India Agriculture & Food updates - 30July'15 !

1. As a part of price reduction exercise of Onions in A.P, they are to be made available at Rs.20 per Kg in 78 Raitu Bazaar's (Farmer Bazaar's).

2. 20% of Indian food tests revealed adulterated or misbranded products.

3. The opposition parties in India have protested to withdraw the amended 2013 Land Pooling Bill, with a pretext that the bill would be affecting the farmers.

4.A.P State Govt is getting ready to finalize the 3rd phase of Agriculture Loan waiver beneficiary list by 31st August'15.

5. 8000 crores will be released by 14th Planning commission for MGNRES (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme).

6.   China may soon start importing buffalo meat from India .

7.   To boost spices production, the Spices Board has launched a raft of measures (financial assistance to farmers for irrigation, land development, mechanisation, replanting, soil conservation and organic farming of various spices) to support farmers by offering various subsidies and sensitise them on the need to enhance the quality of spices through post-harvest improvement techniques.

8. Assocham ranks Kerala highest in Agri exports-to-investment ratio achieving a ratio of about 735 in terms of actual exports to actual investments through AEZs (Agri Export Zones).

9. Tobacco auctions improve in AP, exports to top ₹7,000 cr.
10. The Assam government said it will electrify 782 tea estates in a phased manner .

11. Global rice prices to rise by year-end as El Nino hits Asian supply.

12. Flood of local apples to keep imports at bay; price may fall up to 30 per cent.

13. Government releases to NABARD Rs 11,281 crore for settling farm interest claims

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition news - 30July'15 !

1. Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have made a breakthrough discovery in lowering levels of arsenic in rice.

2. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are two of the services to receive funding in the FY2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill in Washington, US.

3. Over 100 more protected names for British food, more research for food innovation and less red tape will boost exports and give a £7 billion injection to the British food industry.

4. Nestlé has opened a $50m research and development centre in Solon, Ohio, for new product development for its global frozen and chilled food business.

5. PepsiCo and Starbucks are partnering to distribute RTD coffee and energy drinks from Starbucks in Latin America, eyeing up a market worth $4bn and projected to grow by 22% over five years.

6. Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is set to expand its Russian presence with the acquisition of an integrated poultry business from Dutch firm Agro Invest Brinky for €614m ($680m).

7. Scientists have identified two microorganisms (Lucern seeds & Rhizobium bacteria) that can build bigger and more resilient feed crops, potentially boosting farmers’ bottom lines by millions of dollars.

8. Fourteen leading UK food and drink companies have united to help fund £3.7m for six research projects that aim to tackle diet-related health problems.

9. The opening of the upgraded €50 million food processing facility for ABP Food Group in Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland, should generate more than €1 billion to the Irish economy over five years.

10. A US$336m pig farm project has begun in Russia, thanks to Russian bank Sberbank CIB’s approval of a major loan for the initiative

11. Terra Global Capital raising $100m anti-deforestation fund, with a plan to invest forest-linked agri crops and carbon credits from mitigating deforestation.

12. FAO says Family farming investments are vital to 'inclusive growth which will drive the world's population out of hunger.

13. Agro Nica to raise $60m to invest in Nicaragua, Andean cacao farms. 

India Agriculture & Food updates - 25July'15 !

1. Mondelēz International has launched what it claims is India’s first aerated chocolate by bringing Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Bubbly to the world’s fastest growing chocolate market.

2. Sugar output in the country for 2015-16 expected to be at 280 lakh tonnes.

3. Echoing an industry demand to focus on balanced use of fertilisers, a Parliamentary panel has urged the Centre to tackle rising prices of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers and recommended higher domestic production of low-cost indigenous fertilisers.

4. The price of urea is capped at ₹5,360/tonne with the difference in cost of production and retail cost paid out to manufacturers as subsidy.

5. The government is planning to come up with a "more farmer friendly" crop insurance scheme in the next two months, aimed at enhancing the insurance coverage in the agriculture sector, helping farmers in mitigating the loss to their crops from different reasons.

6. Retail prices of pulses jump up to 41% in last one year.
 

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 25July'15 !

1. Agribusiness giant Amatheon is bringing a vertical integration model to sub-Saharan Africa.

2. The US poultry industry seems to be recovering, but avian influenza (AI) could rear its head again, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), has told GlobalMeatNews.

