AgroSpectrum - February 2023

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A Midas Touch For Agri Waste
Human endeavours have scaled new heights in all spheres of 'civilisational' comforts and scientific advancement, including growing resilient and high-yielding crops. Agricultural activity has reached the zenith of modern food cultivation potential. Yet, one common thread of these endeavours is the sheer volume of waste
generated. Agriculture and allied industries, too, are bogged down by this. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) statistics show that annually India generates about 500 million tonnes of agricultural and agro-industrial leftovers. According to a recent media report, between 16 and 17 million metric tonnes (MMT)
of grains are lost each year due to inefficient food management systems. Unscientific grain harvesting and storage practices are mostly to blame for this problem. The same holds true for the massive wastage of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products every year due to antiquated storage, transport and distribution methods. However, numerous initiatives are now being taken to minimise and convert this agricultural waste into various types of products and services. As things are changing for the better, although at a slow pace, let’s take this up with a few industry insiders who can shine some light on this pressing issue.

DigITech Push for Agro Growth

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman seems to be trying to give a digital and technological push to the agriculture sector by proposing to build digital public infrastructure for agriculture and set up Agriculture Accelerator Fund for innovating and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers.

3 mins

Agriculture is Prime Focus

According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, the performance of the agriculture and allied sector has been buoyant over the past several years, with private investment in agriculture increasing to 9.3 per cent in 2020-21.

5 mins

A Midas Touch For Agri Waste

Human endeavours have scaled new heights in all spheres of 'civilisational' comforts and scientific advancement, including growing resilient and high-yielding crops. Agricultural activity has reached the zenith of modern food cultivation potential. Yet, one common thread of these endeavours is the sheer volume of waste generated. Agriculture and allied industries, too, are bogged down by this. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) statistics show that annually India generates about 500 million tonnes of agricultural and agro-industrial leftovers. According to a recent media report, between 16 and 17 million metric tonnes (MMT) of grains are lost each year due to inefficient food management systems. Unscientific grain harvesting and storage practices are mostly to blame for this problem. The same holds true for the massive wastage of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products every year due to antiquated storage, transport and distribution methods. However, numerous initiatives are now being taken to minimise and convert this agricultural waste into various types of products and services. As things are changing for the better, although at a slow pace, let's take this up with a few industry insiders who can shine some light on this pressing issue.

8 mins

"We need to focus on creating value-added products from crop residue"

Founded in 2018, Craste purchases crop residues from farmers and recycles them to make packaging materials and engineered boards for furniture. Operating under the company name, FUMA Labs Private Limited, the startup repurposes crop waste into moulded packaging, paper products, packaging and particle boards, helping farmers earn additional revenue. Craste has received several grants such as BIRAC SOCH Award, Biotech Ignition Grant (BIRAC), and AB InBev Grant, among others. The startup is also building packaging solutions using crop residue. It has developed a patent-pending technology, Fumasolv, to extract Lignin from crop residue to develop packaging solutions. The startup operates on the B2B model and sells its boards and packaging materials to businesses. It also works on research and development to create custom-made packaging solutions for its clients. AgroSpectrum interacted with Shubham Singh, Founder, FUMA Labs to learn more about the potential of agri -waste in allied industries.

4 mins

Adopting Eco-Friendly Alt Biodegradable Packaging

Agriculture-based industries generate a huge amount of waste from different agricultural activities. About one-third of the total food produced globally per year for consumption remains unconsumed and therefore gets wasted as stated by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Food waste is one of the most difficult tasks the world is facing currently. Yet, just as any negative scenario can be turned into a positive with innovative endeavours, so too can this agri waste be put to good use. Let's explore how the packaging industry can leverage this apparent waste.

3 mins

"Greater awareness among farmers about benefits of oilseeds production is vital"

The bulk of edible oil consumed in India is imported thereby imposing a huge burden on the industry to reduce its heavy dependence on imports. While the government is working towards solving this import dependency, the Indian edible oil industry is also stepping up to this challenge. In this regard, AgroSpectrum interacted with Gokaran Singh Pawar, General Manager - Sales & Operations, M K Agrotech, who spoke at length about the status of the Indian edible oil industry and the company's growth plans. Sunpure edible oil brand is a part of Srirangapatna, Karnataka-based MK Agrotech. The company is present in key markets across India, namely, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala.

4 mins

3 Transformative Factors of Indian Agrochem Market

India’s agrochemical industry has consistently clocked a double-digit CAGR of 16 per cent over the last five years against the global CAGR of 3 per cent.

5 mins

How Dairy Industry Can Scale New Heights in 2023

In recent years, technology-driven products, services, improved and solutions have substantially the dairy business in India.

5 mins

"Cultivate quality millets with optimal use of pesticides to take to international platform"

Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (centre) along with the dignitaries at the launch of fourth edition of 'Millets & organics – International Trade Fair 2023', January 20, Bengaluru.

6 mins

Effective steps can be taken to reduce post-harvest losses with the help of biotech: PM

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology inaugurating the mega science exhibition ‘Pride of India’, at the 108th ISC by cutting the ribbon at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University on January 3, along with dignitaries (from l-R) Jagdish Patankar, Executive Chairman, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications, Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Dr Vijay laxmi Saxena, President General of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Calcutta and Ravindra Boratkar, Managing Director, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications; Publisher & Managing Editor, BioSpectrum.

6 mins

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AgroSpectrum Magazine Description:

Agrospectrum is a B2B digital media platform catering to all sub-sectors and verticals of the agro business – from food grains to inputs, machinery, live-stock, fisheries to agro tourism. It regularly updates on latest news on Agri—business and analytical & informative articles targeted at agro industry and business leadership, key decision makers; R&D, policy makers, academia and farmers’ community leaders. The portal is devoted to agriculture related business and not farming activity. It neither informs nor guides the farmers on direct farming, but handles allied and peripheral areas of agriculture related activity called agriculture business.