https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/country/india india https://agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/118/4550/food-manufacturers-chase-ai-gains-but-data-remains-the-missing-link.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/118/4550/food-manufacturers-chase-ai-gains-but-data-remains-the-missing-link.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:50:03 +0530 For years, artificial intelligence in the food and beverage industry has carried an almost ornamental aura—full of promise, possibility and, often, more excitement than real-world impact. That is beginning to change. In this exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Michael Guantiero, Vice President and Head, Solution Consulting – Asia Pacific, Japan and India, looks at how AI is gradually finding its way from boardroom conversations and pilot projects into the everyday workings of food businesses. The discussion moves beyond the noise around generative AI to ask a more practical question: can technology actually help companies cut waste, improve efficiency and navigate an increasingly unpredictable marketplace? Guantiero’s answer comes with an important caveat—AI is only as useful as the data, systems and people behind it. As the industry looks towards 2030, the real winners may not be those chasing the most sophisticated technology, but those quietly building smarter, more connected and more responsive businesses. Food and beverage manufacturers have spent the last few years experimenting with AI. Are we now entering the era where AI is becoming a boardroom investment decision rather than an innovation initiative? What signals convince you that the industry has reached this inflection point ? We are seeing AI move from experimentation to becoming a boardroom priority. Over the past few years, many food and beverage manufacturers explored AI through pilots. Today, the conversation is centred on measurable business outcomes. Rising input costs, supply chain disruption, labour shortages, evolving consumer demand and increasing sustainability expectations have made AI a strategic investment rather than an innovation initiative. The clearest signal is that business leaders are no longer asking, "How do we use AI?" but "Where can AI deliver the greatest operational impact?" Success is increasingly measured through improvements in production efficiency, demand forecasting, yield optimisation, waste reduction and supply chain resilience. At Infor, we see this reflected in customer outcomes. More than 1,000 food and beverage companies run on Infor, with customers achieving up to 30 per cent faster time to market for new products, €500K in annual savings through improved yield and significantly faster AI-driven product and pricing recommendations. These are tangible operational and commercial gains that demonstrate why AI is now being evaluated on measurable business impact rather than technical potential. For food and beverage manufacturers, the real value comes when AI is embedded into the operational systems that manage production, quality, inventory and distribution. Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage and Infor Velocity Suite, enables organisations to combine industry-specific AI, automation and process intelligence to improve operational performance while addressing the unique requirements of sectors such as dairy, bakery, meat processing and beverages. The industry has reached an inflection point because organisations now have the evidence to treat AI as a business investment with measurable financial and operational returns, rather than simply an innovation initiative. Many manufacturers still operate on decades-old ERP systems that were never designed for AI-driven decision-making. In your experience, what is the biggest misconception companies have about digital transformation, and why do so many modernization programs fail to deliver the expected business value? The biggest misconception is that digital transformation is simply a technology replacement exercise. Replacing an ERP system alone does not create business value. Successful transformation starts by identifying the business outcomes an organisation wants to achieve and then aligning technology to those priorities. Many programmes fall short because organisations focus on deploying new technology rather than improving business performance. At Infor, we believe the process should begin with understanding what the business needs to do faster or better, defining measurable outcomes, and then building a roadmap around those priorities. For food and beverage manufacturers, industry context is equally important. A bakery, dairy processor or beverage manufacturer all operate differently, and those processes need to be reflected in the ERP, data model and AI capabilities from the outset. Hence, our industry-specific CloudSuites are designed around the operational realities of each sector, helping organisations modernise faster while delivering measurable business value. Generative AI has dominated headlines, but factory floors depend equally on predictive analytics, automation, IoT and machine learning. Which of these technologies do you believe will create the greatest competitive advantage for food manufacturers over the next five years, and why? While Generative AI has captured the spotlight, the greatest competitive advantage will not come from any single technology. Over the next five years, food manufacturers will differentiate themselves by combining predictive analytics, machine learning, IoT, automation and Generative AI within industry-specific operational workflows. Each technology contributes a different layer of intelligence. IoT and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) provide real-time visibility into production, equipment and quality, while predictive analytics and machine learning help improve forecast accuracy, optimise production schedules, manage raw material variability, increase yield and reduce waste. Generative AI builds on these capabilities by making insights easier to access and act upon, enabling employees to interact with enterprise systems using natural language, accelerate product innovation and optimise recipes and formulations. The real opportunity lies in embedding these capabilities into the day-to-day flow of work rather than treating them as standalone technologies.  Manufacturers that connect data across the value chain and combine AI with automation and advanced analytics will be better positioned to improve productivity, resilience and innovation. Ultimately, competitive advantage will not come from having the latest AI model; it will come from applying AI with industry context. Manufacturers that can connect data across the value chain and turn real-time insights into operational decisions will be better positioned to innovate faster, reduce costs and build more resilient, profitable businesses. The food industry operates on extremely thin margins while facing rising input costs, labour shortages and increasing sustainability pressures. Can AI realistically solve these structural challenges, or is there a risk that companies are overestimating what technology alone can achieve? AI is not a silver bullet for the structural challenges facing the food industry and there is certainly a risk of overestimating what technology alone can achieve. Rising input costs, labour shortages and climate-driven supply chain disruptions are complex issues that require a combination of business strategy, operational excellence and workforce transformation. AI can support these efforts, but it cannot replace them. Where AI delivers the best value is by helping manufacturers make faster, more informed decisions in the face of these challenges. It can improve demand forecasting, optimise production schedules, reduce waste by managing raw material variability, enhance yield, strengthen inventory planning and identify inefficiencies before they impact operations. These capabilities help manufacturers protect margins, improve resilience and make better use of limited resources. The greatest value comes when AI is applied to real operational challenges using trusted data and industry-specific processes. When manufacturers integrate AI into planning, production and supply chain decision-making, they are better equipped to respond to volatility while maintaining quality, regulatory compliance and sustainability goals. One of AI's greatest promises is real-time decision intelligence across procurement, production, inventory and distribution. What are the most compelling examples you've seen where AI has translated directly into measurable gains in productivity, waste reduction or profitability? One of the strongest examples is production and yield optimisation. By combining machine learning with production and quality data, manufacturers can better manage raw material variability, optimise recipes, improve yields and reduce waste all while maintaining food safety and compliance. Another is supplying chain planning, where AI improves demand forecasting and inventory decisions by helping manufacturers respond more quickly to changing demand, optimise stock levels and strengthen end-to-end traceability. This enables better service levels while reducing excess inventory and waste. We are also seeing measurable gains through process automation and real-time decision intelligence. Infor Velocity Suite, organisations can combine AI agents, process mining and automation to streamline routine processes, accelerate decision-making and improve operational efficiency. The impact is already measurable: for example, Frontier Co-op reduced reporting time by more than 95 per cent, giving leaders faster access to real-time business insights and enabling quicker decisions. Whether it is improving yield, reducing waste, accelerating decision-making or strengthening supply chain performance, the organisations seeing the greatest success are those applying AI to high-value business processes where the return on investment can be clearly measured. Asia-Pacific is an incredibly diverse manufacturing landscape, ranging from digitally mature multinational enterprises to family-owned processors beginning their transformation journey. How should organisations calibrate their AI strategies to match their digital maturity rather than simply chasing the latest technology trends? The single biggest strategic mistake I see is a company benchmarking its AI ambitions against a peer at a completely different stage of maturity. A digitally mature multinational and a family-owned processor starting their cloud journey should not be running the same playbook, even if they are competing in the same category. The right starting point is not "what is the latest AI capability" it is  an honest assessment of your data and process foundation. If you do not yet have clean, trusted, real-time data flowing from your core operations, deploying an advanced AI agent on top of that foundation just automates bad decisions faster. That is not transformation, that is amplified risk. For organisations earlier in their journey, the highest-value first move is usually foundational: establishing a trusted cloud-based system of record that connects core ERP and operational data. Once that foundation is in place, organisations are in a much stronger position to scale AI and automation with confidence. For more digitally mature organisations, the conversation shifts to orchestration: how do you combine multiple proven use cases and let them compound, rather than deploying AI point solutions in isolation? The most successful organisations do not chase technology trends; they align AI investments with their digital maturity and business priorities. A well-executed, "boring" data foundation project will outperform an ambitious AI pilot built on shaky ground every time. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in enterprise operations, concerns around data quality, cybersecurity, governance and workforce readiness are growing just as quickly. Which of these do you see as the biggest barrier to enterprise-scale AI adoption, and how should business leaders address it ? Data quality and context, without question. It is not just about having clean data; it is about ensuring the data accurately reflects the way a business operates. AI is only as effective as the operational context it is built on. Many organisations invest significant time and resources in building clean, consolidated data platforms, only to discover that the data lacks the industry-specific context needed to generate meaningful insights. The operational challenges of a food and beverage manufacturer, for example, are fundamentally different from those of a hospital or an industrial manufacturer. Clean data without business context still cannot power good AI decisions, and retrofitting that context later is often a costly and time-consuming exercise. Cybersecurity and governance are equally important, particularly as AI evolves from generating recommendations to taking autonomous actions through agentic AI. As organisations deploy more AI agents, strong governance becomes essential to ensure they operate on trusted data, follow clearly defined policies and remain transparent and accountable. That means establishing governance from the outset through role-based access controls, explainable decision-making, clear data ownership and strong security policies. The organisations that scale AI successfully are the ones that invest in the foundations first. Trusted, contextual and well-governed data should come before ambitious AI initiatives. While AI applications often attract the most attention, it is the strength of the underlying data and governance framework that ultimately determines whether enterprise-scale AI adoption succeeds. Looking ahead to 2030, what will distinguish the next generation of food manufacturers from those that fail to remain competitive? Will the defining advantage come from better AI models, stronger data ecosystems, more intelligent supply chains, or a fundamentally different way of running the  enterprise? By 2030, I do not believe the defining advantage will come from better AI models alone. It will come from operating a fundamentally different kind of enterprise: one that is connected, intelligent and able to respond continuously to change. AI models will become increasingly accessible. The real differentiator will be how effectively manufacturers connect data, people and processes across the value chain to make faster and better operational decisions. The manufacturers that lead will not simply automate individual tasks. They will build connected operations where procurement, production, inventory, quality and supply chain functions work together using real-time intelligence. That will allow them to anticipate disruption, optimise resources and adapt much faster to changing customer demand, ingredient availability and regulatory requirements. This is the vision behind the Agentic Enterprise, where AI agents, process intelligence and automation work together to orchestrate business processes rather than simply support them. The goal is not to replace people, but to enable smarter, faster and more consistent decision-making across the organisation. By the end of the decade, the manufacturers that remain competitive will not necessarily be those with the most advanced AI; they will be the ones that have built the most intelligent, connected and resilient way of running their business. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4496/iffco-nonghyup-seek-new-opportunities-to-strengthen-farmer-focused-cooperative-ecosystem.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4496/iffco-nonghyup-seek-new-opportunities-to-strengthen-farmer-focused-cooperative-ecosystem.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:15:37 +0530 The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is exploring new avenues of cooperation with South Korea’s NongHyup Financial Group, with discussions focused on potential partnerships that could create greater value for farmers and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem. IFFCO Managing Director K J Patel held discussions with Jeong Sung Hun, General Manager, NH Capital, and Sangmo Kwak, Manager, NongHyup Financial Group, along with their delegation from the Republic of South Korea, at IFFCO Sadan. Manish Gupta, Director, Strategy & Joint Ventures, IFFCO, also participated in the meeting. Patel described the engagement as a productive discussion on “meaningful partnership opportunities” that could benefit farmers while strengthening India’s cooperative framework. He emphasised that IFFCO’s collaborations are driven by the objective of supporting farmers, empowering cooperatives and contributing to their long-term growth and prosperity. The discussions are significant because IFFCO and NongHyup bring complementary strengths to the agricultural cooperative ecosystem. IFFCO is one of India’s leading farmer-owned cooperative organisations, with extensive experience in fertilisers, agricultural inputs, farmer services and cooperative-led agricultural development. Its large grassroots network provides a platform for taking agricultural technologies, products and services closer to farmers while strengthening cooperative participation across the agricultural value chain. NongHyup, meanwhile, represents one of the world's major agricultural cooperative systems. The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), widely known as NongHyup, comprises 1,108 multifunctional cooperatives and approximately 2.04 million farmer members. Its financial arm, NongHyup Financial Group, operates across banking, insurance, securities, asset management and capital services, providing the group with a broad financial-services ecosystem closely linked to the agricultural sector. NongHyup’s integrated model of agricultural finance and cooperative services could complement IFFCO’s expertise in agricultural inputs, technology and farmer mobilisation. Its financial operations are designed to support agricultural finance and stable farming activities, with profits from its financial businesses channelled towards agriculture and rural development. A potential IFFCO-NongHyup partnership could therefore create opportunities across several areas, including agri-finance, digital agriculture, technology exchange, farmer-centric services, cooperative capacity building and new business models. The collaboration could also combine IFFCO’s extensive farmer reach in India with NongHyup’s experience in integrating financial services with agricultural and cooperative development. Such a model could support greater access to finance and technology while creating additional avenues for strengthening farmer-oriented cooperative businesses. The engagement also reflects the broader potential for India-South Korea cooperation in agriculture, particularly as both countries explore new approaches to improving farmer incomes, agricultural productivity and rural economic resilience. Patel said IFFCO would continue pursuing “thoughtful collaborations” that can open new opportunities, deliver better solutions and generate tangible benefits for the farming community. While the discussions remain at the exploratory stage, a deeper IFFCO-NongHyup partnership could bring together cooperative networks, agricultural expertise, financial capabilities and technology to build a more integrated and farmer-focused agricultural ecosystem. The proposed cooperation comes at a time when cooperative institutions are increasingly looking beyond traditional agricultural inputs and services to create broader value for farmers. By combining finance, technology, services and grassroots mobilisation, partnerships between large cooperative organisations could play a greater role in shaping the next phase of farmer-centric agricultural development. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4452/satyukt-analytics-scales-satellite-based-agritech-across-50-countries.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4452/satyukt-analytics-scales-satellite-based-agritech-across-50-countries.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:50:06 +0530 Innovation in agriculture doesn't happen overnight. It grows through science, persistence, and purpose. Eight years ago, Satyukt Analytics was founded with a vision to make satellite intelligence practical for agriculture. Today, the Bengaluru-based agritech company supports farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and governments across more than 50 countries through science-driven agricultural intelligence. Founded in July 2018 by Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer and Dr. Yukti Gill, Satyukt has transformed satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning into practical technologies that enable smarter, data-driven agricultural decision-making.        Behind Satyukt's journey lies a simple yet ambitious goal: making advanced satellite science accessible and practical for farmers. While Earth observation data had long been available through global space agencies, translating it into timely, field-level insights to support everyday agricultural decisions remained a challenge. Satyukt was founded to bridge this gap by developing scalable technologies that convert complex satellite data into actionable intelligence across diverse crops, geographies, and climatic conditions. Over the past eight years, the company has continually expanded its technological capabilities and agricultural impact. Today, its solutions support more than 150 crop types, cover over 600,000 acres, and deliver services in more than 20 languages. Beyond expanding geographically, Satyukt has successfully introduced satellite-based agricultural intelligence in regions where technology adoption has traditionally been limited due to affordability and accessibility challenges. By offering cost-effective solutions, the company has enabled farmers and agricultural stakeholders in developing economies to benefit from precision agriculture, demonstrating that innovation can create a meaningful impact across diverse socio-economic conditions. At the core of Satyukt's portfolio is Sat2Farm, a mobile and web platform designed to make precision agriculture accessible to farmers through satellite-derived insights. The platform provides information on soil nutrients, crop health, soil moisture, weather forecasts, irrigation advisories, pest and disease forewarnings, and crop calendars, enabling farmers to make more informed decisions throughout the crop cycle. The company has also expanded its technology portfolio through Sat4Agri, which delivers large-scale agricultural intelligence for agribusinesses, supply chains, and policymakers, and Sat4Risk, a satellite-based platform that supports agricultural lending, insurance, and risk assessment through transparent and scalable farm-level analytics. Complementing these solutions is Sat2Farm Green, designed to support organic farming through satellite-driven insights that help farmers adopt more sustainable agricultural practices. More recently, Satyukt has also developed Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)-based solutions to support carbon credit initiatives and strengthen climate-smart agriculture. As its global footprint has grown, Satyukt has also strengthened India's position as a provider of advanced agricultural technologies by expanding its international customer base and generating export revenue through satellite-enabled solutions. The company's growing presence across Asia, Africa, Europe, and, more recently, Latin America, reflects the increasing demand for scalable agricultural intelligence developed in India. One of the company's most significant technological milestones has been the development of its patented Satellite-Based Soil Nitrogen Estimation technology. Developed under the scientific leadership of Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer and Dr. Yukti Gill, the innovation enables estimation of soil nitrogen content using satellite remote sensing without relying solely on conventional soil testing methods. Integrated into the Sat2Farm platform, the patented technology supports precision nutrient management by helping farmers make more informed fertilizer application decisions, contributing to improved productivity, better soil health, and more efficient input utilisation. The foundation for this innovation lies in Dr. Tomer's extensive academic and scientific research in microwave remote sensing, hydrology, and earth observation. Before co-founding Satyukt, he conducted research at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, followed by post-doctoral work at the Centre d'Études Spatiales de la Biosphère (CESBIO) and research at the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), France. His research on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), passive microwave remote sensing, and soil moisture estimation has contributed significantly to advancing satellite applications in agriculture. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4418/rbi-holds-line-as-monsoon-risks-keep-inflation-in-focus.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4418/rbi-holds-line-as-monsoon-risks-keep-inflation-in-focus.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:22:11 +0530 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is widely expected to leave the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concludes its August policy meeting this week, extending a pause that has now lasted three consecutive reviews. But beyond the anticipated status quo, the central bank's messaging is expected to reinforce a larger theme: India's inflation outlook is becoming increasingly dependent on developments in agriculture. The policy decision comes at a time when inflation has begun edging higher after remaining comfortably below the RBI's target for much of the year. Headline consumer price inflation under the revised CPI series rose steadily from 2.75 per cent in January to 3.21 per cent in February, 3.40 per cent in March, 3.48 per cent in April, 3.93 per cent in May, before crossing the RBI's medium-term target to reach 4.38 per cent in June 2026. While the increase remains moderate by historical standards, policymakers are increasingly concerned about what is driving it. Unlike previous inflationary episodes that were fuelled largely by demand, the current risks are rooted in supply-side factors. Patchy southwest monsoon rainfall, El Niño conditions, volatile energy markets and geopolitical tensions have all emerged as variables capable of influencing food prices and, by extension, the broader inflation trajectory. That concern was evident in RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra's latest assessment of the economy. "Looking ahead, prospects for agriculture are clouded by deficient and uneven Southwest monsoons amidst El Niño conditions. The reservoir levels, which remain close to normal, bode well. The government's initiatives for crop diversification, including short-duration as well as climate-resilient crops and water harvesting and conservation are expected to mitigate the impact of deficient rainfall," the Governor said. The remarks underscore how agriculture has moved from being a sector-specific concern to a central pillar of India's macroeconomic outlook. For the RBI, farm output is no longer only about rural incomes or crop production—it has become a key determinant of inflation, consumer spending and overall economic stability. Markets therefore expect the MPC to adopt a cautious tone while maintaining both the 5.25 per cent repo rate and its neutral policy stance. Economists believe the committee will avoid signalling either fresh easing or tightening until there is greater clarity on the inflation outlook, particularly whether recent price pressures prove temporary or become more entrenched. Governor Malhotra has also cautioned against reading too much into short-term economic resilience. "Growth, albeit resilient, is expected to be lower in this financial year. The outlook, however, is hazy because of the uncertainties regarding Southwest Monsoon, El Niño, geopolitics and global trade policy. There is a need for greater clarity to emerge, especially regarding inflation, its path and composition, before taking any policy action," he said. Those comments suggest the RBI is likely to continue prioritising inflation management even as domestic economic activity remains relatively strong. Investment spending, services growth and healthy credit demand continue to support the economy, giving policymakers room to pause after last year's aggressive monetary easing. The current policy stance represents a clear shift from 2025, when the RBI delivered a cumulative 100 basis points of rate cuts. The easing cycle began in February 2025, when the repo rate was reduced to 6.25 per cent, followed by another cut to 6.00 per cent in April. The central bank then surprised markets with a larger 50-basis-point reduction in June 2025, bringing the repo rate to 5.50 per cent, before making a final 25-basis-point cut in December 2025 to the current 5.25 per cent. Since then, the MPC has maintained status quo through its February, April and June 2026 meetings, signalling that the easing phase has given way to a period of policy caution. The RBI's communication now suggests that inflation has become its overriding priority. Rather than responding immediately to weather-driven food price shocks, policymakers are expected to place greater emphasis on core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel prices and provides a clearer picture of underlying demand pressures. This approach reflects the central bank's belief that headline inflation has recently been influenced more by domestic and global supply disruptions than by excess demand. Agriculture remains at the heart of that assessment. An uneven monsoon does not simply reduce crop yields; it affects the availability of cereals, pulses and oilseeds, raises feed costs for the livestock sector and eventually pushes up prices of poultry, milk, eggs and other protein-rich foods. The inflationary impact extends across the food chain, influencing both farm incomes and household budgets. Industry stakeholders believe these risks warrant close attention. Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman of the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India, said the RBI's assessment accurately reflects the challenges facing the livestock sector. "The RBI's assessment rightly highlights the growing uncertainty around the agricultural outlook due to deficient and uneven monsoon conditions. For the livestock sector, this is a critical concern as any disruption in crop production directly impacts the availability and prices of essential feed ingredients such as maize and soybean. Higher feed costs eventually translate into increased production costs for poultry, eggs, milk and other livestock products, affecting both farmers and consumers," Gulati said. He added that while near-normal reservoir levels and the government's focus on climate-resilient agriculture offer reasons for optimism, policy execution will determine how effectively these risks are managed. "The government's emphasis on climate-resilient agriculture and crop diversification is encouraging, but timely policy support and effective implementation will be key to ensuring feed security. Strengthening the resilience of India's feed and livestock value chain is essential not only for protecting farmer livelihoods but also for ensuring stable food prices and sustaining the country's nutritional security," he said. Beyond domestic developments, the RBI also faces an increasingly uncertain global backdrop. Markets will closely monitor geopolitical developments in West Asia and any shift in the US Federal Reserve's policy outlook during the second half of 2026. Changes in global interest rates could influence the rupee, capital flows and interest-rate differentials, all of which feed into India's inflation and monetary policy outlook. At the same time, expectations of a recovery in foreign portfolio inflows, coupled with continued liquidity support through swap windows, are expected to provide a relatively supportive environment for domestic financial markets. Financial markets will therefore focus as much on the RBI's policy statement as on the repo rate decision itself. Investors will look for clues on whether the central bank has become more concerned about food inflation, whether it has revised its growth or inflation projections and whether its assessment of agricultural risks has changed ahead of the remaining MPC meetings scheduled for October 5–7, December 2–4, 2026, and February 3–5, 2027. -- suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/reports-white-papers/118/4190/defining-trends-in-asian-agriculture-during-h1-2026.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/reports-white-papers/118/4190/defining-trends-in-asian-agriculture-during-h1-2026.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0530 The first six months of 2026 will be remembered in Asian agriculture as a season of two clocks running at very different speeds. One clock — the one ticking inside research institutes, regulatory agencies and the slide decks of agri-food investors — moved unusually fast. Genome-edited rice advanced toward farmers' fields in India. China finalised its second registration list of genetically modified corn and soybean varieties. Singapore quietly logged its fourth cultivated-meat approval and published, for the first time, a consolidated public list of every novel food it has cleared. India's Union Budget rewrote the language of farm policy around artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure. By almost any measure of institutional momentum, the science and the statecraft of agriculture in Asia accelerated. The other clock belongs to the weather, the soil and the balance sheet — and it told a harder story. The India Meteorological Department opened the year with its most pessimistic monsoon forecast in more than two decades. Venture capital into the region's agritech sector remained roughly two-thirds below its peak. And the gap between a technology cleared in a lab and a technology working on a smallholding the size of a tennis court stayed stubbornly, frustratingly wide. The defining tension of H1 2026 was not whether Asian agriculture is innovating. It plainly is. The question is whether that innovation is reaching the ground fast enough to matter when the rains fall short. The science finally moves For more than a decade, the story of crop biotechnology in much of Asia was a story of stalled promise. India had approved exactly one genetically modified crop for commercial cultivation — Bt cotton, back in 2006 — and the political and regulatory machinery around transgenics had effectively seized up. What changed, and what came into sharper focus through H1 2026, is that the region has found a way around that impasse: genome editing. The distinction matters enormously. Where conventional GM crops carry foreign DNA and trigger the full weight of biosafety regulation, genome-edited varieties produced through SDN-1 and SDN-2 techniques edit a plant's own genes and leave no foreign genetic material behind. A 2022 office memorandum from India's environment ministry exempted such transgene-free edited plants from the strictest tier of approval, requiring only that an institutional biosafety committee certify the absence of exogenous DNA. That single regulatory differentiation has done what years of debate over GM could not: it has put new traits on a credible path to farmers. The proof points are now real rather than theoretical. India's two genome-edited rice lines — an improved Samba Mahsuri and an edited version of MTU-1010 — cleared multi-location trials, with the enhanced Samba Mahsuri showing a roughly 19 percent average yield uplift and the MTU-1010 variant demonstrating tolerance to saline and alkaline soils. A third candidate, a canola-quality mustard edited for disease and pest resistance, has been moving through its second year of trials across sixteen locations, with a possible release flagged for later in 2026. Behind these headline varieties sits a deeper strategic play: Indian scientists have been advancing indigenous gene-editing tools — TnpB-based miniature editors and platforms beyond the patent-heavy Cas9 — explicitly to reduce dependence on foreign intellectual property. A pipeline that includes drought-tolerant rice and maize, beta-carotene-rich banana, and high-oleic groundnut is no longer a wish list; it is a regulatory queue. China spent the half-year pressing in the same direction, but from a position of far greater scale and urgency. As the world's largest importer of corn and soybeans, Beijing has framed seed self-reliance as a matter of national security, and its biotechnology programme reflects that framing. By early 2026 the country had finalised its second registration list of GM corn and soybean varieties — building on the first batch of production licences issued at the end of 2023 — and had approved its first gene-edited wheat and corn for domestic cultivation. The government's own projections put potential yield gains from these varieties at around 12 percent, and some industry analysts believe the eventual planted area could reach tens of millions of hectares. China still moves cautiously, public ambivalence about GM food remains real, and foreign investment in its agricultural biotech sector is largely walled off. But the trajectory through H1 2026 was unmistakable: a deliberate, state-driven push to close the yield gap with the Americas using domestically owned genetics. Two of Asia's largest agricultural economies, in other words, spent the first half of 2026 demonstrating that the long biotech stalemate is breaking — not through the transgenic crops that dominated the last era's debates, but through precision editing that sidesteps both the regulatory burden and much of the political resistance. Policy learns to speak in code If genome editing was the science story of H1 2026, the digitalisation of farm policy was its administrative counterpart — and nowhere was the shift more explicit than in India's Union Budget for 2026-27, presented at the start of February. The numbers themselves told a story of consolidation rather than transformation. Agriculture and allied activities drew an allocation in the region of ₹1.62 lakh crore, up around 7 percent on the previous year's revised estimates, with a separate fertiliser subsidy of roughly ₹1.71 lakh crore continuing to absorb global price shocks on farmers' behalf. Direct income support under PM-KISAN held flat at ₹63,500 crore for a third consecutive year — a sign that the transfer is now treated as a baseline entitlement rather than a lever to be pulled. The more revealing signals lay in where new money and new language went. The budget leaned hard into what one agtech commentator described as an "AI-first" vision of agriculture. The headline instrument was Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual, AI-enabled advisory platform funded at ₹150 crore and designed to knit together the AgriStack digital identity framework and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's package of practices into something a farmer can actually query in their own language. Alongside it sat the continuing build-out of the Digital Agriculture Mission, with a stated ambition to generate unique digital IDs for 110 million farmers. The thematic centre of gravity shifted, too — away from the wheat-and-rice staples and toward high-value agriculture, with dedicated promotion schemes for coconut, cashew, cocoa and sandalwood, and a record allocation for fisheries built around the integrated development of 500 reservoirs. It would be easy to read all of this as unambiguous progress, and harder but more honest to note the tensions inside it. The same budget trimmed the flagship crop-insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, to its lowest allocation in years — a striking choice in a year when, by the government's own Economic Survey, weather shocks were inflicting heavier and more frequent yield losses. Allocations for agricultural research and education edged down even as the rhetoric of innovation rose. The architecture being built is genuinely impressive: a data layer, an AI advisory layer, a diversification push toward crops with better margins. Whether that architecture reaches the rainfed smallholder before the next failed monsoon does — that remains the open question of the entire enterprise. What the budget made unambiguous is the direction of travel. Across Asia, the policy conversation has moved decisively from inputs and subsidies toward data, diversification and digital infrastructure. The instruments now carry names like AgriStack and Bharat-VISTAAR rather than minimum support prices. The bet is that intelligence — delivered cheaply, at scale, in the right language — can do what decades of input subsidy could not: make 140 million Indian farmers more resilient to climate and market volatility. It is a serious bet. H1 2026 placed it; the field will settle it. The protein frontier grows up Few corners of Asian agri-food have generated more heat over the past five years than alternative protein, and few entered 2026 in greater need of a reality check. The first half of the year delivered both fresh regulatory milestones and a sober recalibration of expectations — and Singapore, as ever, sat at the centre of the story. The city-state remains the only place in Asia to have built a working, repeatable regulatory pathway for novel foods, and in H1 2026 it made that pathway newly transparent. In March, the Singapore Food Agency published its first consolidated public list of approved novel foods — fourteen products and ingredients spanning cultivated meat, algal protein and a range of fermentation-derived foods. For an industry that had long operated against a backdrop of case-by-case decisions, a centralised, citable register was more than housekeeping; it was a signal of regulatory maturity that the rest of the region will study closely. The approvals kept coming, too. In April, the Paris-based startup Parima — formed from the merger of Gourmey and Vital Meat — won clearance for cultivated duck, six months after its cultivated chicken was approved, making it the first company anywhere to hold regulatory green lights for two animal species and bringing Singapore's tally of approved cultivated-meat products to four. Parima's stated playbook is instructive: begin in high-end gastronomy, where a cultivated duck endorsed by Michelin-starred chefs can command a premium, then move toward targeted retail. Its production model — cells grown in suspension in standard industrial bioreactors, deployable in partner infrastructure across Asia-Pacific without rebuilding a facility from scratch — points to where the economics of this sector may eventually have to land. And yet the most important alternative-protein development of the half-year was arguably a step back rather than a step forward. Singapore confirmed that it is retiring its long-standing "30 by 30" local-production target in favour of a broader strategy — the Singapore Food Story 2 — built on four pillars: local production of protein and fibre, import diversification, stockpiling and global partnerships. Cultivated meat and other alternative proteins, the government made clear, are no longer counted as part of the near-term food-security plan. The reasons were candid: higher-than-expected production costs and weaker-than-expected consumer acceptance globally. The sector has not been abandoned — R&D funding continues, and officials left the door open to a larger future role "if and when" the economics turn — but the framing changed from imminent solution to long-term option. That recalibration is healthy, and it captures something true about the whole alternative-protein moment in Asia. The regulatory science is maturing; the regulatory transparency is improving; the species count is climbing. What has not yet arrived is the cost curve and the consumer pull that would turn a string of approvals into a meaningful share of the protein on Asian plates. H1 2026 was the half-year in which the industry stopped over-promising and started, more usefully, to grow up. The capital reckoning Underwriting all of this — the gene-editing pipelines, the digital platforms, the bioreactors — is capital, and the capital story of H1 2026 was one of hard-won discipline after an exuberant boom. The defining document arrived in April, when Omnivore, Beanstalk AgTech and Briter released a data-driven analysis of the agritech landscape across thirteen Southeast Asian markets, backed by the IFC, FMO Ventures and the Rabo Foundation. Its central claim was bullish: digitalisation and agritech adoption could unlock more than US$90 billion in annual GDP gains across Southeast Asia by 2033, in a region where agriculture contributes roughly 15 percent of GDP and employs up to 40 percent of the workforce. But the report's value lay in its candour about how that prize had been pursued so far. Agritech investment across the region peaked at over US$750 million in 2022 before falling nearly 70 percent by 2025 — a sharp correction as investors confronted the structural realities of fragmented value chains and the genuine difficulty of scaling ventures across markets that share a map but little else. The report's most useful conclusions were its uncomfortable ones. There is, it argued, no unified Southeast Asian market to conquer; roughly two-thirds of documented cross-border expansion attempts had failed, and premature regional expansion was the cause of more than 60 percent of venture collapses between 2022 and 2025. The most defensible opportunities, it concluded, are single-market plays built around the right value chain, the right business model and a local execution team — not the pan-regional land grabs that defined the boom years. As Omnivore's Mark Kahn put it, patient, disciplined capital that understands local market dynamics is what actually moves these ecosystems forward. Tellingly, the authors held up India as the instructive model — a market whose venture ecosystem matured through a hard decade of governance reform, exits and the unglamorous work of building market infrastructure. Development finance institutions and impact investors have committed a combined US$650 million to agrifood funds across the region and remain central to the capital stack, but the report was clear that the next phase of scaling will require a blend of equity, credit and concessional capital rather than venture money alone. For an industry that spent the early 2020s chasing valuations, this is a more sober and more durable foundation. The money flowing into Asian agritech in 2026 is more patient, more local and more honest about the structural friction of fragmented smallholder agriculture. That is not a retreat. It is the sector learning, expensively, how the region actually works. The field doesn't care about any of this And then there is the weather, which has the disconcerting habit of ignoring every register of approved novel foods and every line of an AI advisory platform. The single most consequential development of H1 2026 for hundreds of millions of Asian farmers was not a clearance or a funding round. It was the India Meteorological Department's first-stage forecast, issued in April, that the 2026 southwest monsoon would deliver around 92 percent of the long-period average — a below-normal season, and by some accounts the lowest first-stage forecast in at least twenty-five years. The climate signals behind the number were ominous: weak La Niña conditions transitioning toward neutral, with a meaningful probability of El Niño developing during the monsoon season itself. The historical record is unforgiving on this point — across the El Niño years India logged between 1951 and 2022, every drought year was an El Niño year. By mid-year the strain was already visible. The season opened well below normal, agriculture officials flagged El Niño risk across a dozen states and called for district-level contingency plans, and crop-weather monitors issued severe dry alerts across the soybean and groundnut belts, threatening to delay sowing and shorten the growing window. Roughly 60 percent of India's farmers depend on monsoon rainfall, and close to half the country's farmland lacks assured irrigation; the kharif crops sown from June — rice, soybean, cotton, pulses, groundnut — rely almost entirely on those rains. Reservoir buffers, fuller than in recent years, offer some cushion, and a late-developing positive Indian Ocean Dipole could yet offset part of the El Niño signal as it did in 2023. But variability, not the aggregate number, will decide the season. Ratings agencies were already pencilling in downside risks to agricultural growth and upside risks to food inflation. This is the context against which every laboratory triumph of the half-year has to be read. A genome-edited drought-tolerant rice is precisely the kind of innovation that matters in a 92-percent monsoon year — but the edited Samba Mahsuri reaching commercial scale and the drought-tolerant lines reaching farmers are still future events, not present realities. An AI advisory platform is exactly what a smallholder facing an erratic kharif season could use — but Bharat-VISTAAR's value depends entirely on whether it reaches remote, rainfed districts in time to change a planting decision. The crop-insurance scheme that would cushion a failed season was trimmed in the same budget that funded the AI platform. There is a related, quieter argument that gained traction in the region's agtech commentary at the start of 2026: that the sector has over-indexed on inventing new tools and under-invested in deploying the ones it already has. Asia-Pacific accounts for half of the 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted globally each year; in South Asia, where a staggering share of the population is born underweight or stunted, around 40 percent of all food perishes before it is eaten. The toolbox to address this — from biologicals to gene-editing to AI robotics — is already substantial. The constraint is rarely the technology. It is the absence of a safety net that lets a smallholder absorb the risk of trying something new, and the persistent difficulty of tracing a benefit back to the tool that produced it. The most important agricultural work of 2026, on this reading, is less about the next breakthrough than about closing the distance between the breakthrough and the farm. Where the two clocks meet If H1 2026 had a single physical setting where its two clocks were visibly synchronised, it was the exhibition floor. In May, Agritechnica Asia returned to Bangkok under the theme "Farm. Farmer. Future." — co-located with HortEx Thailand, drawing around 350 exhibitors and an expected 18,000-plus visitors from across the region, and headlined by a new conference on smart agriculture and unmanned agricultural systems. Taiwan's Asia Agri-Tech Expo ran in the same month with a comparable emphasis on AI smart farming, automation and aquaculture. The Southeast Asian agricultural mechanisation market that these events serve is projected to keep growing at around 4 percent annually toward US$2.5 billion by 2028, driven by rice, sugarcane, cassava and maize across the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. What these gatherings made tangible is the through-line of the entire half-year: physical AI is moving from the conference panel to the field. Robotics, sensors, unmanned systems and data platforms are no longer the speculative content of a startup zone; they are increasingly the practical content of a mechanisation strategy adapted to Asian production systems and smallholder economics. The relevant question across the region has shifted from whether the technology works to whether it can be put, affordably and durably, into the hands of the farmer who needs it. That is the right question, and it frames what the second half of 2026 will test. Watch for India's genome-edited mustard, which could secure release in the coming months and would mark the first edited oilseed to reach the field. Watch how the kharif season actually resolves once July and August — the months that carry the bulk of the rainfall and cover the critical growth stages — deliver their verdict on the El Niño signal. Watch whether the capital discipline the Omnivore report prescribed translates into the patient, single-market, locally led ventures it championed. And watch, at October's Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore, whether the alternative-protein sector can show a cost curve to match its lengthening list of approvals. The first half of 2026 proved that Asian agriculture can innovate at speed across science, policy and capital. The genome editors are working, the AI platforms are funded, the regulatory pathways are maturing, and the money is wiser than it was. What the half-year could not yet prove is the only thing that ultimately counts: that this acceleration reaches the field before the field runs dry. The lab clock is fast. The field clock is the one keeping real time. Closing the distance between them is the work that remains. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4014/why-maharashtras-women-farmers-bill-could-redefine-political-economy-of-indian-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/4014/why-maharashtras-women-farmers-bill-could-redefine-political-economy-of-indian-agriculture.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:40:20 +0530 As India marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Maharashtra’s proposed law could become a defining test of how agricultural identity, entitlement and recognition are understood in the 21st century India’s agricultural economy rests on a long-standing and often unexamined assumption: That the farmer, as a category of policy, identity, and political imagination, is primarily male. This assumption persists despite extensive evidence that women constitute a central and, in many regions, indispensable component of agricultural production. Across rural India, women undertake a broad range of agricultural activities, including sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, livestock management, post-harvest processing, seed preservation, and household-level food provisioning. These responsibilities are not peripheral to agricultural systems; they are structurally embedded within them. Yet, in most formal classifications, women’s participation remains insufficiently recognised as constituting independent farmer status, particularly in the absence of land ownership. It is within this context that the proposed Maharashtra Women Farmers Bill assumes significance. While commonly interpreted as a welfare-oriented intervention, the proposal also invites a broader reconsideration of the institutional and economic definition of farming itself. The question it raises is not limited to inclusion, but extends to the criteria through which agricultural citizenship is defined within India’s political economy. Policy rarely begins with legislation  The issue of women’s role in agriculture has been a topic of policy discourse for several decades. The Fourth World Conference on Women (1995) in Beijing highlighted structural constraints faced by women in agriculture across developing economies. In India, Dr M S Swaminathan was among the earliest policy thinkers to systematically articulate the implications of gendered exclusions within agricultural modernisation. Dr Swaminathan’s analysis of the Green Revolution identified a structural contradiction: While agricultural productivity increased significantly, the institutional frameworks governing land ownership, credit access, and extension services remained largely unchanged. Over time, demographic shifts, including male migration from rural areas, led to an increased concentration of agricultural responsibilities on women, without corresponding changes in legal or institutional recognition. This process is often described in policy literature as the “feminisation of agriculture.” However, this term requires careful interpretation. In many cases, it reflects not empowerment, but a redistribution of labour responsibilities in contexts of agrarian stress and economic transition. In 2011, Dr Swaminathan introduced the Women Farmers’ Entitlement Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill proposed a broader definition of “farmer,” extending beyond landownership to include tenant cultivators, sharecroppers, livestock rearers, and other categories of agricultural workers. Although the Bill did not progress, it remains a significant reference point in discussions on agricultural inclusion. More recently, the National Commission for the Entitlements and Welfare of Women Farmers Bill, 2026, has reintroduced these questions within a contemporary policy framework, alongside renewed attention from international organisations, including the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. What is measured becomes visible  Recent labour data reflects a significant presence of women in agriculture. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2024, women constitute over 42 per cent of India’s agricultural workforce, with higher proportions in several states. However, these figures require careful interpretation, as increased participation does not necessarily correspond to increased economic agency or formal recognition. Much of this participation occurs within informal or unpaid family-based agricultural systems. Women are frequently classified as “self-employed” in agriculture, a category that often includes work without independent income, ownership, or decision-making authority. Land ownership statistics further illustrate this structural asymmetry. The Agriculture Census 2015–2016 records that 13.96 per cent of operational holdings are under women’s names, accounting for 11.72 per cent of total cultivated area. This indicates a significant gap between labour participation and asset ownership within agriculture. Welfare distribution patterns reflect a similar structure. Under the PM-KISAN income support scheme, of the 9.35 crore registered beneficiaries, approximately 2.15 crore are women. This disparity underscores the continued reliance of agricultural policy on land-based definitions of eligibility. Taken together, these indicators point to a persistent institutional distinction between participation in agricultural labour and formal recognition as agricultural producers. It is this structural gap that the proposed Women Farmers Bill seeks to address. “The proposed Women Farmers Bill is a landmark leap toward correcting historical gender imbalances in the agrarian landscape,” said Suraj Mandhare, IAS, Commissioner of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra. “By officially recognising women as independent ‘farmers’ regardless of land title ownership, we are unlocking their access to essential institutional credit, water rights, and insurance that were previously out of their reach.” Mandhare added that the initiative goes beyond welfare inclusion and attempts to structurally reposition women within the rural economy. “This initiative doesn’t just empower individual women; it strengthens the very foundation of our rural economy by integrating 2026’s International Year of the Woman Farmer goals into state law,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that the hands that feed the state finally hold the legal rights they deserve.” Land is the grammar of recognition The limited recognition of women as farmers is closely linked to the broader structure of land ownership and inheritance in rural India. Land functions not only as an economic asset but also as a basis for social status, political authority, and institutional access. As inheritance systems remain predominantly male-oriented in practice, women’s agricultural roles often remain decoupled from formal ownership. This produces a structural asymmetry in which a significant proportion of agricultural labour is performed by individuals who do not possess corresponding legal or economic recognition within the system. Statewise (Major States ) distribution of area operated by operational holdings for All Social Groups during Agriculture Census 2010-11 and 2015-16 States/UTsArea (in '000 ha.)% variation in 2015-16 over 2010-112010-112015-16MaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalAndhra Pradesh612219338096218021808004-5.64-1.14-1.14Arunachal Pradesh3493138433838380-3.15-3.15-1.02Assam26687129992663532976-0.22-25.60-0.76Bihar55118496388553789364570.475.091.09Chhattisgarh4576503508444345534992-3.1010.03-1.82Goa721589661482-7.53-6.09-7.76Gujarat851513059898832215899978-2.2721.800.80Haryana3082405364629664913609-3.7821.09-1.02Himachal Pradesh9044595589247944-1.384.94-1.09Jammu & Kashmir8394889578947842-5.92-2.80-5.93Jharkhand2893259316528432383091-1.75-8.14-2.36Karnataka101901898121619612210211805-5.6710.75-2.93Kerala1187210151110692211395-9.955.50-7.67Madhya Pradesh1460912041583614128150915670-3.2925.31-1.05Maharashtra17083258519767175162884205062.5411.573.74Manipur16751721648172-2.1377.510.07Meghalaya189972872148430013.56-13.154.46Mizoram9410105100111126.2313.147.32Nagaland97893107490054956-8.03-42.42-10.97Odisha4651148485244181694619-5.0114.00-4.80Punjab39292639673899433954-0.7561.96-0.33Rajasthan1969813292113619109165420873-2.9924.48-1.24Sikkim99410783591-15.8917.30-14.83Tamil Nadu530010566488478810365971-9.66-1.8-7.98Telangana497512126197462913375972-6.9410.35-3.63Tripura2592528525229282-2.7015.39-1.11Uttar Pradesh166149481762216376101117450-1.436.70-0.97Uttarakhand7356881666371747-9.713.57-8.38West Bengal5171110551051591035487-0.23-6.80-0.41All India1415401651015959213778418493157817-2.6512.02-1.11 Source: All India Report on Agriculture Census 2015-16From an economic perspective, this arrangement has contributed to the externalisation of labour costs within agriculture. A considerable portion of agricultural activity relies on unpaid or under-recognised labour, particularly within household-based farming systems. This has implications not only for gender equity but also for the formal measurement of agricultural productivity and rural income. At the same time, empirical studies suggest that women farmers often engage in agricultural practices that emphasise crop diversity, nutritional security, and household welfare outcomes. These patterns are observed across multiple regions, particularly in subsistence-oriented farming systems. Recognition reorganises markets From the perspective of agricultural markets and related industries, formal recognition of women farmers would constitute a significant expansion of the identifiable rural economic base. Integration into formal agricultural classification systems would increase access to institutional credit, insurance mechanisms, digital financial services, and input markets. It would also alter the structure of demand for agricultural goods and services, as women farmers often exhibit different patterns of crop selection and resource allocation, with relatively greater emphasis on subsistence crops and household-level food security. For agri-input industries, fintech platforms, and agricultural service providers, this represents not merely a policy change but a redefinition of the rural consumer and producer base. Mechanisation and technology design may also require recalibration, given that much agricultural equipment has historically been designed around assumptions of male labour and larger landholdings. Similarly, insurance and credit products may require adaptation to reflect the risk profiles of smallholder and diversified farming systems. International economic analysis increasingly recognises the role of gender inclusion in agricultural productivity. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has estimated that reducing gender disparities in agrifood systems could contribute significantly to global GDP growth while improving food security outcomes. These findings suggest that gender-based constraints in agriculture are not only social issues but also structural economic inefficiencies. In the Indian context, where women perform a substantial proportion of agricultural labour but hold a relatively small share of land ownership, this mismatch represents a persistent constraint on potential productivity and institutional efficiency. Within this evolving institutional landscape, the reform is increasingly being interpreted through the lens of identity-based exclusion and financial access. As Anjul Tyagi, Agriculture Economist, observes, “This is a long-overdue reform that addresses one of the most fundamental barriers—lack of identity—which has historically excluded women from accessing institutional credit, insurance, and government schemes.” Anjul further notes that the operationalisation of women’s names on the 7/12 land documents carries a structural shift in economic positioning: “By ensuring women’s names on the 7/12 land documents, the proposed bill has the potential to transform them from ‘invisible contributors’ to ‘recognised stakeholders’ in the agricultural economy. This step not only strengthens financial inclusion but also enhances decision-making power at the household and farm level.” Taken together, these perspectives underscore a critical transition point: recognition, while necessary, must be operationalised through administrative coherence and institutional convergence to produce meaningful economic change. Complementing this view, Dr Suhas Budhe, Director of Naturexchange, situates the reform within a wider socio-economic reordering of rural systems. He notes that the initiative “goes far beyond updating land records—it is about rewriting the social contract of rural Maharashtra,” emphasising that formal recognition of women as farmers addresses decades of invisibility while enabling access to institutional credit, government schemes, and extension services historically mediated through informal structures. He further highlights the agronomic and climate dimensions of the reform, pointing out that legal identity enhances women farmers’ ability to adopt climate-resilient practices, diversify cropping systems, and manage weather-related risks. However, he also underscores that such transformation requires enabling conditions, including awareness generation, stronger market linkages, women-led farmer-producer organisations, gender-disaggregated data systems, and local institutional support structures. In this framing, recognition becomes meaningful not as a legal endpoint, but as an entry point into a broader ecosystem of economic, institutional, and ecological change. Adding a complementary industry perspective, Janak Dhameliya, Chairman – Redox Group of Companies, situates the reform within a longer arc of agricultural equity and ownership. He notes, “India is one of the world’s foremost agricultural nations, and the backbone of this achievement is its women farmers. Across every state and every village, women have consistently sustained and strengthened the foundation of Indian agriculture, often without recognition or rightful ownership.” He further emphasises the corrective dimension of the proposed reform, observing that it directly addresses long-standing exclusion from land rights and institutional benefits. “For too many families, agricultural land and government benefits were historically controlled through male lineage, leaving women excluded despite being the real cultivators and caretakers of the land.” Framing the shift as a structural correction rather than symbolic reform, Janak adds, “Now, the system is being corrected. In cases where a husband or family member is no longer present, the rightful benefits and entitlements will no longer be misdirected or withheld—they will be securely transferred to the true heirs, the women farmers who sustain the land.” He concludes that the significance of the bill lies in its redefinition of recognition itself: “This is not just an administrative change; it is a long-overdue correction of injustice, ensuring that women who feed the nation are finally recognised as rightful owners and beneficiaries of their own labour.” The question is no longer who farms India, but who is allowed to count as a farmer The proposed Maharashtra legislation, situated within an evolving matrix of national reform and global discourse on agrarian gender asymmetries, signals a quiet yet paradigmatic shift in the epistemology of Indian agriculture itself. At stake is not simply a welfare intervention, but a reconsideration of the conceptual architecture through which agricultural identity has historically been codified. What constitutes a “farmer”? Can productive labour continue to remain juridically subordinate to proprietary ownership? To what extent does the state’s reliance on land titles as the primary instrument of recognition distort the realities of contemporary rural production systems? These questions gain sharper resonance when set against the lived realities of women in agriculture. As Kanta Singh, Deputy Representative, UN Women India Country Office, observes, “For years, women farmers have remained under-recognised despite their substantial contribution to agriculture. Recognising women as farmers through land rights, access to credit, and policy inclusion is increasingly important.” This highlights a persistent gap between economic contribution and institutional recognition in rural systems. The Maharashtra proposal is seen as a step toward correcting this imbalance. Kanta further notes that “Maharashtra’s proposed bill is a significant step towards advancing gender-responsive rural development and strengthening rural livelihoods.” She also emphasises that meaningful impact will depend on implementation that addresses “longstanding structural barriers to women’s access to agricultural entitlements, institutional finance, extension services, and decision-making.” Under the proposed framework of the Bill, certification by the Gram Panchayat would suffice to establish eligibility for entitlements historically contingent upon land possession. The category of “farmer” is correspondingly reimagined to encompass not merely operational landholders, but also landless cultivators, agricultural labourers, plantation workers, pastoralists, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers — constituencies central to agrarian production yet persistently peripheral to institutional visibility. Equally noteworthy is the Bill’s recognition of migratory agricultural labour. A landless cultivator relocating across state boundaries would be permitted to register within the state of his or her chosen ground of economic engagement, thereby introducing a rare portability into India’s otherwise territorially rigid welfare architecture. In doing so, the legislation implicitly acknowledges the increasingly mobile and precarious character of rural labour markets. For women agricultural workers, the implications are especially profound. The Bill explicitly repudiates the assumption that a woman’s agrarian legitimacy must derive either from marital affiliation or from proprietary claims over land. Instead, it locates her identity in the act of cultivation itself — whether on individually owned land, familial holdings, leased acreage, or land cultivated through sharecropping arrangements. What appears, at first glance, to be a semantic reform is, in fact, a deeper ontological shift: from ownership-based recognition to function-based recognition within the political economy of agriculture. Ultimately, the debate transcends redistribution and enters the more consequential domain of classification. For states do not merely govern through law and welfare; they govern through categories. What is rendered statistically legible becomes administratively actionable, while what remains unclassified is relegated to the margins of policy imagination. The contest, therefore, is not simply over entitlements, but over visibility itself — over who is permitted entry into the formal vocabulary of Indian agriculture, and who continues to labour outside the grammar of recognition. --- Suchetana Choudhury  ( suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com ) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3942/karnatakas-excise-architecture-increasingly-caught-between-revenue-and-regulation.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3942/karnatakas-excise-architecture-increasingly-caught-between-revenue-and-regulation.html Mon, 25 May 2026 14:17:55 +0530 CIABC calls for category-neutral taxation and warns against policy distortions driven by simplistic alcohol-strength narratives In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Anant S Iyer, Director General of Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), argues that Karnataka’s alcohol taxation debate is increasingly trapped between fiscal compulsions and simplistic public-health assumptions that fail to account for actual consumption behaviour. He challenges the perception that lower-ABV beverages such as beer are inherently safer, asserting that alcohol harm must be evaluated through total consumption volume rather than category labels alone, while warning that disproportionate taxation on lower IMFL slabs risks destabilising the regulated legal market. Iyer further contends that excise policy must recognise the industry’s deep economic linkages with agriculture, rural livelihoods, manufacturing and state revenues instead of treating it as an isolated vice sector. As states intensify duty-led revenue extraction amid inflationary and geopolitical pressures, he cautions that excessive taxation could eventually trigger structural market distortions, including downtrading, illicit trade expansion and long-term erosion of fiscal sustainability. If IMFL generates 4–6 times higher excise revenue per case than beer, does promoting beer through policy incentives amount to a deliberate trade-off of fiscal efficiency for public health objectives, and is that trade-off explicitly acknowledged in state excise design? If policy design makes beer relatively cheaper or more favourably treated compared to IMFL, it does amount to a trade-off in fiscal efficiency. The concern is that such a framework may be built on the assumption that lower-strength alcohol categories are inherently safer, while higher-strength categories are automatically more harmful. That is an incomplete way of looking at alcohol consumption. Alcohol-related harm is not determined only by the strength printed on the label. It depends on how much alcohol is consumed, the serving size, frequency of consumption and broader behavioural patterns. In other words, it is not only what one drinks, but how much one drinks that becomes relevant. For example, a 650 ml bottle of strong beer at 8 per cent ABV contains around 52 ml of pure alcohol, which is broadly comparable to two standard servings of IMFL at 42.8 per cent ABV. Therefore, to suggest that one alcohol type is better or safer purely because its strength per ml is lower is a fallacy. From a revenue perspective, IMFL contributes significantly higher excise revenue per case. If policy incentives lead consumers to shift from IMFL to beer, the State may lose revenue without necessarily achieving proportionate public health gains. Such a trade-off, if intended, should be explicitly modelled and transparently acknowledged in excise design. When CIABC argues that category-neutral policy is essential, how should regulators reconcile structural differences in alcohol content, consumption volume and tax yield without implicitly favouring one category over another? Category-neutral policy does not mean ignoring structural differences between alcohol categories. It means that those differences should be assessed through comparable and objective parameters such as alcohol content, serving size, actual consumption volume, tax yield, route-to-market structure and market impact. Across states, excise policies have generally been designed to enhance revenue year-on-year without overt discrimination between alcohol categories in so far as excise duty is concerned. Differences, if any, are usually seen in distribution and route-to-market structures. For example, in some states, departmental stores or standalone vends may be permitted to buy and sell wine, beer or RTDs under differential licence fee structures. The key point is that excise duty should not implicitly favour one category merely because it is perceived as milder. A lower alcohol percentage does not automatically translate into lower alcohol impact if the product is consumed in larger volumes. A 650 ml strong beer can deliver alcohol comparable to two standard servings of spirits. A level playing field would require all categories to be assessed on comparable principles. If the design makes one category significantly more attractive merely because of lower ABV, without considering actual volume of consumption and revenue contribution, it can unintentionally favour that category. The risk is that revenue extraction may follow a simple but problematic pattern: higher taxes on spirits to drive revenue and lower taxes on low-alcohol beverages to drive consumption shifts. Such an approach can distort the market unless carefully calibrated. At what precise threshold does excise-led premiumisation shift from being a revenue optimisation strategy to becoming demand suppression in lower IMFL slabs, particularly given the reported 6 per cent volume decline post-duty hikes? There is no precise universal threshold because the impact varies by state, income level, consumer behaviour, pack size, category mix and price elasticity. However, there is enough anecdotal evidence as well as actual experience in the past to show that price increases in lower slabs can lead to revenue depletion on a like-to-like basis. In such cases, excise revenue enhancement happens only because duties are increased year-on-year, not because of genuine volume growth. The lower slabs are highly sensitive to price increases and display clear price elasticity. When consumers in these slabs are repeatedly exposed to duty-led price increases, demand can stagnate, decline, or shift to other categories and channels. Premiumisation is healthy when consumers voluntarily move to better-quality products due to rising incomes, brand preference and improved product experience. It becomes demand suppression when mass, lower-priced products are made unaffordable through taxation. Mass, lower-priced products account for the bulk of IMFL volumes and have already seen pressure after recent duty increases. Therefore, any further escalation must be carefully calibrated. The objective should be to support premiumisation without destabilising the regulated legal market. If 85 per cent of IMFL volumes are concentrated in lower slabs 1–5, does continued taxation pressure in this segment represent strategic upgradation of consumption or unintended erosion of mass-market accessibility? If 85 per cent of IMFL volumes are concentrated in Slabs 1 to 5, continued taxation pressure in this segment is more likely to create unintended erosion of mass-market accessibility rather than genuine strategic upgradation. There is also an important regional context. Unlike several parts of North, West and East India, where country liquor forms a separate low-price category, southern states have banned country liquor. Consequently, lower-priced regulated IMFL becomes the affordable entry point for many consumers and plays an important role in keeping consumption within the legal and quality-compliant market. If these lower-priced regulated spirits become disproportionately expensive, it can alter consumer choices in ways that affect legal market volumes, State revenue, employment and the broader manufacturing ecosystem. It may also create unintended social and market consequences if consumers move away from regulated products. Genuine upgradation happens when consumers move to premium products by choice. It should not be forced through sudden tax-led price escalation in the lower slabs. A responsible excise framework must protect access to regulated legal products while gradually encouraging value-led premiumisation. How should governments evaluate whether revenue growth is being driven by real consumption expansion versus price inflation, especially in a market facing simultaneous input cost shocks and currency depreciation? Revenue growth should be evaluated the way it is done in any other industry: by separating price-led growth from real volume-led growth. Governments should examine category-wise volumes, slab-wise movement, MRP increases, product mix, input cost inflation, currency impact and changes in consumer behaviour. If revenue is rising only because duties and prices are increasing, while volumes are flat or declining, then the growth is not structurally healthy. It is revenue growth through inflation, not market expansion. In our experience, State Governments tend to increase duties year-on-year through various levies at their disposal. They are often more focused on revenue growth than volume expansion. However, for long-term fiscal stability, it is important to understand whether the legal market is actually expanding or whether consumers are merely paying more for the same or lower volumes. Market forces should be allowed to determine pricing and quality points. Companies balance short-term market realities with long-term consumer, stakeholder and investor interests. Excise policy should not become a substitute for normal commercial pricing. CIABC highlights systemic spillovers into agriculture and allied industries. Should alcohol policy explicitly account for upstream rural economic dependency, or does that risk embedding structural demand reliance on a regulated vice sector? Excise policy should explicitly account for upstream rural and economic dependency because the production of spirits is deeply interlinked with agriculture and allied industries. Spirits production depends on Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) and bulk spirit, which are derived from agricultural sources. Molasses comes from sugar production from sugarcane. Grain-based alcohol uses carbohydrate sources such as rice, maize and other grains. In many cases, the rice used for distilling ENA is broken rice or rice that cannot find a market for direct human consumption in the conventional sense. Therefore, alcohol production and agricultural produce are interlinked and interdependent. The industry supports farmers, sugar mills, grain suppliers, packaging, logistics, manufacturing and employment. Recognising this linkage does not mean encouraging irresponsible consumption. It simply means that policy should not treat the sector as an isolated retail category. Alcohol is a legitimate regulated industry with significant upstream economic impact. A balanced policy should combine sensible regulation with recognition of these rural and allied-sector dependencies. If beer is often positioned as a lower-risk category in public health discourse, how should policymakers weigh epidemiological arguments against the reality of higher consumption volumes that may neutralise per-unit alcohol advantages? Policymakers should evaluate total alcohol intake rather than relying only on category perception. Beer may have lower alcohol per ml, but it is generally consumed in larger serving sizes. Therefore, higher consumption volume can neutralise or even outweigh the per-unit alcohol advantage. A 650 ml bottle of strong beer at 8 per centABV contains around 52 ml of pure alcohol, which is broadly comparable to two standard servings of IMFL at 42.8 per cent ABV. This shows why category-based assumptions can be misleading. It is also important to recognise that alcohol consumption patterns vary across markets. In many Western markets, beer forms a large share of alcohol consumption by volume, while spirits account for a smaller share. Heavy beer consumption has also been a relevant factor in alcohol-related public health concerns in those markets. Therefore, it is not accurate to assume that beer is automatically harmless or materially safer merely because it is lower in strength per ml. The relevant policy measure should be actual alcohol consumed, not the category name. Is the current excise architecture in states like Karnataka evolving toward a consumption-shaping policy instrument, or does it still primarily function as a revenue extraction mechanism with incidental behavioural effects? The current narrative around the proposed reform appears to be moving towards a consumption-shaping policy instrument. However, in practical terms, excise policy will still primarily function as a revenue extraction mechanism unless it is supported by broader public health and behavioural interventions. Taxation alone cannot manage behavioural or health outcomes. If governments wish to address public health concerns, they should do so through separate and targeted initiatives, as is done in other sectors. These may include responsible retailing, awareness programmes, enforcement against drunk driving, legal drinking age compliance, quality standards and regulated availability. Excise duty should not become a blunt instrument that distorts categories or price-regulated products beyond the reach of consumers. If prices go out of reach of the masses, substitution effects can take place through illicit markets or other harmful alternatives. This can create wider law-and-order and public health concerns. Therefore, excise policy should balance revenue stability, category neutrality, affordability in the legal market and responsible consumption measures. In a scenario of sustained input cost inflation and geopolitical volatility, what is the long-term fiscal ceiling for excise escalation before it triggers irreversible structural shifts in consumption patterns, substitution effects, or illicit market expansion? The fiscal ceiling is reached when additional duty increases stop producing sustainable revenue expansion and instead begin to distort the market. The warning signs are declining legal volumes, downtrading, substitution into lower-yield categories, pressure on working capital, cross-border movement and expansion of illicit or unregulated markets. Excise tax cannot be escalated indefinitely. A tax that keeps increasing does not necessarily reduce consumption in a clean or predictable manner. It can simply push consumers towards cheaper, unsafe, informal or substitute products. Governments should allow market forces to determine pricing and quality points. Regulation should focus on availability, accessibility and quality. Availability can be governed through store numbers and location. Accessibility can be governed through legal drinking age and responsible retailing. Quality protocols are already embedded through FSSAI and excise compliance frameworks. Alcohol is a legitimate regulated industry that generates employment, investment and upstream benefits to agriculture. The sustainable approach is sensible regulation, predictable taxation and stable market-based pricing rather than continuous duty escalation. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3936/fao-director-general-honours-indias-prime-minister-narendra-modi-with-faos-prestigious-agricola-medal.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3936/fao-director-general-honours-indias-prime-minister-narendra-modi-with-faos-prestigious-agricola-medal.html Mon, 25 May 2026 11:26:11 +0530 QU Dongyu praises the Indian leader’s efforts to prioritize agrifood systems and rural development The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India with the FAO Agricola Medal, the Organization’s highest award, in a ceremony held in the historic Plenary Hall at FAO’s Rome headquarters.  Qu warmly congratulated the Prime Minster and said: “It is an honour to award the FAO Agricola Medal, the Organization’s highest award, to His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, in recognition of his invaluable contribution and long commitment to the wellbeing of India, and all people. During his tenure, he has introduced landmark schemes to enhance agricultural productivity, bolstering food security and improving farmer’s livelihoods. The Agricola Medal is an acknowledgement of his unwavering support to FAO’s mandate in the fight against hunger and poverty, and the pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as his efforts to prioritize agrifood systems and rural development on the international agenda, including during India’s G20 Presidency.” The FAO Director-General lauded Prime Minister Modi’s exceptional leadership and vision in advancing India’s efforts to transform the country’s agricultural landscape through farmer-centric, innovative, and path-breaking initiatives. Qu praised India's food and agriculture initiatives rolled out under the Prime Minister’s leadership for their scale and reach. The FAO Director-General particularly highlighted India’s financial inclusion initiatives, the world's largest food-based social safety net covering 800 million people since the COVID pandemic, direct income support to more than 110 million farmers, national efforts to advance regenerative and natural farming, and the global efforts to promote nutrient rich millets including through the International Year of Millets 2023 in partnership with FAO. He expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s visionary drive to position digital public infrastructure as a global public good during India’s G-20 Presidency - a transformative step toward enabling access to digital technologies in developing countries for efficient service delivery and empowering communities. These sustained efforts, he noted, have contributed to India lifting millions out of poverty. Thanking the FAO Director-General for the honour bestowed upon him, the Prime Minister said that he was deeply honoured to accept the award and termed it a recognition of the immense contributions and achievements of millions of hard-working smallholder farmers of India and the scientific and research community to national and global food security.   FAO-India cooperation The Indian Prime Minister paid tribute to FAO for its seminal contributions to global agriculture and food security, commending its eight decades of efforts to end hunger and eradicate poverty worldwide. Recalling with appreciation the enduring India-FAO partnership, he noted that the Organization has been a steadfast partner in India’s journey towards becoming a self-reliant global agricultural powerhouse. Prime Minister Modi noted that the India-FAO partnership has been mutually reinforcing, with India significantly contributing to FAO’s mission. In this regard, he highlighted the immense contributions of two eminent Indians to FAO – Binay Ranjan Sen, the first Director-General of FAO from a developing country, and Dr M. S. Swaminathan, the architect of India’s Green Revolution, noting that their work has profoundly shaped FAO’s efforts and influenced global food and agriculture discourse. Prime Minister Modi also reaffirmed India’s readiness to further deepen the already buoyant collaboration with FAO. He expressed appreciation for the Director-General’s dynamic leadership and efforts towards transforming FAO into a more efficient, agile and modern organization that aligns with its vision and goals. He lauded the initiatives undertaken by Qu in support of agrifood systems transformation, mobilizing voluntary contributions and the framework of the Four Betters – better production; better nutrition; better environment; and a better life, leaving no one behind. The award ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of FAO member countries, senior leadership of FAO, representatives from other UN agencies in Rome including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and Indian nationals serving in the UN bodies.  The FAO Agricola Medal is conferred by the FAO Director-General on extraordinary leaders who demonstrated commitment and action in support of FAO’s mandate to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, and ensure food security and nutrition for all. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3915/beyond-food-versus-fuel-debate-rethinking-indias-ethanol-economy.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3915/beyond-food-versus-fuel-debate-rethinking-indias-ethanol-economy.html Mon, 18 May 2026 11:36:37 +0530 GEMA President Dr. C.K. Jain explains to AgroSpectrum why ethanol must be viewed as part of India’s larger strategy for energy resilience and rural growth In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Dr. C.K. Jain, President of the Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA), argues that India’s ethanol programme must be viewed through the broader lens of energy security, rural income generation, and agricultural surplus management rather than as a simplistic “food versus fuel” debate. He challenges widely cited claims around ethanol’s water footprint, asserting that modern grain-based ethanol plants operate with significantly lower process-water consumption while increasingly shifting toward diversified feedstocks such as maize, agricultural residues, and second-generation biofuels. Dr. Jain also highlights how ethanol blending has reduced crude-oil dependence, generated foreign-exchange savings, and created additional market opportunities for farmers by utilising surplus and damaged grain stocks. While acknowledging the commercial and logistical challenges facing second-generation ethanol, Jain maintains that India’s long-term biofuel future will depend on balancing sustainability, feedstock diversification, farmer welfare, and energy resilience within a larger clean-energy transition. The ethanol industry argues that the “10,000 litres per litre” figure is misleading because it conflates rainfall, crop cultivation and industrial water use. But for an ecologically stressed country like India, shouldn’t the public care about the total water footprint regardless of where that water is consumed? Are you drawing a technical distinction that may not matter on the ground? India’s water security concerns are valid and deserve serious attention. However, the widely cited “10,000 litres of water for one litre of ethanol” figure is misleading because it combines rainfall, agricultural activity, and industrial process water into a single number. It does not reflect the actual water consumed within ethanol plants. Modern grain-based ethanol plants in India typically consume around 3 to 5 litres of process water per litre of ethanol, supported by recycling systems and process-efficiency technologies. It is equally important to separate agriculture from ethanol production. Rice and paddy in India are cultivated primarily for food consumption and food security. Ethanol production does not drive paddy cultivation. The industry largely utilises surplus rice, broken rice, damaged food grains, ageing stocks unfit for human consumption, and milling by-products that already exist within the agricultural system. India regularly faces grain surplus and storage-management challenges. Productive utilisation of excess grain helps reduce wastage while creating an additional source of income for farmers. In a country where agriculture remains central to livelihoods and rural growth, ensuring farmers receive economic value from surplus produce is an important policy objective. Further, a significant share of paddy cultivation in India is rain-fed. Ethanol production is also gradually shifting towards maize, which is comparatively less water-intensive. The larger debate, therefore, cannot be reduced to a simplistic “ethanol versus water” argument. Ethanol should be viewed within the broader context of agricultural surplus management, farmer welfare, energy security, and rural economic growth. Grain ethanol has overtaken sugar-based ethanol in ESY 2023–24, and GEMA positions maize as a more sustainable feedstock. But if ethanol demand scales aggressively under future E85 and E100 ambitions, what prevents maize itself from becoming the next water-intensive or food-security flashpoint? Are we simply shifting the pressure from one crop to another? Maize is fundamentally different from highly water-intensive crops like sugarcane and is increasingly being viewed as a more sustainable feedstock within India’s ethanol roadmap. In India, a large share of maize cultivation is rain-fed, which reduces dependence on groundwater. At the same time, it is important to separate food production from ethanol production. India’s ethanol programme is not based on diverting food away from people. The policy framework prioritises surplus grain, damaged grain, broken rice, and excess agricultural output that would otherwise create storage pressures or risk wastage. India has periodically faced significant surplus rice stocks after meeting food-distribution and buffer-stock requirements. As per Food Corporation of India data, rice stocks crossed 530 lakh tonnes in 2024, nearly four times the required buffer norm for that period. Productive utilisation of such surplus helps strengthen farmer incomes while reducing pressure on public storage systems. Companies purchasing surplus or damaged grain for ethanol production create an additional economic avenue for farmers that may otherwise not exist. Importantly, the future ethanol ecosystem will not depend on a single feedstock. The sector is already moving towards greater diversification through maize, agricultural residues, crop waste, biomass, and second-generation ethanol. The larger objective is to build a balanced biofuel ecosystem that supports rural incomes, improves utilisation of agricultural surplus, and strengthens India’s energy resilience. You describe criticism of ethanol as an “attribution error,” arguing that India’s water crisis predates the blending programme. But doesn’t the ethanol ecosystem now risk reinforcing exactly those unsustainable cropping incentives — particularly in politically sensitive states where procurement, subsidies and energy pricing already distort agricultural behaviour? India’s agricultural and water-management challenges are long-standing structural issues shaped by decades of cropping patterns, procurement systems, irrigation practices, and rural economics. These challenges existed well before the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme and cannot be attributed solely to ethanol production. It is also important to recognise that ethanol production does not determine what farmers grow for food consumption. Rice and grain cultivation in India are driven primarily by food-security requirements and agricultural policy. The ethanol industry largely utilises surplus grain, damaged grain, and ageing stocks that remain after food and buffer-stock needs are met. What the ethanol ecosystem does provide is an additional market for surplus agricultural output. That creates incremental income opportunities for farmers, particularly in an agriculture-dependent economy where stable rural earnings are critical for broader economic growth. The sector is also evolving towards more diversified feedstocks such as maize, agricultural residues, and second-generation ethanol. Sustainability concerns around crop planning and resource management should continue to be addressed through better agricultural policy, irrigation efficiency, and regional planning. The answer is not to undermine ethanol, but to improve sustainability across the larger agricultural ecosystem while ensuring farmers benefit from productive utilisation of surplus output. Ethanol blending has undeniably delivered foreign exchange savings and reduced crude imports. But how should policymakers weigh energy security against groundwater security? At what point does strategic fuel substitution become environmentally self-defeating in a country facing accelerating aquifer depletion? Energy security and agricultural sustainability should not be viewed as competing priorities. For a country like India, both are essential to long-term economic stability and development. India imports nearly 88 to 89 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making the economy highly vulnerable to external price shocks and geopolitical uncertainty. At the same time, the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme has helped reduce petrol imports by replacing a portion of fossil fuel demand with domestically produced ethanol. According to government estimates, ethanol blending has helped India save more than Rs 1.1 lakh crore in foreign exchange between 2014 and 2024 while reducing crude-oil dependence and supporting rural economies. India’s broader agricultural system also continues to face storage-management and post-harvest challenges. Large quantities of surplus grain and damaged food stocks require productive utilisation after food-security obligations are met. As per Food Corporation of India data, rice stocks crossed 530 lakh tonnes in 2024, far above prescribed buffer requirements. Ethanol production provides one such avenue while generating additional income opportunities for farmers and reducing wastage. The sector is also evolving towards more diversified and sustainable feedstocks, including maize, agricultural residues, and second-generation ethanol technologies. The larger policy challenge is to strengthen agricultural productivity, improve storage and supply-chain efficiency, and ensure better resource management across the rural economy. Ethanol should therefore be viewed as one component within a broader strategy that supports energy resilience, rural development, and more efficient utilisation of agricultural surplus. India’s ethanol programme is increasingly being framed as both a climate solution and a rural economic stabilisation mechanism. But is there a risk that the programme survives politically not because it is the most sustainable energy pathway, but because it has become economically indispensable to powerful agricultural and industrial lobbies? India’s ethanol programme should be viewed within the broader context of energy transition, agricultural economics, and rural development rather than simply through the lens of sectoral interests. The programme has expanded because it addresses multiple national priorities simultaneously. It helps reduce crude-oil dependence, creates productive use for surplus agricultural output, and provides an additional source of income for farmers in a country where agriculture remains central to livelihoods and economic stability. It is important to recognise that ethanol production in India is not based on diverting essential food supplies away from consumption. The sector primarily utilises surplus grain, damaged grain, broken rice, and ageing stocks that remain after food-security and buffer-stock requirements are met. For farmers, this creates an additional market that improves value realisation and reduces the risk of produce going to waste or remaining locked in costly storage systems. In an agriculture-dependent economy, higher rural incomes contribute not only to farmer welfare but also to broader economic growth. At the same time, it would be incorrect to suggest that the programme survives only because of industrial or political interests. Its continued expansion reflects the fact that it delivers measurable economic and strategic value across multiple sectors, including energy security, rural income generation, and more efficient utilisation of agricultural surplus. Any large-scale national programme involving agriculture and energy will naturally create economic stakeholders, but that alone does not invalidate its broader public-policy relevance. No single energy pathway can independently solve India’s future energy and climate challenges. Ethanol is one component within a larger transition that will also include renewables, electrification, green hydrogen, and improvements in efficiency. Its long-term relevance will ultimately depend on continuously improving sustainability, feedstock diversification, economic efficiency, and its ability to deliver balanced value across both the energy and agricultural ecosystems. Second-generation ethanol from crop residues is often presented as the long-term sustainable answer. Yet commercially, progress has remained slow despite years of policy support. What are the hard realities the industry rarely discusses: cost economics, feedstock logistics, technology viability, or policy inconsistency? Second-generation ethanol holds significant long-term potential because it utilises agricultural residues and biomass that do not compete directly with food consumption. However, scaling 2G ethanol commercially is far more complex than often assumed. One of the biggest challenges is cost economics. Compared to first-generation ethanol, 2G projects require significantly higher capital investment, more complex technologies, and higher operating costs. Feedstock logistics are another major hurdle. Agricultural residues are geographically dispersed, seasonal, bulky to transport, and expensive to aggregate and store. Building a commercially viable biomass supply chain at scale requires major infrastructure investment and long-term policy certainty. Technology maturity is also still evolving globally. Commercial-scale operations require further improvements in conversion efficiency, operational reliability, and feedstock flexibility before they become fully competitive. That said, India has already taken important steps through policy incentives, pilot projects, and public-private participation. Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana were introduced to support commercial-scale second-generation ethanol projects using agricultural residues and biomass. Under this scheme, the government approved financial assistance for projects by Indian Oil Corporation in Panipat, Bharat Petroleum Corporation in Bargarh, HPCL in Bathinda, and Numaligarh Refinery in Assam. India has also operationalised one of Asia’s first large-scale 2G ethanol biorefineries in Panipat, Haryana. Built by Indian Oil Corporation at an estimated cost of over Rs 900 crore, the facility uses nearly 2 lakh tonnes of rice straw annually to produce around 3 crore litres of ethanol while also creating an economic use for agricultural residue that would otherwise contribute to stubble burning. The long-term direction, therefore, remains clear. The future ethanol ecosystem will continue to diversify towards agricultural residues, crop waste, biomass, and advanced biofuels, while first-generation ethanol continues to support the productive utilisation of surplus grain and strengthen rural incomes. The ethanol debate today appears trapped between two competing narratives, “green fuel saviour” and “water guzzling disaster.” If you strip away industry advocacy and activist alarmism, what is the one uncomfortable truth both sides are still refusing to acknowledge about India’s biofuel future? India’s energy transition must be viewed in the context of the country’s scale, agricultural economy, and long-term development priorities. Ethanol has emerged as an important component within this transition because it simultaneously supports energy security, rural incomes, and more efficient utilisation of agricultural output. The ethanol debate is often framed in overly simplistic terms, whereas the reality is far more interconnected. India’s ethanol programme is not only about blending fuel. It is also about strengthening domestic energy resilience, reducing import dependence, and creating additional economic value within the rural economy. India continues to face recurring challenges around grain-surplus management and storage capacity after meeting food-security and buffer-stock obligations. Ethanol production provides a productive economic avenue for such surplus while generating additional income opportunities for farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain. The sector is also steadily evolving through feedstock diversification, increased use of maize, agricultural residues, biomass utilisation, and second-generation ethanol initiatives. India has already taken important steps in this direction through policy incentives, commercial-scale 2G ethanol projects, and investments in biomass-based technologies. This transition reflects a broader effort to build a more resilient and diversified biofuel ecosystem that is aligned with India’s long-term goals around energy security, reduced import dependence, rural development, cleaner fuel alternatives, and more efficient utilisation of agricultural resources. Ultimately, ethanol should be viewed not as a standalone solution, but as one important component within a broader national strategy focused on energy resilience, farmer welfare, rural prosperity, and long-term economic growth. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3911/rising-global-fertilizer-costs-spark-us-senate-debate-on-indias-import-dependence.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3911/rising-global-fertilizer-costs-spark-us-senate-debate-on-indias-import-dependence.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:38:41 +0530 US farmers reported sharply rising input costs, with some reducing fertilizer use due to economic pressure A hearing of the United States Senate Agriculture Committee in Washington, D.C. placed global fertilizer markets under renewed scrutiny, with lawmakers, industry leaders, and farm representatives warning that rising input costs and supply chain disruptions are intensifying financial pressure on American agriculture. The discussion repeatedly referenced India’s large-scale fertilizer import programme and its role in shaping global demand dynamics, amid broader concerns about volatility in international fertilizer supply chains. According to testimony from industry stakeholders, global fertilizer markets have become increasingly unstable due to geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, and logistical bottlenecks linked to key shipping corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz. A central point of discussion was the scale of India’s urea procurement, with witnesses noting that the country remains one of the world’s largest fertilizer importers, alongside China, and plays a significant role in global price formation. Corey Rosenbusch, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Fertilizer Institute, told lawmakers that India recently issued a major urea tender for approximately 2.5 million metric tons at near-record price levels, underscoring sustained global demand pressure. He noted that India’s subsidy-driven procurement system—where the government purchases fertilizer and subsidizes distribution to farmers—has a material impact on international market behaviour by insulating domestic consumption from global price fluctuations while maintaining strong import demand. Senators described the current environment as a period of structural stress for agricultural input markets, with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman characterizing conditions facing US agriculture as “a generational event.” American producers who testified during the hearing reported sharp increases in fertilizer prices, with some noting that elevated input costs have forced changes in crop management decisions and, in some cases, reductions in fertilizer application. South Dakota farmer Trent Kubik told lawmakers that phosphate application was eliminated on parts of his farm in 2025 due to cost constraints, while Kentucky farmer Eddie Melton reported significant increases in anhydrous ammonia, urea, and liquid nitrogen prices since early 2026. Industry witnesses also highlighted structural risks associated with global supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a critical corridor for energy and fertilizer-related trade flows. According to testimony, a significant share of globally traded urea and sulfur passes through the region, making fertilizer markets highly sensitive to geopolitical disruption. Additional concerns were raised regarding export restrictions from major producing countries, including China, which participants said have contributed to tightening global supply conditions and upward pressure on prices. While India was frequently cited as a major importer influencing global demand, analysts also emphasized that the country remains highly dependent on international fertilizer supply chains, particularly for urea, potash, and phosphates. Experts cautioned that sustained disruptions in global shipping routes or further tightening of export availability could increase subsidy burdens in importing countries and amplify cost pressures across agricultural systems worldwide. The hearing concluded with broad agreement that fertilizer affordability has become a central challenge for agricultural stability, linking global trade dynamics directly to farm-level economic viability in the United States. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3675/singapore-olam-groups-mindsprint-to-be-aquired-by-indias-wipro-for-375m.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3675/singapore-olam-groups-mindsprint-to-be-aquired-by-indias-wipro-for-375m.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:56:37 +0530 Wipro secures a deep foothold in the “farm-to-fork” supply chain Olam Group has agreed to sell its IT and digital services unit Mindsprint to Wipro for $483.8m (USD375m), as part of its Updated 2025 Re-organisation Plan, according to a company announcement. The deal marks a significant strategic pivot for India’s fourth-largest software services exporter under Chief Executive Officer Srini Pallia. By absorbing Olam’s Mindsprint Pte., Wipro secures a deep foothold in the “farm-to-fork” supply chain—a sector increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence and digital logistics to navigate global inflationary pressures. Shares of Bengaluru-based Wipro rose as much as 3.2% in Monday trading, leading gains on the Nifty IT index. The Transaction Details The acquisition is an all-cash deal for 100% of Mindsprint, which reported $135.6 million in revenue for 2025. Wipro will integrate the unit’s 3,200 professionals across India, the US, and the UK to bolster its “Wipro Intelligence” AI suite. Total Contract Value: Expected to exceed $1 billion over eight years. Committed Spend: $800 million ($100 million annually). Acquisition Cost: $375 million for Mindsprint. Completion Target: 30 June 2026, pending regulatory nods in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Agritech Pivot For Olam Group, majority-owned by Singapore’s state investor Temasek Holdings Ltd., the divestment is a core pillar of its 2025 reorganisation plan. The company, which supplies ingredients to 22,000 customers globally, intends to distribute the net proceeds to shareholders via special dividends. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3651/jica-extends-oda-loan-for-four-key-infrastructure-and-development-projects-across-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3651/jica-extends-oda-loan-for-four-key-infrastructure-and-development-projects-across-india.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:30:17 +0530 ODA loan for four key infrastructure and development projects across India The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreements with the Government of India to provide Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans for four key projects, with exclusive 18,684 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Punjab, India. The loan agreement was signed in New Delhi between Dr. Alok Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative of JICA India Office. The projects aim to drive sustainable and inclusive development across key sectors in India, including agriculture, urban mobility, and healthcare. In Punjab, the initiative focuses on building a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable horticulture value chain by promoting high-value crops, strengthening infrastructure, and enabling Indo–Japan collaboration through innovation, research, and digital platforms to enhance market access. 62,294 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Strengthening Tertiary Healthcare Delivery, Medical Education System and Nursing Education System in Maharashtra (I); 18,684 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Punjab; 102,480 million Japanese Yen for the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project (Phase 3) (I); and 92,400 million Japanese Yen for the Mumbai Metro Line 11 Project. Together, these projects are expected to contribute to economic growth, sustainable cities, and climate action, with implementation led by respective state agencies and completion timelines extending between 2032 and 2034. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3645/indias-reliance-industries-and-koreas-samsung-ct-sign-3b-green-ammonia-supply-deal.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3645/indias-reliance-industries-and-koreas-samsung-ct-sign-3b-green-ammonia-supply-deal.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:10:31 +0530 Reliance Industries has signed a 15-year green ammonia supply agreement with Samsung C&T Corp., marking one of the largest long-term offtake deals globally. Reliance Industries, India’s largest private-sector company, has entered into a binding long-term supply and purchase agreement (SPA) with Samsung C&T Corp. of South Korea for the supply of green ammonia over a 15-year period starting in the second half of fiscal 2029. The agreement, valued at more than $3 billion, is among the largest long-term green ammonia offtake deals globally. It supports the development of export-oriented green fuel supply chains aligned with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. Reliance Industries is developing an integrated new energy platform spanning renewable generation, energy storage, green hydrogen, and downstream fuels and chemicals. The platform includes in-house manufacturing of solar modules, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electrolyzer systems. The company said integrating these capabilities within a single system is intended to improve cost competitiveness and scalability for global markets while supporting domestic manufacturing capacity. The agreement with Samsung C&T is the first in a planned series of long-term offtake partnerships tied to this platform. Anant Ambani, executive director of Reliance Industries, said the company’s new energy strategy aims to scale green fuels and chemicals by integrating renewable resources with domestic manufacturing and technology development, while partnerships will support expansion of its green hydrogen ecosystem and gigafactories. Reliance Industries reported consolidated revenue of $125.3 billion, cash profit of $17.2 billion, and net profit of $9.5 billion for the year ending March 31, 2025. Through its new energy business, the company is developing a large-scale solar and storage project in Kutch to supply round-the-clock renewable power for green hydrogen and ammonia production. Samsung C&T Trading & Investment Group operates a global network with more than 70 offices across 40 countries. The company is active in industrial materials trading and renewable energy project development. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3599/new-zealand-and-india-advance-horticulture-collaboration-opening-first-joint-working-group-meeting.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3599/new-zealand-and-india-advance-horticulture-collaboration-opening-first-joint-working-group-meeting.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:04:17 +0530 Focus on Kiwifruit and Pip Fruit Development India and New Zealand have taken a significant step in strengthening their horticultural partnership by holding the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on horticulture cooperation. This development comes under the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed on 12 March 2025, signaling a focused effort to enhance bilateral ties in the agriculture sector. The JWG meeting was co-chaired by Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (Horticulture), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), representing India, and Mr. Steve Ainsworth, Divisional Manager for Bilateral Relations and Trade, who participated virtually from New Zealand. The meeting saw active participation from senior officials and technical experts from both nations, emphasizing a collaborative approach to advancing the horticulture sector. A key highlight of the meeting was the identification of kiwifruit as a priority crop for India. Priya Ranjan outlined the Kiwifruit Action Plan, which includes several strategic initiatives: Establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to support innovation and best practices. Improved orchard management and productivity enhancement measures. Access to quality rootstock and planting material to ensure sustainable growth. Strengthening post-harvest management and supply chain efficiency. The meeting also addressed the import of kiwi rootstock from New Zealand and the organization of training programs for Indian farmers and entrepreneurs in New Zealand, aimed at equipping them with advanced horticultural techniques. Addressing the Challenges and Collaborative Solutions: Mr. Steve Ainsworth reviewed the current challenges in kiwifruit, apple, and pear production in India. He stressed the importance of collaborative research, capacity building, and grower training as critical components of the partnership. Additionally, he highlighted the need to enhance supply chains, quality standards, and market positioning to improve farmer incomes and productivity. The JWG concluded with the finalization of timelines and an implementation roadmap for the Kiwifruit and Pip Fruit Action Plans. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening horticultural cooperation in their closing remarks. The group also identified immediate next steps and proposed a schedule for follow-up meetings and reviews to maintain momentum in this partnership. Significance of the Collaboration The meeting marks a pivotal moment in India–New Zealand relations, as both nations aim to leverage their expertise to address shared challenges in horticulture. By focusing on kiwifruit and pip fruit development, the collaboration seeks to create a robust framework for knowledge exchange, technical support, and market growth. The successful conclusion of this first JWG meeting sets the stage for a structured and sustained engagement between India and New Zealand. With clear action plans and a commitment to follow-up, the partnership is poised to deliver tangible benefits for farmers, entrepreneurs, and the horticulture industry at large. This renewed focus on horticulture not only underscores the mutual benefits of cooperation but also paves the way for long-term growth in agricultural productivity and trade between the two nations. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3572/irrigation-is-no-longer-about-yield-alone-frank-yan-country-manager-china-komet-irrigation.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3572/irrigation-is-no-longer-about-yield-alone-frank-yan-country-manager-china-komet-irrigation.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:43:48 +0530 Komet positions its low-pressure sprinklers to support water-saving KPIs, data verification, and climate-resilient farming In an exclusive Agrospectrum interview, Frank Yan, Country Manager China at Komet Irrigation, says Asia—particularly China and India—is central to Komet’s 2026 growth strategy because it sits at the intersection of acute water stress, food security pressure, and large-scale irrigation potential. China remains the most urgent market commercially and environmentally, where government-led water-saving policies, performance-based subsidies, and a mature pivot OEM ecosystem create strong demand for Komet’s low-pressure, high-uniformity sprinklers, while India is viewed as a longer-term scale test case constrained by infrastructure, farm size, and farmer financing. Yan emphasizes that the biggest gap today is not technology but market proof—calling for field demonstrations and data-driven evidence to clearly show farmers how efficient irrigation stabilizes yields, reduces energy costs, and manages climate risk. By 2026, Komet’s success in Asia will be defined less by short-term sales and more by brand leadership—measured by widespread OEM adoption, farmer trust, and its systems becoming the default choice for water-efficient mechanized irrigation. Asia’s Water Stress Moment Asia is entering a critical decade for water security, with agriculture at the center of the challenge. How does Komet view Asia’s role in its global growth strategy for 2026, and which markets are most urgent—both commercially and from a water-stress perspective? Asia has more than half the world’s population but less freshwater per capita than almost any other continent. Water stress is driven by population growth, urbanization, climate change, and poor governance — not just natural scarcity. China's water problem is worse than most of the other Asian countries simply because of the high population pressure and extremely uneven distribution of the water recourses in the country. India is another country that has a huge pressure from the point of view of water crisis and the need for agricultural production. Komet's products are almost exclusively serving the pivot irrigation market, which requires many conditions be sufficient to support the market growth. Pivot irrigation can only be used when the farm size is big enough; the right infrastructure exists (water source, power supply) and enough money for the initial investment. China has all of these essential elements for pivot irrigation except for the farm size which is relatively small for pivot irrigation. However, the Chinese government spent billions of dollars during the 2010's in promoting the pivot irrigation in the northern part of the country resulting in over 100 thousand pivots installed in less than a decade. There were over 100 pivot companies in China during the peak time of Water Saving irrigation Campaign from 2012-2018. The focus has shifted to drip irrigation in recent years because they found out that drip irrigation saves even more water. The number of pivot manufacturers has dropped from over 100 to merely 11 today. With the fast development of the supply chain in almost all the industrial sectors in China, the pivot manufacturing has been greatly improved, the quality and functionality of the pivot products are at par with the western companies like Valmont and Lindsay. Their focus has been selling into the international markets in the last ten years due to their large production capacity and the decreasing demand in the domestic market . India as a Scale Test Case India represents one of the world’s largest irrigation markets, yet adoption remains uneven across regions and farm sizes. What structural barriers—economic, behavioral, or policy-related—does Komet see as the biggest constraints to scaling efficient irrigation in India? India has a great potential from the population and food security points of view, but the pivot market won't have substantial growth until the basic infrastructure such as water and power supply has been developed in the major agricultural area. The other limiting factor in Indian is the farm size. Pivot irrigation is more efficient when the size of the field reaches over 30 hectares while 86 per cent of the farms in India are smaller than 2 Ha. Hose reel market in India has a great potential for growth because it covers smaller field and its relatively easier to setup and initial investment is low. Komet's big gun products should fit the hose reel market in India well. However, the biggest constraint in this market is the investment. It has to come from the government at the beginning since the farmers have no money to invest. China's experiences shows that only government can start the irrigation market development in developing countries.  