3. European agricultural organisation Copa-Cogeca said it was “deeply concerned” by Europe’s vote on air quality, warning it was unrealistic and would hit the EU livestock sector badly.

4. France has proposed new legal daily limits for carnitine, creatine, lycopene and caffeine in supplements – the latter of which was half that defined as safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

5. The food and drink industry has slammed the British Medical Association’s (BMA’s) calls for a 20% tax on sugary drinks to fight the UK’s growing obesity crisis, claiming it would be ineffective.

6. The world’s largest food and drink companies saw sales growth nearly halve in 2014 – while local firms have taken advantage of their greater agility to fill market gaps, according to a report from OC&C Strategy Consultants.

7. Ball Corporation’s $6.6bn (£4.3bn) proposed deal for Rexam is to be investigated by the European Commission after the agency said it had concerns it may reduce competition in the beverage can and aluminium bottle manufacturing industry.

8. EU lawmakers have called on European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to take stronger action on food waste.

9. Canada has dismissed a call from 21 US Congressmen to "commit" to dairy market access negotiations during Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks.

India Agriculture related status updates - 24July'15 !

1. Cargill India with CII, NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors), VOIC (Voluntary Organization in Interest of Consumer Education) launched the Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan, a food safety awareness initiative as a shared responsibility of farmers, food industry, regulators & consumers.

2. In Public Distribution System (PDS) i.e. Ration Shops, e-Pass (Finger Print Technology) implementation is being mandated across A.P. State.

3. Onion price has jumped to its highest in nearly two years (Rs.2550 a quintal) and could fuel food inflation as scant rains delay plantings.

4. West Bengal to pump Rs 4,200 crore for dedicated agri-power supply.

5. The successful Vannamei shrimp farming model has motivated Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to launch more aquaculture initiatives in the State.

6. PM to announce 4 new schemes (Farmer FIRST, Student READY, ARYA and Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav ) at ICAR's 87th foundation day event and will also distribute soil-testing kits to three young farm entrepreneurs.

7. The India Met Department has hinted at the possibility of a cyclonic circulation taking shape over the next fortnight.
 

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Business updates - 24July'15 !

1. IDB raising $25m climate-smart fund to boost LatAm and Caribbean agribusiness.

2. The Council of Smallholder Agriculture Finance (Social Lending), upped its lending by 56% ($564m) to 658 agri SMEs in 64 countries.

3. Malaysian Lifesciences Capital Fund held a first close on $150m in January and is still fundraising.

4. Cargill through a $30m joint venture with Naturisa will invest in an Ecuadorian shrimp feed facility (Acquaculture Business).

5. Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) and Serra Ventures are among the investors in Agrible, an agtech start-up that focuses on predictive analytics.

6. Nestlé has opened a CHF 48m ($50m) R&D center in Solon, Ohio, that will focus on new product development for its frozen and chilled food businesses worldwide.

7. NASA is exploring all forms of cutting edge technology, from 3D printing to high pressure processing and more to be able to transition its food system from the International Space Station to a Mission to Mars.

8. Austria could be taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over its ban on doorstep sales of products like food supplements, the European Commission says.

9. Begining 2016 crop year, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the expansion of crop insurance to provide additional options for fruit and nut producers through Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion option.

10. Quarter of a million tonnes of food wasted during Ramadan in Malaysia.

India Agriculture & Food udpates - 22July'15 !

1. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food watchdog is planning an assault on various segments of the food and beverage industry in the coming weeks in a bid to soothe consumer confidence in the wake of recent maggi noodles episode.

2. The Indian government allowed bulk exports of rice bran oil and removed quantitative restrictions on out-bound shipments of organic edible oils.

3. The Indian Government said it has proposed to transfer fertiliser subsidy directly into farmers' accounts and is planning a road map for the pilot project.

4. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to extend the interest subvention scheme to banks to ensure availability of crop loans of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers at 7 per cent per annum.

5. Farm biotech major Monsanto has expanded its research and development (R&D) facility for vegetable seeds near Bengaluru even as it gears up to roll out new disease-resistant and high-yielding hybrid varieties of tomato and peppers in the domestic market.

6. Taking a leaf out of the success story of Flipkart and the likes to agriculture, Desta Global(DestaMart) has launched a business-to-business online platform for selling all agriculture implements including fertiliser, seed, pumps and tractor. The company has has already registered 120 dealers and eight companies.

7. For 2015-16, the target of agriculture credit in India has been raised to Rs 8,50,000 crore, from Rs 8,00,000 in 2014-15.

