16629: 2017 Hydrous ethanol for use in ED95 automotive fuel – Specification

IS 16634: 2017 E85 fuel (Blend Of Anhydrous Ethanol And Gasoline) – Specification

IS 17021: 2018 E 20 fuel – Admixture of anhydrous ethanol and gasoline – As fuel for spark-ignited engine-powered vehicles – Specification

IS 17081: 2019 Aviation turbine fuel (Kerosene Type, Jet A – 1) containing synthesized hydrocarbons – Specification

IS 17821: 2022 Ethanol as a Fuel for Use in Positive Ignition Engine Powered Vehicles – Specification

It is also informed by BIS that additionally, the development of a standard on paraffinic (green) diesel, which is derived from 2G feedstock, is also under progress. With the help of these set of standards, BIS believes, that increased capacity of biofuel production can be achieved and will provide multipronged benefits. It was also added that ‘it will not only help in meeting the target of net zero by 2070 and 50 per cent energy through renewable sources, but will also contribute in achieving several other objectives such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Waste to Wealth, and increasing farmers’ income to name a few.

Notably, during the 18th G20 Summit under the presidency of India at New Delhi, the G20 leaders launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) – a forum of 30 countries and international institutions to facilitate the adoption of biofuels.  GBA is an India-led initiative towards the goal of sustainability and clean energy. It aims at achieving worldwide development and deployment of sustainable biofuels through the formulation of national policy, development of the marketplace, evolution of technological competency, and adoption and implementation of internationally recognized standards and codes of practice.

Reportedly, the USA, Brazil, and India are the major producers and consumers of biofuels. These three countries collectively contribute to 85 per cent production and 81 per cent consumption of ethanol globally. The global ethanol market was valued at $ 99 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 5 per cent by 2032, creating a huge opportunity for Indian industries and contributing to farmers’ income, job creation and overall development of the Indian ecosystem.

It was estimated that currently, about 98 per cent of the fuel requirement in India for the transportation sector is met by fossil fuels and the remaining 2 per cent by biofuels. India’s import of petroleum in 2020-2021 cost about 55 billion dollars to the exchequer. More recently, the Russia-Ukraine war has spiked global oil prices and the import of oil and gas with inflated prices has further burdened the Indian economy. Blending of ethanol up to 20 per cent with gasoline will lead to savings of around $4 billion.

Hence, Indian Oil Manufacturing Companies (OMCs) are working towards provisioning new distilleries for the production of 1G and 2G ethanol and Indian vehicle manufacturers are developing engines compliant with ethanol-blended fuel. The government has also started an interest subvention scheme for molasses and grain-based distilleries to promote ethanol production. It is also foreseen that flex-fuel vehicles, which are capable of utilising ethanol-blended gasoline up to 85 per cent and are already operational in the USA and Brazil, are soon to make an entry in India.

India’s Biofuel Standards Offer Significant Support to

Agro chems – Chemicals, India, Supply Chain, Trade

IFFCO & Kapoor Enterprises Inc, California has signed an agreement in regards to exporting nano urea to the USA

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) announced that the company has signed an agreement with Kapoor Enterprises Inc for the export of nano liquid urea to the US. Kapoor Enterprises is based in California.

According to the statement, IFFCO has started exporting the world’s 1st Nano Urea invented & manufactured indigenously in India by IFFCO to the USA. IFFCO & Kapoor Enterprises Inc, California has signed an agreement in regards to exporting nano urea to the USA.

IFFCO exports more than 5 lakh bottles of nano-liquid urea to more than 25 countries.

In June 2021, IFFCO launched the world’s first nano urea fertiliser, while nano DAP in April this year.

A 500 ml bottle of IFFCO nano urea liquid will replace at least one bag of conventional Urea. The bottle can significantly bring down the cost of logistics and warehousing. IFFCO has already sold more than 5.7 Crore bottles of the nano urea liquid in India since its commercial rollout. Both Nano Urea and Nano DAP are game-changing innovations in the agriculture sector.