From Subsidies to Sustainability Public subsidies have historically shaped irrigation adoption across Asia. How is Komet positioning its solutions in a policy environment that is gradually shifting from input subsidies toward water-use efficiency, climate resilience, and outcomes-based agriculture? Since the early 2010s, China’s central and provincial governments have included sprinkler irrigation machines (including center pivots and hose reels) in the national agricultural machinery purchase subsidy program. By 2023–2025, subsidies covered 30–50 per cent of equipment costs, with some regions offering additional local top-ups. In key grain-producing provinces like Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and Inner Mongolia, thousands of pivots and hose-reel units were deployed under subsidized programs. Infrastructure Integration Investments went beyond equipment to include water source development (wells, reservoirs), pressurized pipe networks, and smart control systems, enabling efficient operation of mechanized irrigation. Since 2011, China has prioritized “high-standard farmland” construction, targeting 1 billion mu (~67 million hectares) by 2030. This includes installing modern irrigation systems like center pivots and hose reels, especially in arid regions (e.g., Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang). China launched the “Red Line” water policy, capping national water use at 670 billion m³/year by 2030. Provinces must meet water-use efficiency KPIs, driving adoption of precision irrigation. Starting around 2020–2022, China began transitioning from pure input-based subsidies (e.g., “buy a machine, get cash”) toward performance- or output-based incentives: Linking subsidies to water savings, crop yield improvements, or fertilizer reduction (part of the national “fertilizer and pesticide zero-growth” and “water-saving agriculture” strategies). Promoting water rights trading pilots and quota-based allocation in arid regions (e.g., Northwest China). Since 2019, provinces like Gansu and Ningxia have piloted “water-saving performance payments”, where farmers receive bonuses based on verified water savings or yield per unit of water, not just equipment ownership. National projects integrate IoT sensors, remote control, and water metering with pivot/hose-reel systems to enable data-driven water allocation and subsidy verification. As an upstream supplier of high-efficiency sprinklers products for pivots and hose reels, Komet can contribute to China’s policy evolution in the following ways: Enable Precision Water Application: Komet’s low-pressure, uniform distribution sprinklers reduce evaporation and runoff, directly improving crop per drop metrics required under China’s water caps. Support Verification of Water Savings: By integrating Komet sprinklers with flow meters and telemetry (common in Chinese smart irrigation projects), actual water use can be monitored—enabling performance-based subsidies rather than mere equipment purchase rewards. Align with China’s “Green Agriculture” Standards: Komet’s CE-certified, energy-efficient designs help Chinese integrators qualify for green procurement lists and provincial eco-subsidies tied to ISO 14046 (water footprint). Smallholders vs. Commercial Farms Asia’s irrigation demand spans smallholder farmers, plantation crops, and large commercial operations. In 2026, how is Komet balancing product design and go-to-market strategies across these vastly different customer segments without diluting impact or margins?  Komet's product lines are limited and so are the focus of the company's efforts in marketing and sales. Small holders in any market are unlikely to be using pivot irrigation therefore not in client group for Komet. Big guns and sprinklers are the main focus of Komet's business; the focus of the company should be on marketing its unique design around low pressure/energy requirement and its superior uniformity of its products. Technology vs. Adoption Gap Efficient irrigation technology is increasingly available, yet on-ground adoption lags potential. From Komet’s experience, is the bigger gap today technological capability, affordability, farmer trust, or last-mile execution—and how is your Asia strategy addressing that gap? The technology is available and Komet's advantage has been proven, however, that advantage has not been shown clearly to the customers. I believe that demonstration of Komet's product advantage needs to be conducted in the market. Climate Variability and System Design With rainfall patterns becoming more erratic, irrigation is no longer just about yield but risk management. How is climate volatility reshaping demand for Komet’s solutions in Asia, and what changes are you making to system design, data use, or service models in response? Irrigation in its core should be about ensuring agricultural production rather than simply water-saving. However, that message has not been clearly and completely crossed to the farmers. Helping farmers understand the core value of efficient irrigation and the key role of best designed sprinkler systems is the key. We need to let the data and fact tell the true story Localization and Partnerships Water management is deeply local—driven by soil, crops, aquifers, and regulation. How important are local partnerships, manufacturing, and service networks to Komet’s Asia and India expansion, and where do you draw the line between global standardization and local customization? With today's manufacturing capability and the nature of the Komet's products (smaller size and bigger value), localization of manufacturing is not necessary. Marketing and selling Komets products, however, requires well developed dealer network and mutually beneficial partnerships with our OEMS and distributors. For China, the existing pivot OEMs are working very aggressively in developing international markets especially in areas that irrigation market is fast developing. We need to work very closely with them in building Komet's product and technology into their overall value system. The fact that most of the developing markets are underdeveloped in terms of water and power supply demands superior products like KPT sprinklers where low pressure/energy is needed to operate. We should focus on marketing this distinguished technological advantage; the lower energy means more profits for the farmers.  Defining Success Beyond Sales By the end of 2026, what would success look like for Komet in Asia and India—not just in terms of revenue or hectares irrigated, but in measurable outcomes such as water savings, farmer income stability, or climate resilience? The best success for Komet would be an improved brand image. It would be a great success in the China market if 8 out of 10 pivot customers use Komet products and all OEMs use more Komet products than last year!  --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3565/geopolitics-over-geology-limits-of-venezuelan-oil-in-volatile-market.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3565/geopolitics-over-geology-limits-of-venezuelan-oil-in-volatile-market.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:52:29 +0530 Venezuela’s vast reserves offer theoretical relief to global supply concerns, but sanctions, infrastructure decay, and uncertainty mean markets continue to price risk—not barrels Global oil markets are increasingly defined by a contradiction. Forecasts from major agencies and analysts suggest that the world is not running out of oil; on the contrary, supply capacity appears sufficient to meet demand well into the future. Yet prices remain volatile, reacting sharply to geopolitical tensions, sanctions announcements, and political signals. This disconnect reflects a deeper transformation in how oil markets operate: geology matters less than governance, and confidence matters more than capacity. Venezuela epitomizes this paradox. The country holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world, yet its production remains severely constrained. While Venezuelan oil is often invoked as a potential solution to tight markets or rising prices, its real influence on global supply and pricing stability is far more limited—and far more conditional—than such narratives imply. This article examines the global oil supply outlook amid geopolitical risk, focusing on Venezuela’s uncertain production trajectory, the role of sanctions and investment constraints, implications for the United States and India, spillover effects on the agricultural sector, and the longer-term structural forces reshaping energy markets. Plenty of Oil, Persistent Volatility On paper, the global oil system appears well supplied. U.S. shale production remains near record levels, OPEC+ retains spare capacity, and demand growth in advanced economies has slowed as efficiency gains and electrification take hold. Medium-term outlooks generally point to a structural surplus rather than scarcity. Yet oil prices remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. The reason is that markets increasingly price reliability, not just volume. Sanctions, political instability, underinvestment, and infrastructure decay have become central variables shaping expectations about which barrels can actually reach the market—and under what conditions. Venezuela sits squarely at this intersection of abundance and uncertainty. Why Prices Stay Reactive Despite Oversupply Even when supply forecasts point to a structural surplus, oil prices remain sensitive and often volatile. This paradox reflects the interaction of three powerful market forces—each shaping expectations and risk pricing in ways that go beyond simple barrel counts. First: Spare capacity is uneven and politically sensitive - Although headline supply figures may show a surplus, the location and accessibility of that spare capacity matter. Much of the available buffer resides in regions with political risk, unstable governance, or constrained export channels. For example, major producers in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Latin America face ongoing geopolitical tensions that can suddenly affect output or logistics. Even when inventories are adequate overall, perceived vulnerabilities along key pipelines and shipping routes (such as the Strait of Hormuz) can prompt traders to price in risk premiums that support price levels higher than what fundamentals alone would dictate. Second: Upstream investment is constrained and risk-averse- Years of price volatility and uncertainty about the long-term demand trajectory have caused energy companies to tighten capital budgets and focus on short-cycle assets. Many major oil firms have shifted capital toward dividends, share buybacks, or low-cost production hubs rather than large, long-lead projects. This means that while current output may be robust, the pipeline of new capacity that can respond quickly to supply shocks is thin. Financial markets now integrate this investment risk into price expectations; the margin for error is smaller, making prices more sensitive to news about supply disruptions or policy shifts. Third: Sanctions and regulatory risk are structural, not temporary - Sanctions and regulatory constraints—once viewed as episodic disruptions—are now core parts of the oil market’s structure. Countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela face long-term export limitations or legal uncertainties that shape how traders, refiners, and investors assess future supply. Sanctions can dislocate supply flows even when physical barrels exist, creating ambiguity about which volumes are reliably accessible. This structural uncertainty embeds risk premiums into pricing that can keep prices elevated or volatile despite a broad supply surplus. When these three forces interact—geopolitical sensitivity, constrained investment responsiveness, and structural policy risk—they produce a market where prices reflect not just how much oil exists, but how confidently markets believe it will be delivered in the future. Even modest geopolitical developments can therefore trigger outsized reactions in prices because they alter expectations about one or more of these underlying determinants. Venezuela: Technical Potential, Fragile Reality Venezuela’s production collapse is not a geological story—it is an institutional one. Years of mismanagement, sanctions, workforce attrition, and infrastructure neglect have reduced output to a fraction of historical levels. Refineries, pipelines, and upgraders require extensive rehabilitation, while extra-heavy crude production depends on diluents and specialized processing capacity. Even when sanctions are partially eased or licenses granted, uncertainty over policy durability continues to deter long-term investment. As Gilbert Michaud, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy at Loyola University Chicago, explains: “Global oil markets are highly sensitive to geopolitical issues such as conflicts and sanctions. Venezuela has the technical potential to increase oil output, but large-scale increases that bring down prices or increase investor confidence are unlikely. Uncertainty around access to capital, policy, safety, and related issues will reinforce price instability, especially if global disruptions arise elsewhere. On paper, the Venezuela case offers hope of oil supply, but it likely will not translate into price stability with investment hesitation and policy uncertainty.” This gap between technical potential and operational reality defines Venezuela’s role in today’s oil market. The United States: Structural Fit, Not Volume Impact Since December 2018, U.S. imports of Venezuelan oil have remained below roughly 500,000 barrels per day, compared with total U.S. crude imports of approximately 8.5 million barrels per day. The constraint has not been resource availability, but political risk and regulatory uncertainty. As Javier Palomarez, Founder and CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council, notes: “Despite Venezuela having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, the United States has imported less than 500,000 barrels of oil per day from the country since December 2018. To put that in perspective, we import a total of 8.5 million barrels a day from around the world. Increasing Venezuelan production and imports, particularly given their large amount of resources, could be a way to significantly increase American oil supply. However, this is contingent on a variety of variables, some of which are simply out of our control. American oil companies need stability, predictability, regional peace and cooperation from the people of Venezuela in order to effectively operate in the nation. While subsidies and guarantees have been floated by Trump, only time will tell if the proper infrastructure for meaningful production can be developed in the country. Years of neglect, sanctions, unrest and more have left Venezuelan oil production stunted.” In practice, Venezuelan oil matters to the U.S. less as a volume driver than as a structural input—particularly for refiners that require heavy crude to balance light shale output. Two Market Scenarios for Venezuelan Supply According to Igor Isaev, Head of the Analytics Center at Mind Money, access to Venezuelan oil affects market expectations more than global balances: “Access to Venezuelan oil by the United States is unlikely to fundamentally change the global oil balance, but it does meaningfully affect the structure of supply and market expectations. At this stage, two scenarios appear realistic. In the first scenario, the Venezuelan factor supports prices by amplifying geopolitical risk. It draws attention to vulnerabilities in other sensitive regions, most notably Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil transits. Heightened risk perception tends to widen risk premiums and support prices. In the second scenario, Venezuelan supply contributes to relative price stability rather than upside pressure. As markets adapt and additional barrels are absorbed, prices could remain range-bound around $50–60 per barrel, assuming no major shocks and continued confidence in medium-term supply. A critical element here is oil quality. Venezuela produces heavy crude, essential for deep refining and diesel production — segments where the U.S. faces a structural deficit. American output is dominated by light shale grades, while U.S. refineries require heavy crude blending for optimal utilization. In practice, only two large-scale sources exist: Canada and Venezuela. Canada’s Alberta fields are mature, with declining production rates limiting supply growth.” This framing underscores why Venezuelan oil can influence price stability or risk premiums without fundamentally altering supply-demand balances. Agriculture: An Overlooked Casualty of Energy Volatility Oil market instability has direct and often underappreciated consequences for the global agricultural sector. Fuel is a core input for modern farming, powering tractors, irrigation systems, harvesters, and transportation networks. Even modest increases in oil prices can significantly raise operating costs, particularly for energy-intensive crops. Beyond fuel, oil prices strongly influence fertilizer markets, especially nitrogen-based fertilizers derived from hydrocarbons. Energy price volatility often translates into fertilizer price spikes, squeezing farm margins and, in some regions, reducing application rates—ultimately affecting yields. Transportation is another critical channel. Global food supply chains rely on trucking, rail, and shipping. Higher fuel costs raise food prices downstream, amplifying inflationary pressure in import-dependent regions across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. From this perspective, Venezuelan uncertainty matters less as a supply story and more as a volatility amplifier. Even limited geopolitical shocks that push oil prices higher can ripple through agricultural systems, intensifying food insecurity and political sensitivity around food prices. India: Energy Security Through Optionality India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer, importing over 85 per cent of its crude requirements to meet the needs of a rapidly growing economy. Its energy security is therefore highly sensitive to global price swings, supply disruptions, and the geopolitical dynamics of key exporters. In this context, the country’s crude import strategy emphasizes diversification, optionality, and strategic resilience rather than reliance on any single source. Indian refineries are among the most complex in the world, capable of processing a wide range of crude qualities, including Venezuelan heavy and extra-heavy grades. These refineries can handle high-sulfur crude and produce refined products such as diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel, making heavy crude an important component for optimizing throughput and output quality. Despite this capability, India has historically treated Venezuelan oil as optional diversification, not core supply. Several factors reinforce this approach: Sanctions and political risk: U.S.-led sanctions on Venezuela, coupled with broader regulatory uncertainty, limit India’s ability to rely on Venezuelan barrels for long-term planning. Any sudden tightening of sanctions or administrative hurdles can disrupt cargo delivery or financial settlements. Logistical challenges: Transporting Venezuelan crude to India is complex and costly. Routes involve long-haul shipping across the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, adding transit time, insurance costs, and exposure to maritime geopolitical risks. Production reliability: Venezuela’s oil sector has been plagued by infrastructure neglect, underinvestment, and workforce attrition, creating a supply profile that is inherently unpredictable. Even if shipments are contracted, actual delivery volumes can be uncertain. Yet, the mere potential for Venezuelan barrels to enter global markets has strategic value for India. This optionality allows the country to negotiate more favorable terms with other suppliers, particularly in the Middle East, by leveraging the perception of alternative sources. Venezuelan crude acts as a floating variable in India’s energy calculus: it can be tapped when favorable, but India is not forced to depend on it when risk is high. Furthermore, the optionality strategy aligns with India’s broader energy diversification goals, which include increasing imports from Africa, the Americas, and Central Asia, while also investing in refining partnerships and storage infrastructure domestically. By avoiding overreliance on politically sensitive sources like Venezuela, India minimizes vulnerability to shocks that could ripple through domestic fuel markets, inflation, and industrial costs. In short, Venezuelan crude offers technical advantages and strategic leverage, but India’s approach demonstrates that energy security is about flexibility and risk management—not simply accessing more barrels. In an era of global supply volatility, optionality can be as valuable as volume, particularly for a major emerging-market importer like India. A Structural Reframing of the Debate Some analysts argue that the focus on Venezuela itself overstates its importance in a world where demand dynamics are shifting. As Maria Pechurina, Director of International Trade at Peacock Tariff Consulting, argues: “Venezuela isn’t a supply story—it’s a distraction. The world already produces more oil than it needs, demand is structurally declining, and no amount of geopolitical theater can change that. Long-term oil prices won’t be set by Maduro, Trump, or sanctions, but by how fast Chinese and European drivers switch to electric vehicles. In energy markets, electrons—not egos—will decide the future.” This perspective situates Venezuela as a short-term geopolitical variable within a much larger structural transition. Conclusion: Abundance Without Assurance The global oil market today is defined by abundance without assurance. Venezuela’s reserves are vast, but their relevance is constrained by political risk, infrastructure decay, investment hesitation, and shifting long-term demand. While Venezuelan oil can influence refining economics, market psychology, and price volatility—with real consequences for sectors like agriculture—it is unlikely to fundamentally rebalance global supply. As oil markets evolve, prices will be shaped less by reserves and more by confidence, credibility, and demand transformation. In that environment, stability will depend not on who controls the barrels, but on how quickly the world’s energy system moves beyond them. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3554/fourth-industrial-revolution-at-sea-why-technology-adoption-is-real-test-for-sustainable-fisheries.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3554/fourth-industrial-revolution-at-sea-why-technology-adoption-is-real-test-for-sustainable-fisheries.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:29:27 +0530 SAFET Executive Director Inga Wise explains how proven ocean technologies, if adopted at scale and tailored to local contexts, could mark a tipping point for sustainable ocean management under the UN Ocean Decade At the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade, progress toward sustainable fisheries remains uneven—not because of a single missing piece, but due to the need for context-specific combinations of technologies, adoption pathways, and incentives, a challenge SAFET addresses through its SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION mapping tool. In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Inga Wise, Executive Director of SAFET, describes the current moment as a “Fourth Industrial Revolution at Sea,” marked by the availability of proven technologies and a critical shift from pilots to real-world adoption. Inga notes that tools such as satellite surveillance, AI-driven behavioral analysis, and in-situ sensors are already demonstrating impact against IUU fishing, though broader deployment is still constrained by structural, economic, and governance barriers. Ultimately, she emphasizes that SAFET’s role is not to dictate priorities or metrics, but to enable informed decision-making by showing how technology can support measurable progress toward established global frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14. At the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade, progress appears uneven. From SAFET’s vantage point, where is the gap largest today—technology availability, adoption by industry, regulatory alignment, or political will—and what evidence most clearly supports that assessment? From SAFET’s perspective, there is no single gap that, if overcome, will unblock progress. Every context is different, and each situation requires a different solution or combination of technologies to be successful. This is why SAFET’s SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION map exists, to highlight as broad a cross section of solutions in different contexts as possible to enable implementers to find the most relevant parallels to their situation to learn from.  Your report frames this moment as a “Fourth Industrial Revolution at Sea.” What differentiates this technological wave from earlier digitization efforts in fisheries, and why should decision-makers believe this time will deliver systemic change rather than incremental improvements? Whilst the Fourth Industrial Revolution at sea has been building for some time with technologies being developed and tested in various situations, we are now approaching a critical point where there are sufficient proven technologies available and the focus now needs to shift to support regarding adoption. By highlighting where technologies have been most successfully used, SAFET aims to enable faster adoption and reduce the need to reinvent the wheel. Giving potential adopters of solutions examples that relate to their challenges and pathways that relate to their goals enables informed choices that are right for their requirement. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains stubbornly pervasive. Which technologies highlighted in the report have demonstrated the strongest real-world impact against IUU fishing, and what structural barriers still prevent their wider deployment? There are a wide range of technologies now in use that have been proven effective against IUU fishing, including satellite surveillance, AI behavioural analysis, in-situ sensors, and many more. To date, many deployments have been of a pilot nature. We are now seeing a more widespread adoption, which in turn will reduce opportunities for IUU catch to enter the supply chain.  SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION emphasizes real-world case studies over theoretical promise. In reviewing deployments globally, what patterns separate successful implementations from those that underperform or stall—and what lessons should governments and industry leaders draw before investing? One of the main lessons we have seen is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.  Each context and challenge area is different and what worked for a technology deployment in one situation may not work in another. Hence, with our new tool, SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION, we provide filters where the viewer can choose desired outcome, species, geographic location, and more to find projects that relate to their needs.  Consumer trust and traceability are central themes, yet mislabeling rates remain high. Is the challenge primarily technological, economic, or cultural within supply chains—and how realistic is full transparency at scale by 2030? The factors contributing to mislabelling vary across seafood supply chains, which are often complex and fragmented. As a result, the challenge is not confined to a single dimension, but reflects an interaction between technological, economic, and cultural elements.Technology can significantly improve traceability by reducing manual data entry, improving data accuracy, and enabling better data sharing across supply chain segments, but it is not sufficient on its own. Its impact depends on consistent use, data quality, and alignment across diverse actors. At the same time, economic and cultural factors — such as incentives, governance, and standardised data sharing practices — shape how effectively technology is integrated into daily operations. Looking to 2030, full transparency at scale represents an ambitious objective, with progress likely to depend on continued alignment across technological, economic, and cultural factors. Sustainability goals often collide with short-term commercial pressures. How can SAFET’s work help align economic incentives for fishers and seafood companies with long-term ecosystem health, particularly in developing coastal economies? We approach this primarily as an independent, information-sharing role rather than as an implementer. Our work focuses on raising awareness of solutions that contribute to broader sustainability goals and on improving understanding of what tools and approaches are available, how they can be adopted, and where they may be most relevant. By bringing together this information in one place, we aim to make it easier for fisheries, seafood companies, and other industry stakeholders to explore options that align operational needs with sustainability concerns. In many cases, it is already clear that some kind of technology solution is required, but it can be difficult to navigate the various options and understand how a given solution relates to the outcomes required. Our work aims to help clarify those options and outcomes, so those seeking solutions can make informed decisions that fit their local context and commercial realities.   The report highlights more than 10 enabling technologies. If forced to prioritize, which two or three technologies should receive immediate global focus—and which widely discussed solutions do you believe are currently overhyped? As an independent organisation, SAFET’s goal is not to prioritise but to provide the information about where and when these technologies have been successfully deployed to support sustainability initiatives. Given that every situation is different, it is more important that implementers have access to the information we gather to find technologies relevant to their own initiatives and make decisions accordingly.  Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, success will be judged by outcomes, not intent. What specific, measurable changes would convince you that the seafood and fisheries sector has truly crossed a tipping point toward sustainable ocean management? This is a good question, but we would be cautious about defining specific metrics ourselves. Progress toward sustainable ocean management is already framed through established, measurable indicators, particularly those set out under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 14.  The role of SAFET is not to define success, but to highlight how different technologies can contribute to demonstrable progress against these shared frameworks as more implementation examples emerge.  ---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3551/india-and-eu-seal-landmark-free-trade-agreement-fta-boosting-the-agri-food-sphere.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3551/india-and-eu-seal-landmark-free-trade-agreement-fta-boosting-the-agri-food-sphere.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:44:43 +0530 Significant elimination of agri-food tariffs, opening India's vast market to European farmers and food producers The European Union and India have concluded negotiations on a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that promises to reshape agricultural trade between the two economic giants. A key highlight of the deal is the significant reduction or elimination of agri-food tariffs, opening India's vast market to European farmers and food producers. The agreement will slash often prohibitive Indian tariffs on EU agri-food exports, which currently average over 36%. For instance, tariffs on wines will drop from 150% to 75% upon implementation and eventually to as low as 20%. Olive oil tariffs will fall from 45% to 0% over five years, while processed agricultural products like bread and confectionery will see tariffs of up to 50% eliminated. However, the deal also ensures the protection of sensitive European agricultural sectors. Products such as meat, rice, and sugar are excluded from liberalization, maintaining safeguards for these industries. Additionally, all Indian agri-food imports into the EU will continue to comply with the bloc's strict health and food safety standards. This FTA marks India's most ambitious trade opening to date, offering European agri-food businesses unparalleled access to the world's most populous country and fastest-growing large economy, with a GDP of €3.4 trillion and 1.45 billion consumers. In parallel, the EU and India are negotiating a separate agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs), aimed at protecting traditional EU farming products from imitations in the Indian market. This move is expected to further enhance opportunities for iconic European agricultural goods. The deal underscores the EU and India's joint commitment to economic openness and sustainable trade, with a dedicated chapter on trade and sustainable development addressing environmental protection, climate action, and workers' rights. This historic agreement positions European agri-food producers to capitalize on new opportunities while reinforcing the EU-India partnership in a time of global economic challenges. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3522/from-estate-to-algorithm-how-canopy-is-turning-coffee-farms-into-climate-ready-intelligence-systems.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3522/from-estate-to-algorithm-how-canopy-is-turning-coffee-farms-into-climate-ready-intelligence-systems.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:15:10 +0530 A second-generation planter and AI researcher explains how lived plantation wisdom, satellite intelligence, and public–private collaboration are reshaping Indian coffee from the ground up In an exclusive interview with Agrospectrum, Sooraj Kandathil Babu, Founder & CEO of NeuBiom Labs and a second-generation coffee planter with a deep research background in AI, explains how lived estate experience shaped Canopy, a satellite- and AI-driven crop intelligence platform built for real plantation decisions. He discusses how Canopy converts traditional field intuition into digital twins that strengthen climate resilience, improve quality consistency, and enable traceability and collective bargaining for growers and FPOs. The conversation also highlights why affordable deep tech, public–private collaboration, and long-term data partnerships are essential to stabilising incomes and future-proofing Indian coffee amid increasing climate volatility. From Estate to Algorithm You are a second-generation coffee planter building a deep-tech platform rooted in satellite intelligence and AI. What specific pain points from your own plantation experience shaped Canopy’s architecture, and how did you translate traditional field intuition into a scalable digital “crop intelligence” model ? Most people experience coffee only as a finished product, something ordered at a café or picked off a supermarket shelf. What remains largely invisible is the one-year crop cycle that shapes that cup. When you spend time on plantations, the contrast becomes stark. I have seen two adjacent estates, with similar soil and climate, produce vastly different outcomes, one yielding 15 bags per acre, the other nearly double. The difference is rarely geography; it is almost always practice. How growers observe their farms, when they intervene, and how consistently they follow scientific cultivation principles. That gap in outcomes was the first pain point that shaped Canopy’s architecture. Traditional plantation wisdom is rich, but it is often unrecorded. We began by digitising this intuition through what we call a plantation journal, a structured cultivation diary that captures day-to-day farm activities. These records are then analysed alongside local weather patterns and satellite-derived plantation health indicators, allowing us to correlate practices with outcomes and provide context-specific advisories rather than generic recommendations. The second challenge is climate resilience. Coffee is a climate-sensitive crop grown predominantly in regions already exposed to significant climate risk. Multiple studies indicate that many current coffee-growing regions could become unsuitable by 2050 if cultivation practices remain unchanged. This makes climate-resilient growing not optional, but essential. Canopy maps how each grower approaches cultivation and aligns those practices with globally recognised sustainable frameworks, translating abstract climate principles into actionable, plot-level guidance. Quality and market value form the third pillar. Our goal is not to turn every grower into a specialty coffee producer overnight, but to enable clusters of growers to achieve uniform, reliable quality over time. Through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), a standardised package of practices can be deployed across hundreds of farms, improving outturn, grading consistency, and ultimately bargaining power in trade. Canopy supports this with transparent, traceable data that builds credibility across the value chain. Finally, there is technology adoption itself. Agriculture has long lagged behind other sectors in leveraging data and digital tools, despite being one of the most foundational industries. We believe technology, when applied sensibly and with a low barrier to entry, can only strengthen farming systems. Data-driven agriculture has proven its value globally; our focus is on adapting it to Indian conditions, starting with coffee, and earning trust gradually as growers see tangible benefits on their land. Canopy is, at its core, an attempt to translate field-level intuition into scalable crop intelligence, bridging the gap between estate wisdom and algorithmic insight, while keeping the grower firmly at the centre of the system. To add to that, both the founders of NeuBiom Labs come from a strong research background in artificial intelligence and user-centered engineering. My co-founder, Dr. Sooraj Krishna, holds a PhD in AI from Sorbonne University in France, and I am in the final stages of completing my PhD in AI at the University of Würzburg in Germany. In many ways, NeuBiom Labs is the outcome of applying rigorous academic research to the foundational problems we encounter every day on the ground, bridging deep science with real-world agricultural challenges. The Digital Twin Question Canopy creates a “digital twin” of each coffee plot. For growers and industry stakeholders, what decisions become materially better with this digital twin, yield forecasting, pest management, climate risk, or input optimisation, and where have you seen the strongest early impact? The real value of a digital twin is not in any single metric, but in how it improves decision-making across the crop cycle. For growers, Canopy’s digital twin functions as a living health report of each plot. It brings together local weather patterns, satellite-derived vegetative indices, soil indicators, and on-ground cultivation practices into a single, coherent view of plantation health. This allows growers to clearly understand what is affecting their crop and where intervention is needed. Based on this, the system recommends context-specific practices and provides short-term weather forecasts that help growers time their operations more effectively. For FPOs and grower collectives, the digital twin operates at a different scale. Instead of managing farms in isolation, FPOs gain a portfolio-level view of member plantations through comparable health and activity scores. This makes it possible to benchmark performance across growers, identify gaps early, and align field activities with organisational goals. For example, an FPO aiming to promote organic or low-input cultivation can push standardised practices across its members and monitor adoption over time. This structured approach significantly improves consistency in quality and outturn, which directly strengthens collective bargaining power in the market. At this stage, our strongest early impact has been in plantation visibility, practice standardisation, and operational planning for growers and FPOs. Coffee’s annual crop cycle means that advanced outcomes such as yield forecasting, early disease detection, and precise input optimisation require longitudinal data. As we complete full-cycle datasets across a growing number of plantations, these capabilities naturally become more robust and predictive. Ultimately, the digital twin evolves from a monitoring tool into a decision-confidence layer, supporting not just growers and FPOs, but also future stakeholders across trade, finance, and compliance, once the system is grounded in real, season-long plantation intelligence. Affordable Deep Tech: The Rs 2,999 Disruption Enterprise-grade crop intelligence globally is often priced far beyond the reach of smallholders. How did NeuBiom Labs engineer a platform that delivers satellite, AI and hyperlocal insights at Rs 2,999 per crop cycle without compromising data accuracy or depth? Affordability was not an afterthought for us; it was a design constraint from day one. If we want meaningful outcomes such as early disease detection or reliable yield forecasting, the system has to achieve wide-scale adoption. That simply isn’t possible if enterprise-grade crop intelligence remains priced beyond the reach of small and mid-sized growers. A large part of how we achieve this is through ecosystem leverage. NeuBiom Labs is incubated at the Atal Incubation Center at the Coffee Board of India, and the Agri Business Incubator at Kerala Agriculture University, and we are also part of the Google for Startups India. These institutions provide critical support in the form of infrastructure, cloud credits, research access, and grants, which allow us to subsidise costs during the adoption phase without compromising on data quality or analytical depth. Equally important is how we’ve engineered the platform itself. We made a conscious decision not to over-engineer the stack. Instead of building complex, expensive systems that look impressive on paper, we focused on crisp, purpose-driven tools that directly serve agronomic decision-making. This keeps compute costs low, workflows efficient, and insights actionable, ensuring the stakeholders pay only for value they can actually use. User-centred engineering is the third pillar. Over the past year, we co-developed Canopy alongside 23 progressive coffee growers, spending extensive time on plantations to understand how decisions are made in real conditions. This helped us strip away unnecessary complexity and design interfaces and insights that align with how growers think and operate, rather than forcing them to adapt to technology. Ultimately, the Rs 2,999 pricing is not about undercutting the market, it’s about building trust and momentum. Once growers experience the tangible benefits of data-driven cultivation, we see compounding impact: better practices, improved quality and yield, richer datasets, and increasingly powerful intelligence across seasons. That virtuous cycle is what allows deep tech to remain both affordable and scalable in Indian agriculture. Climate Volatility and Coffee’s New Risk Curve Indian coffee faces increasing stress from erratic rainfall, temperature spikes and pest outbreaks. How does Canopy move beyond reactive advisories to predictive risk management, and can it realistically stabilise incomes for small and marginal coffee growers? True, climate volatility has fundamentally altered the risk curve for coffee in India. Erratic rainfall, temperature spikes, and shifting pest dynamics are no longer exceptions, they are the new normal. Yet, despite these changes, a large proportion of small and marginal growers continue to rely on traditional calendars and inherited practices that were designed for a far more stable climate. Canopy moves beyond reactive advisories by anchoring decision-making in context. Each plantation is geo-tagged, allowing advisories to be localised rather than regional averages. More importantly, like we discussed before, the system continuously maps the grower’s cultivation practices through a structured plantation journal and correlates these actions with evolving local weather patterns and plantation health indicators. Advisories are generated not just based on “what the weather is,” but on how the grower is farming under those conditions. This is where predictive risk management begins. Instead of responding after damage occurs, growers start to see patterns, how certain practices amplify climate stress, while others buffer against it. Our systems are trained on authenticated and certified coffee cultivation practices relevant to Indian conditions, ensuring that recommendations are agronomically sound and locally applicable. The impact is not instantaneous. Climate resilience is built over a crop cycle, not in a single intervention. But as growers become more aware of ground realities and begin making data-driven decisions, timing operations better, adjusting inputs, and avoiding unnecessary stress on the plant, we see measurable improvements in crop health, consistency, and outturn. Over time, this translates into better quality and more predictable volumes, which directly strengthens growers’ bargaining power. Income stabilisation, especially for smallholders, becomes far more realistic when this approach is adopted at scale, ideally through FPOs or farmer collectives. At the collective level, risk is no longer borne by isolated individuals. Uniform practices, shared intelligence, and aggregated quality enable more stable market positioning, even in volatile climatic conditions. NeuBiom Labs or Canopy does not claim to eliminate climate risk. What it does is convert uncertainty into informed action, helping growers shift from reactive survival to proactive resilience, one crop cycle at a time. From Farm to Federation: Scaling Beyond the Plot Farmer Producer Organisations, cooperatives and boards need aggregated intelligence, not just farm-level dashboards. How does Canopy translate dispersed plot-level data into decision-grade insights for institutions managing thousands of growers across regions? We see this challenge very clearly, and addressing it is central not just to Canopy, but to the broader mission of NeuBiom Labs. If you look at a region like Wayanad alone, there are over 60,000 coffee growers. Yet how they cultivate, the practices they follow, the health of their plantations, and their evolving responses to climate stress remain largely undocumented and fragmented. This makes coordinated intervention at an institutional level extremely difficult. As a side note, this also means, the traditional and indigenous knowledge our seniors developed with their years of experience on the ground are undocumented. These insights exist largely in memory and practice, not in records. If this knowledge is not captured now, an entire generation of experiential wisdom risks being lost. In parallel with building Canopy, we are consciously working to document and structure this lived knowledge, so future growers have a foundation to build on rather than starting from scratch. Canopy is intentionally designed as a layered intelligence stack, not just a farm dashboard. The mobile app and institutional dashboard are only the visible interfaces. Beneath them sits a core AI layer that includes domain-specific GIS inference engines and a language model fine-tuned exclusively for coffee cultivation. This layer synthesises dispersed plot-level data, activities, health indicators, weather exposure, and spatial patterns, into structured, comparable signals. As adoption scales, this enables institutions such as FPOs, cooperatives, and boards to move from anecdotal understanding to evidence-backed decision-making. Instead of asking what is happening, they can ask why it is happening, where intervention will have the highest impact, and which practices consistently produce better outcomes. This allows for region-wise benchmarking, optimisation of input distribution, targeted extension efforts, and early identification of systemic risks affecting quality or yield. More importantly, this intelligence operates upstream. Institutions can intervene at the practice level, well before harvest, by pushing standardised packages, adjusting advisory focus, or aligning growers toward specific quality or sustainability goals. Over time, this can raise average yield per region, improve uniformity of produce, and significantly strengthen market positioning. What Canopy offers today is the foundation, bringing stakeholders into a shared, data-driven framework for farming. The stack is deliberately built to evolve. As datasets mature across full crop cycles and adoption deepens, the intelligence shifts from descriptive to predictive, and from operational support to strategic planning. In that sense, scaling beyond the plot is not an add-on feature; it is the natural outcome of designing agriculture as a system rather than a collection of isolated farms. Traceability as a Trade Weapon With Europe and other premium markets tightening sustainability, deforestation and origin norms, traceability is fast becoming non-negotiable. How does Canopy’s end-to-end tracking position Indian coffee against competitors like Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia in compliance-heavy global markets? India is currently classified as a low-risk origin under emerging regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). However, low risk does not automatically translate into market access, especially in premium and compliance-heavy export markets that are increasingly dominated by large, vertically integrated players. For India’s predominantly smallholder-driven coffee sector, traceability becomes the key enabler to participate on equal footing. Canopy positions traceability not as a post-harvest paperwork exercise, but as a cultivation-first system. Wide adoption of the Canopy stack allows FPOs to standardise coffee cultivation practices across hundreds of small growers, while ensuring farm-level quality control and transparent activity records. This creates verifiable evidence of how coffee is grown, not just where it comes from. From a global trade perspective, this is critical. Competing origins like Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia benefit from scale, mechanisation, and consolidated supply chains. India’s strength lies elsewhere, in shade-grown systems, biodiversity-friendly cultivation, and smallholder domination. Canopy translates these inherent advantages into structured, auditable data that buyers and regulators can trust. By maintaining traceable records from plot-level practices through harvest, the platform will soon support compliance with EUDR and other sustainability frameworks, while simultaneously building credibility for certifications and responsible sourcing claims. Over time, this shifts Indian coffee from being viewed as a fragmented supply to a verified, institutionally backed origin, capable of commanding premium pricing rather than competing purely on volume. As the Canopy ecosystem matures, its stakeholders naturally expand, from growers and FPOs to exporters, buyers, financiers, and compliance bodies, each drawing value from the same shared source of truth. In that sense, traceability becomes more than a regulatory requirement; it becomes a strategic trade instrument that allows Indian coffee to compete, differentiate, and negotiate from a position of strength in global markets. Public–Private Synergy in Agri-Tech Canopy’s launch at the CCRI centenary, with backing from the Coffee Board, AIC-CCRI and global ecosystem partners, signals a rare convergence of science, policy and start-ups. What role should public institutions play in accelerating the adoption of crop intelligence platforms at scale? The support we’ve received so far has been exceptional and deeply collaborative. Institutions such as Kerala Startup Mission, the Agri Business Incubator at Kerala Agricultural University, the Atal Incubation Center at the Coffee Board, Google for Startups, Wadhwani Foundation, EarthOn Foundation, our academic institutions, and, most importantly, the growers and FPOs we work with, have all contributed meaningfully to Canopy’s evolution. This convergence of policy, science, and entrepreneurship is exactly what agriculture needs at this moment. At a broader level, public institutions play a pivotal role in accelerating adoption of crop intelligence platforms by acting as trusted intermediaries. For most farmers, especially smallholders, technology adoption is not just a cost decision, it is a trust decision. When awareness and capacity-building programmes are led or endorsed by public institutions, it significantly reduces hesitation and shortens adoption cycles. Messaging around why data-driven cultivation matters, both in the short term for productivity and in the long term for climate resilience and market access, carries far greater credibility when it comes from institutional voices. Beyond awareness, public institutions can act as scale catalysts. Financial support in the form of grants, pilot subsidies, or outcome-linked incentives for using intelligent farming systems can dramatically accelerate adoption without burdening growers. This is particularly important in early phases, where benefits accrue over a crop cycle rather than immediately. Central bodies such as the Coffee Board of India and regional agricultural research centres can also serve as nodal intelligence hubs. By aggregating anonymised, region-level insights from platforms like Canopy, they can monitor ground-level deltas, identify systemic risks, refine extension strategies, and feed real-world data back into policy and research. Ultimately, public institutions don’t need to build technology themselves, but they can create the conditions for it to scale responsibly. By combining trust, standard-setting, financial support, and feedback mechanisms, they can ensure that crop intelligence platforms move from isolated pilots to national agricultural infrastructure. The Long View: Canopy Beyond Coffee Is Canopy a coffee-specific solution, or the foundation of a broader plantation intelligence stack? Over the next five years, how do you envision NeuBiom Labs evolving, across crops, geographies, or even into climate-linked finance and sustainability certification ecosystems? Today, Canopy is intentionally coffee-specific. Coffee is a climate-sensitive, globally traded crop with a long production cycle and complex stakeholder dynamics, which makes it an ideal starting point. But structurally, Canopy is designed as the foundation of a broader plantation intelligence stack, particularly for climate-sensitive cash crops where resilience, quality consistency, and traceability are becoming non-negotiable. For us, technology is not the end goal; it is the accelerator. The real determinant of success lies in operations, how deeply and effectively we work with growers, FPOs, and institutional stakeholders on the ground. Agriculture does not lend itself well to a simple “build-and-sell” software model. Our belief is that meaningful outcomes emerge only when platforms like Canopy are deployed as long-term partnerships, where data, practices, and incentives evolve together over time. Over the next five years, we see NeuBiom Labs expanding along three clear dimensions. First is geographic expansion, moving from regional depth to multi-region intelligence, where patterns and risks can be understood at landscape and corridor levels rather than isolated farms. Second is crop expansion, applying the same intelligence framework to other climate-sensitive plantation crops that share similar characteristics: long gestation periods, smallholder dominance, and exposure to climate and market volatility. The third dimension is ecosystem integration. As datasets mature across crop cycles, Canopy naturally becomes relevant to adjacent systems, climate-linked finance, sustainability certification, compliance reporting, and institutional risk assessment. When cultivation data is reliable, longitudinal, and traceable, it reduces uncertainty not just for growers, but also for buyers, lenders, insurers, and policymakers. In that sense, Canopy’s long view is not about becoming a one-size-fits-all platform, but about enabling a shared, data-driven workflow across agriculture. As stakeholders evolve, the stack evolves with them, ensuring that value is created collectively, and that the benefits of intelligence compound across the entire agricultural ecosystem. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:50:16 +0530 Codex and FAO officials detail how updated standards aim to protect consumers without triggering disproportionate trade disruption for export-dependent economies In an exclusive Agrospectrum and NUFFOODS Spectrum interview with global food-standards leaders — Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary; Lingping Zhang, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; Markus Lipp, Senior Food Safety Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; and Hilde Kruse, Senior Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat — CAC48 emerges as a decisive moment for Codex amid rising geopolitical fragmentation. The experts reaffirm Codex’s science-based, consensus-driven mandate, which shaped major reforms including additive reviews, aflatoxin updates, pesticide-residue reference guidelines and new maximum lead levels for spices. They underline how improved Codes of Practice, surveillance support and harmonised quality parameters enable consumer protection while minimising trade disruption for export-reliant economies. Looking ahead, they highlight the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which places digital traceability, climate-risk foresight, and advanced analytical technologies at the core of modernising global food safety governance. Edited excerpts; Codex at a Geopolitical Crossroads The 48th Session saw critical standards adopted across additives, contaminants, and fresh-produce quality. At a time when food systems face geopolitical fragmentation, supply-chain shocks, and rising protectionism, how does Codex ensure these standards remain science-led, globally harmonized, and insulated from political pressure? The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is a Member-driven body with its commitment to a science-based approach to standard setting enshrined in its procedures. Its work is guided by its strategic goals, and its core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Codex texts are the benchmark for food safety under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and are relevant to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) where WTO members refer to harmonization with international standards such as the Codex Alimentarius for food-related issues such as labelling. Codex standards play an important role in addressing specific trade concerns or for dispute settlement cases. Wherever you are, whatever you do, safe food is an everyday need. And it is a global commodity. These aspects are integral to every discussion in the Codex Alimentarius Commission. “Together” was also the theme of CAC48, which served to highlight that when it comes to food safety and quality it is only by working together that we can effectively and efficiently ensure food is safe and of good quality.  The GSFA Overhaul: Science, Safety, and Consumer Trust More than 500 food additive provisions were reviewed, leading to revocations and new inclusions. What principles guided the reassessment—particularly for colourants like annatto extracts—and how does FAO ensure regulators and industry transition smoothly to these updated provisions without disrupting product availability or trade flows? All Codex work is conducted following approval by CAC. Thus, the decision for reassessment was taken by Members. In the case of annatto extracts, this decision was based on: The need to align the General standard for food additives with relevant sections of commodity standards. In this case, for example, there was a need to align with the Standard for fermented milks, which does not provide for the addition of annatto extracts in plain milk. Codex texts are developed through consensus by all its Members in a deliberate manner that often spans a timeframe of several years. The national Codex contact points serve as a primary node to disseminate all applicable information to national stakeholders. In addition, FAO provides support when requested by Member Countries to strengthen national Codex structures, thereby enhancing national capabilities in disseminating all relevant Codex texts to national stakeholders. Aflatoxins in Peanuts: New Science, New Responsibilities The revised Code of Practice on aflatoxins integrates updated agronomic science, maturity-stage tables, and roasting effects. How will FAO help producing countries—especially smallholder-dependent economies—translate these best practices into field-level change? Are new surveillance, extension, or capacity-building mechanisms planned? FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly. FAO and Codex furthermore have published numerous guidance documents, codes of practice and related texts that is publicly available, ready to be used by any other organization that would like to use this information in order to support producers of peanuts. Lead Limits in Spices: Balancing Public Health and Trade facilitation With new maximum levels now set for dried bark (cinnamon) and culinary herbs, exporting nations such as —India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia—face compliance pressure. How does Codex balance the dual mandate of protecting consumers health while ensuring fair practices in trade, in this case, preventing trade disruptions for economies reliant on spice exports? The mandate to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade is the statutory purpose of CAC. This means that, when it comes to food safety standards such as maximum levels for contaminants in foods, CAC will not establish more stringent measures than necessary to protect consumers health so that the measures themselves do not become a technical barrier to trade which may then translate in trade disruption that may impact economic growth and ultimately food security.   