8. Punjab government would immediately start distribution of more than 80,000 tubewell connections to the farmers as the National Green Tribunal has lifted the stay on their allotment, which would facilitate power connections for irrigation purposes.

 

 

Global Agri, Food & Nutrition udpates - 22July'15 !

1. Below Agro & Poultry Trade Fairs 2016:
  - Agro & Poultry Tanzania 2016, 18 - 20 March, Diamond Jubilee Hall, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
  - Agro & Poultry Kenya 2016, 14 - 16 October, Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

2. The Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance upped its lending by 56% last year to $564million, arranging loans for 658 businesses in 64 countries.

3. The Silicon Valley-based private equity and real estate firm 'Trinitas'– whose assets include more than 7,000 acres of California almond orchards – is raising its fourth agriculture-focused fund worth $250m.

4. The NYSE listed Farmland REIT is raising $31million fresh capital for future deals and to pay down mortgage debt.

5. Bosch Packaging Technology has redesigned its Delta robotic (D3) packaging portfolio to give food producers a more simplified platform design, faster changeovers and ease of use.

6. Nestlé has filed an international patent for pomegranate skin extract as a strategy against metabolic syndrome, in particular fatty liver disease.

7. A combination of green tea extracts and vitamin C may not protect skin from sun burn, says a new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial from England.

8. With the average age of the Japanese farmer being 67 years, technology giants such as Fujitsu are offering technology services to the farmer community based on sensors, historical weather data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. Farmers get real-time alerts on their mobiles with actionable inputs.

India Agriculture updates - 21July'15 !

1.  Cotton growing States of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, continue to top the list of farmers’ suicides in 2014.
2. Two start-ups will receive $50,000 each at the end of the Indian Incubator programme, which counts Omnivore Partners, Rural Agri Ventures and Aspada Investments as strategic and financial partners.
3. Kharif grains represent 49.6 per cent of the total food grain output in the country and the sowing of this crop was 63 per cent.
4. The ₹800-crore company Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd which has it's presence in 72 countries is betting big on protected farming and aquaculture to boost the country’s rural economy, thereby benefitting both farmers and fisher-folk. 
 

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 21July'2015 !

1. The Silicon Valley-based private equity and real estate firm 'Trinitas' – whose assets include more than 7,000 acres of California almond orchards – is raising its fourth agriculture-focused fund.
2. Two start-ups will receive $50,000 each at the end of the Indian Incubator programme, which counts Omnivore Partners, Rural Agri Ventures and Aspada Investments as strategic and financial partners.
3. Mérieux NutriSciences has acquired Milouda & Migal Laboratories to move into Israel and continue investments in what it called ‘attractive and fast growing’ markets.

4. Almost 40% of people said there was no returning to foods they perceive as unsafe, according to a survey by Hahn Public’s Food and Farm communications team.

5. The European Commission is investigating Hungary's food chain inspection fee to see if it is in line with state aid rules.

6. Numerous EU countries have endorsed the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion from May last year that there should be a reduction in the content of zinc allowed in feed for all farmed animals.
7. Meat and dairy consumption has fallen from favour many European countries and consumers are increasingly on the lookout for foods and drinks high in plant-based protein, according to Mintel analysts.
8. China has overtaken the US to become the “powerhouse” of the global ice cream market, says Mintel.
9. Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, is reducing its workforce by more than 500 in the face of falling milk prices.
10. Over 70% of the global burden of type 2 diabetes will fall on individuals from developing countries by 2030, according to new research warning that ancestral malnutrition could mean a higher risk of obesity and diabetes in those consuming a ‘normal diet’ now and in the future.
 

India Agriculture & Food udpates - 20July'15 !

1. The 4th edition of the Banana Festival is scheduled for December 4th and 5th at Madras University.

2. Citing exorbitant loans as a major reason for farmer suicides, Karnataka Chief Minister on Sunday warned strict action against private money lenders charging more than 14 and 16 per cent interest rate.

3. Big cities are okay with paying up to Rs 1,300/kg for Darjeeling Tea.

4. Bihar has so far attracted Rs 7,750 crore investment in agriculture-based industries.

5. The Centre will release Rs 400 crore towards crop insurance for farmers of Gujarat this week, a state Minister said.

6. A senior MLC in A.P State Govt, mentioned that pending sugarcane re-imbursements to the tune of Rs.14.50 crores would be paid back to the farmers in the state soon.