IFFCO & Kapoor Enterprises Inc, California has

Climate, Company News, Dairy, Environment, Live Stock, North America, Poultry, Sustainability

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork by JBS alone causes emissions equivalent to 14 million gas-powered vehicles on the road each year

JBS Foods, the giant global meat producer, ranks highest in Greenhouse Gas emissions in World Animal Protection’s new Factory Farming Climate Culprits Scorecard.

The scorecard ranks the world’s top five factory farming giants based on the total emissions released from their chicken and pig production, which combined slaughter 11.5 billion chickens and 150 million pigs every year. Factory farming is an often-overlooked climate culprit, with the world’s five biggest factory farming companies responsible for emissions equivalent to 36.4 million cars on the road annually.

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork by JBS alone causes emissions equivalent to 14 million gas-powered vehicles on the road each year – more than all the cars in New York City. In 2023, the National Advertising Division of the US Better Business Bureau concluded that JBS should discontinue its claims of achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040 because there was no indication that the company is currently implementing any plans to achieve net zero.

JBS has been linked to multiple instances of illegal deforestation in Brazil, destroying wildlife habitats and ecosystems to source corn and soy for animal feed. The company’s current policy allows illegal deforestation of the Amazon region until 2025 and legal deforestation globally for a further ten years.

Annette Manusevich, Farming Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, US, states, “This scorecard highlights the immense impact a handful of factory-farmed meat producers have on the climate. Companies like JBS are some of the largest contributors to the climate crisis, yet they are rarely held accountable. Animals are suffering extreme cruelty in factory farms, and our environment cannot sustain the unchecked expansion of mega meat producers. This scorecard adds to the mounting evidence that factory farming is not compatible with a climate-safe future.”

Lindsay Oliver, Executive Director, of World Animal Protection US, states, “JBS is responsible for unspeakable cruelty and the slaughter of billions of thinking, feeling animals each year and is the worst contributor of factory farming greenhouse gas emissions. This scorecard further exemplifies the corruption on which JBS is built and the exploitation of both animals and humans on which it profits.”

The scorecard builds on data from World Animal Protection’s Climate Change and Cruelty report, which captured the environmental and climate change impacts of farming chickens and pigs in the world’s four biggest factory farming hot spots – Brazil, China, the USA, and the Netherlands.

The production of factory-farmed chickens and pork

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agro Universities, Agrotech, Award, R&D


Won the third prize and US $1000 for developing a cost-effective bio-insecticide from the leaves of bullock’s heart at International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, USA


Sarvesh Prabhu, a 17-year-old research intern at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), represented India at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, USA and won the third prize and US $1000 in the biochemistry category for developing a cost-effective bio-insecticide from the leaves of bullock’s heart (Annona reticulata) popularly known as ramphal.

The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, also awarded him the first prize and Rs100,000 (US $1224) as part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Innovation Award for School Children.

The high school student from FIITJEE Junior College, Hyderabad, conducted research experiments at the entomology unit at ICRISAT headquarters in India early this year, and the outcome of his research was presented at the world’s largest pre-college science fair in Atlanta, USA.

The project titled, ‘A novel study of bio-insecticidal properties of Annona reticulata’ showcased the bio-insecticidal properties of the leaves of the plant. Traditionally, the extracts of various parts of this plant have been used to treat diseases like dysentery and pediculosis. The study revealed that extracts from its leaves could be effective against three disastrous pests, with the mortality rate ranging from 78-88 per cent.

ICRISAT’s Deputy Director General-Research Dr Arvind Kumar said, “The Institute encourages participation of youth in agricultural research and has nurtured over 7000 interns and research scholars since its establishment by offering them access to world-class facilities and multidisciplinary mentoring.”

“ICRISAT always looks forward to mentoring young researchers like Sarvesh Prabhu and supporting them in their endeavors for building a sustainable food system for the future generation,” said Dr Sean Mayes, Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT.

Addressing the pest problem

Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) alone may cause losses of more than US $300 million annually. Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) causes 38-42 per cent yield loss in various crops and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) causes 21-53 per cent losses in the absence of pest management. These are the most common pests found in legumes and cereal crops.

“We maintain five insect cultures throughout the year, making it a one-of-its-kind research facility in India and supporting/providing insect cultures to many Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, state agricultural universities, and private companies for their research activities on toxicology and host plant resistance,” said Dr Jagdish Jaba, Scientist- Entomology, Crop Protection and Seed Health, ICRISAT.