Although spices and culinary herbs are consumed in small amounts, as opposed to other foods, it remains important to assess the safety of lead levels in these foods due to the impact of lead toxicity on human health that may include neurodevelopmental effects such as decreases in Intelligence Quota (IQ) and attention span in children, impaired renal function, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, impaired fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore the ALARA continued to apply when CCCF discusses risk management considerations related to health and trade so that while ensuring the safety of the food, this does not imply high rejections rate of lot consignments, at import control point. CCCF does provide support to Codex Members to enable them to comply with MLs, by developing codes of practice, a compendium of risk management measures and practices to assist in reducing food contamination, in this case CAC40 adopted in 2017 the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxins in spices (CXC 78-2017). FAO does have a role to play in assisting countries with the implementation of the CoP, helping them to identify specific risk management measures that may not be included in the CoP, as they are usually overarching texts, that can complement the measures applicable worldwide that are described in these CoPs. The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted MLs for lead in spices and culinary herbs, specifically, dried bark (cinnamon) and dried culinary herbs. The MLs are 2.5 mg/kg for lead in spices, dried bark and 2.0 mg/kg for lead in culinary herbs, dried and will now be added to the General Standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CXS 193-1995).  Pesticide Reference Materials: A Quiet but Critical Reform The guidelines allowing extended use of pesticide reference materials beyond labelled expiry dates could significantly reduce laboratory costs and waste. What drove this reform? And how does FAO envision it strengthening residue monitoring systems in low- and middle-income countries where testing infrastructure remains limited? Pesticide residues in food are a subject of particular concern for consumers and in the food trade. To ensure the safety of food, the regulation of pesticide use, and relevant residues, must be enforced and guaranteed. Part of the process of testing for pesticide residues relies on laboratories being able to access what are known as reference materials, or RMs. But these are costly and sold with 2-to-5-year short-term expiry dates, though there is no requirement to find maximum shelf life. This can force laboratories to buy new RMs more frequently than potentially necessary. This leads to additional work and additional costs, and that can hinder how much testing can be done.  The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted guidelines that provide a scientifically sound framework to monitor the purity and stability of reference materials under defined conditions, which, if implemented correctly, may allow continued use of RMs beyond their expiry date - where purity remains within acceptable limits. This reduces recurring costs, minimizes waste, and ensures confidence in the reliability of pesticide residue analysis.  The work on the development of guidelines for monitoring the purity and stability of reference materials of pesticides during prolonged storage commenced at CCPR51 in 2019, when some delegations expressed concerns regarding the limitation of the use of reference materials beyond the expiry date, leading to significant recurring costs for laboratories. As chair of the electronic working group (EWG), India led the work to develop these guidelines. FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly.  Read more about this work in the 2025 edition of the CODEX magazine   Standard for Fresh Dates: Trade Enablement for Climate-Stressed Regions The new standard comes after a decade of negotiations and is deeply important for date-producing regions across the Middle East and North Africa. How will harmonized quality parameters—size, colour, uniformity, defects—reshape global trade? Can such standards help climate-stressed producers secure better prices in high-value retail markets ? By adopting the new Standard for fresh dates, Codex Members now have an international reference that provides the baseline for international trade of this commodity upon which trading partners can agree on additional quality provisions based on their consumers’ preferences. For producing countries, this opens up trade possibilities across the globe, which, in many cases, will support the livelihoods of small producers, bolster economies and provide a safe, good quality product for consumers worldwide. Castilla Lulo (Naranjilla): Regional Standards as a Strategic Tool This new regional standard reflects the fruit’s cultural importance and emerging trade value in Latin America. What criteria does Codex use to decide when a product merits a regional rather than global standard? And do regional standards serve as testbeds for potential future global adoption? When considering new work proposed by FAO/WHO regional coordinating committees, CAC considers, amongst other things, whether the new work is justified on the grounds that the product in question is significantly traded intraregionally and that there is no significant trade between or within other regions When a commodity for which there is a regional standard, sees increased trade at a global level, the coordinating committee concerned, or a Member, can propose extension of the territorial application of the standard. This involves new work, which has to be approved by CAC. CAC48 approved, for example, new work on converting the Regional standard for laver products (Asia) to a worldwide standard, work that will be carried out by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP). The Next Frontier: Modernizing Codex for a New Era of Food Risks From AI-driven food systems to precision fermentation, novel ingredients, and climate-linked contaminants, food safety risks are evolving faster than many national regulatory systems. What are FAO’s top priorities for modernizing Codex over the next decade? How will future standards incorporate digital traceability, climate risk modelling, and new analytical technologies? FAO is a parent organization of Codex, together with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, work prioritization in Codex is the remit of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. CAC47 adopted the Codex strategic plan 2026–2031 and CAC48 its monitoring framework. The purpose of the Codex strategic plan and its renewal and renegotiation every five years is to ensure that Codex work is aimed at achieving the most appropriate objectives. FAO has a very long-standing tradition to inform the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies with all relevant information to facilitate forward looking workplanning. FAO continues to offer its support to all its members and the members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to assist in national capacity building activities to strengthen food control systems, food safety governance and all related aspects. The new strategic plan has as its first Strategic Goal to: Respond to Members’ needs for protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade in an evolving global landscape, by developing science-based standards and related texts 1.1 Foresight and horizon-scanning activities are used to support the identification of issues likely to impact food safety, quality and trade. 1.2 Scientific advice that addresses the needs identified by CAC and its subsidiary bodies is primarily provided by FAO and WHO and their joint scientific advisory bodies, informed by globally representative data and appropriate international expertise and methodology. 1.3 Scientific advice is used by CAC and subsidiary bodies in line with Codex risk analysis principles. 1.4 Codex standards and related texts are developed, reviewed and adopted in a timely, transparent and inclusive manner. Thus, with reference to FAO’s foresight programme ( https://www.fao.org/food-safety/scientific-advice/foresight/en/ ), Codex will aim to keep ahead of emerging trends Codex work is already addressing some of the key emerging issues and adapting based on Members’ priorities: Digital traceability is already a key topic of discussion in the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), and work is ongoing to develop texts for the digitalization of national food control systems. CAC47 adopted the Codex Committee on Food Labelling’s (CCFL’s) Guidelines on the provision of food information for pre-packaged foods to be offered via e-commerce New food sources and production systems have been discussed extensively in Codex in recent years. In this context several areas of new work are under discussion which will help define how codex addresses this emerging area moving forward. Changing climate is also impacting food safety and this is also impacting the standard setting work of Codex. For example, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) elaborated and CAC47 adopted the Code of practice for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning, in response to the evolving nature of this issue, which is related to climate factors. The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene developed and CAC46 adopted Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing in response to Members concerns about the need to ensure that in the context of water resource challenges, the safety of food was not negatively impacted. There is a continued emphasis, particularly within CCCF, on the issue of mycotoxins, the threat of which is evolving and possibly expanding as climate factors change. —---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3504/union-budget-2026-expectations.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3504/union-budget-2026-expectations.html Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:40:55 +0530 Resilience, efficiency & prosperity As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils Budget 2026, the nation demands more than routine allocations. Indian agriculture is at a historic inflection point. This Budget is expected to operationalise the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, aiming to transform farming from a low-margin, input-heavy, staple-focused sector into a high-productivity, high-value, globally competitive engine. Economists, industry leaders, and multilateral agencies concur: Incremental tweaks have run out of runway, and structural reforms are imperative to bridge productivity gaps, restore soil and water health, and secure farmers’ livelihoods. “Budget 2026 must signal a decisive move from blanket input subsidies to outcome-linked support that rewards water-use efficiency, balanced fertilisation, and low-emission practices at the farm level,” asserts Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog.  Dr Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)and former Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), echoes the call for digitally verifiable, efficiency-led support: “Linking direct benefit transfers with soil health cards, precision nutrient management, and diversified cropping will reduce fiscal stress while lifting total factor productivity across both rainfed and irrigated systems.” The imperative is clear: Budget 2026 must transition from fragmented schemes to a coherent, science-led, productivity-centric agricultural strategy — a structural foundation for a globally competitive, climate-smart, and high-income Indian agriculture. The Foundation of 2025: From Intent to Implementation Budget 2025 laid important groundwork, signaling a shift from stop-gap support toward structural measures aimed at productivity and resilience. The launch of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, targeting 100 low-productivity districts, marked the start of district-level agricultural renewal. Coupled with a six-year protein security initiative under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, it created stable procurement for tur, urad, and masoor, reducing India’s import dependence in key pulses. “Budget 2026 must accelerate India’s shift to a climate-resilient, value-enhanced agri-economy by scaling biologicals and unlocking the waste-to-wealth opportunity. Targeted fiscal support for biosolutions, soil health and circularity can boost productivity while reducing chemical dependence. ’’ — Krishna Mohan Puvvada, Regional President, (Middle East, India and Africa), Novonesis Experts argue the next step must embed climate intelligence into farm-level decisions. “Budget 2026 must fund monsoon-contingent nutrition advisories at scale — using rainfall analytics and soil data to dynamically adjust fertiliser recommendations — so farmers can shift from fixed schedules to climate-responsive feeding of crops,” says Dr Manish Singh, AVP–Technical & Marketing, Transworld Furtichem Limited. He proposes a unified Nutrient Efficiency Index (NEI), integrating soil-test data, cropping patterns, water use efficiency, and fertiliser balance. “Budgets and subsidies should be allocated based on NEI improvement, not fertiliser consumption. This drives balanced nutrition and scientific fertiliser use rather than volume-driven demand,” he added. “Budget 2026 must signal a decisive move from blanket input subsidies to outcome-linked support that rewards water use efficiency, balanced fertilisation and low-emission practices at the farm level.”​ — Dr Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog Budget 2026 also sought to ease liquidity bottlenecks by raising Kisan Credit Card limits from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, supporting smallholders, dairy farmers, fishers, and allied producers. Sectoral reforms — from the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds and a five-year cotton revitalisation plan to institutions like Bihar’s Makhana Board — aimed to modernise production, while allocations for storage, logistics, and market infrastructure addressed post-harvest losses. “Budget 2026 must prioritise digital infrastructure, credit linkages, and rural capacity building to scale precision agriculture. Agri-drones, IoT and data analytics can boost yields, conserve resources and strengthen climate resilience. Targeted subsidies, public–private partnerships and R&D incentives will accelerate adoption, integrate technology with national agricultural databases, and shift India from subsidy dependence to self-reliant, innovation-led farming.”  – Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace Yet, experts insist these gains must now converge into a coherent resilience architecture. “The next Budget should consolidate irrigation, watershed, soil health, and climate missions into a single ‘National Resilient Farms Mission’ with district-level targets for water productivity and soil organic carbon,” says Dr V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA).  “Linking direct benefit transfers with soil health cards, precision nutrient management and diversified cropping will reduce fiscal stress while lifting total factor productivity across rainfed and irrigated systems.”​ — Dr. Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and former Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), adds, “Every rupee for irrigation must be co-anchored with micro-irrigation, fertigation-ready soils, and climate-resilient varieties so public investment translates into real resilience on farmers’ fields.” Budget 2026 will ultimately be judged on whether it can convert these incremental foundations into a mission-driven, 2047-ready agricultural architecture that delivers genuine resilience, competitiveness, and prosperity for India’s farmers. Fixing the Foundations: The Budget That Must Rewire Subsidies, Markets and Science As Budget 2026 approaches, it is evident that Indian agriculture stands at a pivotal crossroads. The long-standing promise of doubling farmers’ incomes, once a political mantra, now demands a sober re-examination. Structural pressures—from climate volatility and shrinking margins to global competitiveness and rising nutritional expectations—have made incrementalism insufficient.  “The allocation of the budget should be done across three horizons: the immediate year, the next five years, and the long-term vision through 2047,” asserts Sandeepa Kanitkar, Chairman of BASAI and Managing Director of Kan Biosys, highlighting that India’s agricultural budget—barely 2 per cent of total expenditure—is glaringly inadequate for a sector that contributes 17 per cent of GDP, sustains 55 per cent of the population, and underpins the nutrition of 140 crore citizens. “The next Budget should consolidate irrigation, watershed, soil health and climate missions into a single ‘National Resilient Farms Mission’ with clear district targets for water productivity and soil organic carbon.”​ — Dr V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR–CRIDA The inefficiencies of current spending are stark when viewed through the prism of subsidies. India invests roughly Rs 1.75 – 2 lakh crore annually on fertilisers, electricity, MSP procurement, crop insurance, and other input-linked supports, yet the returns in productivity, soil health, water security, and farmer incomes remain worryingly low.  “Subsidies have historically encouraged consumption rather than efficiency,” Sandeepa notes. Cheap urea drives over-application, subsidised electricity has accelerated groundwater depletion, irrigation grants rarely incentivise precision water use, and MSP procurement entrenches cropping patterns that undermine soil regeneration. For sectoral leaders, Budget 2026 must mark a decisive philosophical pivot—from input-heavy, subsidy-driven policies to a science-led, technology-driven, and outcome-oriented framework.  Every rupee for irrigation must be co-anchored with micro-irrigation, fertigation-ready soils and climate-resilient varieties so that public investment translates into real resilience on farmers’ fields.”​ — Dr Himanshu Pathak, Ex- Director General, ICAR & Secretary, DARE S. Soundararadjane, CEO of HyFarm, points to the potato sector as a model: “India could build the world’s most advanced, predictable, and globally competitive potato ecosystem through a National Potato Innovation Mission. CRISPR-edited varieties, AI-powered breeding, drone-led phenotyping, and mass deployment of True Potato Seeds can transform production while reducing costs and disease risks. Region-specific varieties are not optional anymore—they are strategic imperatives.” “Budget 2026 must reform subsidies by shifting from consumption-based support to science-led, Package of Practice–linked incentives tied to production outcomes. Performance-based support will improve soil health, enhance resource efficiency, and raise farmer incomes. Mechanisation assistance should be delivered via DBT and limited to FMTTI/BIS-approved equipment to ensure quality, effectiveness, and measurable impact on the ground.”  - Ravindra Agrawal, Chairman, KisanKraft Ltd Sandeepa further advocates restructuring through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). “Subsidies must be given through DBT to farmers and allow them to use this money as per their wish. This has started with Kisan Samman Nidhi but must be extrapolated by diverting subsidies given for insurance, fertilisers, electricity, and water to DBT,” she explains. Such a shift would correct long-standing distortions, empower decision-making, sharply reduce leakages, and create the fiscal headroom necessary to invest in science, innovation, and climate resilience. “To truly raise farm incomes, storage, grading, logistics and digital marketplaces must be treated as core agricultural infrastructure, not peripheral add-ons.”​ — Sanjiv Puri, Managing Director, ITC Ltd “A key priority must be efficiency-driven subsidy reform. We need to shift from consumption-based subsidies to scientifically designed, Package of Practice (PoP)–linked incentives tied directly to production outcomes. Performance-based support improves soil health, enhances resource efficiency, and strengthens farmer incomes. Mechanisation support should be delivered through DBT and restricted strictly to FMTTI/BIS-approved equipment to ensure quality and impact in the field,” says Ravindra Agrawal, Chairman, KisanKraft Ltd, emphasizing that combining DBT with outcome-linked incentives can amplify impact across mechanisation, inputs, and farm management practices. “India’s next big leap will come from shifting towards processed, residue-compliant, traceable and climate-smart agri-exports rather than relying mainly on bulk commodity shipments.”​ — Abhishek Dev, Chairman, APEDA Markets, too, are evolving in ways that demand more sophisticated production systems. The rising domestic and global appetite for residue-free food is already accelerating India’s biopesticide segment. Sandeepa emphasises that a formal residue-free label—jointly administered by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture—could unlock higher farmer incomes through premium market categories. “Blanket reduction on CIB-registered biopesticides must be done at the earliest to 5 per cent,” she cautions, noting that inconsistent GST categorisation is harming both growers and industry participants seeking safer input adoption. “Targeted support for FPOs, agri-startups and interoperable e-market platforms can cut post-harvest losses, stabilise prices and make climate risk more manageable for smallholders.”​ — Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC); Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture The export ecosystem is entering a decisive phase. “India must position itself as a trusted global supplier,” says Kuchibhotla Srinivas, Partner, Deloitte. Strategic export corridors, residue-free clusters, bilateral agreements, and harmonisation with global standards, he argues, can convert India’s scale into global influence.  “If India wants to lead in exports, supply chains must embed traceability, quality assurance, and sustainable input use,” adds Ankur Aggarwal, Executive Chairman, Crystal Crop Protection. The global opportunity is clear. “India’s next big leap will come from shifting towards processed, residue-compliant, traceable, and climate-smart agri-exports rather than relying mainly on bulk commodity shipments,” says Abhishek Dev, Chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). “The agri sector needs a unified national framework, science-based standards, and simplified licensing to enable innovation in high-value micronutrients and specialty fertilisers. Streamlined regulation will accelerate advanced nutrition technologies, strengthen soil health, and unlock productivity and profitability gains essential for truly transformative agricultural reform.”  — Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, President, IMMA  Value addition must become central to India’s strategy, particularly in crops like sugarcane. “Exports of sugar quota have to be restricted to further increase production of alcohol for oil substitution. Value addition is the key. Targets of 20 per cent plus substitution have to be the new target for easing some oil dollars. The money thus freed up can be used to improve irrigation, research, and perfecting models which are customised for Indian agriculture,” adds Sandeepa. Circularity, too, must become integral. Krishna Mohan Puvvada, Regional President, (Middle East, India and Africa), Novonesis stresses, “Adequate support must be provided for harnessing the waste-to-wealth potential in agriculture, including robust logistics for storage and transportation of agricultural waste feedstocks that can be transformed into fertilizers and bioenergy.” “A direct benefit transfer model for fertilisers—sold at full cost with farmers claiming subsidy via POS authentication—can be a game-changer. It ensures manufacturers receive full value, the government gains full GST, markets maintain adequate supply, leakages and black-marketing are curbed, and subsidy outlay reflects actual use. Budget 2026 should prioritise this transparent, efficient reform.” – Vinod Goyal, CEO, Agricare Corporation Domestic market architecture requires equal attention. Dr Ashok Dalwai, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) and Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, notes, “Targeted support for FPOs, agri-startups, and interoperable e-market platforms can cut post-harvest losses, stabilise prices, and make climate risk more manageable for smallholders.” Institutional strengthening, he stresses, is vital for farmers to remain competitive amid market volatility. Budget 2026, therefore, must reimagine subsidies, shifting from input-centric to outcome-centric frameworks. “Water, soil and climate must be planned as one ecosystem. Budget 2026 should institutionalise watershed-scale irrigation planning, incentivise soil regeneration, and embed climate-risk analytics into district planning. This is not sustainability for compliance; it is sustainability for survival,” says Srinivas.  “Budget 2026 can back a flagship ‘Sulphur- and Potash-Secure India’ initiative that promotes sulphate-based potash and balanced secondary nutrients, improving taste, colour, shelf-life and exportability of fruits, vegetables and plantation crops while reducing import vulnerability.”--Dr. Manish Singh, AVP-Technical & Marketing, Transworld Furtichem Limited “For a water-starved nation like India, drip should be made compulsory. This would conserve soils along with improving the area of irrigation. The river-joining project must have allocation for short, medium, and long term. Bonds must be raised to mobilise domestic and World Bank funds,” adds Sandeepa. Structural gaps in specialised inputs also demand urgent attention. Dr Rahul Mirchandani, President, Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) observes, “India’s agricultural ecosystem is at an inflection point, yet not structurally prepared for large-scale reforms. One major gap lies in the micronutrients and specialty fertilizer industry, which remains outside mainstream policy despite its direct link to soil health, crop quality, and farmer income. Fragmented licensing under FCO, uneven state compliance frameworks, and the absence of a unified national policy slow innovation, restrict ease of doing business, and prevent rapid scale-up of advanced nutrition technologies like chelates, water-soluble fertilizers, and fortified micronutrient blends.”  “Budget 2026 must anchor a long-term Viksit Bharat Kheti Vision 2047 by reforming fertiliser use. Mandating a 25:15:5 co-pack of chemical, organic and biofertilisers—and supporting OF/BF manufacturing through PLI—can strengthen soil health, raise nutrient-use efficiency, expand acreage coverage and build climate-resilient productivity. It is time subsidies drive transformation, not perpetuate inefficiency ” --- Sandeepa Kanitkar, Chairman of BASAI and Managing Director of Kan Biosys Dr Singh underscores the strategic imperative: “Budget 2026 can back a flagship ‘Sulphur- and Potash-Secure India’ initiative that promotes sulphate-based potash and balanced secondary nutrients, improving taste, colour, shelf-life, and exportability of fruits, vegetables, and plantation crops while reducing import vulnerability.” Complementing this, Vinod Goyal, CEO, Agricare Corporation advocates a pragmatic DBT-based reform: “Fertilizers shall be sold on full cost price at dealer shops—farmers register purchases on a Point of Sale (POS) machine at the time of pick-up, and subsidies are directly transferred to their bank accounts.”  “Budget 2026 must treat water, soil and climate as one ecosystem by institutionalizing watershed-scale irrigation, incentivising soil regeneration and embedding climate-risk analytics in district planning. Equally critical is a legally robust Digital Land Ledger, interoperable with crop and credit data, to unlock formal finance, insurance and market access for millions of farmers still excluded from the system ” — Kuchibhotla Srinivas, Partner, Deloitte Sandeepa adds, “Chemical fertilizers should be bundled with organic and biofertilisers—25 kg of CF, 15 kg of OF, and 5 kg of BF per bag. This allows fertilizer to cover 30 per cent more land with improved use efficiency. Organic and biofertilizer industries can be supported through PLI schemes to attract private investment, improve soils, and build climate resilience.” As multiple industry leaders emphasise, this reform will determine whether Indian agriculture can truly align with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat 2047, delivering prosperity, sustainability, and global competitiveness for generations to come. Tech, Traceability, and Transformation: Budget 2026’s Agri-Vision Budget 2026 is not merely a fiscal exercise—it represents a strategic inflection point for Indian agriculture, an opportunity to pivot from incremental measures to transformative, technology-driven reforms.  “Agri-drones are no longer a novelty; they are an important part of the agritech landscape. Subsidies, public-private partnership models, and targeted R&D incentives can accelerate manufacturing and deployment, creating rural employment while increasing productivity. We must also potentially look at integrating drone data with national agricultural databases to enable smarter crop planning, soil monitoring, and weather resilience strategies,” says Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace. “ Fertiliser purchases must be linked to a unified Digital Farm ID, which allows tracking of nutrient use efficiency, preventing over-application and enabling customised advisory. It builds India’s first data-driven nutrient intelligence system’’ --- Yogesh Chandra, VP-Sales & Marketing, Transworld Furtichem Limited Echoing this vision, Soundararadjane, stresses that Budget 2026 should introduce a Digital Farming Acceleration Subsidy—shifting support from traditional inputs to IoT and automation tools such as soil moisture sensors, disease-warning IoT nodes, digital soil intelligence kits, smart irrigation systems, automated grading and sorting units, and low-cost climate stations for cold stores. “A 40–60 per cent capital subsidy will democratise access and unlock predictive, precision farming at scale,” he asserts. Equally critical is the foundation of clear land rights and reliable credit. “When a farmer has clear land ownership and predictable finance, they can finally shift from reactive decisions to planned, technology-led farming,” observes Ankur.  “Budget 2026 must accelerate digital land records and frictionless credit so farmers can plan, invest and adopt modern crop protection responsibly. To compete in global markets, India’s supply chains need embedded traceability, quality assurance and sustainable input use. Strategic public–private collaboration can fast-track safe pesticide practices, surveillance systems and next-generation, environmentally responsible formulations ” — Ankur Aggarwal, Executive Chairman, Crystal Crop Protection Srinivas adds, “The Budget should focus on the two biggest unlocks for farmer prosperity: clean digital land records and frictionless credit. A legally robust Digital Land Ledger, interoperable with crop data and credit scoring, can unlock formal finance, insurance, and market contracts for millions of farmers currently outside the system.” The systemic importance of logistics and digital marketplaces is reinforced by Sanjiv Puri, Managing Director, ITC Ltd: “To truly raise farm incomes, storage, grading, logistics, and digital marketplaces must be treated as core agricultural infrastructure, not peripheral add-ons.”  “Budget 2026 should launch a National Potato Innovation Mission to transform India into a globally competitive processing potato hub. A strong public–private R&D partnership must fast-track CRISPR-based climate-resilient varieties, AI-driven breeding, drone phenotyping, automated trials and True Potato Seeds. This science-led upgrade is essential for predictable supply, higher productivity and world-class processing quality.” – S. Soundararadjane, CEO of HyFarm Nutrient management, too, must be integrated. Yogesh Chandra, VP-Sales & Marketing, Transworld Furtichem Limited, explains, “Fertiliser purchases must be linked to a unified Digital Farm ID, allowing tracking of nutrient use efficiency, preventing over-application and enabling customised advisory. It builds India’s first data-driven nutrient intelligence system.” Budget 2026 must therefore deliver measurable, integrated reforms—embedding science, finance, technology, and policy into a unified, farmer-centric framework. It is the launchpad for the Viksit Bharat Kheti Vision 2047, enabling high-productivity, high-value, climate-smart agriculture and positioning India as a globally competitive agri-economy. ----- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3501/indian-food-revolution-in-america-street-fine-dining-and-beyond.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3501/indian-food-revolution-in-america-street-fine-dining-and-beyond.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:18:47 +0530 Once boxed into stereotypes, Indian food in the U.S. has exploded into fine dining, street culture, wellness, retail, and tech-driven delivery—just as tariffs and geopolitics put its resilience to the test. Indian cuisine in the United States is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation transformation. Long confined in the American imagination to “curry and naan,” it has broken free of stereotype and scale alike. Today, Indian food stretches confidently across formats—vibrant street food, Michelin-level fine dining, cloud kitchens, wellness beverages, premium snacks, and even spirits—claiming space in food halls, boardrooms, grocery aisles, and cultural conversations. This renaissance has been fueled by powerful forces: demographic growth, rising affluence, technological adoption, and a new American appetite for authenticity and global flavor. Yet just as Indian cuisine has reached critical mass, it faces an unexpected test—not from diners, but from geopolitics. The imposition of steep U.S. tariffs on Indian imports has begun to reshape cost structures, supply chains, and pricing strategies, forcing the ecosystem to prove its resilience. The story of Indian food in America today is therefore not just one of ascent, but of adaptation under pressure. Market Dynamics: Demographics, Affluence and Appetite The numbers tell the story. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 3.1 million Indians have migrated to—or been born in—the United States since 2000, a staggering 174 per cent increase in just over two decades. This demographic surge is accompanied by significant economic clout: Indian-American households report a median income of $151,000 in 2023, compared with $105,000 for Asian Americans broadly, positioning them as a high-spending, experience-driven consumer segment. The implications for the culinary landscape are profound. Affluent Indian-American households are demanding authentic regional flavors and quality ingredients, encouraging restaurateurs and brands to innovate. Beyond this diaspora, adventurous American consumers—particularly millennials and Gen Z—are increasingly willing to explore global cuisines. Datassential reports that new Indian restaurant openings reached 115 in December 2024, up from just 54 in September 2018. By 2025, 154 upscale Indian dining establishments were operating across the U.S., a sharp increase from 101 in January 2018. The result is a fertile environment in which Indian cuisine can thrive across multiple channels, from street food pop-ups to fine dining experiences and packaged products that land directly in consumers’ kitchens. Fine Dining: Regional Sophistication Meets American Palates Fine dining is emerging as one of the most visible arenas of Indian culinary evolution. Chefs are moving beyond generalized North-South categorizations, highlighting the hyper-regional diversity of India. Patrons may now find Rajasthani ker sangri, Konkani fish curry, Kashmiri nadru yakhni, and even tribal forest-based specialties on menus across New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Innovation and technology are central to this transformation. Precision cooking techniques, smart tandoors, and AI-enabled menu recommendations allow chefs to cater to gluten-free, plant-based, or low-carb dietary preferences, while AR-enhanced menus and open kitchens create immersive storytelling experiences. These strategies marry authenticity with experimentation, appealing simultaneously to high-income Indian-American diners and cosmopolitan food enthusiasts eager for global culinary adventures. Restaurants like Vikas Khanna’s Bungalow in New York exemplify this trend, reimagining Indian street food through a fine-dining lens. The plating may be modern, but the heart remains traditional: vibrant flavors, textures, and spices that connect diners to India’s culinary soul. This mirrors the evolution of global street foods such as ramen, sushi, and tacos, which transitioned from street stalls to table-service sophistication without losing authenticity. Street Food: Authenticity, Curiosity, and Cultural Impact American diners have become increasingly curious about authenticity. They want food with character, story, and place—not just a generic “Indian buffet.” Street food captures this perfectly: it is vibrant, democratic, and endlessly creative. Dishes like chaat, dosa, and pav bhaji deliver layered textures and complex spice profiles that align seamlessly with the modern palate’s love of contrast and global flavor. Celebrity chef Mariko Amekodommo, renowned for cooking for Hollywood A-listers, explains the trend: "The success of concepts like Chai Pani and Vikas Khanna’s Bungalow shows how Indian street food can evolve into fine dining without losing its soul. The plating may be modern, but the heart remains the same—food that connects people through joy, color, and spice. It’s authenticity redefined as sophistication, much like ramen or tacos once transitioned from street to table." Street food acts as both an entry point for new consumers and a proving ground for regional dishes that often migrate into premium restaurant offerings. It sits at the crossroads of comfort and innovation, giving Americans a new way to experience India that is playful, inclusive, and deeply rooted in tradition. From Queens to San Francisco, these establishments illustrate a clear trend: Indian cuisine is thriving coast-to-coast, balancing regional depth, street-level authenticity, and experiential dining. A Culinary Boom Meets a Trade Shock Just as Indian cuisine has achieved this cultural momentum, external forces have intervened. On July 31, President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on Indian exports, which came into effect on August 27—doubling duties on most Indian goods to 50 per cent. While the legality of the tariffs is now being debated , the economic impact has already rippled through New York City’s Indian food ecosystem. Restaurants that had become destinations for Wall Street executives and culinary tourists are now grappling with sharply higher ingredient costs. A 40-pound bag of basmati rice that once cost $30 now wholesales for $45. A 500-gram pack of chili powder has jumped from $7 to $10.50. Coconut milk cases have risen from $38 to $48. Arhar dal has surged from $62 to $82 per bag, while ghee—essential to countless dishes—has climbed more than 46 per cent, from $150 to $220 per case. Margins in restaurants are notoriously thin. For many owners, these increases are not easily passed on to diners without risking demand. Some are cautiously raising prices; others are absorbing costs or redesigning menus. Importers, facing pricing uncertainty, are scaling back shipments. The result is a rare moment where geopolitics directly shapes what ends up on the plate. Digital Adoption: Cloud Kitchens, Ghost Kitchens, and Delivery Technology is amplifying Indian cuisine’s reach. Cloud kitchens, ghost kitchens, and subscription-based tiffin services are delivering authentic flavors at scale. AI-powered ordering, multilingual voice menus, and integrated delivery platforms are meeting the expectations of tech-savvy consumers, while subscription models—offering rotating regional menus or street food specials—expand recurring revenue streams. High-income Indian-American households support premium ingredients, while younger, globally curious consumers explore novel regional flavors. Digital kitchens, ready-to-cook meal kits, and subscription services now bring Indian culinary traditions into American homes, deepening familiarity and loyalty. Indian Snacks and Beverages: Expanding Global Appeal Indian flavors are no longer confined to restaurants—they are rapidly infiltrating U.S. retail and wellness markets, reaching consumers through an increasingly diverse range of snacks, beverages, and functional foods. Traditional beverages, street food-inspired wraps, health-forward confectionery, and even premium spirits are all part of this expanding culinary footprint, signaling that Indian cuisine has become a multi-channel phenomenon. Take Choolaah’s Mango Lassi, for example. This Ohio-based fast-casual chain has leveraged the universal appeal of the Alphonso mango, offering a premium lassi that has quickly become a bestseller. Its success demonstrates that American consumers are not only willing to try Indian beverages but are actively seeking authentic flavors prepared with care and quality ingredients. Similarly, Skippi, originally known for its ice pops, has successfully diversified into savory snacks such as Cream & Onion and Lemon & Mint. By experimenting with Indian-inspired profiles in familiar snack formats, the brand is showing that traditional Indian flavor profiles can move fluidly into American taste preferences without alienating mainstream consumers. Children, too, are becoming part of this cultural exchange. ITC Sunfeast’s Super Egg & Milk Biscuits combine Indian flavors with Western snack formats, offering a product that balances taste, nutrition, and fun. At the same time, ADF Foods Roti Wraps are translating popular street food items like Paneer Biryani and Tandoori Aloo into convenient, on-the-go meals, enabling busy urban consumers to enjoy the vibrancy of Indian street food without leaving home or office. These products highlight a crucial point: accessibility and convenience are just as important as authenticity in driving adoption among new consumer segments. Health and wellness trends further amplify Indian flavors’ U.S. appeal. Confectionery and functional foods are integrating traditional spices and adaptogens into indulgent formats, a prime example being Turmeric Latte Chocolate and Van Houten’s Spiced Chocolate, which combine turmeric, chai, and other Indian spices to appeal to wellness-conscious yet indulgent consumers. Similarly, chai- and saffron-flavored protein bars are creating a niche where exotic flavors meet functional nutrition, appealing to fitness-oriented and health-conscious demographics that value both taste and wellbeing. Even traditional ingredients are finding modern applications. Good Phats Ghee has taken a centuries-old staple and repositioned it as a versatile spread and cooking ingredient suitable for contemporary kitchens, bridging heritage and innovation. Premium spirits, too, are entering this narrative. Paul John Indian Whisky, crafted from six-row barley and distilled in traditional copper pot stills, has positioned India as a rising player in the global whisky market, introducing consumers to both craftsmanship and provenance. Finally, the fusion of global inspiration with Indian soul is exemplified by Juicy Brick, which draws from East Asian juice and snack concepts while infusing Indian spices. Co-founder of Juicy Brick, Grace Bryan emphasizes the brand’s mission: “By blending Indian spices into our juice and snack offerings, we’re creating an entirely new flavor profile that appeals to the adventurous U.S. consumer. It’s East meets West, but with Indian soul.” Juicy Brick’s approach illustrates how Indian flavors are not just being transplanted but creatively reinterpreted to resonate with American tastes while retaining cultural authenticity. Together, these innovations underscore the synergy between restaurants, retail, and wellness products, demonstrating that Indian cuisine’s influence in the U.S. is broad, multi-faceted, and increasingly mainstream. By offering consumers a combination of authenticity, convenience, health, and creativity, these products are reinforcing Indian flavors’ visibility, accessibility, and adoption across American households, establishing a foundation for long-term culinary influence. Health, Sustainability, and Culinary Innovation The modern U.S. Indian dining scene is not only about flavor—it is increasingly defined by conscious choices that align with health, sustainability, and cultural authenticity. Restaurants across the country are embracing eco-friendly practices, from biodegradable packaging and compostable tableware to transparent carbon footprint labeling. By integrating sustainability into their operations, chefs and restaurateurs are responding to a growing segment of American consumers who prioritize environmental responsibility as much as taste. On the culinary side, Indian chefs are creatively reinterpreting traditional ingredients to meet contemporary health and wellness trends. Millets, once staples of Indian rural diets, are finding their way into pilafs, breads, and even desserts, valued for their high fiber content, low glycemic index, and climate-resilient cultivation. Similarly, adaptogens and Ayurvedic herbs such as ashwagandha, turmeric, and holy basil are being incorporated into drinks, snacks, and main courses, delivering functional benefits while retaining cultural authenticity. Gut-friendly foods, fermented ingredients like pickles, dosa batters, and probiotic lassis are also gaining traction, appealing to health-conscious diners interested in digestive wellness. This fusion of tradition and innovation resonates across consumer segments. Affluent Indian-American households appreciate that these culinary practices honor heritage while delivering modern nutritional value, while the broader mainstream audience increasingly seeks meals that are both flavorful and health-forward. By marrying authenticity with wellness and environmental consciousness, Indian cuisine is differentiating itself from other global cuisines, creating a unique competitive advantage in the U.S. market. Beyond nutrition and sustainability, this trend has cultural and experiential dimensions. Diners are engaging not only with taste but with the story behind each dish—the region it comes from, the locally sourced or sustainable ingredients it uses, and the wellness principles it embodies. In this way, health-conscious innovation becomes a vehicle for storytelling, deepening consumer connection and reinforcing the cultural credibility of Indian cuisine. In essence, Indian restaurants and brands in the U.S. are simultaneously safeguarding tradition, embracing innovation, and addressing the values of today’s conscious consumer—a strategy that ensures the cuisine’s relevance, resilience, and long-term appeal. Convergence of Trends: How Indian Cuisine is Taking Over U.S. Tables The rise of Indian cuisine in the United States isn’t just a trend—it’s a full-blown cultural movement, where flavors, technology, and storytelling collide to create a culinary ecosystem that’s impossible to ignore. What’s remarkable is how all the pieces—restaurants, snacks, beverages, and even wellness foods—feed off each other, each channel amplifying the others and bringing Indian flavors into more hands, hearts, and kitchens than ever before. Fine dining and street food, often seen as opposite ends of the spectrum, are actually partners in flavor. Upscale kitchens are exploring hyper-regional dishes with surgical precision—think Rajasthani ker sangri or Kashmiri nadru yakhni—while telling the stories behind every spice and ingredient. Meanwhile, street food is bringing that same authenticity to a wider audience: chaat, pav bhaji, and dosa that pop with texture, spice, and color, delivered in casual pop-ups, fast-casual kitchens, and food halls. Together, these two worlds create a delicious feedback loop: a street-favorite dish can graduate to fine dining stardom, while high-concept plating inspires casual chefs to experiment in playful, accessible ways. Driving this culinary surge is a demographic and economic engine. The Indian-American community has grown rapidly over the past two decades, and their median household incomes are well above the national average. They are demanding authenticity, premium ingredients, and regional nuance. But it’s not just the diaspora who are hungry—millennials and Gen Z are chasing food with story, spice, and personality. They want dishes that surprise the palate, ignite conversation, and transport them halfway across the world in a single bite. Chefs and brands that understand this are winning loyalty and shaping taste buds from coast to coast. Technology is the secret sauce that’s scaling this revolution. Cloud kitchens, ghost kitchens, and subscription meal kits are making it easier than ever to get authentic Indian flavors delivered to your door, while AI-powered ordering platforms allow for personalization—spice level, dietary preferences, or rotating regional menus. Virtual kitchens also provide a playground for experimentation, letting chefs test bold regional dishes or street food mashups before rolling them out at scale. A concept that once lived in one city can now travel digitally, reaching diners across the nation. And it’s not just about restaurants. Indian flavors are moving into every corner of the pantry. Turmeric-laced chocolates, chai-spiced protein bars, on-the-go Roti wraps, and Alphonso mango lassis are becoming household staples. These products make it easy for Americans to bring Indian cuisine into everyday life, creating a cycle where curiosity about restaurants fuels interest in retail, and vice versa. The result? A multi-channel culinary ecosystem where Indian flavors are always on display, always accessible, and always delicious. Sustainability and wellness give this story an extra layer of flavor. Restaurants and brands are integrating millets, Ayurvedic herbs, adaptogens, and gut-friendly foods into creative dishes, snacks, and drinks. Biodegradable packaging, compostable tableware, and ingredient transparency appeal to eco-conscious diners, while health-minded consumers embrace offerings that are both indulgent and functional. Indian cuisine, in other words, has found a way to be both soul-satisfying and value-driven, appealing to anyone who wants to eat thoughtfully without sacrificing taste. The end result is something rare: a dynamic, culturally rich phenomenon. Indian cuisine in America has moved beyond the immigrant corner of the market into a vibrant, multi-channel ecosystem, alive with flavor, story, and experimentation. It thrives where authenticity meets innovation, street meets fine dining, and restaurants meet retail shelves. For American diners hungry for spice, texture, and a story behind every bite, Indian cuisine isn’t just a meal—it’s a journey. And as it continues to evolve, it’s not merely keeping pace; it’s shaping the culinary imagination of a nation and redefining what it means to eat Indian. ---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3486/citiesabc-impakt-introduces-global-aaas-innovation-platform-to-empower-farmers-cooperatives-governments-and-agribusiness-ecosystems-globally.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3486/citiesabc-impakt-introduces-global-aaas-innovation-platform-to-empower-farmers-cooperatives-governments-and-agribusiness-ecosystems-globally.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:34:56 +0530 The platform drives digital ID transformation, financial inclusion, and sustainable agriculture, supporting Natural Farming initiatives globally and in India. Dinis Guarda and Ztudium Group announce the launch of Citiesabc Impakt, a global Agriculture-as-a-Service (AaaS) platform designed to provide farmers, cooperatives, governments, and agribusinesses with a shared digital infrastructure for identity, intelligence, finance, and sustainability. Built as a system-level platform, Citiesabc Impakt combines artificial intelligence, digital identity, blockchain, IoT, and data analytics to address some of the most persistent challenges in agriculture, including fragmented markets, limited access to finance, climate volatility, and the absence of trusted data. Citiesabc Impakt is powered by Ztudium Group's proprietary AI.DNA / Blocksdna / iDNA technological IP and operates as a B2B2C2G model, connecting farmers directly with financial institutions, governments, cooperatives, and global markets. "Around 2.6 billion people worldwide depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet many farmers remain excluded from digital identity, finance, and business, technology decision intelligence," said Dinis Guarda, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ztudium Group. "Citiesabc Impakt is a platform to empower the global agriculture ecosystem with digital infrastructure. It gives farmers verified identity, AI-driven intelligence, and access to markets and capital at scale." Initial Global Deployment: Citiesabc Impakt is launching initial deployments across India, Indonesia and Africa, focusing on regions where digital ID transformation, and digital inclusion are critical economic priorities. The platform is designed to be modular and replicable across countries, crops, and regulatory environments. Digital ID transformation, Social economic challenges, Climate volatility, fragmented markets, limited access to finance, and lack of trusted data continue to constrain productivity and income. Operating as a B2B2C2G platform, Citiesabc Impakt provides farmers with: A verified Digital Farmer ID (iDNA) and data ownership framework AI-powered crop advisory, weather intelligence, pest detection, and price forecasting Integrated financial services, including wallets, micro-loans, insurance, subsidies, and payments A global marketplace for agricultural inputs, services, education, and media Community networks and AI.DNA Agro Chatbots delivering real-time, local-language support Sustainability and carbon tracking, linked to incentives and ESG frameworks Together, these capabilities establish a scalable Agriculture-as-a-Service (AaaS) operating model for Citiesabc Impakt. "Sustainability in agriculture begins with recognising farmers as people, not data points. Citiesabc Impakt creates the conditions for long-term human and environmental value by giving farmers identity, access, and trust, while enabling governments and institutions to support food security, climate resilience, and inclusive growth at scale" says Sonesh Sira, Partner Board Member at Ztudium Group. Agriculture Impact Technology and AI ID Data Sovereignty Citiesabc Impakt is powered by Ztudium's proprietary technology stack - AI.DNA, including: AI.DNA – sovereign AI and decision intelligence Blocksdna – blockchain-based identity, payments, and carbon traceability IoT and sensor integration – drones, weather stations, soil and crop monitoring Real-time dashboards and digital twins for governments, cooperatives, and institutions This architecture enables governments and institutions to deploy agriculture intelligence without surrendering data sovereignty, while allowing private-sector partners to scale services efficiently. Citiesabc Impakt is designed to serve: Farmers and families seeking income stability, education, and resilience Cooperatives and associations modernising operations and governance Governments and public agencies executing climate, subsidy, and food-security policies Agritech companies and agri-brands accessing verified markets and ESG-aligned data Financial institutions and insurers leveraging trusted farmer intelligence at scale Its modular design allows it to be replicated across countries, crops, and regulatory environments. "Citiesabc Impakt was designed as infrastructure, not an application. This architecture enables scalable deployment across regions with very different regulatory, climatic, and agricultural realities." - Goncalo Periera, CTO of ztudium Group ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3443/indias-first-geo-referenced-marine-fisheries-census-to-redefine-blue-economy-strategy-union-minister-george-kurian.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3443/indias-first-geo-referenced-marine-fisheries-census-to-redefine-blue-economy-strategy-union-minister-george-kurian.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:41:21 +0530 In an exclusive Agrospectrum interview, George Kurian, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, elaborated on the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 as a historic shift from estimation-based planning to a new era of evidence-driven, precision governance. He emphasised that the Census—powered by VyAS-BHARAT and VyAS-SUTRA—creates a dynamic, multidimensional, and scientifically validated foundation that will reshape policy design, welfare delivery, sustainability planning, and global market competitiveness. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MFC 2025 becomes the central pillar of India’s marine-sector transformation, aligning governance with the long-term national aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047.  George Kurian highlighted that the Ministry’s initiatives under the guidance of Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Cabinet Minister of Panchayati Raj and Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, are already delivering record levels of production and exports while ensuring that technology, sustainability, and inclusivity permeate every intervention. The Census’s unprecedented household-level granularity will enable targeted welfare distribution, fisherwomen-led entrepreneurship, and a scientific roadmap for deep-sea expansion, mariculture growth, and ecosystem-based fisheries management.  Ultimately, MFC 2025 equips India with the consolidated intelligence needed to emerge as a top-3 global seafood power, setting new international benchmarks in transparency, traceability, and responsible ocean stewardship. Edited excerpts: The MFC 2025 is described as a foundational dataset for Indian marine fisheries. How will this census reshape policy planning, coastal livelihood schemes and blue economy development over the next decade ? The MFC 2025 will fundamentally reshape planning by providing a cogent, granular database with a multidimensional focus on the sector for the first time. For Policy: The Census will provide us with real time data. We will have a precise, multi-dimensional understanding of the present condition—financial status, equipment ownership, and infrastructure status—of every single fishing family and village. This becomes the bedrock for rolling out schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana (PMMSY), allowing for highly focused and requirement-based allocation of resources. For Livelihoods: The Census provides a "ringside view" of skill levels within fisher families. This is critical. It allows us to strategically plan alternative livelihood support, such as diversification into deep-sea fishing or targeted development of mariculture avenues, based on the actual skills and capacity present in the community. For the Blue Economy: This database will serve as the scientific and spatial map we need for sustainable expansion. It identifies our present wherewithal, allowing us  to plan the exploration of untapped avenues in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while simultaneously implementing sustainable, ecosystem-based management for our current fisheries. This is the first fully digital and geo-referenced Marine Fisheries Census. What new granularity and decision intelligence will the VYAS–BHARAT & VYAS–SUTRA systems unlock that earlier cycles could not ? The biggest strength of this Census is its digital and real-time nature, powered by the VyAS systems. The key innovation is "household-level granularity." Earlier cycles gave us broadly grouped factors or indicators, with less options for integration with similar databases and spatial assessment; MFC 2025 gives us a georeferenced, real-time, and verified picture of each household. VyAS-BHARAT is designed to capture the complete picture—the household's socio-economic status, craft ownership, and access to coastal infrastructure. This is not just data; it's a status appraisal of our entire coastline. VyAS-SUTRA, its complimentary app, is the quality control mechanism. It uses meta-information to ensure the data being populated is plausible, validated, and purified at the source. This combination unlocks real-time decision intelligence. We can see which specific "pockets" of fisher settlements have been historically left out and bring them into the fold. The digital tracking and validation system makes the data immediately usable and reliable for any analysis, from a district-level scheme to a national policy furthering Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of leveraging data, digitalisation, and technology to design better policies and ensure transparent, evidence-based governance. How will census insights directly support welfare architecture — including insurance coverage, PMMSY benefit targeting, safety-at-sea systems, housing, and fisherwomen entrepreneurship ? The MFC 2025 is the master database for inclusive delivery of welfare schemes. Targeting Benefits: For PMMSY, housing schemes, or financial aid, the Census provides the precise list of beneficiaries. We will know exactly who owns what, what their financial condition is, and where they live. Inclusivity: The Census is designed to include settlements that may not have been covered yet. This exhaustive mapping ensures that welfare benefits can reach all genuine marine fishers. Fisherwomen Entrepreneurship: By cataloguing the specific skills available in households, we can design pointed schemes to support fisherwomen in alternative livelihoods like mariculture or value-addition, moving them from labourers to entrepreneurs. The exclusive details being collected of the Self-Help Groups active in the fishing villages using VyAS-BHARAT will aid in the expansion of women centric entrepreneurship. Insurance & Safety: By creating a detailed, validated picture of all crafts and fishing assets, we can establish a clear baseline for universal insurance coverage and ensure targeted deployment of safety-at-sea systems. How will MFC 2025 enhance India’s competitiveness in EU, US & Japan seafood markets ? International markets like the EU, US, and Japan demand proof of sustainability and traceability. The MFC 2025 provides the foundation for meeting these expectations. This Census is the foundational layer for a sustainable ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) plan. It gives us a complete, scientifically-consolidated assessment of our fleet's health and capacity. When we can speak loudly in the global arena with robust, homogenous national data, we demonstrate that our fisheries are managed responsibly. This Census is the first step in building a national traceability system—linking crafts, households, and landing centres. This data becomes the verifiable backbone that satisfies international queries and solidifies India's position as a responsible, high-quality seafood supplier. How does MFC 2025 align with India’s vision to emerge as a Top-3 global seafood power — both in sustainable capture fisheries and high-value, value-added exports ? Our vision to make India a top-3 global seafood power rests on two pillars: sustainable capture and high-value diversification. The MFC 2025 is the strategic tool for both. Sustainable Capture & Expansion: The Census assesses the professional fitness of our fleets. It provides the data needed to manage our existing resources sustainably while simultaneously identifying the capacity and requirements for diversification into deep-sea fishing and harnessing the full potential of our EEZ. High-Value Diversification: The future lies in high-value products. The Census identifies the skills and resources available for aquaculture and mariculture, enabling us to strategically pivot and scale up these high-value sectors. In short, the MFC 2025 is the consolidated, scientific roadmap that charts our path. It identifies our strengths, highlights key areas for improvement, and illuminates the precise opportunities we must seize to achieve our national goal. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is setting new global standards in data-driven governance and inclusive growth through the Marine Fisheries Census 2025. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3399/drrk-foods-strengthens-global-presence-as-a-leading-manufacturer-and-supplier-of-premium-basmati-rice.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3399/drrk-foods-strengthens-global-presence-as-a-leading-manufacturer-and-supplier-of-premium-basmati-rice.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:39:17 +0530 Strengthens its presence across India and the Middle East with premium, aromatic rice crafted through advanced processing and strict quality control DRRK Foods, one of India’s most trusted names in the rice industry, continues to expand its footprint as a premier manufacturer and supplier of high-quality basmati rice across India and the Middle East. With a strong legacy of excellence, advanced processing technologies, and a commitment to authentic taste, DRRK Foods has become a preferred choice for households, retailers, and international distributors seeking premium basmati rice. For decades, basmati rice has been celebrated worldwide for its long grains, aromatic fragrance, and delicate flavour. DRRK Foods has played a key role in preserving this heritage by sourcing the finest paddy from trusted farmers, using state-of-the-art milling facilities, and maintaining strict quality control at every stage of production. The company’s focus on purity and consistency has strengthened its reputation in domestic and global markets alike. “Our mission has always been to deliver basmati rice that reflects India’s rich agricultural legacy,” said a spokesperson for DRRK Foods. “We combine traditional farming values with modern technology to ensure our customers receive rice that is authentic, healthy, and superior in quality. Our growing presence in the Middle East and other international markets is a testament to our commitment.” DRRK Foods offers a wide range of premium basmati rice varieties, carefully graded to meet the needs of different consumers—from everyday kitchen use to high-end hospitality and culinary applications. Each grain undergoes a meticulous ageing process, which enhances aroma, increases grain length, and improves texture after cooking. This attention to detail has earned DRRK Foods the trust of customers around the world. The company’s advanced manufacturing facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technology for cleaning, drying, milling, polishing, and packaging. Automated systems ensure that every batch meets rigorous international food safety standards. With certifications validating hygiene and excellence, DRRK Foods continues to supply rice to major retail chains, food distributors, and bulk buyers across the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. In addition to production quality, DRRK Foods places strong emphasis on sustainable sourcing and environmentally responsible practices. By working closely with local farmers and encouraging sustainable agricultural methods, the company supports rural communities while ensuring long-term crop quality. Key strengths that distinguish DRRK Foods include: Premium-quality basmati rice with long grains and natural aroma, Modern manufacturing facilities with strict quality checks, Strong distribution network across India and Middle East countries, Sustainable sourcing and farmer partnerships, Variety of rice products catering to diverse culinary needs, and Global-standard packaging that preserves freshness and purity. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3393/bayer-launches-alivio-focusing-on-innovation-in-the-agri-insurance-space.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3393/bayer-launches-alivio-focusing-on-innovation-in-the-agri-insurance-space.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:27:47 +0530 Turning weather uncertainty into farmer resilience, Bayer launches Alivio, focusing on innovation in the agri-insurance space Indian smallholder farmers are increasingly exposed to erratic weather patterns, long dry spells, rising temperatures, shifting seasons, and high-intensity rains. Findings from Bayer’s Farmer Voice Survey – India 2024 reveal that nearly 9 in 10 farmers already feel the negative impact of climate change on their farms, with 72% expecting reduced yields, 62% anticipating increased crop failures, and more than half reporting frequent droughts, heat waves, or excessive rainfall in recent years. In response, farmers are proactively seeking ways to safeguard their livelihoods. While support to manage financial risk, such as insurance, ranks among the top future needs, an even larger share sees promise in digital and weather-based solutions. In fact, 51% identify access to better digital technologies as most beneficial for their farms, underscoring the growing demand for integrated offerings that combine risk protection with timely, actionable insights. However, despite valuing insurance, many farmers remain dissatisfied with existing systems. Common concerns include uncertainty around claim timelines, lack of clarity on payout amounts, and widespread frustration that compensation rarely reflects the actual scale of losses. Farmer-First Design Meets Digital Intelligence for Resilient Agriculture In response, Bayer has launched Alivio - meaning “relief” in Spanish - a pioneering digital solution that reimagines risk mitigation while equipping growers with actionable plot insights, delivered as an integrated, value-adding service via Alivio’s mobile application. Unlike traditional insurance products, Alivio - launched in collaboration with the insurance ecosystem and public sector undertaking United India Insurance - uses high-resolution satellite data and advanced crop modelling to offer growth stage-aligned, plot-based, and geo-contextualized protection. When plot-based agronomic parameters trigger assurance benefits, farmers can redeem them instantly at nearby Bayer channel partners, ensuring immediate access to quality seeds and crop protection products and avoiding disruptions during the crop cycle. In practice, this means Alivio identifies and aligns protection with the exact risks farmers perceive as most threatening in their local context—such as prolonged dry spells during flowering or extreme heat during grain filling etc. By tailoring coverage to these location- and stage-specific vulnerabilities, Alivio ensures that support is meaningful, relevant, and directly connected to the challenges farmers face. By embedding retailers into its operating model, Alivio taps into the informal trust networks that farmers rely on for buying inputs and advice. This trusted channel makes farmers more open to adopting a new digital product and ensures benefits are accessible where they already make farm decisions. It also bridges the transparency gap between payout eligibility and farmer awareness in traditional insurance. With instant, data-driven triggers and clear, season-long communication, farmers know exactly when they are protected and when benefits are activated - reducing anxiety during the season. From Data to Insights and Relief: Farmers Seeing Value Early The first rollout is targeted at rainfed corn growers in Davanagere, Karnataka and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra - areas where repeated dry spells have historically reduced yields. By monitoring plot-based conditions, Alivio will trigger assurance benefits if insufficient soil moisture conditions are experienced by the maize crop during critical growth stages. These benefits will be delivered to growers on their Alivio mobile application and can be redeemed at their nearest channel partner store. In addition, farmers will receive soil moisture forecasts, spray planning support, and crop scouting recommendations tailored to their plots, to name a few data-driven insights. Uptake has been strong, with farmers purchasing Alivio within two weeks of launch. “In the past, when the rains failed, we had no hope during the season. With Alivio, I can see the soil moisture for my own plot, and when it drops too low, the benefit comes quickly. This helps me buy what I need for the crop without delay,” said Nagaraja Huchapla, a corn grower from Davanagere Taluka. Speaking on the launch, Simon Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head, Crop Science Division, Bayer in India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka said, “Alivio reflects Bayer’s commitment to putting digital innovation in the hands of those who need it most. By blending agronomic intelligence with intuitive design and trusted local networks, we’re helping smallholder farmers turn uncertainty into informed action, making resilience not just possible, but practical.” “For too long, crop insurance has left farmers navigating uncertainty alone. With this launch, we are putting farmers at the center of innovation. By combining satellite intelligence, plot-level insights, growth stage-aligned coverage, and strong ecosystem collaboration, we are delivering solutions that truly respond to farmers’ needs. Together with Bayer and United India Insurance, we are proud to drive the transformation the agri-insurance sector urgently requires,” said Mr. Sanjay Radhakrishnan, CEO, Edme Insurance Brokers Ltd. Expanding Reach Across Crops and Regions In the coming months, Alivio will expand to onions, chillis, potatoes, grapes, tomatoes and select fruit crops, reaching more regions across India. This is part of Bayer’s global ambition to reach 100 million smallholders by 2030, with digital innovations at the heart of efforts to increase productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Alivio exemplifies this commitment - combining data intelligence, ecosystem partnerships, and farmer-first design to deliver measurable impact.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3377/2030-vision-arya-ag-aims-for-worlds-most-climate-resilient-grain-network.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3377/2030-vision-arya-ag-aims-for-worlds-most-climate-resilient-grain-network.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:58:40 +0530 In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Shenoy Mathew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Arya.ag, highlights how its SmartAG Award 2025 is more than recognition—it is validation of a climate-resilient grain commerce model already operating at national scale. By embedding sustainability into everyday storage, finance, and trading systems, the company is delivering measurable climate gains and income stability to over 800,000 smallholder farmers across 425+ districts. Women-led Smart Farm Centres and technologies like the AryaQ AI grain quality device are transforming trust, transparency, and decision-making in rural markets. With patient, impact-aligned capital and global adaptation potential, Arya.ag is positioning itself at the nexus of profitability and planetary resilience. Looking ahead to 2030, the company envisions climate risk management and data-backed empowerment as built-in features of every grain transaction—setting a new benchmark for post-harvest systems globally. From Recognition to Scale: Arya.ag has been recognised with the SmartAG Award 2025 for embedding climate resilience into India’s grain commerce. Awards are accolades—but how does this recognition translate into real-world acceleration for farmers, investors, and the broader agri-value chain? The recognition affirms that climate resilience can be built into agricultural systems that already function at scale, without requiring parallel structures or new layers of complexity. What it brings is not just visibility, but validation of a model that integrates profitability, inclusion, and environmental responsibility into the everyday mechanics of post-harvest grain management. Arya.ag has focused on embedding sustainability into existing systems, ensuring that storage, finance, and market access deliver environmental returns as naturally as they deliver economic ones. Over the past year alone, our decentralised network helped avoid post-harvest loss of more than 210,320 metric tonnes of foodgrain. Preserving this grain prevented an estimated 233,603 tonnes of carbon emissions, conserved 91.4 billion litres of water, and eliminated the need for 16,826 tonnes of fertiliser. These outcomes are not incidental, they are a direct result of improving storage and market access for farmers across more than 425 districts. For farmers, this translates into fewer distress sales and greater flexibility in timing their transactions. For investors, it signals a scalable, data-driven model that aligns impact and return. And for the broader agri-value chain, it shows that climate responsiveness does not have to rely on specialised interventions, it can emerge through operational efficiency and deeper participation from the smallest actors in the system. The Smallholder Lens: India’s agricultural backbone remains smallholder farmers, many of them climate-vulnerable. How do Smart Farm Centres bridge the gap between hyperlocal realities—erratic rainfall, fragmented landholdings—and advanced technologies like AI, drones, and real-time weather advisories? Smallholder farming operates within constraints that are both structural and climatic. The Smart Farm Centres were designed to respond to these conditions by creating access to technology and information where they are needed most. Each centre serves as a rural hub that connects farmers to services such as soil testing, drone spraying, and hyperlocal weather forecasting. These services are not standalone activities; they function together to improve decision-making at every stage of the cropping cycle. For Instance In Bundelkhand, farmers have used weather data from these centres to plan their harvest windows and reduce exposure to untimely rainfall. In Sitapur, drone spraying has improved the precision of pesticide application, lowering costs and minimising environmental exposure. In districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, soil testing has helped farmers calibrate their fertiliser use more efficiently. The centres are operated by women from the same communities who are trained to deliver these services, which ensures trust, reliability, and continuity. This model allows climate-relevant tools to become part of everyday practice rather than occasional interventions. Tech as a Trust Builder: AryaQ’s AI-powered grain quality device brings radical transparency to procurement and pricing. In a market often plagued by mistrust and middlemen, how is technology reshaping the farmer–buyer relationship, and do you see this model becoming a new standard across emerging markets? Trust in agricultural markets has historically depended on physical inspection and subjective assessment. AryaQ introduces a data-driven approach to measuring grain quality that makes the process faster, more reliable, and easier to replicate across locations. The device uses computer vision to assess factors such as grain size, breakage, and the presence of fungal elements. The results are available instantly, even in areas without continuous connectivity, which makes it suitable for remote markets. As both sides have access to identical data, there is greater transparency in pricing and fewer disputes. This change strengthens relationships and encourages repeat transactions. Given its adaptability, AryaQ can be calibrated for a range of commodities and geographies, which makes it relevant beyond India’s borders. The Women-led Edge: The Smart Farm Centres are run by women Community Value Chain Resource Persons. Beyond inclusion, what structural advantages does a women-led model bring to grain commerce, and can this approach be scaled without diluting impact? The presence of women as operational leaders within Smart Farm Centres has added a layer of trust and continuity that is essential in rural systems. These women are drawn from the same localities they serve, which gives them a strong understanding of the agricultural calendar, the challenges of smallholder farming, and the patterns of local trade. Their involvement has led to greater participation from farmers and has improved the adoption of services related to quality assessment, sorting, and storage. In Maharashtra, women-led sourcing units have reduced produce rejection rates by almost 30 percent at the collection stage. This improvement directly affects farmer incomes and reduces post-harvest losses. To ensure that the model grows responsibly, Arya.ag invests in training and performance monitoring, with a focus on building long-term professional capacity. As the network expands, the objective is not only to increase numbers but also to preserve the quality and reliability that make this structure effective. Climate and Capital: You’ve positioned Arya.ag at the intersection of climate resilience and economic resilience. What kind of capital—impact, venture, institutional—is best aligned with scaling this model, and how do you balance profitability with sustainability when most agri-tech startups struggle to break even? Capital that understands the cycles and risks of agriculture is most suitable for models such as ours. Arya.ag’s operations are built on commercially viable services that reduce inefficiencies rather than depend on temporary funding. We manage close to seven million tonnes of agricultural produce through our decentralised network across more than 425 districts, which provides both reach and depth in understanding rural markets. The capital that aligns with this vision is patient and impact-oriented but also disciplined about financial performance. Investors such as responsAbility and the US International Development Finance Corporation have supported Arya.ag because they recognise that environmental benefits and economic efficiency emerge together when systems are designed well. The balance between sustainability and profitability is achieved by ensuring that each intervention, whether in storage, finance, or quality assessment creates measurable value for every participant in the value chain. Global Relevance: With 11,000 digitised warehouses and a network spanning 800,000 farmers, Arya.ag is already India’s largest integrated grain commerce platform. How transferable is your Smart Farm Centre model to Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, where climate shocks and smallholder fragmentation mirror India’s challenges? The fundamental issues faced by smallholders in India are similar to those observed in several other parts of the world. Limited storage near farms, inconsistent quality standards, and poor access to working capital are common constraints. The Smart Farm Centre model is structured to be modular so that it can adapt to different agricultural and climatic contexts. Each component such as soil testing, digital quality assessment, or credit linkage can be introduced independently and scaled based on demand and infrastructure. In collaboration with partners in East Africa, we are exploring ways to adapt this model to local crops and climatic conditions. The ability to train community-based facilitators and the flexibility of tools like AryaQ make replication feasible. However, success depends on tailoring delivery mechanisms to local institutions and farmer networks, rather than exporting the Indian experience directly. The aim is to share knowledge and process design while allowing each geography to build its own form of resilience. The Long View: If we fast-forward to 2030, what does success look like for Arya.ag? Is it about doubling farmer incomes, embedding climate risk management into every transaction, or becoming a blueprint for grain systems transformation globally? By 2030, success for Arya.ag would be defined by the strength and stability of the systems that smallholders rely on after harvest. It would mean that every farmer using our platform can store their produce safely, understand its quality, access credit based on that stored value, and sell it when conditions are favourable. These capabilities lead to income stability and reduced exposure to climate and market shocks. At present, Arya.ag serves more than 800,000 farmers through a network of 11,000 digitised warehouses and over 1,600 Farmer Producer Organisations. Over the next five years, our focus is on deepening these relationships and embedding data-backed transparency across every transaction. The goal is not to create a blueprint for others to copy but to demonstrate that a balanced system, one that values both livelihoods and resources can endure and grow in the face of climate uncertainty. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3332/skybound-sustainability-indias-race-to-become-saf-hub-of-global-south.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3332/skybound-sustainability-indias-race-to-become-saf-hub-of-global-south.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:59:05 +0530 India is charting a bold course to become the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) hub of the Global South, leveraging its vast biomass, ethanol infrastructure, and policy-driven mandates. With domestic blending targets, state-backed incentives, and pioneering projects like IOC’s Panipat facility, the country is converting waste streams—used cooking oil, agricultural residues, and municipal solid waste—into low-carbon jet fuel. By 2040, India could produce 8–10 million tonnes of SAF annually, slashing lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent, generating green jobs, and creating export opportunities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Startups, EPC firms, and R&D hubs are strengthening industrial capability, while harmonized global standards ensure both domestic adoption and international credibility. In short, India is transforming a climate challenge into a strategic, economic, and environmental advantage, positioning itself as the engine of aviation decarbonization for emerging markets. Aviation is global yet carbon-bound. Planes still rely on liquid hydrocarbons; electrification is limited, hydrogen is years away, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the only immediate lever to cut emissions in a sector responsible for 2–3 per cent of global CO₂. “The trajectory of SAF is nothing short of extraordinary—expanding from a nascent 5 million gallons in 2021 to 24.5 million gallons in 2023, a CAGR exceeding 100 per cent. Yet this still accounts for less than 0.1 per cent of global jet fuel demand, underscoring both the scale of the challenge and the immensity of the opportunity ‘’, mentioned Dr. Nripanka Das, Author, Sustainability & Carbon Markets. “The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, announced in 2021, has set audacious targets of 3 billion gallons by 2030 and 35 billion gallons by 2050, requiring unprecedented scaling of production capacity and technological deployment. Pathways such as Fischer–Tropsch, approved by ASTM in 2009, already demonstrate how woody biomass, municipal solid waste, and agricultural residues can be transformed into jet fuel virtually indistinguishable from conventional Jet A. In this lies the promise of scaling an industry that not only meets aviation’s exacting standards but also redefines waste as the feedstock of the skies ,” he opined. In 2024, SAF supplied under 1 per cent of demand, leaving the Global South exposed. Fast-growing airlines in India, ASEAN, and Africa face minimal local supply, giving India a strategic opening. “In 2025, real progress in SAF isn’t measured by headlines but by bankable projects—those reaching final investment decision, securing long-term offtakes with price floors or contracts for difference, and moving into genuine EPC mobilization. Success is also measured in carbon intensity as much as in gallons produced, with lowering lifecycle emissions now as critical as expanding capacity,” stated Dr Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech. “In Washington, the vaunted ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ has compressed SAF’s erstwhile premium of $1.75 per gallon to a modest $1.00 under 45Z, ostensibly levelling the fiscal playing field with ethanol, but in reality propelling capital to cheaper road-fuel pathways such as renewable diesel. India, by contrast, has wisely eschewed the per-gallon palliatives of subsidies in favour of mandated momentum: a 1 per cent SAF blend in international flights by 2027, 2 per cent in 2028 under CORSIA, and an aspirational trajectory toward 5 per cent thereafter. Augmented by state-level incentives—capital subsidies, land concessions, and tax reimbursements—New Delhi is not merely nudging an industry, it is summoning it inexorably forward, guaranteeing a market, and inscribing India’s aviation future in cleaner, greener, and more resilient hues,’’ she added. " The American model bets on the market rewarding low-carbon fuels without playing favorites; the Indian model assumes SAF won’t take off without a legal runway. The strategic takeaway is clear: in the U.S., the winners will treat thinner credits as a design constraint, focusing on relentless carbon intensity reduction, locking in ironclad offtakes, and securing feedstock certainty. In India, success will hinge on executing the mandate-to-manufacturing flywheel—leveraging guaranteed demand, building robust domestic supply chains, and maintaining strict capex discipline. In both markets, SAF will only scale at pace where policy certainty aligns with the discipline of bankable project finance " -------- Dr Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech India’s aviation sector, ferrying 240 million passengers in 2024 and poised to double by 2030, stands at a pivotal inflection point. Fuel demand is projected to soar from 16 million tonnes in 2030 to 31 million by 2040. Enter Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): capable of slashing lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent, India could produce 8–10 million tonnes annually by 2040—surpassing domestic demand, catalyzing 1.4 million green jobs, and opening export avenues. Already, 88 airports operate on green energy, with Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad setting carbon-neutral benchmarks of global significance. IOC is spearheading commercial SAF production at Panipat, with ISCC CORSIA certification. An initial 35,000-tonne annual output, sourced from used cooking oil from hotels, restaurants, and food manufacturers like Haldiram’s, will satisfy India’s 1 per cent international blending mandate. Alcohol-to-jet pathways and export prospects, initially targeting European carriers, are also under exploration. With blending mandates proliferating across Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Africa, and with low-carbon ethanol prospects beckoning in the United States, Praj finds itself at the cusp of a transformative expansion—broadening its portfolio in CBG, SAF, and ETCA while simultaneously amplifying the international dimension of its enterprise. Aircraft readiness is assured: Airbus confirms all planes can operate on a 50 per cent SAF blend, and Indian carriers have successfully executed demonstration flights. India is positioning itself not merely as a consumer, but as the SAF fulcrum of the Global South—where policy, pilots, and production converge to chart a sustainable, high-flying future. India’s Feedstock Opportunity: A Diverse Ecosystem India’s edge in the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) race lies in its abundant and diverse biomass, not subsidies. Unlike nations constrained by monocultures or geography, India can channel agricultural residues, industrial by-products, urban waste, and renewable energy into multiple SAF pathways—positioning itself as both a domestic and export hub. In words of Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman Praj Group, “India is uniquely positioned to become the hub for SAF in the Global South. Its strategic location in the Asia–Pacific, with strong air connectivity to Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, makes it a natural node for SAF supply and distribution. The Ethanol Blending Programme, scaled from modest beginnings to 20 per cent, demonstrates India’s ability to mobilise feedstock, implement policy, and drive impact at scale—delivering foreign exchange savings and strengthening rural economies. The foundation is further strengthened by India’s unmatched feedstock diversity. Agricultural residues and sugarcane by-products offer abundant raw material streams for SAF production.” " Praj has established several Centers of Excellence in collaboration with leading research institutes, working across the entire biofuels value chain—right from feedstock and technology development to end-product and application development. At the heart of this ecosystem is Praj Matrix, our state-of-the-art R&D center, which serves as the innovation hub for developing and commercialising cutting-edge technologies for biofuels and SAF. This strong integration of research, policy, and industry not only accelerates breakthroughs but also reinforces India’s credentials as a frontrunner in the global SAF journey " --- Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman, Praj Group Agricultural residues are the cornerstone. India generates 230–250 million tonnes annually, including rice straw, maize stalks, and sugarcane bagasse, much of which is wasted or burned. Rice straw alone contributes 80–85 million tonnes of emissions in northern states. Redirecting even 15–20 per cent into SAF via gasification, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, or cellulosic ethanol-to-jet could anchor a domestic industry while tackling severe winter air pollution. “SAF can be blended at different levels with limits between 10 per cent and 50 per cent, depending on the feedstock and how the fuel is produced. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), over 360,000 commercial flights have used SAF at 46 different airports largely concentrated in the United States and Europe. An estimated 1 billion dry tons of biomass can be collected sustainably each year in the United States, enough to produce 50–60 billion gallons of low-carbon biofuels, ” stated Dr. Marcus Griswold, Founder at Little Green Myths. “ Ethanol is another pillar. India’s fuel-blending programme has built over 5 billion litres of annual capacity, spanning 1G molasses and emerging 2G cellulosic plants. Existing infrastructure can pivot to alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) production, with Praj Industries piloting scalable ATJ technology alongside global partners. " Feedstock costs represent the largest component of biofuel production costs, typically accounting for 40-60 per cent of total production expenses depending on conversion pathway and feedstock type. Wood residues and sawmill by-products currently cost $40-80 per dry ton delivered to conversion facilities, while dedicated energy crops may cost $60-120 per dry ton depending on production systems and transportation distances. These feedstock costs translate to $0.80-2.40 per gallon of biofuel production cost, indicating the critical importance of feedstock procurement strategies and supply chain optimization for overall project economics" --- Dr. Nripanka Das, Author, Sustainability & Carbon Markets “Ethanol is no longer confined to being a road-fuel blend; it’s a low-cost, versatile building block for an extraordinary range of products, from sustainable aviation fuel via alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology to textiles, cleaning agents, and everyday household goods. With advances in carbon capture and utilization (CCU), we can now make ethanol from industrial emissions, municipal waste, and even biogenic CO₂, turning liabilities into valuable feedstock. The result is a molecule that sits at the crossroads of decarbonization and circular economy. This is ethanol’s reinvention story: from a single-purpose fuel additive to a platform chemical powering the next wave of sustainable manufacturing ,’’ mentioned Dr. Holmgren. Niche feedstocks and urban waste further broaden the portfolio. Used cooking oil (1.4–1.5 million tonnes/year) feeds HEFA pathways, while municipal solid waste (62 million tonnes/year, 30 per cent treated) can support gasification-FT SAF routes, aligning aviation decarbonisation with Swachh Bharat and Smart Cities initiatives. “Airlines are betting billions and billions on jet fuel made from yesterday’s French fries—but can cooking oil really power the future of aviation? SAF made from used cooking oil can cut emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to regular jet fuel, but right now they account for only about 1 per cent of the world’s jet fuel supply. It’s also important to remember that not all SAF is created equal—some are made from food crops that can raise other environmental concerns, while waste oils like used cooking oil are among the most effective and sustainable sources ,’’ advocated Justin Goldsberry; CEO and Founder of Goldsberry Management Group, LLC. " We are on the cusp of new scaling for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both the United States and India. But unlike solar and wind energy, renewable fuels carry a significant premium vs conventional fuels. Covering SAF’s cost above conventional jet fuel is a key factor to grow the sector. There must be a way to cover both the infrastructure capital investments and the ongoing operational costs of producing SAF. In the recent past, the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Office oversaw a loan program that offered funding for SAF refineries at favorable rates. Today there are no government programs to provide low-cost debt. The U.S. still offers incentives to cover operations in the form of credits for agricultural products (the renewable fuel standard – RFS) and for producers combining the product with fossil-based fuel (the blenders tax credit, and 45Z clean fuel production credit). Individual states are also providing incentives for regional consumption such as California and Illinois. There is no U.S. SAF mandate" ---- Adam Klauber, Vice President Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain, World Energy Looking ahead, cheap green hydrogen and captured CO₂ enable a Power-to-Liquids future. India’s record-low solar tariffs ($0.025/kWh) and $2.4 billion Green Hydrogen Mission create early positioning for synthetic SAF, potentially a decade from commercial scale. In the words of Suzanne McKenzie, Sales Director, Lifecycle Oils, UK, “ The sustainability credentials of SAF depend heavily on what it is made from. Second-generation biofuels (derived from waste like UCO) offer substantial environmental advantages over first-generation biofuels made from virgin crops such as palm oil or rapeseed oil. First-generation biofuels are controversial from a sustainability perspective because they can compete with products that would end up in the food chain. This can drive up prices and expand agricultural land use. “ Suzanne further opined that considering the growing biofuel feedstock crops to be carbon-intensive, and is associated with deforestation, land conversion, biodiversity loss, and high water consumption. - repurposing a waste stream like UCO, could  completely sidestep the significant carbon emissions associated with agricultural production and land-use change. UCO-derived biofuels can slash lifecycle carbon footprints by an estimated 80 per cent  when benchmarked against conventional fuels, and 40 per cent when compared to first- generation biofuels. She further highlights the pressure to decarbonise aviation is translating directly into binding SAF mandates and targets worldwide, which is driving a substantial increase in demand for the fuel. “The UK mandate legally requires a 2 per cent blend of SAF in all jet fuel from 2025, rising to 10 per cent by 2030. Similarly, the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation starts at a 2 per cent minimum blend in 2025 and increases to 6 per cent by 2030”, she opined. "Across the Asia-Pacific region, we're also seeing strong policy signals and emerging targets on SAF. Japan is exploring a 10 per cent SAF share by 2030 for departing flights, and Singapore is introducing a 1 per cent SAF target for 2026, which could rise to 3-5 per cent by 2030. South Korea and India are both considering a 1 per cent target for 2027. The trend is clear – countries worldwide see SAF as the best way to cut aviation emissions in the mid-term. Meeting this demand will require significant scaling of SAF production – and demand is already outstripping supply. Current forecasts predict that by 2030, global demand for SAF will be around 15 million Mt, and by 2035, this looks set to reach 40 million Mt. In 2024, global SAF production was around 1 million Mt, with current predictions suggesting global capacity will only grow to around 18 million Mt by 2035. " --- Suzanne McKenzie, Sales Director, Lifecycle Oils, UK “Venturing into Sustainable Aviation Fuel is not just about aligning India with the global targets under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation; it is about leading from the front,’’ mentioned Vijay Nirani, Managing Director, TruAlt Bioenergy. “Unlike countries such as Singapore or the UAE, where access to agricultural land is limited, India’s natural strengths in terms of vast agricultural base, give us the chance to turn this challenge into a defining advantage for our industry as well as environment,’’ he added. Compared with peers—Brazil’s sugarcane focus, Southeast Asia’s palm reliance, Africa’s residue abundance but limited infrastructure—India uniquely combines biomass density, refining and engineering capability, and growing aviation demand. The task now is acceleration: Converting latent feedstock abundance into a globally competitive SAF industry, bridging the supply gap for the Global South. " At TruAlt Bioenergy, we plan to establish a facility producing 10 crore litres of SAF annually, positioning us among the world’s largest ethanol-to-SAF producers. With CORSIA’s mandatory offsetting for international flights from 2027 and India’s 1 per cent SAF blending target, we are committed to scaling production capacity. Our ambition is to help India meet regulatory milestones while advancing sustainable aviation fuel adoption on a global scale.” --- Vijay Nirani, Managing Director, TruAlt Bioenergy Policy Architecture and Industrial Capability: Laying the SAF Foundations India’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) strategy exemplifies a rare convergence of policy precision and pragmatic precedent. Beginning with a 1 per cent blend in 2027 for international flights, rising to 2 per cent in 2028, these targets echo ethanol’s early E5 trajectory, signaling credibility to investors. With state-owned oil marketing companies—IOC, BPCL, and HPCL—underwriting demand, the sector gains sovereign-grade certainty in a capital-intensive space, translating policy intent into actionable investment confidence. " The good news is: the demand is definitely there; however, the biggest challenge for SAF adoption is scaling—waste oils are limited, production costs remain high, and infrastructure isn’t yet built to handle wider adoption. Furthermore, governments and policy support worldwide is helping, with U.S. incentives, European reporting rules, and efforts in some countries in Asia to expand SAF production and adoption. Still, the gap between ambition and availability is a major challenge because there’s only so much used cooking oil that can go around, and much of it is already accounted for in other industries. " --- Justin Goldsberry, CEO and Founder of Goldsberry Management Group, LLC Global compatibility forms the second pillar. By harmonizing BIS standards with ASTM International, HEFA, ATJ, and Fischer–Tropsch pathways gain immediate export legitimacy, while carbon accounting aligned with ICAO’s CORSIA ensures acceptance in Europe and the U.S. Without Western-style subsidies, India relies on engineering-led efficiency and procurement certainty—a model attractive to airlines wary of politically tethered supply chains. Catalytic finance, through NABARD credit, green bonds, or viability gap funding, remains essential to bridge upfront capital gaps. Industrial capability provides the third lever. TruAlt Bioenergy’s planned 10-crore-litre SAF facility positions India among the world’s largest ethanol-to-jet producers. Praj’s Centers of Excellence and R&D hub, Praj Matrix, integrate innovation across the biofuels value chain. India’s EPC sector delivers biofuel plants at 20–30 per cent lower capex than Western peers, while startups like GPS Renewables provide blockchain-based feedstock traceability. Together, these levers—demand certainty, global compatibility, and industrial depth—position India as the SAF systems integrator for the Global South, bridging domestic aviation growth with regional decarbonisation leadership. Strategic Leveraging for India’s SAF Ascension India’s ambition to become the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) hub for the Global South requires more than incremental moves. It demands flagship investments, diversified technologies, climate integration, and regional market creation. While blending mandates and pilot projects signal intent, the real inflection point lies in scaling multiple production pathways and leveraging India’s geopolitical position. "There must be a way to cover both the upfront infrastructure costs and the ongoing operational expenses of producing sustainable aviation fuel. Globally, countries like the U.S. rely on a mix of loan programs, tax credits, and state-level incentives, even without a federal SAF mandate ”, mentioned Adam Klauber, VP Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain, World Energy. “India is taking a similar approach, combining national SAF blending targets with regional incentives—land subsidies and fuel tax relief—to encourage investment. But mandates alone aren’t enough; without enforceable penalties for underperformance, the sector risks stagnation. To move SAF from promise to scale, India must marry financial scaffolding with policy teeth, ensuring both capital and operational viability for producers across the ecosystem," he added. "Producing enough Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to power planes is no small feat. The biomass requirements are immense, and land-use concerns—like corn cultivation in the U.S.—cannot be ignored. Beyond CO₂, we must also account for the full spectrum of emissions when the fuel is burned. Derived from renewable or recycled sources such as oilseeds, algae, fats, and agricultural residues, SAF can cut carbon emissions by up to 70 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel. Blends range from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, and over 360,000 commercial flights have already operated on SAF across 46 airports, mostly in the U.S. and Europe." --- Dr. Marcus Griswold, Founder, Little Green Myths India could produce 8–10 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually by 2040, positioning the country to meet domestic demand and become a key exporter. The ICAO ACT-SAF feasibility study evaluates India’s capacity to produce drop-in SAF, examining feedstock availability, production pathways, infrastructure readiness, and policy frameworks, providing a roadmap suited to India’s socio-economic and environmental context. With over 750 million tonnes of biomass, including 230 million tonnes of surplus agricultural residues, India aims for phased blending of 1 per cent by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028, and 5 per cent by 2030. The initiative is expected to cut 20–25 million tonnes of emissions annually and create new agricultural value chains.  Northern India alone burns over 50 million tonnes of crop residues annually, releasing 150 million tonnes of CO₂; redirecting even part of this into SAF creates a dual win for climate and energy security. A domestic SAF credit market aligned with ICAO’s CORSIA, coupled with EPC exports and technology licensing to Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, enhances South–South impact. Startups like GPS Renewables strengthen sustainability traceability. With the National Green Hydrogen Mission targeting 5 million tonnes annually by 2030 and ultra-low solar tariffs (~$0.03/kWh), India could become competitive in e-SAF. Anchored by double-digit aviation growth and policy credibility, India is poised to emerge as the SAF hub of the Global South. ----- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3304/banned-in-europe-essential-in-india-global-regulatory-dilemma-of-mancozeb.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3304/banned-in-europe-essential-in-india-global-regulatory-dilemma-of-mancozeb.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:09:00 +0530 Mancozeb, that ubiquitous arbiter of phytopathological destiny, continues to bestride the globe as an indispensable fungicidal panacea, even as the European Union has cast it into regulatory obsolescence on grounds of speculative toxicology. Its multisite mode of action, coupled with an enviable paucity of resistance development, renders it indispensable for high-value horticultural and agronomic commodities—from India’s grapes and potatoes to Latin America’s bananas and Brazil’s soybeans. Yet the global regulatory tableau is a patchwork of prudence and profligacy: while North America permits its judicious deployment, India confronts an incomplete evidentiary edifice and the concomitant peril to trade and farmer livelihoods. Empirical case studies elucidate the stark economic and agronomic ramifications of an abrupt excision—diminished yields, escalated input costs, and disrupted export flows—which may well outweigh the conjectural health risks if employed under Good Agricultural Practices. Mancozeb thus embodies the quintessential conundrum of contemporary agriculture: the delicate dialectic between human health, agronomic imperatives, and global food security in an era of climate volatility and international interdependence. Mancozeb, an ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC), stands as one of the globe’s most extensively employed fungicides, esteemed for its broad-spectrum efficacy and remarkable cost-efficiency. Its multisite mode of action allows it to inhibit diverse fungal metabolic pathways, rendering the emergence of resistance exceedingly improbable. In an era in which crop diseases are evolving at a pace that outstrips chemical interventions, Mancozeb has remained an unwavering ally of farmers across continents. Yet, paradoxically, while it is proscribed in the European Union, it remains indispensable in India, Latin America, and other burgeoning agricultural economies. This regulatory disjunction epitomises a global dilemma: the delicate reconciliation of human health imperatives with the exigencies of agricultural productivity and food security. Mancozeb: A Fungicide with Global Reach Across the globe, Mancozeb finds application on a vast array of crops, from the potato fields and vineyards of India and the United Kingdom, to the banana plantations of Latin America, and the sprawling soybean belts of Brazil. Its paramount advantage lies in its multisite mode of action, whereby it simultaneously impedes multiple fungal metabolic pathways. Unlike systemic fungicides, which assail a solitary enzyme or receptor and thus succumb readily to pathogen adaptation, Mancozeb would necessitate the improbable mutation of myriad genes for resistance to arise. It is this very characteristic that has enshrined it as a cornerstone of integrated disease management, frequently deployed in concert with systemic fungicides to combat recalcitrant pathogens such as Plasmopara viticola, the agent responsible for downy mildew in grapes. According to statistics furnished by the Indian government, India alone produces an estimated 500,000 million tonnes of Mancozeb annually, available in a spectrum of formulations including 35% SC, 75% WG, and 75% WP. Beyond Indian shores, Mancozeb retains pre-eminence in the control of potato diseases in the U.K., bananas across Central and South America, and soybeans in Brazil. Its exceptional versatility, coupled with an affordability—generally ranging between $5 and $10 per kilogram—renders it indispensable not only to smallholder farmers but also to large-scale agribusiness enterprises, bridging the imperatives of economic prudence and agricultural efficacy. To understand Mancozeb’s global position, it is important to compare it with alternative fungicides: Fungicide TypeMode of ActionResistance RiskEnvironmental ImpactCost (USD/kg)MancozebMultisite inhibitorLowLow5–10BiofungicidesBiological controlVery LowVery Low15–25Copper FungicidesContact protectantModerateModerate10–20SDHI FungicidesSpecific enzyme inhibitorHighLow20–30 Source: ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 2022; FAO Pesticide Data Regulatory Landscape: A Global Patchwork Mancozeb’s regulatory status varies sharply across regions, reflecting differences in risk assessment, agricultural priorities, and market sensitivity. European Union On the 14th of December, 2020, the European Commission promulgated Regulation (EU) 2020/2087, thereby proscribing the use of mancozeb, predicated upon its classification as a potential endocrine disruptor. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whilst acknowledging the lacunae inherent in compound-specific analytical methodologies, nonetheless proceeded with the prohibition, invoking the precautionary principle as the lodestar of its regulatory reasoning. Although the European Union has rescinded approval, mancozeb continues to enjoy provisional sanction within the United Kingdom until the 31st of January, 2024. This interdiction has reverberated across the corridors of global commerce, for EU residue thresholds now exert a determinative influence upon exporters in India, Latin America, and sundry other trading partners, thereby entwining scientific prudence with the imperatives of international agrarian trade. United States In contradistinction, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has undertaken successive and scrupulous evaluations of mancozeb, ultimately adjudging that the acute, chronic, and carcinogenic dietary risks remain comfortably beneath the threshold of concern, provided the compound is employed in strict accordance with label directives. The EPA’s re-registration exercise of 2005 reaffirmed mancozeb’s safety profile, highlighting its negligible acute toxicity and the acceptably circumscribed risk associated with ETU metabolites, which frequently feature in toxicological disputations. A consonant appraisal has been rendered by Canadian authorities, who have sanctioned its continued utilisation within a framework of regulated oversight. India India, as the preeminent global purveyor of Mancozeb, finds itself ensnared in a regulatory quagmire of considerable complexity. In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare embarked upon a comprehensive review of Mancozeb, alongside twenty-six other agrochemicals, contemplating a prospective proscription. Critics, however, have decried the preliminary assessments as lamentably partial, predicated solely upon thyroid profiles from a singular locus, devoid of the rigorous crop residue analyses requisite for an informed decision. A constellation of Indian stakeholders—including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), farmers’ collectives, and agrochemical enterprises—have championed a measured, evidence-driven approach. They underscore that an abrupt excision of Mancozeb could imperil the export viability of table grapes, potatoes, and other high-value horticultural commodities, with attendant repercussions on both agrarian livelihoods and the nation’s foreign exchange inflows. Economic and Trade Implications Globally, Mancozeb undergirds the livelihoods of millions of agrarians and contributes billions of dollars to agricultural export revenues. In India, for instance, table grapes and potatoes—both high-value export commodities—rely extensively upon Mancozeb for efficacious disease management. Downy mildew in grapes and early and late blight in potatoes can wreak havoc on yields if left unchecked, and projections indicate that the excision of Mancozeb could truncate output by 20 to 30 per cent per hectare. Such a diminution would reverberate through India’s export markets, particularly the European Union, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, potentially eroding the nation’s competitive advantage and diminishing foreign exchange inflows derived from horticultural exports. The scenario in Latin America is no less grave, especially in the context of banana cultivation. Black sigatoka, engendered by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, exhibits formidable resistance to many fungicidal interventions, rendering EBDCs such as Mancozeb the most efficacious recourse. Withdrawal of this fungicide would likely escalate production costs by up to 30 per cent, as cultivators would be compelled to substitute either costlier or less effective alternatives, while yields might concomitantly decline due to suboptimal disease control. Such perturbations could undermine the global competitiveness of Latin American bananas, imperiling both large-scale exporters and the smallholder farmers whose very sustenance is entwined with this crop. In the United Kingdom, Mancozeb plays an indispensable role in potato cultivation, with over 90 per cent of the crop area routinely treated to mitigate the twin threats of late and early blight. Bereft of Mancozeb, farmers would be compelled to deploy alternative fungicides, such as SDHIs or strobilurins, which are not only more costly but also prone to engendering resistance. This substitution could conceivably double per-hectare fungicide expenditures, compressing margins within an already fiercely competitive agricultural sector. Brazilian soybean cultivation further exemplifies the global ramifications. Soybeans, a strategic commodity in both domestic and international markets, are vulnerable to diseases such as Asian soybean rust, which can inflict severe yield losses. Mancozeb has demonstrably curtailed disease incidence by 60 to 70 per cent in field trials, preserving both output volume and quality. Its withdrawal would imperil yield stability, destabilise global supply chains, and amplify dependence upon costlier, single-target fungicides, thereby exacerbating resistance pressures over time. Collectively, these vignettes underscore Mancozeb’s remarkable economic efficacy. It furnishes broad-spectrum disease control at modest cost, with minimal risk of resistance evolution, rendering it indispensable for both high-value and staple crops alike. The prospective consequences of its removal extend beyond mere yield diminution: they encompass escalated input costs, heightened financial vulnerability for farmers, and potential disruption of international trade flows. When juxtaposed with the posited health risks—which, under judicious adherence to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), remain largely negligible—the economic and food security imperatives of sustaining Mancozeb arguably outweigh the speculative hazards, thereby accentuating the necessity for a nuanced, evidence-based regulatory paradigm. Conclusion Mancozeb occupies a singular and paradoxical nexus at the confluence of agriculture, public health, and international commerce—prohibited in Europe, yet indispensable across India, Latin America, and other emerging agrarian economies. Its multisite mode of action, combined with economic prudence and broad-spectrum disease control, renders it an essential instrument for safeguarding high-value crops such as grapes, bananas, potatoes, and soybeans. Global case studies consistently illuminate a salient truth: precipitous prohibitions risk imperilling both food security and economic resilience. While toxicological apprehensions warrant meticulous management and sustained scholarly inquiry, an indiscriminate withdrawal devoid of nuanced risk assessment could paradoxically engender greater detriment—manifesting as yield contractions, escalated market prices, and the erosion of farmer livelihoods. Confronted with the twin imperatives of climate change and the relentless emergence of phytopathogens, alongside the exacting demands of global trade standards, Mancozeb exemplifies the delicate equilibrium between scientific circumspection and pragmatic stewardship. Its narrative transcends the mere pharmacology of a fungicide; it epitomises the broader dialectic of global food security, responsible agrochemical governance, and harmonised regulatory praxis in an intricately interdependent world. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3284/ipl-biologicals-mitsui-and-ag-smart-collaborate-to-introduce-advanced-biopesticides-in-the-philippines.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3284/ipl-biologicals-mitsui-and-ag-smart-collaborate-to-introduce-advanced-biopesticides-in-the-philippines.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:15:06 +0530 The tri-partite agreement combines IPL's expertise in agri-microbial products, Mitsui's global marketing capabilities, and Ag Smart's strong distribution network in the Philippines IPL Biologicals Ltd, India,  a global leader in agri-biologicals specializing in bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, and Mitsui & Co India Pvt Ltd have signed an agreement for the registration, marketing and distribution of certain bio-pesticide (microbial) products in the Philippines, with Mitsui India and Ag Smart Philippines. These advanced biopesticides are state-of-the-art agricultural inputs designed to serve as effective alternatives to harmful chemical pesticides. Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President of IPL Biologicals Ltd, said that this tri-partite agreement brings together the technological strength of IPL with its large portfolio of agri-microbial products, the global marketing muscle of Mitsui group and the well-established distribution network of Ag Smart in the Philippines. Takahiko Watanabe, Head of Chemicals Division, Mitsui India, said: “We are very excited to be associated with IPL with its product excellence, and focus on futuristic products. This is the first step for a relationship with huge global potential.” IPL Biologicals Ltd specializes in biological solutions for agriculture and has a portfolio of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides with over 50 products in disease and pest management, plant nutrient and health management and soil management. Mitsui & Co is a trading and investment company with a presence in more than 60 countries and a diverse business portfolio covering a wide range of industries. Mitsui India is a part of the Mitsui & Co group company. Ag Smart is in the business of distributing agri-input products in the Philippines. Ag Smart aim to bring to the Philippines high-quality products & also new technologies for plantations, general agriculture trade & animal husbandry. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3263/billion-dollar-microbe-market-transforming-global-vegetable-supply-chains.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3263/billion-dollar-microbe-market-transforming-global-vegetable-supply-chains.