7. Part of a stricter regime on food safety, FSSAI mulls self-regulatory framework for packaged food products; may ask to mention expiry dates.

8. US-based Pizza chain Sbarro plans almost three-fold increase in its store count to 50 in India in two years through multiple business models.

India Agriculture & Food udpates - 19July'15 !

1. The CPM plans to open 1,000 stalls devoted to vegetables grown through organic farming this Onam, Kerala’s biggest festival.

2. Kharif crops in the country such as rice, sugarcane, cotton and a range of pulses and oilseeds, have been sown over 563.35 lakh hectares (lh), an increase of 62.7 per cent from the corresponding period last year when acreage stood 346.34 lha.

3. Farm biotechnology company Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd (Mahyco) has expressed optimism over the easy passage for GM Food Crops (Genetically Modified) including Bt brinjal and Bt chickpea.

4. Mahindra and Mahindra’s (M&M) agri business vertical on Friday entered into the branded edible oil segment through the launch of its 'NuPro' brand of ‘virgin kachchi ghani mustard oil’.

5. 1979 people dependent on Agriculture have committed suicide in the two Telugu states of A.P (632) & Telangana (1347).

6. A.P. CM is quoted as saying that 93% of Farmers in Debts and the A.P Govt has taken a bold step of waiving farm loans worth Rs.22-24 Lakhs.

7. A proforma has been handed to Banks by A.P Govt to collect the details of Garden Crop Farmers to waive their loans from Rs.10K an acre to a maximum of Rs.50K.

8. A.P CM is also quoted as saying that Rs.157 crores will be allocated for fisheries in the next budget.

India Agriculture & Food updates - 18July'15 !

1. Cert ID Europe has launched VAPor for an independent assessment of  vulnerable ‘hotspots’ in the food supply chain, as it plans to open an office in India, to meet a rapidly expanding Asia market.

2. In A.P.State, Average Ground Water levels have gone down drastically during the last 1 year to an alarming 13.5 meters. Chittoor & Cuddappah districts recorded the worst levels.

3. Please watch the U-Tube video by Subash Palekar on Organic/Natural Farming.
https://youtu.be/qq0RqM2GvRE

4. July'15 rainfall for the country as a whole is 32 per cent below normal.

5. Dissemination of technologies to curb/ control post harvest loss (which is at 5-15% i.e Rs.92,600 crore) is urgently needed as per Deputy Director General (Engineering), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

6. Soyabean cultivation in the country drops 9% to 100 lakh hectares.

7. Ahead of the Parliament session, Commerce Minister pushed for early passage of the Land Bill which is stuck due to opposition from various parties, insisting that the proposed legislation would give the farmers "much more" than the previous Act of 2013.

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Updates - 18July'15 !

1. FAO's (Food and Agriculture Organization) report suggests that out of the $267bn extra investment required per year to lift an estimated 800 million out of poverty,
$105bn an year would be needed for Agriculture itself.

2. Private equity firm Hosen Capital reportedly now plans to raise $400m for its latest agri fund, said to be anchored by Chinese agribusiness conglomerate New Hope Group.

3. Heartland Bank based out of Ohio, where agriculture is one of the US state's largest industries, progresses for small business Agriculture lending.

4. The most recent ABARES farm survey report paints an improved picture for broadacre farms with farm cash incomes continuing to exceed long-term averages, mentions agribusiness advisories at Deloitte.

5. The Singaporean sovereign wealth fund's annual report revealed agriculture was among its top three sectors for investment in fiscal year 2015.

6. Inspecting wet products like meat, dairy and ready meals, known as the ‘product effect’, has presented manufacturers with challenges for many years, according to Fortress Technology.

7. €143 (US$160) directed to people living in extreme poverty over a year can end world hunger in 15 years, the United Nations (UN) has said.

8. The UK government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has ditched a 10% upper limit on sugar intake instead recommending that less than 5% of daily energy should come from free sugars.
9. The Croatian government will invest in leading snacks and sweets producer Podravka to preserve its controlling stake, but then intends to sell its share.
10. Cargill has developed a modified corn starch to improve the pulpiness of tomato-based products
.
11. Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effects on foodborne pathogens, according to a study from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
12. USDA Announces a $44 million electric loan that will help improve nearly 350 miles of electric distribution lines throughout eastern Iowa and also for smart grid technology.
 

India Agriculture updates - 17July'15 !