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Won the third prize and US $1000

Agrotech, Company News, North America, R&D, World

Sentera, a Minnesota, USA-based ag analytics platform powered by machine learning, has announced the launch of its Direct Georeferencing (DGR) System, which quickly connects to an ag drone to add high-precision location certainty to high-resolution aerial imagery.

“Drones have transformed data collection processes for agriculture,” said Ryan Nelson, chief mechanical engineer, Sentera. “With the DGR, we’re taking it one step further by eliminating inefficiencies so our customers can deliver insights faster.”

The Sentera DGR System features a tactical-grade inertial measurement unit (IMU) and RTK GPS that tightly integrates with a sensor, like Sentera’s 6X Multispectral or 6X Thermal. DGR-enabled products quickly connect with compatible drones, including the DJI Matrice 300 and several MAVLINK-based platforms.

The DGR System adds high-precision geolocation information in real time, which means fewer images are required to cover the same area. As a result, users can eliminate the need for the orthomosaic stitching process. In real-world use, drone flight times decrease by up to 60 per cent, and the time to move from collection to analysis can be reduced by up to 8x.

“Many times, image stitching is just a necessary evil to assemble the data that produces a crop insight,” said Nelson. “With the DGR System, this process is eliminated – completely transforming how fast we can deliver data.”

Because image stitching is no longer required to precisely geolocate data, many analysis workflows can be accomplished right at the field edge. Where cloud-based processing is preferred, the DGR System’s dramatic reduction in data volume accelerates production rates versus current techniques.

“Efficiency in the field allows our customers to spend their time where it matters most – analysing key crop health and performance measurements to validate outcomes and performance,” said Nelson.

Sentera, a Minnesota, USA-based ag analytics platform

Company News, Environment, North America, Sustainability

Bayer has recently launched ‘ForGround’, a farmer-first digital platform in the United States which promises to transform the way farms of all sizes can more easily make the transition to sustainable agricultural practices. ForGround offers tools, resources, and discounts to advance the adoption of climate smart practices that can transform value chains.
Potential benefits from transitioning to regenerative agriculture includes: 

  • Improved soil health
  • Reduced water uses
  • Fewer inputs 
  • Increased weather resiliency
  • Less soil erosion

The platform is built on Bayer’s years of experience and knowledge in this area to leverage digital infrastructure which allows companies to create, manage and track progress, taking advantage of Bayer’s Climate FieldView™ Platform footprint and data capabilities. It enables farmers to participate in this increasingly transparent supply chain where consumers are interested in knowing how their food is produced.
“As a global leader in agriculture, Bayer is uniquely positioned to help drive lasting change by working directly with farmers and businesses through leveraging our global scale to reduce our impact on the planet and support farms for generations to come”, said Leo Bastos, Head of Global Commercial Ecosystems, Bayer CropScience.

Bayer has recently launched ‘ForGround’, a farmer-first

Environment, Pulses

USA Dry Pea Lentil Council hopes for improved talks on India tariffs to continue the pulse trade with India.

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council (USADPLC), the highest quality producer of lentils, dry peas, and chickpeas for national and international markets, has exuberantly laid out a vision for a healthy and viable 2022. As per the USADPLC, the year 2022 glances over sustainable development goals, including good health and well-being. In addition to the objective of a sustainable year, USA Dry Pea Lentil Council hopes for improved talks on India tariffs to continue the pulse trade with India.

Speaking about the prospects for 2022, Sachin Khurana, India Representative, USADPLC, said, “India is an extremely crucial market for our exporters. We remain hopeful that the trade barriers will be resolved in 2022, and the pulses trade relation between India and the US will return to normalcy. Also, in 2022, we will continue to strengthen our sustainability story and educate Indian importers, traders, and consumers about the benefits of sustainable commodity – Pulses.”

Khurana added, “In 2022, USADPLC is also aiming to focus on ‘Standard for Quality’ – an initiative to highlight the quality and premium standard of US Pulses. Through this campaign, we aim to engage with retailers and spread awareness amongst consumers about the superior quality of US Pulses.” 

USA Dry Pea Lentil Council hopes for