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:27:31 +0530 For over fifty years, synthetic fertilisers powered global food production but caused soil degradation, water contamination, and greenhouse-gas emissions, prompting a shift toward sustainable alternatives. Biofertilisers—live microbial products—are emerging as a mainstream solution, improving nutrient uptake, plant resilience, and produce quality while integrating with precision agriculture systems. Policy support, particularly in India, the EU, and Denmark, is accelerating adoption through subsidies, regulatory compliance, and carbon-credit incentives. Regional case studies demonstrate that microbial inputs, when combined with sensor-guided fertigation and AI-driven management, can reduce synthetic nitrogen use by 15–35 per cent , boost yields, and enhance market value. The global takeaway: biofertilisers are not just environmentally necessary but a strategic enabler of profitable, precision-driven vegetable farming. For decades, synthetic nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers were the workhorses of the Green Revolution — turbocharging yields, slashing food prices, and feeding billions. But that victory came with a steep bill: degraded soils, polluted water, rising greenhouse gases, and dependence on inputs whose prices swing with global markets. The rules of fertilisation are now being rewritten. In high-value vegetable farming, the shift is unmistakable. Sustainability mandates, precision agtech, and microbial breakthroughs are pushing growers toward a new playbook. Biofertilisers — living microbes that boost nutrient uptake, soil health, and crop resilience — are stepping out of the margins and into the heart of production. They don’t just cut the fertiliser bill; they raise produce quality, strengthen plants against stress, and slot neatly into sensor-driven, fertigation-ready systems from India to Denmark. The question is no longer if they work — but how fast they can scale and reshape the economics of vegetable farming. From Idea to Instrument: The Biofertiliser Opportunity The science behind biofertilisers is solid. Symbiotic bacteria like Rhizobium, phosphate-solubilising microbes, and mycorrhizal fungi unlock bound nutrients, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and boost water-use efficiency. Meta-analyses show that, under proper management, biofertilisers can replace 20–30 per cent of synthetic N/P in vegetables without sacrificing yield — while improving firmness, vitamin levels, and shelf life. The market is catching up fast. IMARC Group projects the global biofertiliser sector to hit $2.5 billion in 2024, growing at over 11 per cent CAGR through 2030 — faster than most ag inputs. In high-value vegetable farming, where residue limits and sustainability standards are strict, adoption already tops 20 per cent. But scaling isn’t frictionless. Microbes are living products — they need cold chains, soil-specific tailoring, and precise timing. Farmers used to the consistency of synthetics can face uneven results if biofertilisers meet the wrong soil pH, moisture, or temperature. Policy Landscape: Aligning Incentives, Compliance, and Adoption Government policy is now the biggest accelerator — or brake — on biofertiliser adoption. In India, programmes like PKVY and NMSA are subsidising bio-inputs, funding farmer training, and running demo plots to de-risk adoption for both smallholders and commercial hubs. Fertiliser control rules and mandatory nutrient-use efficiency reporting are nudging growers toward balanced nutrition. States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu add extra firepower with cold-chain support, certification, and advisory services — lowering the operational barriers to microbial use. ” With over a century of microbial expertise, now renewed by the merger of Novozymes and Christian Hansen, we are working to redefine how crops are nourished, protected and optimized. We work not only to replace chemical inputs, but also harness nature’s own solutions for improved and more resilient cropping systems, all while allowing growers to unlock additional yields from every acre. Our philosophy has always been to integrate our global R&D expertise with local needs. We see this in action in different ways. At the business level, as a deeply innovation driven company, we invest roughly 10 per cent of our turnover in R&D, a very significant proportion of our revenue ” — Kate Brandon Sutton, Head of Plant Biosolutions Applied R&D, Novonesis Precision agriculture is the force multiplier. Sensor-guided fertigation, drones, and AI agronomy platforms sync microbial application with crop growth stages, maximising yield response. But, as Katie Whittiker of Novonesis points out, India’s smallholder-heavy farm structure makes scaling a challenge. Subscription-based digital agronomy and shared drone services are emerging as cost-efficient solutions to bridge the gap. “Protected cultivation adds another layer of opportunity, particularly around urban consumption centres where quality, consistency, and residue compliance are non-negotiable. Here, biofertilisers and biostimulants can be precisely delivered through drip systems, aligning with the closed-loop, resource-efficient nature of greenhouses and shade-net operations”, opined Kattie. “Companies like Novonesis, which collaborate with cooperatives and input distributors, play a crucial role in bridging research-led innovation with last-mile farmer adoption — ensuring that advanced microbial solutions reach growers with proper guidance and compliance support “, she added. “Our long term partnerships with platforms like Benchling underscores our investment in cutting-edge R&D innovation and development of next-gen Biosolutions for emerging agricultural segments. We aim to do this in precision farming and protected agriculture segments by – Expanding the suite of microbe-based inputs tailored for high-value crops; Collaborating with organizations and cooperatives to enable data-driven decision making at the level of the farm and the field, and Supporting growers with robust stewardship programs that facilitate seamless adoption, and help maximize returns on investment " — Katie Whittiker, Head of Plant BioYield Business Unit, Novonesis Globally, regulation is uneven but decisive. The EU’s Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR 2019/1009) sets strict efficacy, safety, and traceability standards — critical for exporters facing tight nitrate and residue limits. In the Middle East and Africa, policy levers are tied to EU compliance: Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt are rapidly adopting microbial fertilisers to secure greenhouse exports, while Sub-Saharan rules remain patchy — a hurdle and opportunity for new entrants. Denmark offers a glimpse of the future: subsidies tied to nitrogen cuts, public-private R&D under the IBIS platform, and carbon-credit monetisation create a strong business case for biofertiliser use. Policy isn’t just compliance — it rewires market economics. Where governments integrate incentives, adoption rises faster, microbial performance is more consistent, and ROI for suppliers and growers improves. Precision Vegetable Farming Meets Biological Inputs Digital agriculture and microbial biosolutions are redefining performance standards in high-value vegetable farming. In both CEA and irrigated fields, blanket fertiliser applications are giving way to real-time, demand-driven nutrition. IoT soil sensors, AI-powered fertigation, and multispectral imaging now work in sync to deliver the right nutrients at the right moment — maximising efficiency and yield. ” Extensive global and regional trials on vegetable crops — including tomatoes, chilies, and leafy greens — consistently reveal that India’s average yields remain well below global benchmarks. This productivity gap underscores a significant opportunity for bio-inputs such as biofertilisers and biostimulants to drive both yield gains and sustainability outcomes. When integrated with optimised agronomic practices, biological solutions have delivered yield improvements exceeding 10 per cent compared with conventional methods. In India, fertigation-based trials have recorded yield increases of up to 18 per cent in tomatoes and chilies, while greenhouse experiments in Vietnam have demonstrated markedly improved nutrient uptake and superior quality in leafy vegetables. Validated through close collaboration with growers and research institutions, these results confirm the reliability of microbial inputs under real-world conditions " — Shanmugam Sambanthan, Commercial Head, Agriculture ,South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Novonesis Globally, the impact is striking. Israeli drip-irrigation pioneers like Netafim and Rivulis inject biofertilisers directly into root zones, boosting microbial colonisation and cutting synthetic nitrogen use 20–30 per cent without hurting yields. In Europe, greenhouse tomato growers combine microbial consortia with precision nutrients to hit nitrate-residue targets while sustaining export-grade productivity. A 2023 Wageningen study found 12–15 per cent yield gains and up to 40 per cent nitrate reductions when biofertilisers were paired with variable-rate fertigation. India is steadily moving toward this model, though adoption is concentrated in progressive clusters. Agritech start-ups are embedding microbial inputs into AI-driven agronomy platforms, giving smallholders access to tools once reserved for corporates. Subscription services for drones, sensors, and fertigation-as-a-service are lowering financial barriers. Early pilots in Nashik report tomato yield gains of 10–18 per cent and synthetic nitrogen savings of up to 35 kg/ha through precision-linked biofertilisers. Protected cultivation is another growth lever. Greenhouses and shade-net houses near urban centres enable year-round, residue-free, premium vegetables with lower post-harvest losses. Novonesis’ biofertiliser and biostimulant range, tailored for drip-irrigated systems, has delivered firmer bell peppers and cucumbers, higher marketable yields, and 12–15 per cent better nutrient-use efficiency, boosting grower margins. The benefits are clear: lower synthetic fertiliser costs, improved water efficiency, and premiums for low-residue produce. But scaling is local — what works for a protected cucumber farm in Bengaluru may not suit an open-field tomato grower in Rajasthan. Precision tools plus biological inputs aren’t just incremental; they mark a structural shift toward climate-resilient, resource-efficient farming. For policymakers, they advance fertiliser-reduction and soil-health goals. For growers, they boost per-hectare profitability while cutting input volatility. For investors, they signal a decade of data-driven, biology-led, sustainability-aligned growth. Across the globe, this integration is gaining traction. Israeli drip-irrigation firms inject biofertilisers into root zones to optimise colonisation. European greenhouse tomato growers pair microbial consortia with precision nutrients to meet yield and nitrate-residue standards. In India, agritech start-ups are embedding microbial inputs into AI-powered agronomy platforms, bringing precision farming to smallholders. Benchmarking Regional Pathways: India in Focus Biofertiliser adoption is global but uneven, following three distinct paths: scale-driven South Asia, scarcity-driven Middle East and Africa, and regulation-led Denmark. Each reflects unique market forces, infrastructure readiness, and regulatory pressures, offering lessons on where the microbial transition will accelerate and how businesses can position themselves. India leads South Asia, accounting for over 60 per cent of the region’s $143 million biofertiliser market in 2024, with 11–12 per cent annual growth projected. Policy is a major driver: PKVY and NMSA subsidise bio-inputs, fund training and demo plots, and incentivise adoption among smallholders and commercial vegetable hubs. Fertiliser controls and nutrient-use reporting further nudge farmers toward microbial solutions, especially where synthetic fertiliser costs are volatile. Domestic production adds a cost edge. Local Rhizobium, phosphate-solubilising microbes, and mycorrhizal inoculants are often 20–30 per cent cheaper than imports, while improved quality control builds trust. Smallholder economics are increasingly compelling: ICAR trials show integrated biofertiliser regimes in tomatoes, brinjal, and capsicum can boost yields 10–18 per cent, improve nutrient-use efficiency up to 25 per cent, and cut synthetic nitrogen by 35 kg/ha under fertigation. These results are reshaping the investment calculus for farmers, distributors, and downstream buyers alike. Shanmugam Sambanthan, Commercial Head, Agriculture ,South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Novonesis, expects India’s B2B bio-input market to evolve rapidly, though the highly fragmented agriculture landscape . ” Currently, bio-inputs are still a small fraction of overall inputs used by farmers. The fragmentation across farmlands provides can be a significant challenges to the adoption of Bio-inputs, particularly when it comes to reaching farmers through the direct trade, and most importantly in providing meaningful services to farmers. Along similar lines, companies including startups in the bio-input space struggle to scale due to the high investment and resource requirements needed for wide market reach “, Sambanthan opined. Novonesis has carved a distinct niche in India’s bio-inputs market as a B2B innovator, focusing on cutting-edge R&D rather than direct-to-farmer sales. Its strength lies in developing advanced microbial and biostimulant solutions while partners handle market reach, distribution, and farmer engagement — a win–win that accelerates adoption without diluting focus on innovation, quality, or regulatory compliance. A collaboration with KRIBHCO illustrates this model. By combining Novonesis’ next-generation biosolutions with KRIBHCO’s distribution network and agricultural expertise, the partnership scales access, ensures reliable supply, and co-invests in farmer awareness programs and demonstration plots across diverse crops and agro-climatic zones. The results are tangible: Irrigated vegetable hubs like Nashik (Maharashtra) and Kolar (Karnataka) report 30–40 per cent integration for high-value crops such as tomato and capsicum. Adoption lags in rainfed eastern and central regions ( ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3222/japan-and-india-begin-cooperation-to-create-carbon-credits-through-decarbonization-projects.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3222/japan-and-india-begin-cooperation-to-create-carbon-credits-through-decarbonization-projects.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:42:36 +0530 Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) AsAO Keiichiro, Japanese Minister of Environment, delivered a keynote speech at the India-Japan Economic Forum on August 29, 2025, stating that through collaboration between Japan and India, the JCM would be effectively used to promote climate change countermeasures and the deployment of decarbonization technologies. ONO Keiichi, Japanese Ambassador, and Tanmay Kumar, Secretary of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on August 7, 2025. This agreement establishes the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), aligning with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It enables collaboration between Japanese and Indian companies and governments on technical and financial measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The resulting reductions and absorptions are allocated based on each country's contributions. Japanese-Indian Joint Statements and Joint Visions for the Next Decade, released by both governments, expressed appreciation for the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Climate Change Management and announced that the two governments would cooperate in order to promote bilateral climate change countermeasures through the JCM. Furthermore, under the witness of the leaders of Japan and India, ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment of Japan, and Ambassador Sibi George of the Republic of India to Japan exchanged documents. The Ministryof Environment,, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and other relevant Japanese agencies, along with the JCM Implementation Agency (JCMA), will work to ensure the effective operation of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). The goal is to maximize its impact by fostering collaboration between Japanese and Indian companies, implementing targeted projects, and leveraging market mechanisms to attract private investment. This initiative aims to serve as a model for achieving both rapid economic growth and addressing climate change, a shared global challenge. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3207/groundwater-is-new-gold-noa-amsalem-on-israels-blueprint-for-water-security.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3207/groundwater-is-new-gold-noa-amsalem-on-israels-blueprint-for-water-security.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:51:20 +0530 Israel’s water journey offers a powerful playbook for nations grappling with depleting aquifers. In an exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum, Noa Amsalem, Water Attach’e, Embassy of Israel in India describes how Israel moved from groundwater dependence to “manufactured water” through large-scale desalination and recycling over 90 per cent of its municipal wastewater. She cautions that while groundwater may resemble oil in its scarcity, its true value is closer to gold — finite, irreplaceable, and too precious to be used only once. For India, Noa stresses that regulation must go hand in hand with alternatives: treated wastewater, drip irrigation, and locally adapted solutions like managed aquifer recharge. She highlights India–Israel Centers of Excellence as living labs for co-developing technologies ranging from fit-for-purpose reuse to digital monitoring of soil and water. Looking ahead, Noa bets on artificial intelligence as the backbone of groundwater governance, provided it is coupled with farmer training and inclusive adoption. Setting the Stage – The Global Groundwater Reckoning Groundwater has become the hidden engine of global agriculture, yet FAO estimates that nearly 20 per cent of aquifers are already overexploited. From Israel’s lens, do you see groundwater as today’s oil — a finite resource heading toward geo-political contestation? Unlike oil, water is not traded on global markets but tied to specific locations, which makes its overuse both a local hydrological crisis and a political challenge. Moreover, unlike oil, water has no substitute for sustaining life. From Israel’s perspective, groundwater is a finite resource, and excessive pumping leads to salinization, land subsidence, and long-term fragility of water systems. In this sense, the analogy of “groundwater as the new oil” is only partially correct: scarcity will influence geopolitics, but the way forward is not through conflict, but through creating alternatives – desalination of brackish and seawater, wastewater reuse for agriculture, and active demand management. These are “manufactured water” sources, produced through human investment and innovation, which reduce dependence on natural aquifers and seasonal rainfall. Israel’s key achievement has been precisely this shift: moving from reliance on natural water sources (groundwater and surface water) to manufactured water (desalinated seawater and treated wastewater). Strategic decisions in the early 2000s – building large-scale desalination plants and mandating wastewater reuse in agriculture – fundamentally transformed the water system. Today, aquifers are still monitored and protected, but they are no longer the sole backbone of national water security. From this perspective, a dual analogy can be made: like oil, groundwater is a limited resource whose value rises as its reserves shrink. Even more, it is like gold – a finite resource whose price is determined by its scarcity, and whose value for agriculture and sustaining life will only continue to grow. The difference is that water is too precious to be used only once. This lesson is relevant globally: sustainability does not come solely from regulation or restricting natural resources, but from investing in alternative sources that reduce the centrality of natural groundwater and mitigate potential conflicts. Israel’s Playbook – What Works, What Doesn’t Israel turned a desert into an agricultural exporter while reducing dependence on aquifers. Which single policy intervention — pricing, metering, or wastewater reuse — had the most transformative impact, and why? Also, Israel enforces mandatory water accounting and volumetric pricing. In countries like India, free electricity fuels rampant groundwater pumping. Is there a middle path between political feasibility and hydrological sustainability? Most transformative intervention: Wastewater reuse. Today Israel recycles more than 90% of its municipal wastewater – the highest rate worldwide (OECD, 2023). This has allowed agriculture to rely significantly less on groundwater, stabilized supplies, and freed natural freshwater for urban and industrial use. Pricing and metering were important, but wastewater reuse was the real game-changer. In the graph, the green line represents the recharge by rainfall, which would have allowed the population to reach a certain size—much smaller than today. The change is already visible two decades ago, with a significant increase in water availability thanks to wastewater reuse and desalination plants. Balancing sustainability and politics: Over-subsidies (such as free electricity or water) can lead to over-pumping. Israel’s experience suggests a middle path: gradually introducing volumetric pricing while providing clear alternatives – treated wastewater, local desalination, or efficient drip irrigation systems.“Gradually” means starting with low prices and increasing step by step so that farmers and the public adapt without shocks. In Israel, this model is also applied to households: a basic “lifeline” amount of water is cheap, and consumption above that is charged at higher rates. Importance of alternatives: Critical. Regulation without alternatives leads to resistance and non-compliance. In Israel, desalination and wastewater reuse gave regulators credibility – limits were enforced, but real solutions were also available. This “regulation plus alternatives” model can be applied elsewhere, provided it is adapted locally (for example, managed aquifer recharge in India). The Indian context – industrial reuse as a funding engine: A notable example comes from Chennai, where large-scale industrial reuse of water has become a major source of revenue. These funds are reinvested in upgrading water supply infrastructure, improving service for households and farmers alike. This demonstrates that industrial reuse of treated water can play a central role in financing more sustainable water systems. Technology & Innovation – The Next Frontier Drip irrigation is now globally associated with Israel. Beyond drip, what are the next big technologies — AI-driven aquifer mapping, precision fertigation, soil microbiome engineering — that could redefine groundwater use? Beyond drip irrigation, the next frontier in agriculture lies in rethinking the very sources of water that sustain it. Desalination of brackish water has already proven to be a viable solution, providing farmers in arid regions with a reliable supply. However, the most significant transformation will come from advancing the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. The future is not just about recycling water but about fit-for-purpose reuse – tailoring water quality to specific crops or agricultural applications. Leafy vegetables consumed raw may require higher-quality water than wheat or cotton. This allows smarter allocation of resources, lowers treatment costs, and reduces energy consumption. Integrating treated wastewater with digital technologies and real-time monitoring further enhances safety and efficiency. Sensors tracking salinity, nutrient levels, and contaminants can dynamically adjust irrigation practices, supporting both food safety and soil health. Another key opportunity lies in hybrid systems, where treated wastewater is combined with desalinated brackish water. Such combinations help balance salinity, reduce soil degradation risks, and create sustainable long-term agricultural practices. Finally, treated wastewater should no longer be seen as a “secondary” solution but as a cornerstone of circular agriculture. Beyond irrigation, wastewater streams provide nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus for fertilizers, and even energy from sludge – turning a waste challenge into a value-generating cycle. Looking ahead, innovation is not just about new water treatment technologies, but about the integrated cycles of water, energy, and nutrients, where treated wastewater becomes a central driver of sustainable agriculture in the decades to come. Global Cooperation and Looking Ahead How do you see the India–Israel partnership evolving in groundwater — joint pilots, technology incubation hubs, or institutional knowledge-sharing? Water alliances are emerging as a natural response to shared challenges and can strengthen regional resilience. Future cooperation is expected to focus less on maximizing supply and more on security, sustainable management, and regional stability. A concrete example is the network of Centers of Excellence established in India with support from Israel’s MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. These centers operate in areas such as precision irrigation, post-harvest management, and water-use efficiency, serving as hubs for training, demonstration, and joint R&D. Indian and Israeli experts learn from each other, testing solutions on the ground before scaling up. The key lesson is clear: Israel can inspire and accelerate innovation, but solutions must be adapted to local conditions – they cannot simply be “copied and pasted.” If you had to bet on one radical solution — AI, bio-innovations, carbon markets for water efficiency, or desalination-for-agriculture — which will define the groundwater economy of 2050? Artificial Intelligence is expected to become the backbone of water management – from large-scale aquifer mapping to precise fertigation in individual fields. Yet in the Indian context, the human factor is critical: millions of farmers and water professionals need training and empowerment to work with these digital systems. The future is therefore not only AI as the “operating system” of water management, but the combination of advanced technology with India’s vast human capital, creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water governance. — Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3164/bernhard-kiep-on-making-agriculture-groundwater-positive-tech-policy-and-mindset-shifts.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3164/bernhard-kiep-on-making-agriculture-groundwater-positive-tech-policy-and-mindset-shifts.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:58:01 +0530 From Punjab to Paraná, aquifers are silently collapsing under the weight of modern agriculture. Yet the world’s food systems remain dangerously dependent on groundwater—a resource long considered infinite, now revealing its limits. As irrigation expands, rainfall becomes erratic, and global trade scrutinizes embedded water footprints, a radical rethink is underway. To unpack this inflection point, Agrospectrum spoke to Bernhard L. Kiep, Managing Director at Bermad Brazil and a key board member across pioneering platforms like Pessl Instruments, MAIZALL+ Abramilho, InLida and InstaAgro. A Business Administrator by training and an agri-innovator by conviction, Kiep offers a panoramic yet grounded take on the future of farming in a water-constrained world. India: Aquifer Stress Meets Agri Ambition India extracts over 250 cubic kilometers of groundwater annually—more than the U.S. and China combined. But its irrigation remains notoriously inefficient. What structural reforms are most urgent? The numbers speak for themselves: nearly 90 per cent of groundwater extracted in India goes to agriculture, and much of it is wasted through unlined canals, flood irrigation, and poor scheduling. India needs a layered approach. First, introduce real-time groundwater monitoring networks—what we in Brazil call the aquifer accounting layer. You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Second, decentralize water governance. India’s federal and state coordination on water is still weak. District-level groundwater stewardship councils, composed of hydrologists, farmers, and panchayat leaders, could radically shift behavior. However, most critically—unlock access to technology finance. The best technologies—pressure-compensated drippers, soil-moisture sensors, variable rate fertigation systems—are already available. But a smallholder in Vidarbha or Bundelkhand cannot afford a Rs 75,000 system. The answer lies in government-backed payment guarantees for suppliers and credit lines where repayment is indexed to water saved, not just yields. India has one of the world’s largest drip irrigation coverage areas, yet adoption remains uneven. What are the real barriers to scale? We often conflate installation coverage with active, optimized use. A large portion of India’s drip systems lie underused due to poor after-sales service, lack of agronomic advisory, and power outages that disrupt pressure dynamics. We must move toward closed-loop systems where: Drip irrigation is sensor-controlled based on real evapotranspiration rates; Fertilizer is injected with precision in microdoses (nutrigation); Water use is metered and priced modestly to reflect scarcity. The central problem isn’t technological—it’s behavioral and financial. In Israel, they made hydraulics and fluid mechanics a part of primary education. Every schoolchild understands the math of a leak. In India, we need to create the same water literacy revolution, especially among rural youth. India’s agri-export growth is being questioned for its water footprint. Should the country revise its export priorities based on aquifer stress? To answer this question the first thing that needs to be done is to calculate the value /volume of the water, labor and general efficiency and see if the export revenue makes an economical and sustainable sense. Just calculating the amount of water used per kilogram of food is not the correct answer ! However, we can’t frame this as simply abandoning certain crops. Instead, we must: Diversify the export basket toward crops like millets, oilseeds, and legumes that are less water-intensive; Promote water footprint labelling to help buyers make informed decisions; Shift subsidies from crop-based incentives to resource-use-based incentives. Designing a ‘Groundwater Positive’ District in India- If you could co-create one, what technologies and policies would you deploy? Here’s what I would include: First, hydrological intelligence grid—real-time borewell-level telemetry integrated with rainfall and cropping patterns. Second, zero-leakage infrastructure—all canals lined, community ponds renovated, pressure-managed micro-irrigation promoted. Third, water-linked credit access—loans indexed to water savings, not land size; payments to tech providers guaranteed by public finance instruments Fourth, behavioral nudges—water tariffs (even symbolic) to instil accountability; water budgeting workshops in villages. Fifth, tech cooperatives—shared ownership of fertigation units, digital dashboards, mobile labs—so no farmer is left behind. In short: Make water management aspirational, affordable, and accountable. United States: Farming the Dust Bowl Again? The Ogallala Aquifer—lifeline of the U.S. grain belt—is shrinking. What lessons should the United States draw from its own Dust Bowl history and what it has done since? The story of the Ogallala Aquifer is a study in both ecological overreach and policy reinvention. Stretching beneath eight states—from South Dakota to Texas—the Ogallala once supported nearly 30 per cent of U.S. irrigated agriculture, including America’s wheat, corn, cotton, and beef industries. However, decades of over pumping—especially during the post-World War II agricultural boom—brought the aquifer dangerously close to collapse in several zones. By the 1990s, in states like Kansas and Texas, water tables had dropped by more than 100 feet in some places. The 1930s Dust Bowl was no longer just history—it was a looming sequel. However then came a paradigm shift. Farmers, policymakers, and water managers didn’t wait for federal mandates. They created localized, stakeholder-driven water governance models that offer a blueprint for other countries, including India. Key lessons from the Ogallala experience: First, Decentralized Aquifer Governance:Instead of top-down imposition, states like Kansas established Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs)—democratically elected bodies where farmers had direct control over water policies in their region. These GMDs could set pumping limits, incentivize recharge, and even coordinate collective water-saving efforts. Second, Transparent Monitoring and Enforcement:Over 95 per cent of wells in Nebraska and Kansas are now monitored using flow meters, telemetry, and satellite verification tools. Water rights are digitally tracked, and violations are recorded transparently. Unlike in India, where many borewells are unregistered, Ogallala states treat water as an accountable public asset. Third, Water Allocation Caps and Incentives:In Sheridan County, Kansas, for instance, an innovative pilot known as the Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) helped farmers voluntarily reduce water use by 20 per cent over five years—without any drop in yields. How? Through precision irrigation, crop-switching, and rotation-based planning backed by state-verified savings certificates. Fourth, Water as Currency—The Banking Analogy:Ogallala farmers now understand that groundwater is like money in a savings account: withdrawals must be lower than deposits. Some states allow “water banking”—where conserved water in one season can be stored (on paper) and withdrawn in drier years, mimicking fiscal budgeting. Fifth, Civic Engagement, not Bureaucracy:Farmers weren’t just passive implementers—they were co-creators of water policy. Peer-to-peer pressure often proved more effective than fines. The community structure instilled shared responsibility, which India currently lacks due to fragmented jurisdictions. Can such a model work in India? Yes, but with adaptations. India must build community aquifer associations—like Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), but with water as the common currency. These groups should: Set local pumping norms; Monitor rainfall-aquifer recharge ratios; Maintain shared water infrastructure; Engage in real-time water budgeting. However, the backbone must be reliable data infrastructure—telemetry wells, flow meters, satellite-aided monitoring systems—integrated into district-level dashboards. India’s National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) is a start, but it needs farmer-facing digital extensions. With the Inflation Reduction Act unlocking billions for climate-smart farming, is the U.S. beginning to monetise water stewardship like carbon programs? The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, allocated over $20 billion for climate-smart agriculture, including soil moisture conservation, cover cropping, and water-use efficiency. This marks a pivotal moment—water savings are no longer just good practice, they are economic assets. There is growing interest in turning verified water savings into tradable credits—akin to carbon markets. While this market is nascent, it signals a shift from compliance-driven to incentive-driven stewardship. However, caution is needed. If these systems rely solely on subsidies, we risk killing entrepreneurial initiative. Farmers must feel empowered, not dependent. That’s why I believe in the EESG framework—where: Environment protection is integrated with Economics of sustainability, Social equity in rural communities, and Governance via participatory institutions. This is not just a Western template. With tailored execution, India’s sugar belts, Mexico’s maize plains, and Kenya’s tea highlands can all adapt the Ogallala model. In summary: The Ogallala experience shows that groundwater conservation is not a sacrifice—it’s an investment. With local governance, transparent metering, and data-powered feedback loops, aquifers can be stabilized without sacrificing yields. But the first step is to acknowledge that business-as-usual is no longer sustainable. Brazil: Abundant Rain, Emerging Risk Brazil is often viewed as a water-abundant nation. But regions like the Cerrado and Northeast are under growing water stress. Is Brazil prepared for an irrigation-centric future? The illusion of abundance is deceptive. While Brazil holds 12 per cent of global freshwater reserves, water access is highly skewed. The Southeast and Northeast, where much of Brazil’s food and export crops are grown, are increasingly hydrologically fragile. Western Bahia, a booming agricultural frontier, illustrates the looming crisis vividly. Rainfall in the region, once as high as 1,800 mm/year, has been declining steadily since the 1980s, now averaging as low as 950 mm in some parts. Satellite and field data reveal that irrigation withdrawals in Western Bahia surged from ~30 m³/s in 2001 to 76 m³/s in 2020, far outpacing aquifer recharge rates. A major study on the Urucuia Aquifer, one of Brazil’s critical groundwater reserves, shows: Total recharge: 607.8 m³/s; The amount 121.6 m³/s is effectively available; Just 12.4 m³/s is formally granted for use—a mere 10 per cent of what could be sustainable. This gap between hydrological potential and actual governance is Brazil’s Achilles’ heel. At Bermad Brazil, we’ve worked with over 3,000 farmers across +100,000 hectares of irrigated land using: Advanced valve-control systems; Precision fertigation aligned with crop uptake curves; SCADA-linked telemetry for remote water flow optimization. However, nationally, less than 20 per cent of Brazil’s irrigable potential is in use. In Mato Grosso, for example: Out of 10.3 million ha of potential irrigable area, only 178,000 ha are under irrigation (as of 2019). Causes range from lack of tradition, unclear water rights, and external financing bottlenecks. Brazil’s irrigated area is growing by 5,000–6,000 ha per year in Western Bahia alone, and projections suggest: +829,000 ha of expansion in the short-term (Scenario I); +620,000 ha possible in the longer term (Scenario II). However, the question looms: If we measure and understand that some years with more rain, we can irrigate during the following dry season more we will be in harmony with Nature, what we can not do is nothing and not use the watershed to feed the World. Use today’s technology in a smart way to have economical prosperity + sustainability ! How is Brazilian agribusiness approaching irrigation from a resilience—not just yield—perspective? There’s a visible transition underway. High-performing agribusinesses, especially in soy, sugarcane, and cotton, are shifting toward climate-smart irrigation as a competitiveness strategy. These include: Smart Pivot Irrigation with no till practice has improved Organic material in the soil by more than 50 per cent in less than 2-3 years; Drip-to-drone integration: Canopy stress imaging from drones triggers subsoil drip irrigation with surgical precision; Digital twins of irrigation networks: Simulate hydraulic losses and fine-tune runtimes; Nutrient-water synchrony: Fertilizer dosing is guided by real-time crop growth models, not seasonal guessing. Our experience at Bermad shows that in a broad-spectrum when smart irrigation is implemented holistically: Yields rise by +35 per cent; Water use drops by 40 per cent; Energy costs fall by 25 per cent Could Brazil and India collaborate on water governance through BRICS+ channels? Absolutely—and not just in principle. There are already active policy exchanges between Brazil’s ANA (National Water Agency) and Indian think tanks. The recent territorial study visits to Nebraska (2022–2024) by Brazilian stakeholders underscore the appetite for learning from global best practices like the Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) model. Brazil has one clear institutional edge: Faster irrigation financing. A farmer can secure funding for water infrastructure, thanks to: Digitized farm records; Streamlined agri-lending; Fewer bureaucratic layers. India, in contrast, is hampered by delayed credit, fragmented water governance, and slow aquifer data integration. A South-South Water Innovation Platform (India–Brazil–South Africa) could focus on: Aquifer-based irrigation credit models; Joint development of real-time water-use monitoring tools; Blended capital pools for scalable water-tech. By collaborating, nations could shift from being technology takers to becoming innovation architects for groundwater stewardship. —- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3115/cropin-partners-with-wipro-to-accelerate-ai-led-transformation-in-global-agri-food-businesses.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3115/cropin-partners-with-wipro-to-accelerate-ai-led-transformation-in-global-agri-food-businesses.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:58:37 +0530 Aim to deliver scalable, intelligent solutions that not only transform agribusiness but also extend to adjacent industries where supply chain resilience and sustainability are critical Cropin, the world’s largest deployed AI platform for agriculture, announced a strategic partnership with Wipro, a leading AI-powered technology services and consulting company, to drive digital transformation across the agribusiness sector. This collaboration brings together Cropin’s deep domain expertise in agribusiness and AI innovation with Wipro’s scale, proven capabilities, and domain expertise in the consumer industries, including retail, CPG, and food services. Together, they aim to deliver scalable, intelligent solutions that not only transform agribusiness but also extend to adjacent industries where supply chain resilience and sustainability are critical.  Agribusinesses today face mounting challenges, from climate volatility and supply chain disruptions to tightening regulations and shifting consumer expectations. The partnership aims to address three persistent barriers to transformation: limited transparency that restricts traceability and accountability; fragmented visibility across the value chain due to siloed systems and data; and an unpredictable operating environment shaped by volatile weather, market fluctuations, and geopolitical risks. By combining Cropin’s AI-powered agri-intelligence platform with Wipro’s deep domain expertise in consumer industries and its global consulting and technology capabilities, the two companies will enable agri-food businesses to unlock farm-level insights, enhance operational agility, and scale sustainability efforts.  While the initial focus is on agribusiness, the capabilities brought together through this partnership have broad applicability across adjacent industries such as retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG), food service, quick-service restaurants (QSR), and distribution, where supply chain intelligence, traceability, and climate resilience are equally critical.  “Climate change, geopolitical instability, and trade tensions are reshaping the agribusiness landscape. At the same time, regulatory pressures like the EUDR and rising demand for traceability are forcing companies to rethink how they operate,” said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Cropin. “This partnership with Wipro is a strategic step toward building data-driven, climate-resilient, and compliant supply chains at scale.”  “AI is redefining how agribusinesses operate—from sourcing and production to distribution, compliance, and sustainability,” said Shiva Jayaraman, SVP and Sector Head – Consumer Business, Americas 1, Wipro Limited. “Together with Cropin, we’re helping clients transform their value chains into intelligent ecosystems that deliver measurable outcomes.”  This partnership brings together the best of agri-intelligence and technology to shape the future of agri-food businesses. It also lays the groundwork for smarter, more resilient supply chains across industries like retail, CPG, food service, QSR, and distribution. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3108/shrimp-in-transition-why-indonesia-is-industrys-new-benchmark.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3108/shrimp-in-transition-why-indonesia-is-industrys-new-benchmark.html Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:54:10 +0530 Image Source: Canva Halfway into 2025, the global shrimp industry is entering a new phase of competitive realignment. Indonesia’s May export performance—a 27 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in volume and 33 per cent increase in value—signals a strategic shift that goes beyond opportunistic trade acceleration. With 89,224 metric tons exported from January through May valued at $756 million, Indonesia is not only consolidating its global presence but also diversifying its product portfolio and export destinations in a calculated bid to counterbalance potential U.S. trade actions. The export surge places Indonesia on a fresh growth trajectory, even as established powerhouses like Ecuador and India grapple with cost structures, climate risks, and shifting market demands. According to Shrimp Insight Analysis, Indonesia’s YTD figures reflect not just quantity but also discernible progress in product sophistication. Cooked and marinated shrimp exports surged by 61 per cent YoY in May and 37 per cent YTD, indicating a push towards higher-margin, value-added segments. Meanwhile, raw Vannamei exports, the country’s volume mainstay, rose 20 per cent YTD. Breaded shrimp followed with a respectable 8 per cent growth, while raw P. monodon exports continued their multi-year slide, falling 14 per cent YTD—a symptom of broader species transition and shifting aquaculture economics. Market-wise, Indonesia’s shipments to the U.S. totaled nearly 60,000 MT in five months—up 14 per cent YoY and accounting for two-thirds of its global exports. Japan, the second-largest destination, absorbed 13,359 MT, up 7 per cent YTD. Meanwhile, a rebound in China (+21 per cent YTD) and a 63 per cent surge in EU-27 exports highlight Jakarta’s efforts to widen its demand footprint beyond the U.S., potentially insulating itself from the impending August anti-dumping tariff review (According to Shrimp Insight Analysis). This diversification and value capture strategy is particularly critical for Indonesia as it aims to scale its shrimp sector to $2 billion by 2025 and double exports by 2029. The short-term frontloading of shipments appears tactical, but the sustained growth in high-value categories underscores longer-term structural shifts in processing capacity, traceability, and compliance. Benchmarking the Big Five: Ecuador, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China To understand Indonesia’s trajectory in context, it’s essential to benchmark it against other leading exporters—Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and China—each with distinct strengths, constraints, and market orientations. Ecuador: The Efficiency King Facing Climate CostsEcuador remains the world’s largest shrimp exporter, thanks to its high-efficiency pond systems, integration, and cost competitiveness. With 1.3 million MT exported in 2024 valued at over $7 billion, Ecuador has scale on its side. In the first five months of 2025, Ecuador exported approximately 593,080 metric tons of shrimp—up 17 per cent YoY—with export revenues totaling $3.135 billion, marking a 26 per cent value increase. Ecuador’s average export price per kilogram during this period stood at approximately $5.29, reflecting its dominance in high-volume raw head-on shrimp shipped to China, albeit at lower margins compared to value-added exports. India: The Reformist Under PressureIndia, historically the second-largest exporter, is contending with structural pressures. Despite significant growth in the last decade, India saw a marginal YoY decline in 2024 exports due to farm gate price volatility, rising feed costs, and quality-related rejections in key markets like the U.S. and Japan. In early 2025, India exported approximately 94,500 MT of shrimp, down around 7 per cent, while revenues edged up modestly to $1.1 billion—a 12 per cent YoY increase. This translates to an average export price of $11.64 per kilogram, indicating a favorable shift toward higher-value products despite declining volumes. Vietnam: Stability and Diversification Amid Rising CostsVietnam remains a solid, well-diversified player with strong ties to the EU, U.S., and China. While not growing as fast as Indonesia, Vietnam’s value-added capabilities and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) give it steady market access and a competitive edge in regulatory compliance. As of May 2025, Vietnam’s shrimp export value surged 22.3 per cent YoY, reaching approximately $4.3 billion. With a volume base of about 340,000 MT for the same period, Vietnam’s average export price hovered around $12.65 per kilogram—one of the highest among major exporters, reflecting its strong emphasis on processed, certified shrimp. China: A Rebalancing Act Between Import and ExportChina remains a unique case—both a major importer and a modest exporter of shrimp. With rising domestic consumption and robust processing infrastructure, China plays a pivotal role in global shrimp reprocessing and redistribution. In the first five months of 2025, China imported 343,787 MT of shrimp, a 7 per cent YoY decline, though the import value rose by 2 per cent to $1.82 billion. This implies an average import price of $5.29 per kilogram, underscoring its price-sensitive bulk-buying model. China’s own exports are smaller in scale and lower in average value, often dominated by re-exported products. Indonesia: Climbing the Value LadderIn comparison, Indonesia’s average export price from January to May 2025 stood at $8.47 per kilogram, derived from $756 million in value over 89,224 MT in volume. This marks a notable climb, especially given the country’s emphasis on cooked, marinated, and breaded products. Indonesia’s pricing is increasingly bridging the gap between high-volume exporters like Ecuador and high-value players like Vietnam, reflecting its dual strategy of scaling both volume and margin. Trade Geopolitics: The Anti-Dumping Cloud Much of Indonesia’s recent export tempo has been influenced by the pending U.S. anti-dumping review. The expected decision by August 1 could impose new tariffs on Indonesian shrimp, depending on preliminary margins assigned during the administrative review. While the full-year impact is uncertain, Indonesian firms appear to be mitigating the risk by aggressively front-loading shipments and entering alternate markets. If tariffs materialize, Indonesia could pivot further toward the EU, Middle East, and East Asia—especially China and South Korea. Its fast-growing breaded and marinated categories are also more appealing to markets with rising demand for ready-to-eat seafood. Product Innovation and Branding: The Differentiation Frontier One of the more significant undercurrents in Indonesia’s 2025 story is its embrace of processed shrimp formats. Cooked and marinated shrimp—now nearly a third of its total exports—command higher prices, longer shelf life, and lower rejection risk. These segments also benefit from rising health-consciousness and convenience demand in key importing regions. Contrast this with Ecuador’s raw shrimp export model or India’s bulk frozen Vannamei dominance, and Indonesia’s approach looks increasingly future-ready. Whether this shift can be consolidated with stronger branding, certification (e.g., ASC, BAP), and digital traceability will determine its long-term ability to compete with Vietnam in the premium segment. Implications for India and Others India must take note of Indonesia’s recent agility and processing-centric growth. While India has strong backward integration and a large aquaculture base, it lags in branding, cold chain infrastructure, and premium market development. There’s a lesson here: front-loading compliance and investing in product innovation can not only unlock margins but also cushion against external shocks. For Vietnam, the competitive threat from Indonesia is real, particularly in processed shrimp. Ecuador, while unmatched in scale, may need to prioritize resilience and diversification. China, meanwhile, remains an indispensable demand-side actor, with its recovery or retreat impacting all major exporters. Conclusion: From Volume to Value Indonesia’s breakout performance in 2025 suggests that it is no longer content with being a peripheral player in the global shrimp market. Its surge in cooked and marinated shrimp, expansion into EU and Chinese markets, and strategic shipment timing ahead of the U.S. trade decision all point to a maturing industry. But maintaining this trajectory will require more than export momentum. Investment in sustainability, traceability, and branding must follow. The global shrimp race is no longer just about who sells the most—but about who sells best, to whom, and at what margin. Indonesia appears to be rewriting that playbook, and the rest of the world is watching closely. ——– Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3100/bayer-unveils-felujit-fungicide-for-sheath-blight-control-in-paddy-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3100/bayer-unveils-felujit-fungicide-for-sheath-blight-control-in-paddy-in-india.html Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:24:00 +0530 The Felujit, an innovative fungicide will be available across key rice-growing states in the country starting from July. Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, announced the launch of Felujit, an innovative fungicide designed to provide protection to all plant parts against sheath blight in paddy cultivation. The product will be available across key rice-growing states in the country starting from July. As the agricultural sector grapples with increasing challenges from pests and diseases, Felujit, with its unique formulation combining Penflufen and Tebuconazole, is set to transform the way farmers manage this persistent disease that has origins in the soil. It effectively inhibits the growth of sheath blight by its dual mode of action throughout the entire body of the plant upon application, providing farmers with a reliable solution that enhances crop yields and quality. A single spray of Felujit offers superior efficacy that lasts more than twice the current market standards. This means farmers can achieve effective disease control without the burden of multiple applications, saving both time and labor costs. “Felujit is a highly effective solution for farmers, offering excellent control over sheath blight while streamlining their farming practices. Given the critical role of paddy in global food security, our innovation empowers farmers to manage disease effectively with fewer applications, optimizing their resources and enhancing their profitability amidst rising agricultural challenges”, said Mohan Babu, Cluster Commercial Lead, Crop Science Division of Bayer in India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. Felujit’s unique selling proposition lies in its dual-action formulation, combining the strengths of two active ingredients to tackle Rhizoctonia, the main organism causing sheath blight. This innovative approach not only ensures effective control but also supports sustainable farming practices by optimizing the efficacy of the application. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3045/indias-agrochemical-exports-expected-to-be-moderate-rebound-in-fy25-rubix-report.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/3045/indias-agrochemical-exports-expected-to-be-moderate-rebound-in-fy25-rubix-report.html Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:56:39 +0530 The report highlights herbicides as the fastest-growing segment, driven by cost-effective manufacturing. Key markets include the US and Brazil, with Japan emerging as the second-largest destination for herbicides.  After steadily rising from FY2020 to FY2023, India’s agrochemical exports experienced a sharp year-on-year decline of nearly 22 per cent in FY2024 due to global destocking and pricing pressures. However, a moderate rebound is expected in FY2025, with improving demand and inventory normalisation, according to latest Rubix report.  The US and Brazil retained their spots as the top two export destinations for Indian insecticides and fungicides over the past five years. However, in FY2025, Japan displaced Brazil as the second-largest export destination for herbicides. Cross-Border Trade Dynamics  Exports are navigating headwinds but are expected to recover India’s agrochemical exports declined sharply in FY2024, by nearly 22 per cent compared to the previous year, primarily due to global inventory destocking, heightened price competition from China, and subdued demand in key export markets. Distributors worldwide reduced procurement to manage excess stock amid falling prices, while Chinese suppliers re-entered the market with aggressively priced products, making Indian exports less competitive. Additionally, erratic weather patterns impacted agricultural activity in importing countries, further dampening demand. However, exports are expected to recover in the coming years as global inventories stabilise, demand picks up with improved agricultural cycles, and Indian manufacturers adapt with cost-efficient production and diversified portfolios. As a result, the trade surplus (difference between exports and imports) came down from USD 3.6 billion in FY2023 and USD 2.8 billion in FY2024 to USD 2.3 billion in FY2025 (April 2024 February 2025). Importance of Herbicides in Exports  Herbicides have emerged as the leading export segment, experiencing the fastest growth at 20 per cent CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025. The share of herbicides in total agrochemical exports increased from 31% to 37 per cent during the same timeframe. This growth is driven by India’s cost-effective manufacturing, the rising global demand for affordable herbicides, and the increasing scarcity and cost of agricultural labour, making herbicide-based weed control a more viable choice for farmers. Concentration in Key Markets  The export landscape reveals a growing concentration in key markets, as the top five export destinations account for more than 50 per cent share for insecticides and fungicides and nearly 71 per cent for herbicides. Notably, the US and Brazil have maintained their positions as the top export destinations for insecticides and fungicides over the past five years. However, in FY2025, Japan displaced Brazil as the second-largest export destination for herbicides ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2849/aus-cotton-shippers-sign-mou-with-cotton-assoc-of-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2849/aus-cotton-shippers-sign-mou-with-cotton-assoc-of-india.html Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:41:19 +0530 Reinforcing the cotton supply chain between two powerhouse cotton nations to drive long-term sustainability, trade, and mutual growth THE AUSTRALIAN Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cotton Association of India (CAI) which will lay the foundation for stronger bilateral cooperation between the nations. The MOU focuses on: sharing market intelligence and production trends; collaborating on global pricing and forecasts; improving market access and advocating for enhanced tariff-free quotas for Australian cotton; and promoting reciprocal support for both markets. This is a significant step forward in reinforcing the cotton supply chain between two powerhouse cotton nations – and driving long-term sustainability, trade, and mutual growth. The signing came at the culmination of an eight-day visit to India and Bangladesh by a small continent of ASCA representatives. It comes almost one year after ASCA finalised a MOU agreement with the American Cotton Shippers Association and the Brazilian Cotton Shippers Association that was also designed to advance the global industry through greater cooperation. Alongside talks with the CIA, the delegation — including ACSA members Cliff White, Joel Hatherell, Shay Dhareula and CEO Jules Willis — also met with representatives from India’s Textile Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), the Southern India Mills’ Association, the Indian Cotton Federation, and a range of agents, cotton buyers and spinning mill operators. They also met with the Australian Consul General from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Austrade’s Trade and Investment Commissioner to discuss topics such as Australia-India trade relations, India’s economic outlook, the impact of newly released US tariffs, Australian cotton exports to India, and the dynamics of the local market. India ranked as Australia’s third-largest cotton export market in March, accounting for 12 percent of exports, behind China at 28pc and Vietnam 26pc, according to the latest ASCA Market Report. Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), which came into effect in December 2022, India established a tariff rate quota allowing 51,000 tonnes of Australian cotton to enter duty-free each year. This quota represented a substantial reduction from the previous 11 % tariff imposed on Australian cotton exports. Since taking effect, Australian exporters have made use of 99pc of this quota amount. ACSA had discussions with India’s Textile Export Promotion Council. DAFF data shows that, as of 31 March, 5,839 tonnes of cotton had been exported to India under the AI-ECTA, with 5,339t shipped under the “allocated” quota and a further 500t under the “first-come, first-served” provision. The final position for the 2024 quota year at 50,719t shipped to India, with a similar amount of 50,690t shipped at the end of the 2023 quota year. During in-market trips to India since December 2022, Cotton Australia and other industry representatives have pushed the case for increasing this quota to more than 100,000t. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2750/aisrf-allocates-4m-to-cutting-edge-science-research-projects-in-india-and-australia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2750/aisrf-allocates-4m-to-cutting-edge-science-research-projects-in-india-and-australia.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:45:00 +0530 Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) supports projects addressing mutual challenges AISRF is the Australian Government’s largest bilateral program dedicated to science. It has supported over 370 collaborative activities since 2006.   Round 16 offers grants from $200,000 to $1 million per project, with $4 million available in total. Collaborations can include joint research projects, workshops, fellowships and institutional partnerships.    This grant opportunity provides Australian researchers with up to $1 million in funding to help them collaborate on projects with Indian science and technology research partners. The Australia-India Strategic Research fund aims to: increase the uptake of leading science and technology by supporting collaboration between Australian and Indian researchers in strategically focused, leading-edge scientific research and technology projects strengthen strategic alliances between Australian and Indian researchers facilitate Australia and India’s access to the global science and technology system positively impact the participation of women in scientific research and technology projects. The intended outcomes of the program are: greater profile and reputational gains for Australian and Indian science, research and innovation capabilities in each other’s country and globally stronger links between Australian and Indian research and business communities to grow long-term collaboration an opportunity for any postgraduate students involved in the project to spend time in the other country and work with collaborating researchers to help form lifelong networks and build on institutional links enhancement of Australia’s reputation as a destination of choice for Indian tertiary students strengthening and deepening of the bilateral diplomatic relationship and strategic partnership. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2672/am-green-and-dp-world-to-make-india-a-global-hub-for-green-molecules.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2672/am-green-and-dp-world-to-make-india-a-global-hub-for-green-molecules.html Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:09:56 +0530 India is expected to contribute to global decarbonization by exporting 2 million tons of green fuel annually  AM Green, a leading green hydrogen and ammonia producer, has entered into a partnership agreement with DP World, a global logistics company, to build a sustainable green fuel and chemicals supply chain. The partnership will enable AM ​​Green products to be seamlessly exported to key consumer markets, significantly enhancing global decarbonization efforts. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December last year, DP World and AM Green will jointly develop logistics and storage infrastructure to facilitate global exports of 100 MTPA of green ammonia and green methanol. Key points of the agreement include: Facilitating global exports through port infrastructure development across AM Green Net-Zero Industrial Clusters. Development of bunkering infrastructure for green ammonia and methane supplied by AM Green plants in Dubai, India and throughout Southeast Asia; Build strategic terminal infrastructure across the European Union (EU), the Far East and the United Arab Emirates to provide the carbon-free supply chain needed to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. AM Green has multiple projects underway across India to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Green Ammonia, Green Hydrogen, Chemicals and Biofuels using renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro. With an ambitious target of 5 MTPA by 2030, it plans to contribute to both India’s net zero and global decarbonization goals. AM Green has already finalized its investment in a 1 MTPA green ammonia plant at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, off India's east coast. AM Green is a project led by the founders of Greenco Group, India’s largest renewable energy conglomerate. Mahesh Kohli, Founder, Greenko Group and AM Green, said, “Through this strategic partnership, we will be able to efficiently export sustainable fuels such as green ammonia and green methanol, strengthening the global green supply chain and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.” Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy CEO and CFO, DP World Group, said: “As part of our efforts to drive sustainable supply chains, joining forces with AM Green will allow us to leverage our expertise in logistics and infrastructure to facilitate the global distribution of clean fuels and chemicals. We aim to play a pivotal role in enabling a low-carbon economy and advancing global sustainability goals.” AM Green aims to produce SAF, green ammonia, green hydrogen, green chemicals and biofuels, and to build related technology partnerships and services through various businesses run by its subsidiaries. AM Green will be responsible for the production of green chemicals, green hydrogen and biofuels and is working to produce green ammonia at scale at various locations in India. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2627/ninjacart-startup-program-launches-to-empower-foodtech-and-agtech-startups-in-accelerating-growth.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2627/ninjacart-startup-program-launches-to-empower-foodtech-and-agtech-startups-in-accelerating-growth.html Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:23:15 +0530 Accelerates growth of start-ups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-tech startup transforming the agricultural ecosystem through technology and data, announced the launch of its Ninjacart Startup Program. This agri-tech-focused startup program aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory. With nearly a decade of experience in transforming agricultural ecosystems through technology and data, Ninjacart has partnered with agri-tech innovators globally to optimize supply chains and solve complex distribution challenges. The Ninjacart Startup Program leverages this expertise, network, and proven solutions to help startups scale faster, drive meaningful change, and lead the future of food distribution. The Ninjacart Startup Program offers four key benefits to participants: Access to Ninjacart’s Advanced Technology: Renowned for its comprehensive and innovative technology across the agri-tech ecosystem, Ninjacart’s proprietary solutions set an industry benchmark. Through the Startup Program, startups gain access to a focused suite of Ninjacart’s supply chain management tools to drive growth or enhance operational efficiency. Growth tools include demand forecasting, sales management, pricing intelligence, campaign management, and customer app modules. For operational efficiency, modules for procurement, inventory management, workforce management, logistics, and catalog management are available. Pitch to VC Partners: Startups will have the chance to present to top VC partners such as Syngenta Group Ventures and Base Capital on Demo Day, scheduled for February 2025. Financial Backing: Ninjacart offers credits up to $50,000 to offset platform and implementation fees during the first six months of participation. Expert Business Advisory: Participants will gain access to Ninjacart’s domain expertise and leadership to build scalable supply chains for fresh produce, meat, and staples, offering tailored guidance to shorten their path to profitability. The program is open to emerging startups that were founded in 2020 or later, have raised up to $1 million in funding, and operate outside India. Eligible startups must be post-revenue and focused on innovating the food supply chain. Kartheeswaran KK, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninjacart said “The Ninjacart Startup Program is designed to empower innovators who are driving systemic change in food systems. By offering our expertise, technology, and network, we aim to help startups accelerate their startup journey and propel the collective transformation of the global agriculture ecosystem.” Ninjacart is India's largest agri-tech company revolutionizing the agri ecosystem through technology, innovation, and ideas. Our mission is to provide agri citizens with better commerce, finance, and fulfillment solutions. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2593/enhanced-nature-en-expands-global-supply-chain-for-amf-bionutrient-augmenting-production-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2593/enhanced-nature-en-expands-global-supply-chain-for-amf-bionutrient-augmenting-production-in-india.html Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:22:21 +0530 AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) bionutrients produced at cutting edge manufacturing facility in Delhi, India Enhanced Nature (EN), a newly formed US company, today announced that it has begun operations to supply AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) bionutrients to partners worldwide from its cutting edge manufacturing facility in Delhi, India. EN’s founding partner Symbiotic Sciences has been manufacturing the highest quality concentrated AMF for over 15 years, and these AMF bionutrients are now available to partners exclusively through EN. Other founding partners include Aditya Malhotra (CEO) and Tom Laurita (Board Chair). Rob Gibson has joined Enhanced Nature as VP Business Development and Sales. “When Symbiotic Sciences began manufacturing and supplying AMF-based bionutrients over 15 years ago, many companies were either not aware of the value AMF brings to agriculture – or they hadn’t even heard of it”, said Enhanced Nature’s CEO Aditya Malhotra. “That meant we and others had to educate the market and do years of trials in the Americas and elsewhere. Today the landscape is different, and AMF is recognized as a foundational bionutrient for both high value and row crop applications. This transformation makes now the right time to launch Enhanced Nature.”Co-founder and Board Chair Tom Laurita commented, “I have been CEO of leading companies in the Ag biotech space, so I know that product manufacturing and scale up are huge challenges. EN is in an enviable position to grow sales rapidly because Symbiotic Sciences has really cracked the manufacturing nut. Their products are among the highest quality and most concentrated AMF-based bionutrients being made anywhere in the world. As the exclusive supplier of these products, EN will quickly establish itself as a major player in the bionutrient space.” “I have done R&D and BD in the bionutrient and biocontrol industry for over ten years during my time at Novozymes and Certis” said Rob Gibson, VP BD and Sales. “Over this period I have observed the growth in market awareness of the value and the impact of AMF as a vital component of any complete bionutrient package. EN is already seeing tremendous demand everywhere for AMF sourced from a reliable and high quality manufacturer. Both distribution partners and end-users are looking for the next generation of effective high ROI biologicals, and AMF definitely fits that description. I’m really excited about this team and opportunity.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2551/barracuda-technologies-launches-its-maiden-modular-bio-refinery-project-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2551/barracuda-technologies-launches-its-maiden-modular-bio-refinery-project-in-india.html Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:03:21 +0530 Bio-Refinery utilizes a proprietary biomass fractionation process to convert agricultural waste, and many other feedstocks Barracuda Technologies Pvt. Ltd., an indirect subsidiary of San Francisco (USA) based Startup Barracuda Technologies Inc., has just completed its first modular Bio-Refinery project in India, marking a significant milestone in sustainable and circular materials manufacturing. This semi-commercial scale Bio-Refinery utilizes a proprietary biomass fractionation process to convert agricultural waste, such as rice straw, wheat straw, and banana stems, bagasse, Palm EFB, Brachiaria (Brazil), Hemp and many other feedstocks, into valuable materials like clean Lignin, cellulose, bio-silica, and hemi-cellulose. The facility is biomass agnostic with near-zero liquid discharge, making it an environmentally friendly and waste-free operation. Barracuda’s cellulose has potential applications in non-woven materials like paper and tableware as well as in making biofuels, Micro fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) and Nano cellulose (CNC) amongst many other applications. Barracuda's clean lignin, which has properties like anti-charring, UV resistance and moisture resistance, holds potential for use in coatings, adhesives, cosmetics, construction materials, cattle feed, thermoplastics, polyurethanes and more. Barracuda is actively pursuing Bio-Bitumen manufacturing from its Lignin. The Bio-Refinery also produces bio-silica, useful in various applications like tires and food products. All of Barra materials are sustainable, green and biodegradable. The modular nature of the Bio-Refinery addresses logistical challenges in handling and transporting low-density feedstocks, facilitating a hub-and-spoke model that enhances supply chain efficiency. This project not only showcases the economic viability of Barracuda's process but also provides a solution to environmental issues such as stubble burning while upscaling waste to tremendous value. “This marks a paradigm shift in the field of sustainable materials. Modular Bio-Refinery changes the entire scenario on long standing bottlenecks concerning supply chain & logistical issues associated with low-density feedstocks and CAPEX. The Barracuda process is very very low cost, clean and circular. We will make one of the cheapest fiber and lignin in the market today globally” said Navin Singhania (“Fiberman”), Founder of Barracuda Technologies and a leading biomass fractionation expert. We have a number of innovative products in development as we speak and will be launched in the near future. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2544/bayer-and-samunnati-collaborate-to-enhance-farmer-productivity-and-profitability.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2544/bayer-and-samunnati-collaborate-to-enhance-farmer-productivity-and-profitability.html Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:31:02 +0530 The Partnership will aim to empower FPO (Farmer Producer Organisations) farmers with access to quality agri-inputs and transfer of good agricultural practices to enhance rural livelihoods and farm incomes Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, announced its partnership with Samunnati,a leading agri value chain enabler company, dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers,to usher farmers of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with access to premium products with the goal to deliver optimal solutions to smallholder farmers. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bayer and Samunnati aim to provide Indian farmers with access to quality agri-inputs through FPO Agri-input Retail Stores. As part of the association, FPO farmers will be able to leverage the strength of collectivization, facilitating farmers with ample opportunities to become key stakeholders in the ag value chain. Samunnati will support in aggregating demand from the FPOs, while Bayer will, once purchase orders are placed by FPOs, fulfill the orders through their distributors, ensure timely and efficient delivery of customized products and solutions. To facilitate easy access to quality inputs, agronomic support, and encourage agri-technology knowledge transfer, Bayer will leverage its field force to actively engage with farmers in the field, thereby supporting the FPOs to build a successful business model. Mohan Babu, Chief Operating Officer Bayer Crop Science India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, said, “FPOs have come a long way in India to become successful entities supporting farmers with aggregating input demand and produce supply. We are glad to join forces with Samunnati who bring in their vast network of FPOs and enable credit to kick-start the FPOs input business, so that their farmers can benefit from Bayer’s high-quality products and agronomy knowledge.” Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO of Samunnati, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Bayer Crop Science to further empower Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by improving access to quality inputs and agronomic expertise. This collaboration strengthens Samunnati's mission to create a resilient agricultural ecosystem that enables smallholder farmers to thrive, improving both their productivity and profitability. By combining Bayer’s expertise in high-quality inputs with Samunnati’s deep-rooted connections in the farming community, we are offering a holistic solution that addresses the key challenges faced by farmers today" Together, both parties are committed to empowering farmers with the resources, knowledge and market access they need to thrive. The association aims to create a sustainable and farmer-centric ecosystem for farmers in India, ensuring they find reliable markets for their produce, ultimately contributing to their growth and prosperity. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2531/bayer-genzero-shell-and-mitsubishi-aim-to-positively-impact-rice-farmers-in-india-through-the-good-rice-alliance.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2531/bayer-genzero-shell-and-mitsubishi-aim-to-positively-impact-rice-farmers-in-india-through-the-good-rice-alliance.html Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:53:42 +0530 The alliance is empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) to generate carbon reductions across 9 Indian States The Good Rice Alliance (TGRA), formerly known as the Sustainable Rice Carbon Programme, which is focused on advancing sustainable rice farming practices in India, has thus far enrolled more than 10,000 farmers in the program, covering over 25,000 hectares of farmland. It will reduce approximately 100,000+ tCO2e of methane emissions from rice cultivation, annually. TGRA now aims to expand the program by adding nearly 8,500 hectares, streamlining the scientific measurement of GHG emissions from rice paddies and strengthening the farmer handholding and support system. The program will explore scale-up based on the experiences of the first two years of implementation. Currently, TGRA covers major rice-producing states in the country, like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Through TGRA, Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, in collaboration with GenZero, a Temasek-owned investment platform company dedicated to accelerating decarbonization globally, Shell Energy India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Shell Plc and investor in nature-based solutions and Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses which span numerous industrial sectors, are committed to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable agricultural practices in rice cultivation. The program has also managed to reduce cost of cultivation of the majority of the enrolled farmers. In the first year, a scientific GHG measurement study was carried out in six different locations in the country. Projections indicate that demand will continue to rise, reaching between 330 million and 1.5 billion tCO2e by 2030. The carbon offset platform industry in India is projected to grow at an impressive rate of 28% annually, reaching a market value of US$ 68.5 million by 2033. Simon Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia said, “At Bayer, our mission is to increase agricultural productivity with fewer resources while restoring ecological balance. At The Good Rice Alliance (TGRA) we emphasize that quality is the cornerstone of our mission, which aims to revolutionize rice cultivation practices. With most of the farmers experiencing tangible benefits from adopting regenerative practices, we are hopeful that our collaborative efforts will lead to the widespread adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices, fostering thriving communities of smallholder farmers nationwide.” TGRA is armed with a Quality Management System, a farmer training, support and hand holding mechanism and a Monitoring, Report and Verification (MRV) mechanism which are in place to help maintain program integrity. Through use of Total Quality Management (TQM) tools all plots are monitored at least thrice a month, to ensure real reduction in emissions is achieved. The alliance prioritizes high-quality implementation to deliver credibility benefits to farmers and is committed to incentivizing farmers financially while safeguarding the environment and improving farmer livelihoods. The program undergoes regular systemic checks, internal audits, and independent verification to ensure genuine emissions reduction. Suhas Joshi, India Carbon Initiative lead at Bayer said“Increased scrutiny of voluntary carbon markets has highlighted the need for robust, high-quality projects. Achieving excellence requires more than inspiration. It demands perspiration, hard work, attention to detail, and a willingness to tackle the unglamorous tasks. At TGRA, we're doubling down on the fundamentals of Total Quality Management.” Paddy rice cultivation is responsible for approximately 11% of global methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential over 27 times that of carbon dioxide. Rice farms occupy 15% of global farm area, equivalent to more than 150 million hectares worldwide. With a keen focus on sustainability, the alliance is closely aligned with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and plans to work together with smallholder farmers from the grassroots to drive maximum co-benefits and mitigate climate change. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2429/syngenta-biologicals-and-provivi-partner-to-introduce-pheromone-solutions-across-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2429/syngenta-biologicals-and-provivi-partner-to-introduce-pheromone-solutions-across-asia.html Fri, 06 Sep 2024 01:17:29 +0530 The new pheromone solutions will target Yellow Stem Borer and Fall Armyworm affecting Asia’s major rice and corn production regions like India, Indonesia and Thailand Syngenta Biologicals and Provivi today announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize new pheromone-based biological solutions to effectively and more safely control detrimental pests in corn and rice – crops that serve as a primary food source for 3.5 billion people globally. The collaboration brings together Provivi’s expertise in pheromone-based crop protection solutions with Syngenta’s global reach and development capabilities. The two new pheromone solutions will help farmers manage the devastating pests, Yellow Stem Borer (YSB) in India and Indonesia and Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Thailand. The YSB Eco-Dispenser for India and Indonesia, and the FAW Eco-Granules for Thailand will be available to farmers starting in 2026. These innovative product formulations, made from biodegradable materials, represent significant advancements such as enhanced efficacy, longer duration, and improved environmental sustainability for the benefit of farmers. Pheromones are natural signaling compounds that effectively control pests by interfering with their mating behaviors, preventing pest reproduction. Because they are non-toxic and species-specific, pheromones do not harm organisms that pose zero threat, therefore helping preserve the diversity and abundance of beneficial insects and pollinators. The benefits of using pheromones in an integrated pest management program include their highly specific target activity and a mode of action, preventing, instead of eliminating, thereby supporting the preservation of biodiversity and the flourishing of non-target species. The YSB and FAW pests stand out as among the most destructive insect pests in agriculture, threatening a wide variety of crops in many countries and impacting farmers’ livelihoods as well as food security. As the dominant pest of rice in Asia, YSB pests can attack rice crops throughout different phases of the plant’s life, resulting in crops with “dead hearts” and “white ears” – symptoms of dried-up central shoots and chaffy, or unfilled grain, leading to significantly lower yields. The FAW – which is in fact a caterpillar and not a worm – is notable for its destructive capacity and rapid spread. Since the discovery of the FAW pest in Thailand in late 2018, farmers in the country have seen yields fall as much as 40 per cent for corn, and in some cases been forced to plough under entire fields. This has severe implications for corn production in Thailand, where the crop is vital for the country’s economy, supporting both domestic and export markets. Syngenta and Provivi have previously collaborated to bring the pheromone-based technology NELVIUM® to Indonesia to control rice stem borer insects. The expansion of the pheromone partnership with Provivi is aligned with Syngenta’s sustainability priorities, which includes accelerating crop productivity while reducing the impact on the planet, through more sustainable technologies. Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Biologicals and Seedcare at Syngenta: “Farmers need solutions that effectively address pest pressure while ensuring sustainability on their farms, particularly as pest threats evolve with climate change. We’re proud to work together with Provivi to deliver the next-generation in pheromone-based biocontrols that target farmer key pest challenges.” Pedro Coelho, Chief Business Officer at Provivi®: “Pheromone-based solutions are non-toxic and species-specific, and safeguard biodiversity by preserving beneficial insects and pollinators. We are excited to work again with Syngenta to broaden the offer of pheromone-based solutions available to farmers in Asia.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2416/ipl-biologicals-and-afepasa-spain-partner-for-global-joint-registration-of-biological-products.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2416/ipl-biologicals-and-afepasa-spain-partner-for-global-joint-registration-of-biological-products.html Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:18:40 +0530 IPL Biologicals Ltd., the global leader in agri-biologicals with the widest portfolio of bio-pesticides, bio-fungicides, and bio-fertilizers; and AFEPASA, one of the oldest and respected manufacturers of biocontrol, nutrition and plant bio-stimulation solutions of Europe, have signed an Agreement to globally register and market IPL’s proprietary microbial bio-pesticides. These products have been tried and rested all over the world and are much sought after globally.  The first product to be registered will be IPL’s star nematicide with a very high-level of efficacy. Starting with Europe, this product will be registered globally. As chemical products are largely ineffective against nematodes, the global market potential for IPL’s nematicide is huge. The Agreement was signed at the AFEPASA office in Spain, where IPL was represented by Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka,, President, and AFEPASA was represented by Manel Montaño, CEO. This JV will benefit the farmers across the world by providing solutions for the difficult to control pests, reduce their dependence on chemicals while improving the yield and quality.  Speaking on the joint venture, Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka,, President of IPL Biologicals Ltd. Said, ″We are thrilled to join hands with AFEPASA in this groundbreaking partnership that will bring our cutting-edge agri-biological solutions to Europe. Due to resistance many agri problems have defied solution by chemical pesticides. Also, biological products do not have a problem of dangerous residue in the crops. Our biological products have shown remarkable efficacy in trials and large field demos all over the world. In AFEPASA, we have a partner who will enable us to quickly take-to-the-market our most exciting product.″ Manel Montaño, CEO of AFEPASA commented, ″The strategic collaboration with IPL Biologicals will enable us offer innovative bio-pesticides to the European and global markets. We will be replacing harmful synthetic pesticides with safe biologicals, not only prioritizing the health of food consumers but also that of our environment. We are happy to be associated with IPL Biologicals, the global technology leader in agri-biologicals, and a company that has the most exciting technology path for the future, and who we are certain will dominate the global agri-biologicals market.″ ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2252/vietnams-rubber-imports-rank-second-in-india-in-2024.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2252/vietnams-rubber-imports-rank-second-in-india-in-2024.html Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:09:00 +0530 Vietnam export 47,230 tonnes of rubber to India for $75.79 million Natural rubber from the Vietnamese market is the primary product exported to India. Particularly, the SVR 10 accounted for the largest portion of the total exported rubber at 61.81%, followed by SVR 3L and RSS3 at 24.85% and 5.29%, respectively. Vietnam Trade promotion Center states that the country exported 47,230 tonnes of rubber to India for $75.79 million, up 42.8% in volume and 63.5% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Businesses shipped 9,470 tonnes of rubber to the South Asian country in May, earning US$15.83 million, an increase of 7.2% in volume and 6.8% in value. The average export price of various types of rubber to India in the first five months of the year mostly increased compared to the same period from 2023. Of which, latex witnessed the strongest rise with 28.3%, followed by SVR 10 at 13.9%, RSS3 at 13.4%, SVR 3L at 10.6%, and SVR CV60 at 9.4%. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2239/ravindra-boratkar-publisher-mm-activ-media-awarded-exemplary-leadership-award-of-exhibition-industry.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2239/ravindra-boratkar-publisher-mm-activ-media-awarded-exemplary-leadership-award-of-exhibition-industry.html Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:34:31 +0530 Boratkar’s remarkable contributions and visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the industry: Award citation Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher & Managing Editor, BioSpectrum (India and Asia), NUFFOODS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum (India and Asia) was presented the Exemplary Leadership Award in the Exhibition Excellence Awards in the Editor’s Choice category in his capacity as Managing Director of MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt Ltd., the parent company of all the media brands. Exhibition Excellence Awards are presented annually for various events, exhibitions, conferences seminars, venues and personalities to recognise their contribution and felicitate the distinguished achievers of the sector. The awards are Asia’s iconic, only recognition initiative for the exhibition and convention industry. The awards are given by the Exhibition Showcase, Asia's most comprehensive media platform for exhibitions. This was the 8th edition of the Exhibition Excellence Awards and Summit 2024, held at the CIDCO exhibition and convention centre in Navi Mumbai. The award citation said, “Boratkar’s remarkable contributions and visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the industry, shaping its trajectory for the better. Boratkar is a driving force in the organisational consulting, marketing, management and event organisation.” MM Activ Sci Tech Communications, the publishing company of BioSpectrum (India and Asia), NUFFOODS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum, received awards for two of its shows. Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023, encapsulating Biotechnology, bagged the award as the Grand Conference, while the Start Up Mahakumbh 2024 received awards as Top Start-Up India Promotion Show and 1st runner up in the category Top New Show (B2C). ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2234/bayer-and-solynta-collaborate-to-advance-true-potato-seed-in-smallholder-markets.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2234/bayer-and-solynta-collaborate-to-advance-true-potato-seed-in-smallholder-markets.html Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:55:42 +0530 Aims to achieve commercialization and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenyan and Indian markets Bayer and Solynta have reached an agreement to collaborate on the commercialization and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenyan and Indian markets. This partnership marks Bayer's entry into the 20 million hectare global potato market and its first collaboration with Solynta, a Dutch company developing robust hybrid potato varieties. Bayer is adding true potato seeds to its portfolio as part of its regenerative agriculture strategy, focusing on resilient and sustainable food systems. The collaboration will center around Solynta’s expert knowledge of potato breeding with the development of new robust potato varieties that will thrive in key potato growing geographies. This innovation will allow growers to plant potatoes from true seeds rather than the traditional planting of tubers. Bayer will distribute the new hybrid potato varieties to growers in remote areas of Kenya and India. Using true potato seeds instead of seed tubers has several advantages for the potato industry. True potato seeds are smaller, cleaner, disease-free, have a long shelf life, and are easier to transport and store. They are available year-round and can be bred with additional beneficial traits such as disease resistance and climate resilience. Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division said “Seed innovation is one of our key focus areas. We expect Solynta’s true potato seeds to have a positive impact on local communities and on food and nutritional security". Inci Dannenberg, President, Global Vegetable Seeds, Bayer said “Adding true potato seeds to our portfolio is a natural progression of our team’s work to support smallholder growers and offer the latest innovations”. Peter Poortinga, CEO of Solynta, pointed out that the true potato seeds are the result of almost two decades of work on Solynta’s hybrid potato breeding technology. “Hybrid breeding is a proven technology in many existing food crops, which allows fast development of new varieties with desirable traits, such as disease resistances. We are delighted to join forces with Bayer on the introduction and distribution of our true potato seeds." "We are focused on introducing true potato seeds, and conducting field and commercial trials to demonstrate their effectiveness. We are thrilled to partner with Bayer for the further commercial roll-out in Kenya and India," said Solynta’s CCO Joost van Regteren. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2198/foodcareplus-and-intercont-forge-strategic-partnership-to-enhance-indian-food-trade-logistics.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2198/foodcareplus-and-intercont-forge-strategic-partnership-to-enhance-indian-food-trade-logistics.html Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:33:00 +0530 Aims to enhance access to Indian goods to global markets by leveraging extensive cold chain network Foodcareplus announce a strategic partnership with Intercont+ from India, aiming to enhance supply chain solutions for importing and exporting food products between India and global markets by leveraging our extensive cold chain network and a Mumbai-located container facility managed by Intercont+. Maintaining cold chain integrity from loading to unloading is crucial to prevent quality loss and extend shelf life. Foodcareplus and Intercont+ are leveraging expertise in temperature-controlled logistics, to ensure optimal cold chain management, guaranteeing perishable goods reach their destination in excellent condition. Advanced monitoring tools used internally enable real-time shipment tracking, better planning, timely deliveries, and increased customer satisfaction. India is one of the largest producers and exporters of agricultural products. Our partnership will facilitate the export of meat, dairy, and fresh produce to international customers while also addressing India’s growing demand for sustainable import solutions for fresh fruit, chocolate confectionery, and specialty foods. At Foodcareplus, we offer tailor-made shipping and logistics solutions for these product groups worldwide, seamlessly integrating with Intercont+’s logistics system in India. A common challenge in international trade is the need for more trust between traders and suppliers, leading to hesitation and uncertainties about product availability, quality, and reliable transport services. Our partnership addresses these issues by providing a reliable network and acting as an independent third-party logistics provider. Specifically, for international companies sourcing agricultural products from India, We felicitate efficient container availability near food hubs, which is essential given India’s vast and complex domestic transport network. The partnership enhances market positions and profitability for importers and exporters. By controlling substantial transport volumes, the collaboration expected to achieve economies of scale and lower transport costs while assisting customers in navigating customs regulations. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2170/indias-coromandel-international-strengthens-its-crop-protection-portfolio-with-new-launches.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2170/indias-coromandel-international-strengthens-its-crop-protection-portfolio-with-new-launches.html Wed, 29 May 2024 10:17:01 +0530 Coromnadel introduces 5 new products in its crop protection range: 3 Insecticides, 1 Herbicide & 1 Fungicides into their portfolio Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading Agri solutions provider with a business of Fertilisers, Crop Protection, Biopesticides, Specialty Nutrients, Organic Fertiliser and Retail has now launched 5 new products to fortify their portfolio. Coromnadel introduces 5 new products in its crop protection range: 3 Insecticides, 1 Herbicide & 1 Fungicides into their portfolio. Farmers in India now have a new option to protect their crops with the newly launched products by Coromandel International Limited. Introducing the product, OFFICER which is a new generation selective herbicide. It is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide that controls almost all categories of weeds in paddy. ORTAIN SUPER is a combination insecticide for paddy, has a dual mode of action for resistance management and provides effective control over both lepidopteran and sucking pests. PHENDAL PLUS insecticide for paddy prevents resistance development with its dual mode of action and has a knockdown effect causing faster kill of target pests. CANISTER is a broad-spectrum insecticide for chilli having effective control on mites, whiteflies, thrips, has control in all stages of mite’s lifecycle and a long residual action that results in long-duration control. PROP – PLUS is a combination of two highly systemic triazole fungicides resulting in two different modes of action help in resistance management for paddy, offers effective disease control, has less foam formation and good rain fastness. Sameer Goel, Managing Director, Coromandel International Limited said, “CIL is working to strengthen its product portfolio across segments of Crop Protection in major crops. It gives me immense pleasure that these combination products have been developed in house for complex pest problems. Coromandel will continue to develop innovative products in Nutrition and Crop Protection segments to serve the farming community. “ ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2076/indias-ninjacart-empowers-philippine-agritech-firm-mayani-with-strategic-investment-and-tech-deployment.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2076/indias-ninjacart-empowers-philippine-agritech-firm-mayani-with-strategic-investment-and-tech-deployment.html Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:20:35 +0530 Mayani will integrate Ninjacart’s advanced technology, source traceability, and inventory management solutions to achieve inter-operability, hyper-efficiency, predictive modeling Walmart-backed Ninjacart, India's leading agri-startup that leverages technology and data to organize the global agriculture ecosystem, joins forces with Philippine B2B agritech innovator Mayani in a landmark deal. This strategic partnership sees Ninjacart deploying capital alongside cutting-edge supply chain technology and its advisory services to fuel Mayani's innovation and growth trajectory. Ninjacart will also support Mayani’s expansion efforts and jointly establish an integrated Asian agri-food supply chain that would catalyze more digital innovations geared to address Asia’s complex food basket. Ninjacart’s investment in Mayani, facilitated through its venture funding arm, NinjaVentures, marks a significant step in its international expansion strategy. The partnership will focus on identifying and addressing global food supply gaps, leveraging cross-border opportunities to amplify Mayani's market presence. Mayani will integrate Ninjacart’s advanced technology, source traceability, and inventory management solutions to achieve inter-operability, hyper-efficiency, predictive modeling, and to enhance its supply chain efficiency.Ninjacart’s entry into Mayani coincides with follow-on funding from existing investors, including the Jimenez family, after Mayani’s successful $1.7 million seed round led by AgFunder in 2023. With over three times revenue growth in the same fiscal year and positive margins, Mayani demonstrates strong fundamentals for further expansion and impact. Mayani boasts a vast grassroots network of over 144,000 organized smallholder farmers and fisherfolk across the Philippine archipelago. Its multi-point value chain platform optimizes supply chain dynamics, connecting fragmented supply with B2B market demand seamlessly. Moreover, Mayani's ancillary agro-services empower smallholders, enhancing yield and climate resilience through quality agricultural inputs and facilitating rural financial inclusion. The alliance between Ninjacart and Mayani heralds a new era of innovation and collaboration in the Philippine agritech sector, driving sustainable growth and economic empowerment across the agricultural value chain.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2011/wtca-stimulates-singapore-ventures-to-optimize-trade-and-investment-scope-between-asean-and-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/2011/wtca-stimulates-singapore-ventures-to-optimize-trade-and-investment-scope-between-asean-and-india.html Mon, 01 Apr 2024 11:10:50 +0530 WTCA aims to strengthening this collaboration by harnessing the economic potential and industrial competitiveness in both regions in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, energy, and more World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries — and World Trade Center Bengaluru have successfully concluded the 54th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Bengaluru, India in early March. WTCA Members from nearly 100 countries identifies significant opportunities for bilateral trade and business growth between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India, and encourages businesses in Singapore to leverage and optimize the potential and opportunities for increased investments between the two regions, fueled by India's vibrant industrial and technology sectors, and platforms such as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA). Entered into force in 2010, the AIFTA was designed to open up both the ASEAN and India markets by progressively reducing duties on goods. ASEAN and India recorded a bilateral trade volume of $131.5 billion in 2022-2023, which accounted for 11.3 percent of India's total global trade during the same period. International B2B delegates and local Indian business delegates comprised of leaders in business, government, academia, media and international organizations to hear insights from chief dignitaries representing the state of Karnataka and key experts from around the world; engage in conversations on current trends across AI, agritech and real estate; and explore India's economic development.  Vineet Verma, Managing Director of the World Trade Center businesses in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi, and newly-appointed WTCA Board Member, explained that "AIFTA has helped reduce trade barriers between countries and improve the living standards of ASEAN and Indian communities. This cooperation focuses on sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, services, energy, technology, transportation, manufacturing, and many others." At the 54th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) that was held in early March this year in Bengaluru, India, and hosted by WTC Bengaluru. Singapore is among India's largest trade and investment partners in ASEAN. With more than 300 members and networks in 100 countries including Singapore, WTCA invites Singapore business actors to take advantage of the increased trading and investment opportunities between these two regions. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1981/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-opens-state-of-the-art-seed-health-lab-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1981/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-opens-state-of-the-art-seed-health-lab-in-india.html Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:27:00 +0530 The lab becomes part of Syngenta’s global network of vegetable seed Quality Control labs, including centers of excellence in the United States and the Netherlands Syngenta Vegetable Seeds inaugurated a new Seed Health Lab in Indian city of Hyderabad, further strengthening the company’s continued investment in quality control capabilities. The state-of-the-art lab is one of the most advanced seed testing facilities in the world and delivers India’s first dedicated seed health lab, which will serve growers in India, across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Syngenta’s Hyderabad site is a center for seed processing, quality control and supply operations. The lab becomes part of Syngenta’s global network of vegetable seed Quality Control labs, including centers of excellence in the United States and the Netherlands, which supports Syngenta’s mission to deliver the highest quality vegetable seed products to growers around the world. Built with an investment of $2.4 million (INR 20 Cr), the 6,500-square-foot modern facility is currently capable of processing 12,000 virus/bacterial tests per year with capacity to expand with future growth. The facility is compliant with seed health test regulations in India and will be aligned with international accreditation programs such as International Seed Health Initiative (ISHI) and Naktuinbouw Authorized Laboratories (NAL). The lab is also seeking export certification and local accreditation with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). “Global seed stewardship and promoting seed health in the global movement of seeds is critical to protecting the integrity of growers’ crops and safeguarding global supply chains and global food security,” said Erik Postma, Global Head of Quality Management for Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Flowers. “Detailed care must be taken with every seed that makes it to a grower. Syngenta is offering seed testing services to other seed companies to support international phytosanitary standards.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1975/indias-cropin-and-aws-collaborate-to-address-global-hunger-and-food-insecurity.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1975/indias-cropin-and-aws-collaborate-to-address-global-hunger-and-food-insecurity.html Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:04:32 +0530 New initiative to support Cropin to develop a Food Security Decision Intelligence solution powered by AWS AI technologies, to track crop cultivation, production patterns, and climate change India's Bengaluru based Cropin Technology, a global Agtech leader enabling intelligent agriculture, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) India Private Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on enabling Cropin to build a solution to address the pressing issue of global hunger and food insecurity. This initiative aims to help Cropin develop core data architecture, analytics, modelling, and simulation components that can aggregate global farmland data and broader climate intelligence within a single solution. The solution will provide decision intelligence to governments, development agencies, and agri-businesses, and help them ensure food security for vulnerable populations. The collaboration reinforces Cropin’s commitment to enabling predictable, traceable, and sustainable global food systems, while supporting food security efforts undertaken by AWS Impact Computing, an initiative which aims to identify potential solutions that can improve the lives of humans, other species, and natural habitats. As part of this initiative, Cropin will develop workloads that could eventually constitute a Food Security Decision Intelligence solution powered by AWS. The solution would leverage AWS’s advanced computing capabilities, including High Performance Computing (HPC), modeling/simulation, internet of things (IoT), robotics, visual/spatial computing, and generative artificial intelligence (AI). It will combine Cropin’s deep domain expertise in agriculture, earth observation sciences, data science, AI/ML, and deep learning models to provide accurate and granular crop yield intelligence for the most important food crops worldwide, initially focusing on rice, wheat, potato and maize, as they collectively account for more than half of the world’s food requirements. The AI powered solution will integrate satellite imagery with in-situ field images and remote data to improve agricultural analytics through scalable models. These models will provide both micro (plot) and macro (regional/ global) insights and will be further analysed by identifying patterns and anomalies in the production and quality of major crops across global regions. Cropin’s AI, model building, data processing, and reporting will leverage AWS services such as Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models from leading AI companies; Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant; Amazon QuickSight, which offers unified business intelligence at hyperscale; and AWS’s HPC infrastructure. Image Caption: Krishna Kumar, co-founder & CEO, Cropin, and Shalini Kapoor, Director and Chief Technologist, AWS India Private Limited, at the MoU signing. (Cropin) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1931/mahindra-group-and-johnson-controls-launch-net-zero-buildings-initiative-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1931/mahindra-group-and-johnson-controls-launch-net-zero-buildings-initiative-in-india.html Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:37:15 +0530 Strategic climate advocacy initiative will provide organizations, building owners and facility managers with information and resources to create sustainable spaces. As India ramps up efforts to decarbonize its rapidly growing infrastructure of buildings, the Mahindra Group, one of India's leading industrial enterprises, and Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced a first of its kind Net Zero Buildings Initiative to decarbonize India's commercial, urban residential and public buildings. The joint initiative will simplify access to key information and resources to help organizations start their net zero buildings journeys. "At Mahindra, we strongly believe in operating as a 'Planet Positive' organization. The group has undertaken multiple initiatives to decarbonize our operational infrastructure—leading to both financially and environmentally value accretive outcomes. We also understand the critical role of collaboration in accelerating a sustainable future, and hence join hands with Johnson Controls, leaders in net zero building solutions, to share our learnings and best practices with everyone" said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Group Public Affairs Officer and Group Executive Board Member. According to the International Energy Agency, three-quarters of India's anticipated 2040 buildings have yet to be built. With the sector accounting for 20% of emissions and more than 30% of energy consumption in the country[1], the transition to smart and sustainable buildings is becoming an environmental and economic imperative. "With India on the cusp of a building revolution, now is the time to actualize the benefits of smart and green buildings for India's economy and society," said George Oliver, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls. "The joining together of our two companies to develop this unique initiative is a natural fit—leveraging Johnson Controls' leadership in smart building technology and Mahindra's renowned multi-industry expertise and reach. We believe it will help guide and inspire a movement toward a more sustainable built environment, both in India and beyond." The Net Zero Buildings Initiative—comprising a cost-free, all-in-one toolkit and training—will help building and facility owners learn about best practices of sustainable buildings, implement tools to assess building parameters, identify and implement conservation measures, and understand building regulations in India, available incentives, technology, financing models, and more. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1888/india-lunches-the-worlds-largest-grain-storage-plan-in-the-cooperative-sector.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1888/india-lunches-the-worlds-largest-grain-storage-plan-in-the-cooperative-sector.html Mon, 26 Feb 2024 04:06:00 +0530 700 lakh tonne storage capacity will be created in the next five years across 11 states to ensure food security in India On 24 Feb, India launched the largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector for farmers with the inauguration of 11 godowns set up by 11 primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) across 11 states. The strategic initiative aims to establish the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector' by creating infrastructure such as warehouses for agricultural and allied purposes, primarily at selected viable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in 24 States /Union Territories. Through PACS, over 700 lakh tonne storage capacity will be created over the next five years with an investment of 1.25 lakh crore. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "the new facility will allow farmers to store their produce in the godowns and warehouses, get institutional credit against it, and sell their items when market prices are remunerative". PM Modi urged cooperative organizations to work towards reducing imports of food items, including edible oils and pulses, and also fertilizers. He suggested that cooperatives should make a list of items that India imports and plan an action to produce or manufacture them locally. In 500 more PACS, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for the infrastructure. A project to computerize 18,000 PACS across the country was also inaugurated by him. Objective of the Project: Decentralization of Grain Storage in India and benefits of the same at PACS level Reduction of Post Harvest lossesfrom existing 6% Drastic reduction on multiple handling and transportation cost Prevention of distress sale by farmers at low rates Decentralized procurement by FCI/State Government Storage based “Hub” and “Spoke” model Integrated Module The Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act has been amended and PACS are being computerized. The farmer producer organisations (FPOs), will enable small farmers to become entrepreneurs and even export their produce. The government plans to establish 10,000 FPOs and has already set up 8,000 FPOs. Fishery and animal husbandry sectors are also benefiting from the cooperatives and are expected to benefit from the initiative. In the next five years, the target is to set up 2 lakh PACS and the maximum will be in the fishery and allied farm sectors. Expected Benefits of the Plan: The plan has dual objectives. Firstly, it addresses the lack of agricultural storage infrastructure by establishing godowns at the PACS level. Additionally, it empowers PACS to engage in other roles: Acting as procurement centres for State Agencies/ Food Corporation of India (FCI). Functioning as Fair Price Shops (FPS). Establishing custom hiring centres. Creating common processing units for sorting, grading, and more The scheme aims to create storage capacity for storing 100% of India's grain production. It aims to seamlessly integrate PACS godowns with the food grain supply chain, with a collaborative effort of NABARD and spearheaded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The initiative is being implemented through the convergence of various existing schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), etc. to enable PACS participating in the project avail subsidies and interest subvention benefits for undertaking infrastructure development. This visionary plan entails establishing diverse agricultural infrastructure at the level of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), encompassing warehouses, custom hiring centres, processing units, and more. By elevating PACS into multifunctional entities, this strategy aims to reduce food grain wastage through enhanced storage capacity, fortify the nation's food security, and empower farmers to command better prices for their produce. India houses over 100,000 PACS, boasting a substantial membership exceeding 130 million farmers. Recognizing their pivotal role in shaping the agrarian and rural landscape of the Indian economy, and capitalizing on their extensive outreach to the grassroots, this initiative seeks to establish decentralized storage facilities at the PACS level, alongside other agricultural infrastructure. This endeavour not only bolsters the nation's food security but also empowers PACS to metamorphose into dynamic economic entities. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1868/westfalia-fruit-forges-sustainable-growth-into-asias-avocado-market.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1868/westfalia-fruit-forges-sustainable-growth-into-asias-avocado-market.html Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:42:33 +0530 Enters India, China and Japan markets Westfalia Fruit, a leading multinational supplier of avocados and a range of fresh vegetables has capped off an exciting year of growth in Asia – in India and China, two of the fastest growing avocado markets in the world, as well as Japan. Forging India market Westfalia entered the Indian market in 2022, working with local partners quickly establishing itself, investing in local production, nurseries and securing its position as the market leader. The market has grown tenfold in the last few years with consumption increasing from 200 to 4,000 tonnes. 2023 marked the first year of commercial harvest of Indian grown Hass avocados and in the coming years more than 500 acres of Westfalia’s existing Hass plantations in Southern India will come into production. Globally, with the most diverse growing footprint Westfalia has the benefit of being able to source from two production areas at any one time, including Tanzania, Kenya, Peru, Chile, and Australia enabling consistent year-round availability for Indian consumers. In December last year Westfalia Fruit India imported the first commercial shipment of avocados from Australia after market access for Australian avocados was granted. Fruit from Western Australia fits well into the Indian avocado imports calendar with availability between November to March, complementing African import programs from April to November. “We’re excited about Indian access for Australian avocados as well as being very close to securing Indian market access for our South African produced fruit. We believe that the demand for both Hass avocados and our exclusive and premium GEM® variety will continue to grow on the back of strong per capita income growth and a rise in discretionary spending to 36% in 2020. With our investment in local farms, ripening rooms and logistics we anticipate the next few years to be pivotal in the developing Indian market as the appeal and use of avocados widens”. says Zac Bard, Business Development Executive at Westfalia Fruit. Westfalia Avocados in China Market In August 2023, South Africa celebrated after its avocados were granted access to the Chinese market. As the leading exporter of avocados in South Africa, Westfalia Fruit represents half of all avocado exports, and believes this significant development will shape the future of agriculture in the country. “It’s a triumph for the avocado industry in South Africa and it gives us the opportunity to now grow the market and the local production in South Africa, particularly in the early and late season production areas. This is an opportunity for us, as an industry to invest and develop avocado production in South Africa which will directly benefit rural communities, providing jobs, improving infrastructure and overall investment in communities. As with India, Africa is very well geographically placed to supply China and as a globally integrated company we are approaching the opportunities there in a sustainable and responsible way,” continued Bard. Westfalia Avocados in Japanese Market Japan’s love for avocados began almost two decades ago when a Japanese chef working in California began adding the fruit to sushi. This trend filtered back to the country which has had a stable avocado market ever since. In 2023, Westfalia in Peru successfully increased imports to Japan by 58% establishing Westfalia as a leading supplier to the market. Marketing initiatives sponsored by trade bodies have supported the awareness and consumption of avocados as part of Japanese cuisine. In addition, South Africa was recently granted avocado market access to Japan, as a globally integrated business Westfalia’s teams are working together to supply the market 12 months of the year from complimentary growing areas. "Avocados grown in Africa have a hugely positive social footprint in Asian communities; Asia is the future for Africa and it’s going to be a fantastic story to watch how these markets help the continent improve the livelihood in its remote and rural economies. Avocados grown in Africa and sold in Asia are going to change many people’s lives for the better” Bard concluded. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1785/growing-ag-biologicals-segment-in-the-apac-region-challenges-and-ways-forward.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1785/growing-ag-biologicals-segment-in-the-apac-region-challenges-and-ways-forward.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 07:01:00 +0530 By Harshvardhan Bhagchandka , President IPL Biologicals The ag-biologicals market is fuelled by the rising demand for organic food, growing awareness pertaining to health, and the surging trend of sustainability. However, there are some restraints that are making the market participants concerned and are likely to hamper the growth of the industry if not addressed soon. According to the data from UNFPA, 60% of the world population, or over 4.3 billion people, live in the Asia and Pacific region, which is home to China and India, the two most populous nations on earth. As we go forward, it is anticipated that this number will rise even further. This indicates that in order to properly feed the region and the entire world and keep up with the growing demand for food, agricultural practices must be made more productive and sustainable. One key method that has emerged as the cornerstone of organic agricultural methods and sustainable agriculture globally is using biologicals for agriculture, and the APAC region is not an exception. According to research by Precision Business Insights, the ag-biologicals market in the APAC region stood at $3.8 billion in 2022. Furthermore, the market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% by 2029. The market is fuelled by the rising demand for organic food, growing awareness pertaining to health, and the surging trend of sustainability. However, there are some restraints that are making the market participants concerned and are likely to hamper the growth of the industry if not addressed soon. Potential restraints Currently there are few potential restraints which are stated below: R&D investment: In order to expand the market for their exclusive products and enhance the strength of their agricultural biological portfolios, industry stakeholders in the agribusiness sector must invest in R&D in the sector. Currently there are only few companies who have their own R&D and Production facility. More efforts are needed for evaluation of new generation biological products Government regulation: In last few years governments of few countries like India, have taken several steps which promote adoption of biological products. Further governments must also implement strict guidelines to ensure farmer gets quality products, and incentivize farmers who shift towards biological products. Regulatory ecosystem should be feasible for commercialisation of agri biological products. Government regulations: In last few years governments of few countries like India, have taken several steps which promote adoption of biological products. Further governments must also implement strict guidelines to ensure farmer gets quality products, and incentivize farmers who shift towards biological products. Regulatory ecosystem should be feasible for commercialisation of agri biological products. Method of usage: Traditionally farmers use synthetic pesticides, which often exhibit quick response or show rapid knockdown on pest, by directly affecting the nervous system. While biological alternatives employ living organisms or their by-products for targeted pest control. These biologicals products may need to be applied differently at different time. Farmers need to be aware of this methodology as this comparison is crucial for selecting effective and environmentally friendly solutions in agriculture. These solutions bring us to some of the potential opportunities that market players canexplore in a bid to grow the ag-biologicals segment in the APAC region. Significant opportunities As the market for ag-biologicals is surging, the economies in the APAC region are anticipated to come into play. Here are some of the opportunities market players can explore. Consumer awareness on safe food: A thorough awareness of the food production process is the need of the hour to raise consumer awareness of safe food, with a focus on environmental sustainability, health, and ethical sourcing. The market players can encourage people to look for items devoid of dangerous chemicals, pesticides, and additives. This knowledge can enable customers to make deliberate decisions, bolstering the market and demand for products that help produce safe food. Right to safe food should be implemented. Impact of digital revolution: The digital revolution has significantly enhanced the adoption of biological products in agriculture, fostering a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach. Advanced technologies enable precise monitoring of soil health, optimizing the application of biologicals for maximum efficacy. Digital tools facilitate real-time data analysis, empowering farmers to make informed decisions on bio-input usage. This synergy between digital innovation and biological solutions contribute to increased crop yields, reduced environmental impact, and a more resilient and productive agricultural system. Impact of social media: Social media plays a pivotal role in promoting awareness and knowledge about the benefits of biological products in agriculture, connecting farmers and researchers globally. Platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn facilitate the exchange of success stories and best practices, encouraging widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices. The collaborative nature of social media fosters a sense of community, empowering farmers to embrace and implement biological solutions for enhanced agricultural productivity. Way forward Ag-biologicals have emerged as novel solutions for farmers that address several challenges of conventional farming methods. The need of the hour for the industry is to educate the growers about the potential of the products, as it will potentially lead to the growth of the market. As we move forward, the relevance of biology is also poised to increase as the world is now more focused on organic food, health, and sustainability. Collectively, it is safe to say that with the use of biological solutions to cultivate the crops, consumers will be reassured in the future that their food is produced in a safe and sustainable manner along with environmental protection. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1698/indias-iisr-develops-new-granular-lime-based-trichoderma-bio-pesticide-fertiliser.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1698/indias-iisr-develops-new-granular-lime-based-trichoderma-bio-pesticide-fertiliser.html Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:16:22 +0530 The new product can effectively neutralise the soil acidity in a single application The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) Kozhikode have successfully developed a new granular lime-based Trichoderma formulation, ‘Tricholime’, integrating Trichoderma- a fungal biocontrol agent used for controlling a variety of soil-borne pathogens- and Lime into a single product, making the application easier for the farmers. This lime-based formulation neutralizes the soil acidity while promoting plant growth and shields crops from soil-borne pathogens, all in a single application. Scientists who worked behind the new formulation say Trichoderma has proven effective in suppressing several soil-borne plant pathogens and serves as a successful bio-pesticide and bio-fertiliser in crop production. This formulation can also boost the growth of useful microbes in soil and also benefits the crop by improving the physical condition of the soil, enhancing secondary nutrient availability and by boosting soil microbial activity, they add. Trichoderma, being a fungal biocontrol agent, has proven effective in suppressing several soil-borne plant pathogens and serves as a successful bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer in crop production. Recognizing the of Trichoderma and the challenges posed by traditional lime applications, the scientists at IISR developed ‘Tricholime’ to integrate lime and Trichoderma. According to the scientists’ team led by IISR Director R. Dinesh, the significance of this formulation lies in its ability to mitigate soil acidity and supply bio agents concurrently ensuring optimal plant growth and nutrient uptake. The institute hopes that the technology behind this product can also be extended to include other beneficial bioagents, opening new possibilities in product development to support sustainable organic farming, they add. This formulation also benefits the crop by improving the physical condition of the soil, enhancing secondary nutrient availability and by boosting soil microbial activity. IISR hopes that the technology behind this product can also be extended to include other beneficial bio-agents, opening new possibilities in product development to support sustainable organic farming. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1688/farmers-edge-and-ltimindtree-unveil-feil-in-inida.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1688/farmers-edge-and-ltimindtree-unveil-feil-in-inida.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:10:54 +0530 A Pioneering Agricultural Innovation Hub Redefining Farming in India Farmers Edge Inc., a pure-play digital agriculture company and LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, has announced the launch of the Farmers Edge Innovation Lab (FEIL) in Mumbai. This innovation hub, powered by Fairfax Digital Services, is set to redefine agriculture in India. By integrating cutting-edge AgTech with global digital solutions expertise FEIL will secure early victories and tangible results, laying the foundation for scaling generative AI projects. Farmers Edge brings advanced capabilities in remote sensing and agronomic modeling, empowering farmers and enterprise clients with unparalleled insights. Partnering with LTIMindtree, FEIL is poised to create a nexus of expertise and knowledge exchange between North America and India. LTIMindtree’s advanced technologies that includes GenAI, IOT, Automation and Drones, will work towards elevating farming in the country to provide high crop yields at low input costs. The launch of this innovation lab marks a significant milestone in the evolution of agriculture in India, setting the stage for a future where technology and tradition would harmonize to drive prosperity in the fields. FEIL's mission is to educate and empower India’s farmers, providing tailored solutions that enhance yields, reduce costs, and ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for Indian agriculture. The lab will focus on key aspects crucial to the Indian market such as: Weather: Analyzing weather patterns and their impact on crop production. Soil: Ensuring a comprehensive understanding for maximizing yields while improving soil health. Crop Cycles: Assisting farmers in optimizing field processes to add significant value to the agricultural value chain. Speaking on the occasion, Vibhore Arora, CEO of Farmers Edge, expressed, "We are thrilled to lead such an incredible initiative for India’s agriculture with LTIMindtree. This is more than just an innovation hub, the FEIL in Mumbai will provide the necessary support to the agricultural revolution, creating sustainable and efficient, data-driven solutions tailored to the specific needs of Indian farmers.” Nachiket Deshpande, Whole-Time Director & COO said, “At LTIMindtree, our efforts to build solutions are always focused on fostering an ecosystem where ideas and innovations flourish. With the launch of this innovation lab, our best talent and technology will revolutionise sustainable farming in India.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1666/irri-develops-first-of-its-kind-speed-breeding-protocol-for-indica-and-japonica-rice.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1666/irri-develops-first-of-its-kind-speed-breeding-protocol-for-indica-and-japonica-rice.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:55:56 +0530 Follows SpeedFlower protocol Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) successfully developed a robust, first-of-its-kind speed breeding protocol that reduces the generation times required in a year for growing indica and japonica rice. The current rate of genetic gain attained in rice crops through breeding is inadequate to meet the increasing future rice demand of a growing population. The development of new varieties is further hindered by longer generation times and seasonal constraints. Through the SpeedFlower protocol, these factors will no longer impact the acceleration of varietal development, by reducing generation times by almost half which allows growing four to five generations of indica and japonica rice in a year. “We can now develop new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutritionally superior rice varieties in a much shorter duration. This is a major scientific step toward significantly boosting genetic gain in rice, ultimately contributing to global food security,” said program lead Drs Vikas Kumar Singh, Uma Maheshwar Singh and Pallavi Sinha.  The Speed Breeding technique The Speed Breeding (SB) technique has been introduced to effectively manage environmental factors and is suitable for short- and long-day crops, allowing it to be utilized throughout the year. As a result, SB has gained popularity as a method for advancing multiple generations per year. Using SB in glasshouses and controlled chambers has the potential to enhance breeding outputs for both short- and long-day crops. This is achieved by providing more controlled growth conditions, which work more uniformly for diverse germplasm and breeding materials compared to field conditions. The success of SB in various crops has led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art SpeedBreed facility at the ISARC in Varanasi, India. To achieve SB in rice, the facility has been customized with controlled growth parameters using fully enclosed walk-in growth chambers designed to optimize the SB protocol for all types of rice varieties without the need for tedious embryo rescue techniques and tiller removal. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1636/seas-largest-aquaculture-tech-company-explores-india-market-to-expand-global-foothold.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1636/seas-largest-aquaculture-tech-company-explores-india-market-to-expand-global-foothold.html Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:59:51 +0530 Indonesia's eFishery's entry into the Indian market includes an expansive reach with over 1,000 acres of ponds Southeast Asia's leading aquaculture company, eFishery, announced the completion of its commercial pilot in India, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion journey. The Indonesia-headquartered firm kicked off the pilot project in March of this year, successfully acquiring over 1,000 acres of ponds under contract and distributing more than 3,000 metric tons of feed. This achievement brings the firm closer to expanding its footprint to five new Indian states by the end of 2024. The pilot project also signals a broader expansion beyond Southeast Asia with a deliberate, one-country-at-a-time approach for sustainability and impact assessment. Beyond India, eFishery is eyeing opportunities for one or two countries in Asia and Latin America within a year while continuing to export shrimp products overseas. The company's global expansion strategy also focuses on tapping into diverse markets, offering a comprehensive ecosystem to farmers, and creating a "Digital Co-Op" model that provides access to high-quality inputs, IoT technologies, production SOPs, and guaranteed market off-take, ultimately empowering farmers and unlocking their true potential. eFishery CEO and co-founder Gibran Huzaifah explained that India is a key part of eFishery's overall growth strategy, which also includes expanding the company footprint in Indonesia and growing in export markets, "Beginning with the Indian pilot project, I take pride in our global impact, unlocking the potential of aquaculture worldwide through Indonesian-made technology, resulting in a remarkable average two to three-fold increase in farmers' profit. We recognize the potential and value of tapping into the Indian aquaculture market, which mirrors the size and structure of the Indonesian market, both dominated by small and medium farmers. By supporting them as partners, these key contributors to local and regional food security help ensure a sustainable and accessible source of protein for global communities." India's aquaculture industry, valued at over $15 billion, has grown at an impressive >8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the last three decades. Despite its vast potential, small and medium farmers in India grapple with challenges such as poor market linkage, inconsistent and non-beneficial pricing schemes, delayed payment terms, and a lack of basic farm management information, protocols, technology, and innovation. Addressing these challenges, eFishery steps in to empower farmers to make informed, data-driven decisions promptly. The focus is on refining farm operations, optimising cultivation practices, and enhancing overall yield. Neil Wendover, eFishery's International Expansion Lead, highlighted the company's commitment to enhancing farmers' profitability in every market it enters, "Our objectives are centred on solving problems for the farmers and improving profitability through heightened productivity and efficiency. Rather than dividing the aquaculture pie, we are essentially doubling the size." Commencing its operations in Andhra Pradesh, an Indian state contributing to 35% of the country's total aquaculture production, eFishery has conducted a thorough market and strategy assessment. Wendover continues, "We have grown a dedicated Indian team to 50 employees with strong local leadership in place. This, together with collaborations with government entities and input suppliers, is also instrumental in navigating the unique challenges of the Indian aquaculture sector, which remains a fragmented but vast and exciting market. I am pleased that our strategic efforts have paid off, and we are on track to achieve a 10x growth, aligning with our international expansion business objective." "My collaboration with the eFishery has been a game-changer for my small farm. Their innovative solutions and support have improved efficiency and enhanced the overall sustainability of my aquaculture operations. eFishery's continuous aid ensures a successful harvest, preventing the need for a panic harvest due to financial constraints," shared Ch. Veera Nageswar Rao is a fish farmer from Kakinada District and an e-fishery partner. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1597/buyofuel-announces-5x-growth-in-2023-by-reducing-80k-mt-emission-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1597/buyofuel-announces-5x-growth-in-2023-by-reducing-80k-mt-emission-in-india.html Fri, 08 Dec 2023 11:10:30 +0530 Against the backdrop of rising air pollution concerns across India, Buyofuel,   a tech-driven biofuel marketplace, announces a momentous threefold growth in the fiscal year 2023. While struggling with nationwide air quality challenges, the company has emerged as a key player in driving environmental change, successfully reducing approximately 80,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions through strategic partnerships with its clients. In 2018, the Indian government came up with The National Policy of Biofuels. The policy aimed to focus on the reduction of the import of biofuels and to promote a cleaner environment. This meant a space had opened up in the country for companies focusing on biofuels to start up. Seizing this opportunity, Buyofuel has utilized its potential as a cleantech startup. In a world increasingly focused on climate change and environmental responsibility, Buyofuel has emerged as a pioneer in delivering tangible, positive results.  The company's innovative strategies and sustainable practices have not only contributed to its rapid growth but have also positioned Buyofuel as a catalyst for positive change within the industry. Key Achievements and Metrics: 5X   Growth:  Buyofuel's   2023  fiscal year showcases an impressive five-fold growth, handling a monthly transaction volume of 10,000 MT, underscoring the success of its sustainable business model and the increasing demand for eco-friendly solutions in the market.  Emission Reduction: Through strategic collaborations with clients, Buyofuel has successfully mitigated approximately 80,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, setting a new standard for environmentally conscious business practices and targeting 300,000 MT reduction by 2024-25.  Trees Planted: In alignment with its commitment to reforestation and combating climate change, Buyofuel has planted an impressive 3,643 trees, contributing to the restoration and preservation of ecosystems. Kishan Karunakaran, CEO of Buyofuel, emphasized, "Our growth is a testament to the viability of sustainable business practices. We are not only achieving economic success but, more importantly, we are actively contributing to a cleaner and healthier country and planet." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1530/greece-engages-bl-agro-to-strengthen-indo-greece-partnership-in-agri-trade-agri-tech-and-animal-sciences-sectors.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1530/greece-engages-bl-agro-to-strengthen-indo-greece-partnership-in-agri-trade-agri-tech-and-animal-sciences-sectors.html Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:14:43 +0530 Explores adoption of agriculture technology, exchange of skilled manpower, promote agri trade, animal science, and steps to mitigating climate change The Government of Greece is in talks with India’s leading FMCG company BL Agro to explore strategic partnership in adoption of agriculture technology, exchange of skilled manpower, promote agri trade, animal science, and steps to mitigating climate change. Honourable Minister of Rural Development & Food of the Hellenic Republic Eleftherious Avgenakis and Dimitrios Loannou, Ambassador of Greece to India met Ashish Khandelwal, MD, BL Agro FMCG Co. and Navneet Ravikar, Chairman & Managing Director, Leads Connect Services, recently during a reception held at the Embassy of Greece. The reception organised by BL Agro Group was held in the honour of the Minister to highlight India - Greece relations in agriculture, Animal Husbandry Fisheries, and Food Processing Sectors. Manoj Kumar, Director, BL Agro felicitated both, the Minister and Ambassador of Greece, by honouring them with traditional shawl as a sign of respect. This was the first visit by a high ranking Greek official to the country after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Athens in August 2023 with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties. “We want to deepen trade ties with India. We also want to have deeper interactions with India in the field of agriculture and animal sciences. The entire value chain of farmers in India and Greece should benefit from this strategic partnership,” said Eleftherious Avgenakis, Minister of Rural Development & Food of the Hellenic Republic. On the sidelines of the event, Navneet Ravikar, Chairman & Managing Director, Leads Connect Services (a group company of BL Agro) said that they had fruitful talks with the Greek Minister and explored opportunities of collaboration in different sectors of agriculture. “The discussion that we had today was essentially on using our technology in Greece. The Honourable Minister is very keen on understanding how we can provide better skilled manpower to Greece, better agriculture technology and methods in mitigating climate change. Secondly, it was also about how India can help Greece build better agriculture and veterinary institutions,” said Ravikar. Ravikar also added that they are exploring options to import feta cheese, olive oil, and wine from Greece and export high quality millets, basmati rice, spices and other agriculture products from India. Recently, BL Agro has formed a JV with Greece-based Salas International Group, one of the largest aid providing firms in Europe, to provide food kits in disaster-struck areas. Ravikar also said Leads Connect has tied up with JOIST Innovation Park, a Greek start-up incubator firm, to bring funds into India for tech startups. “We want to bring them to India and specifically use their expertise in the field of agri-tech. We are soon signing an agreement on this,” he said. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1490/indias-international-tractors-limited-itl-launches-5-new-tractor-series-to-global-agri-sector.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1490/indias-international-tractors-limited-itl-launches-5-new-tractor-series-to-global-agri-sector.html Mon, 23 Oct 2023 11:27:54 +0530 Solis SV Series, S Series, C Series, H Series and N Series are the output of ITL's ₹150 crore ($1.5 billion) investment in R&D International Tractors Limited (ITL), India 's leading tractor exporter, has launched 5 tractors with advanced world-class technology and emissions control system to deliver greater agricultural efficiency around the world. The new range of tractors includes its electric models such as Solis SV Series, S Series, C Series, H Series and N Series. ITL has invested ₹150 crore ($1.5 billion) in R&D to launch the new series of tractors.  The launch has been organized aligning with ITL's global conference "Global Partner Summit (GPS) 200" in India. Forging ahead in the global tractor industry, ITL is combining European style and Japanese quality with Indian manufacturing costs. Further, ITL aims to penetrate into newer segments in geographies like Europe, USA, Africa & South America markets. Gaurav Saxena , Director and CEO, International Business at ITL,  said: "We believe in global commitment towards the agricultural community that transcends borders. We have been the No. 1 exporting brand of India for the last 4 years and we maintain the 1st position in more than 15 countries in the target segment. This new series of five tractors will allow us to strengthen our position in global markets with the support of our large network of more than 3,000 dealers." The company manufactures tractors under two brand names – Sonalika and Solis. The 5 different series come with compact designs and advanced emission control system that comply with advanced markets of the world such as US and Europe to meet varied customer requirements: N SERIES - Ideal for Orchards and Vineyards C SERIES - Powered by Stage V Engine for durability and effortless performance S SERIES - 16HP to 125HP caters to Hobby Farming to the Toughest Farming Applications SV SERIES - Robust electric motor to generate impressive torque and power while remaining environmentally friendly, producing zero emissions H SERIES - Operational comfort and unparalleled ease with Hydrostatic Automatic Transmission  While Series H, Series S, and Solis SV models are launched globally, Series C will be available for European markets and Series N will cater to markets including Europe, USA, Africa and South America Regions.  ITL is also the third largest tractor manufacturer in India and stands among the top 5 tractor manufacturers globally. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1453/worlds-first-international-agro-arbitration-centre-iaac-lunched-by-icfa.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1453/worlds-first-international-agro-arbitration-centre-iaac-lunched-by-icfa.html Thu, 12 Oct 2023 06:41:27 +0530 IAAC is set to emerge as a trustworthy global institution with an expert panel comprising legal, financial, and agro-trade professionals at its core. The International Agro Arbitration Centre (IAAC), promoted by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) and chaired by Justice P. Sathasivam, Former Chief Justice of India and Former Governor of Kerala, is poised to revolutionize dispute resolution mechanism within the agricultural and food sector. Agriculture is an incredibly diverse sector. Post WTO food and agro trade has significantly grown to over $2 trillion and a large number of companies have gone global today with trade, technologies and businesses. While USA, Netherlands, Germany and Brazil occupy top positions in agro food exports, India is fast catching up, exporting agri products to more than 150 countries in the world, accounting for more than $55 billion and importing close to $25 billion. Domestic agro sector is also huge and different businesses from inputs to output and services are rapidly expanding with innovation and new products and technologies. While the rising business and trade of agriculture comes with its own benefits, the disputes arising within the agro trade industry can hinder its efficiency in several ways. These disputes may crop up for a variety of reasons; contract disputes, nuisance claims, produce quality, patent and IPR infringements, payments and debt recovery, among others. Bearing in mind the gravity of such issues, IAAC, a unique agro sector focused arbitration centre, has been incepted to provide a forum to address the challenges and mitigate the negative effects that disputes can have on productivity, relationships, costs, ultimately promoting a more productive and efficient agro trade and businesses globally. Recognizing the critical need for dedicated dispute resolution in the fields of agriculture and food, IAAC is set to emerge as a trustworthy global institution with an expert panel comprising legal, financial, and agro-trade professionals at its core. The International Agro Arbitration Centre is an India based leading institution that provides alternative dispute resolution services to the agro food industry worldwide. The IAAC offers arbitration, mediation, and expert determination services to resolve disputes that may arise in the agro sector with the country or outside. IAAC promotes the peaceful resolution of disputes in the agro and food industry and trade through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The Centre seeks to provide cost-effective, efficient, and impartial dispute resolution services that enable parties to resolve their disputes quickly and effectively.  The Indian policy and judicial system also encourages commercial disputes to be resolved through the mediation process and arbitration, before approaching the Courts. IAAC's commitment extends to providing equal opportunities to parties across the globe, transcending geographical, linguistic, and financial boundaries. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1414/the-5th-edition-of-world-coffee-conference-expo-2023-launches-in-bengaluru-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1414/the-5th-edition-of-world-coffee-conference-expo-2023-launches-in-bengaluru-india.html Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:14:22 +0530 The 5th edition of this global congregation is scheduled from September 25 - 28, 2023. The World Coffee Conference & Expo has arrived for the first time in Asia in the Indian city of Bengaluru. The 5th edition of this global congregation is scheduled from September 25 - 28, 2023. The 4-day event of the WCC 2023 will bring together leaders and decision-makers from over 80 countries. Sustainability is one of the critical concerns in the coffee industry. The conference witnessed a grandeur opening with the Theme “Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture”. In the coffee sector, a variety of challenges affect sustainability, including climate change, rising costs, and volatile prices. The goal of WCC 2023 is to address these challenges and exchange ideas and knowledge regarding the circular economy and regenerative agricultural practices. The Conference will be a grand podium to discuss, debate, and collaborate on building a sustainable coffee industry, from bean to cup. "Sustainability through the circular economy and regenerative agriculture" will be the underlying theme for the week-long event. It shall include a 3-day conference and B2B exhibition, skill-building workshops, a Global CEO conclave, and networking events. More than 80 countries will be represented by 2000 delegates at the Conference. Representatives and Owners of coffee startups, Coffee Roasters, Speciality Coffee Growers' and Small Farmers with their best products will also showcase their products at the event.  With 8000 square meters of exhibition space, the Open Design type, state-of-the-art exhibition venue is fully air-conditioned. WCC2023 is providing the much-needed scope of opportunities to Entrepreneur, Retailers or Cafe-business owners looking forward to sourcing high-quality coffee beans, or Business leaders looking for investment opportunities. WCC2023 B2B marketplace will present an opportunity to maximize your presence. Participants can connect with other event participants and conduct business meetings in a dedicated space. In India and Asia, this is the first event of its kind, and is the perfect opportunity to showcase products, enhance knowledge and engage in competitions to increase product visibility on both a national and international scale. The networking opportunities with international buyers and the side-by-side business opportunities, competitions will allow visitors, and exhibitors to experience a holistic coffee community after the event. The international conference will be addressed by keynote speakers and leaders who will emphasize the best practices and technologies to promote regenerative agriculture and farmers’ well-being & prosperity while ensuring compliance with the changing regulatory framework and financial durability. Various enthralling sessions are organised on 26th and 27th September; as in “Circular Economy & Regenerative Agriculture – Perspectives for global coffee sector”, “Financing Mechanisms and opportunities for the coffee sector”, “Coffee Quality & Speciality Coffees”, “Environmental Sustainability and Climate change”,  “Start–ups & Innovations - Product Development & Packaging”, “Challenges in Coffee Trade”, “Living Income, farmers’ prosperity - Livelihood challenges and opportunities”, “Growing importance of Robusta & Coffee blends”, “Coffee Consumption”, “Coffee social sustainability challenges”, “Partnerships, trading & knowledge platforms” with more in detailed discussions.  The World Coffee Expo will attract coffee enthusiasts and Interest Groups across Coffee producers, exporters, Importers, Experts of Coffee, Coffee brands & café chains, Coffee machines (Home, Office and Cafes), Coffee equipment & accessories, Coffee farm equipment & Inputs, Roasters & curers and most importantly the flavors and essences. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1394/indias-g20-presidency-forges-global-energy-transition-agenda.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1394/indias-g20-presidency-forges-global-energy-transition-agenda.html Fri, 15 Sep 2023 11:14:39 +0530 Renewable energy and green financing took the center stage of the G20 summit A new G-20 presidency is assumed by India on December 1, 2022, taking over from Indonesia, providing an opportunity for India to demonstrate that it is a rising power and a global energy leader. As the world's most populous country and the fifth-largest economy in the world, India is positioning itself well to lead the transition to cleaner energy sources amid immense pressure from its growing energy needs. The G-20 provided India with an opportunity to pivot the global energy system towards low carbon fuels during its presidency at New Delhi from 9th to 10th September.  The major focus of the summit was on Green Energy, Sustainable energy, and replacement of fossil fuel by Biofuel. In a joint statement, the G20 countries agreed to take immediate action to reduce unabated coal power, but did not commit to phase out all fossil fuels, including oil and gas, that cause pollution. G20 countries contribute to nearly 85% of the world's GDP and hence it was crucial for the global leaders to accelerate the transition to a net-zero energy future by scaling up renewable energy. The summit emphasized the importance of "Common but Differentiated Responsibility" in addressing climate change, as well as the need to reduce global carbon emissions and switch to cleaner energy sources. In pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the G-20 leaders pledged to accelerate progress on green development and climate finance through the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement. India prioritized energy transition goals under the G-20 framework by promoting green development and climate finance, inclusive and resilient growth, and progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A key goal of India's environmental conservation effort is to show how economic development can coexist with environmental conservation. Delhi Declaration Act As part of the G20 summit this year, the Delhi Declaration was adopted, addressing the concerns of the so-called petro states while committing to global net zero emissions by mid-century as part of a commitment to the Paris Agreement. An effective transition to net-zero emissions requires increasing renewable energy and eliminating fossil fuels unabated. In line with the findings of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), delegates stressed the importance of reaching global greenhouse gas emission peaks somewhere between 2020 and no later than 2025 in order to achieve the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. Implementing national climate plans Global GHG emissions need to be reduced by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C. A voluntary action plan to double the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 was also noted by the group, which includes some of the richest economies in the world. Nevertheless, the Paris Agreement remains inadequate as far as achieving temperature objectives outlined in combating climate change is concerned. For developing countries to implement their national climate plans effectively in the pre-2030 period, they will need $5.9 trillion, preferably $1.5 trillion, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. In accordance with national circumstances and taking into account the latest scientific developments, the G20 has committed to achieving global net zero emissions by mid-century. As part of existing targets and policies, the forum committed to doubling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as well as demonstrating similar ambitions in regard to other low-emission and zero-emission technologies, including abatement and removal technologies, based on national conditions. For developing countries to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, approximately $4 trillion will be required annually for clean energy technologies by 2030, according to a G20 member. Investment and climate finance need to be scaled up substantially, from billions to trillions of dollars from all sources. Furthermore, G20 countries urged developed countries to double their collective adaptation finance provision by 2025.  Besides aligning financial flows with climate objectives, the Declaration stressed the need to expand finance, capacity-building, and technology transfer to meet developing countries' needs. As part of delegate commitment, which dates back to 2009, developed countries reaffirm their commitment to mobilize $100 billion in climate finance by 2020, continuing through 2025. This goal is expected to be reached for the first time in 2023 by developed countries. A minimum of $100 billion in climate finance was also called for by the G20 in 2024, including ambitious, transparent, and trackable New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQGs). They said this should consider the needs and priorities of developing countries in alignment with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement objectives. It is important to note that the Pittsburgh conversation was not one between energy ministers, as mentioned in the reference to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Swati D'Souza, Lead Analyst & Coordinator, India, International Energy Agency shared with international media's that "From an energy and climate perspective, the Indian G20 presidency had an ambitious agenda focused on new and emerging clean energy technologies and finance. But as it happens, this agenda got repurposed. The only highlight right now is the clear and concise language with respect to tripling RE. This provides a platform for further clarification between now and COP (target, baseline, year). Moreover, if this gets into COP summaries, it becomes another hook for countries to expand their NDC ambitions on". Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) A Global Biofuel Alliance was also launched at the G20 Summit in New Delhi on 9 September by India along with leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius, and the United Arab Emirates. The Alliance intends to expedite the global uptake of biofuels through facilitating technology advancements, intensifying utilization of sustainable biofuels, shaping robust standard setting and certification through the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The alliance will also act as a central repository of knowledge and an expert hub. GBA aims to serve as a catalytic platform, fostering global collaboration for the advancement and widespread adoption of biofuels. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1357/iotechworld-avigation-partners-swiss-company-pix4d-offering-precision-farming-solutions-in-india.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1357/iotechworld-avigation-partners-swiss-company-pix4d-offering-precision-farming-solutions-in-india.html Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:50:51 +0530 Collaboration aims to foster awareness around drone-enabled crop health monitoring and enhance on-farm drone application skills among the rural youths Drone manufacturer IoTechWorld Avigation has collaborated with Switzerland headquartered company Pix4D that specializes in photogrammetry software technology to jointly offer precision farming solutions in the India. The agreement also aims to create employment opportunities for rural youth by preparing them to use drones on farms. IoTechWorld is the manufacturer of India’s 1st DGCA Type certified agri-drone ‘AGRIBOT’ and is the pioneer in this segment. Whereas, Switzerland-headquartered Pix4D is recognized for its Pix4Dfields Software, a cutting-edge solution designed for advanced agricultural mapping. The software process RGB and multispectral data for aerial crop analysis and digital farming. Pix4D has offices in 7 countries across multiple continents meeting the requirements of these as well as neighboring countries. Deepak Bhardwaj, Co-Founder and Director, IoTechWorld Avigation said, “We are witnessing agri-drone revolution in the country and gradually we are moving towards precision farming. Our association is to foster awareness about drone-enabled crop health monitoring.” Anoop Upadhyay, Co-Founder and Director, IoTechWorld Avigation said, “Initially our approach involves creation of awareness among Industry, Researchers, and Academia. Subsequently, we will create awareness among farmers as well.” Expressing the rationale behind the association, Mitul Arora, Business Development Lead - India & South Asia, Pix4D said, “IoTechWorld has drone technology and multi-spectral sensors by the name Sequoia and now they will have our photogrammetry technology too. So, through this association, a one-stop solution will be provided to all, and this will be beneficial for the govt research institutes, crop insurance and other associated specialized tasks.” IoTechWorld and Pix4D collaboratively orchestrated the "India’s largest Workshop for Crop Health Monitoring using drones, with Cody Sokkappa of Pix4D Japan as the lead instructor. Earlier this year, the company got into a partnership with Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd. (SIPL) for the introduction of drone spraying in the agriculture sector across the country.  The agriculture sector in India is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, and technology adoption is at an unprecedented rate, thus this association will allow technology to be integrated more deeply and faster in a variety of agricultural spheres. The Government of India is planning to soon launch a scheme through which women in around 15,000 self-help groups (SHGs) would be trained to fly and repair drones. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1266/australian-ramps-up-agri-trade-relationships-with-asian-international-markets.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1266/australian-ramps-up-agri-trade-relationships-with-asian-international-markets.html Mon, 07 Aug 2023 10:14:01 +0530 In 2022, Australia recorded 107 technical market access achievements worth a potential $5.47 billion and 2023 is continuing to advance; Strengthens trade partnership with India, Thailand and China As part of its efforts to ensure Australian farmers, processors, and exporters have access to international markets as much as possible in 2023, Australia is garing up with new initiatives. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the first half of this year had been very successful in opening the sector to new markets, improving and maintaining existing markets, and restoring access if it has been lost. Government is making efforts to protect and grow the agricultural trade market. “Across Australia one in four jobs relies on trade so access to international markets is essential for the profitability of Australia’s export-focussed agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors. We are growing trade and market access for agriculture as key priorities with incredible progress in a short time” said Minister Watt. Minister Watt said India continues to be a fruitful trading partner for Australian agriculture. “The recent Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) has seen improved conditions and new market access opened to enable trade of Australian Hass avocados and Indian okra fruit between the countries. Under the AI-ECTA, we have also successfully removed tariffs on Australian sheep meat, rock lobster, wool, most woods and pulps, and hides and skins.” Market access for Australian products is improving in a number of different countries around the world, according to Minstrel reports. “The recently signed UK-FTA is already proving beneficial to Aussie farmers. The first shipment of raw sugar was loaded in Townsville and sent to the United Kingdom last month, with that new market worth more than $74 million to the sugar industry alone. We have also had success with Thailand opening market access for Australian avocados from Western Australia and for Thai cooked duck meat. Most recently there have been positive developments in the reinstatement of trade in timber and the removal of tariffs from Australian barley to China. We have also improved access for dairy to Chile through the removal of periodic in-country audits, and new access for seafood to Israel” explained Minister Watt. In 2022, Australia recorded 107 technical market access achievements worth a potential $5.47 billion and 2023 is continuing to advance these successes. Recent key achievements include:  Gaining new market access for Australian peaches and nectarines to Vietnam, resulting in more than $1 million of exports. Stonefruit exports to Vietnam are expected to grow in coming years. This achievement complements the 0% tariff now available to Australian exporters under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Working with industry to safeguard Australia’s $14.7 billion red meat export industry. Supporting Australian infant formula exporters to access the United States, leading to more than $19 million of infant formula exports. Improving access for Australian poultry meat exports to Singapore, which contributed to a 106% increase in exports. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1140/a-systems-signs-partnership-to-expand-to-south-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1140/a-systems-signs-partnership-to-expand-to-south-asia.html Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:09:00 +0530 A-Systems signed an agreement with Dr Amit Das to distribute its products and strengthen its position in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka Animal feed formulation software supplier, A-Systems, signed an agreement with Dr Amit Das todistribute A-Systems products to animal feed producers in South Asia. With this partnership, ASystems aims to strengthen its position in South Asia – India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This new partnership enables A-Systems to rely on a local and trusted consultant providing highquality advice and support. For the past 20 years, A-Systems has developed the Allix feed formulation software, KAllix quality control software and Ruminix Ruminant Ration Balancer. Globally, these solutions are some of the most commonly used solutions. A-Systems aims to make Allix one of the most widely used formulation software in these areas by joining forces with Dr. Amit Das. As an animal nutritionist for V.H Group (Uttara Feeds) and as head of animal nutrition and R&D at ACI-Godrej Agrovet, Dr Amit Das is a well-known name in the animal nutrition industry. Aside from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and some African countries, he provides consulting services to key players. Das has a deep understanding of the Indian feed formulation software market.  “A-Systems is very excited to start marketing in this key market collaborating with Dr. Das. His long experience in the animal nutrition industry and his choice to collaborate with A-Systems to provide a better service to his customers in the South Asia market gives a good reason for South Asian feed mills to give it a try to Allix3,” said Benoit Chesnais, in charge of the Asian development of A-Systems. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1118/bayers-smallholder-farming-initiatives-strive-to-improve-growers-income.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/1118/bayers-smallholder-farming-initiatives-strive-to-improve-growers-income.html Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:45:19 +0530 Since joining Bayer's Independent Research projects in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Mexico/Honduras, smallholder farmers' income has increased by 70 to 90 percent Smallholder farmers say livelihoods have improved after participating in initiatives led by life sciences company Bayer. This is the result of research by independent social impact measurement company 60 Decibels on four Bayer smallholder projects in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Mexico/Honduras. In each of the four surveys, a clear majority of participants states that the programs have increased their yields and farming income and improved their way of farming as well as their quality of life, ranging from around 70 percent in Mexico and Honduras to around 90 percent in Kenya. Bayer recognizes the critical role of the 550 million smallholders worldwide in ensuring food security in low- and middle-income countries and for more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. In 2019, the company set the goal to support 100 million smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries by 2030. To ensure that the implemented smallholder farming strategy contributes to that goal and delivers measurable positive impact, Bayer asked 60 Decibels to examine four projects as a starting point. ”The positive results are encouraging because they validate the objectives of Bayer’s smallholder and regenerative agriculture strategy, with its focus on sustainable production and improving the social and economic well-being of farmers and their communities,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy and Sustainability of Bayer’s Crop Science division. “The results underline the importance of access to innovation and modern technologies for smallholders, along with knowledge transfer and market linkage.” 60 Decibels surveyed between 275 and 700 randomly selected smallholders in each of the projects from October 2022 to April 2023. The core set of questions are based on longstanding sector research by 60 Decibels and are an integral part of each impact survey they conduct. Regionally tailored programs lead to positive social impact The different programs for smallholders are tailored to the needs and agronomic conditions in the respective regions. The Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative in India is part of the global Better Life Farming Alliance that Bayer established in partnership with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and Netafim, along with many local partners. At its core, the alliance aims to provide smallholders with education, modern technology, and resources to grow their small farms into commercially viable and sustainable farming businesses. More than 2,500 Better Life Farming centers operating in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Honduras, and Tanzania improve farmers’ access in remote rural regions through the last-mile delivery model. Two thirds of farmers said they have accessed a service like BLF for the first time and feel more confident than before about investing in agriculture. Through the Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative: 78% experienced increased crop production ; 72% reported increased farming income; 74% achieved a better way of farming; 71% said that quality of life has improved. Similarly, In Bangladesh, GeoPotato is designed to support small-scale potato farmers by enabling preventive crop protection and easier decision-making. It is a geodata-driven early warning system for late-blight disease in potatoes to optimize fungicide use, devised by Wageningen Plant Research, Terrasphere, mPower, Bayer and governmental institutions. The study showed that GeoPotato has proven successful and is unique in late-blight alert messaging. It contributes to smallholder farmers’ resilience and recovery from climate shocks. Through GeoPotato: 86% experienced increased crop production, 83% reported increased farming income; 87% achieved a better way of farming; 82% said that quality of life has improved. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/968/indias-iotechworld-avigation-expands-operations-aimed-at-delivering-agri-drones.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/968/indias-iotechworld-avigation-expands-operations-aimed-at-delivering-agri-drones.html Mon, 22 May 2023 16:33:57 +0530 Aims to launch 7 new remote pilot training organisations (RPTOs) in 5 states; Regional Training and Service center to be launched by July 2023 to serve burgeoning agri-drones market IoTechWorld Avigation, India’s leading agri-drone manufacturer, are setting up 7 remote pilot training organisations (RPTOs) in 5 states by 23 July forecasting a sale of 3,000 drones in FY'23-24, up from 500 in the last fiscal. IoTechWorld Avigation is India’s 1st drone manufacturing firm to obtain DGCA Type Certificate (TC) for agri-drone AGRIBOT. Recently, company unveiled its plans to expand product line with the launch of a new type of agri-drone. The company has already showcased a more compact version of its famous drone AGRIBOT. The company has collaboration with several universities and other institutions for RPTOs. The new RPTOs are expected to collaborate with prominent organisations. To provide after-sales service and expansion of its network, IoTechWorld will also open a new service center for agri-drone in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Deepak Bhardwaj, Co-founder & Director said, “During the June month three more RPTOs in Gurugram (Haryana), Chikballapur (Karnataka), and Samastipur (Bihar) will begin operation. Remaining two in Rajamundary and Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, will begin operations in July 2023. For the operations at Gharaunda (Haryana) and Jobner (Rajasthan), Two of the upcoming RPTOs will be functional in May month". IoTechWorld has a presence in 12 states and will be expanding its footprints in newer geographies as well during the current fiscal. These RPTOs will have an annual capacity to train 360 budding drone pilots per location annually. The company has helped train 400+ pilots to date. In addition, IoTechWorld's drones soon to have more than 70 percent local components" he added.  Sharing about the manufacturing can distribution capacity, Anoop Upadhyay, Co-founder & Director of IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd said "We sold over 500 drones in the year 2022-23 and this year’s target is at least 3,000 drones. We have made a comprehensive plan to meet the target and even surpass it. Opening 7 new Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) will help IoTechWorld Avigation to train more pilots who can operate the drones safely and efficiently". "We are aiming to strengthen IoTechWorld position in the agri-drone market in India while providing job opportunities for rural youths. We remains committed to providing high-quality agri- drones. By having more service centers, we target better customer service with reduce downtime for repairs or maintenance" explains Anoop Upadhyay. A large part of the company's strategy is to raise awareness about the benefits of using drones in agriculture. Agri-drones not only save time and money but also increase farm productivity. Drones can also be used in farming activities, such as spraying pesticides over crops, to benefit farmers' health. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/937/shanghai-cooperation-organization-sco-member-countries-adopts-the-smart-agriculture-project.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/937/shanghai-cooperation-organization-sco-member-countries-adopts-the-smart-agriculture-project.html Mon, 15 May 2023 14:02:35 +0530 Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, adopted the Smart Agriculture project under the Chairmanship of India On 12 May 2023, the 8th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries was held under India's Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's chairmanship. A number of SCO member countries, including Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, adopted the Smart Agriculture project. The discussions among SCO Agriculture Ministers strengthened the multinational cooperation in food security and nutrition. India's Union Minister Tomar said "India values its relations with SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions. In order to maintain the normal functioning of the food supply chain in the present conditions, there is a need for close contact and cooperation between various countries for food and nutrition security. India is the largest employer globally in the agriculture sector, where more than half of the population engaged in agriculture and allied sectors." India has increased its budget allocation in the agriculture and allied sectors by over 5 times in 10 years from 2013-14. Simultaneously, India is registering significant growth in exports of agricultural and allied products, which crossing ₹4 lakh crore. India is a leading producer of many commodities like cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, fish. India is also promoting organic farming and natural farming with emphasis on sustainable productivity, food security and soil health. To increase the economic potential of small and marginal farmers, India is initiating 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). For rural infrastructure ₹1 lakh crore fund has been allocated. Indian agriculture ecosystem has been adopting digital technologies in order to help farmers access these and take advantage of them. Most of the agricultural schemes are being digitized and brought on a single platform, such as Agristack and India Digital Eco-system for Agriculture, National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture, and more. Further, India is making persistent efforts in building a self-reliant agriculture sector coupled with innovation, digital agriculture, climate-smart technologies, the development of high-yielding, biofortified varieties, and agricultural research. Efforts are being made to improve the life and livelihood of the farmers by making their agriculture sustainable and friendly. In addition, India has launched an Electronic National Agriculture Market to increase market access for farmers besides programs to create new irrigation infrastructure, conserve soil fertility including balanced use of fertilizers, providing farm-to-market connectivity, ICT linkages, and more. ** ₹ 1 lakh crore = USD $ 1 trillion ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/924/uk-india-partner-to-tackle-shrimp-diseases-and-advance-shrimp-farming.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/924/uk-india-partner-to-tackle-shrimp-diseases-and-advance-shrimp-farming.html Thu, 11 May 2023 13:16:17 +0530 Launches a raft of joint research programmes with £119 million grants to advance shrimp farming, HAB detection, fisheries The UK and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement on science, research and innovation, which facilitates a raft of upcoming joint research programs – including aquaculture initiatives. Partnership attracts initial £119 million from the International Science Partnerships Fund. The partnership will begin with two new joint UK-India research programmes: £5 million UK funding, matched by India, for research into Farmed Animal Diseases and Health £3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme that will enable UK and Indian researchers to develop skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging. The agreement includes a study on using “cutting edge UK technology” to spot diseases in shrimp aquaculture, as well as a partnership using data to detect harmful algal blooms (HABs) affecting the ocean. Programmes include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and the launch of the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage. The collaborative activities carried out under the MoU will be supported by joint funding agreed by both sides, with finances for each program determined between the UK and India on a case-by-case basis. Furthur, the collaboration enables quicker, deeper engagement on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide. “The agreement will remove red tape standing in the way of major collaborations while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world: from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to AI and machine learning,” reads the official report of the UK government announcements. “With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration" said Minister of State for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/908/bayer-partners-with-superplum-to-build-a-sustainable-crop-protection-model.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/118/908/bayer-partners-with-superplum-to-build-a-sustainable-crop-protection-model.html Wed, 10 May 2023 07:16:00 +0530 Partners with Superplum to deploy a proprietary multi-faceted IoT-driven Fresherator approach to enhance fruit growers' profitability and to boost sustainable supply chain Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in agriculture and healthcare has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Superplum, an agri-tech start-up building a digitised farm-to-customer traceable supply chain. Over three years, the program aims to benefit 15 thousand smallholder farmers in India by delivering definable economic benefits to all stakeholders. A fully traceable, MRL-tested alternative has been developed to offer consumers better fresh produce choices. Providing full traceability to consumers backed by a modern supply chain and a technology-first approach will ensure full transparency for consumers and farmers. By improving post-harvest technology and managing the supply chain digitally, farmers will reduce wastage and increase their incomes. The collaboration aims to build and implement a sustainable crop protection model for fruit growers based in the Indian states of UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The program will be expanded to other states as the seasons progress.   The partnership will focus on guiding partner farmers toward better fruit quality and advisory to increase productivity. Additionally, they will ensure that Bayer's crop protection management practices are implemented properly. Superplum's proprietary multi-faceted approach increases the shelf life of a range of fruits. IoT-driven Fresherator, a cold-chain transport system that carries fruit remotely monitored and controlled, helps reduce wastage and increases shelf life without requiring expensive temperature-controlled transportation. As part of the collaboration, Bayer will provide support for domestic and export compliance, and implementation of a product schedule to ensure improvement in the quality and productivity of the produce, helping in achieving incremental growth in farmer income. Bayer will also focus on developing crop protection packages for fruit crops and training farmers in the implementation of these practices. To make it easier to track farmer progress, they will be provided with a passport, to record crop management practices being implemented. Superplum provides consumers with full traceability through its scannable QR code and will incorporate farmers' information into its own supply chain. D Narain, President, South Asia, and Global Head of Smallholder Farming for Bayer, said, "Nutritional security along with food security is a critical national and global imperative for the growing population. To this effect, Bayer has launched a global 'Nutrient Gap Initiative' that aims to expand access to essential nutrients to 50 million people in underserved communities by 2030. However, we do recognize that to achieve this at scale a collaborative ecosystem is required and to further this critical agenda we have partnered with Superplum to create a holistic ecosystem that will help improve fruit growers' incomes by sustainably enhancing market linkages and ensuring healthy produce for the end consumers." ]]>