1. Wholesale onion prices shot up by as much as 50 per cent in the key markets of Lasalgaon and Pune in Maharashtra.

2. Agriculture Ministry said it will provide financial assistance of up to Rs 57,600 on purchase of solar energy pumps used for irrigation.

3. Godrej Agrovet Limited, a subsidiary of Godrej Industries, is looking to develop innovative technologies and products that would help reduce the production cost of poultry meat, eggs and milk through it's R&D centre in Nashik, Maharashtra.

4. With subsidy arrears touching Rs 30,000 crore, the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) today demanded timely payment of subsidy to manufacturers as well as simplification of procedures.

5. The centre has increased the Cyclone Prevention Project funds for A.P & Orissa to Rs.1843.94 crores through World Bank.

6. VBC Group an Electric, PetroAlloys & Finance company entered into Fertilizers business with an approxiamate 500 acres of land allocated by A.P.Govt through G.O number 269.
 

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 17July'15 !

1. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced an extended partnership to better protect America's working lands, predict and prevent natural disasters, and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and agriculture.

2. Nutrition to maximise the brain development of young people will be a big area of focus for food scientists in the future, according to a leading scientist.

3. Chicken prices have flown up by 10-15 Philippine Pesos (Ps) per kg in wet markets in Manila, driven by hot weather at the end of June.

4. Ukraine reported a strong increase in pork and poultry export volumes in the first half of 2015, as overseas supplies became more profitable following the devaluation of Ukraine’s currency.

5. A team of senior women food industry executives has passed the half way point in its bid to raise £50,000 for charity Farm Africa, after building beehives in Tanzania last month to boost local farmers' income from honey.

6. Australia’s beef and veal exports are poised to reach a record high by the end of 2015, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

7. Online grocery shopping is growing rapidly in Western Europe with some brands already claiming up to half of their sales from e-commerce.

8. Hawaiian antioxidant juice manufacturer KonaRed is moving into Japan with its nutritional supplements made from the American state’s indigenous coffee fruit.

9. Australians still enjoy their cheddar. Market research by Roy Morgan Research shows that almost 85% of Australian shoppers buy some kind of cheese at least once each month.

India Agriculture & Food updates - 16July'15 !

1. Indian's are consuming 5 times more sweetened drinks than they did a decade and half ago , adding to concerns over the country's already substantial rate of diabetes and other so-called lifestyle diseases.

2. India is still waiting for its promised boom from foreign direct investment in the food processing sector even though the segment has now been open to international companies for 15 years.

3. India's government run lunch programme, designed to provide nutritios daily lunches to 120m malnourished children is clearly not enough to make up for the calories and nutrition that poverty has denied.

4. Chilli Prices are rasing on short supply and rising demand.

5. Tug of war continues incase of GM Crops as the expert committee under the chairmanship of Kakodkar had issued no-objection certificate (NOC) for confined field trials of GM crops in January. However, in June, the state government told seed companies not to go ahead with the trials as some organisations have raised objections.

6. Govt. releases three portals to bring in transparency for areas related to Soil, Fertilizers & Organic Products- www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in, www.fqcs.dac.gov.in,  www.pgsindia-ncof.gov.in

7. As millets making a slow but steady comeback, Icrisat has said it would have a special focus on millets, which it considers ‘smart crops’, considered the life-line of small and marginal farmers in semi-arid areas.

8. The government is gearing up to set up 11 Spice Development Agencies (SDAs). The task of boosting exports is handled by the Spices Board but the agriculture ministry is responsible for local production and marketing. 

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Updates - 16July'15 !

1. The inaugural Healthy & Natural Show set to start in Chicago's Navy Pier in May'16 is expected to offer an ‘extraordinary opportunity’ for product manufacturers and marketers offering healthy and natural products, and for retailers looking to better understand this high growth set of categories.

2. Large food and drink manufacturing businesses that fail to complete a mandatory energy could face a penalty of £45,000 by next February, according to a recent seminar on the U.K. government’s Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).

3. A high-fat diet may affect the bacterial populations in the gut and detrimentally affect satiety signaling to the brain, says a new study using lab rats.

4. The food and drink industry has slammed the British Medical Association’s (BMA’s) calls for a tax on sugary drinks to fight the UK’s growing obesity crisis, claiming it would be ineffective.

5. EFSA has rejected a German health claim submission that a table salt replacer could significantly lower blood pressure even though a clinical trial showed significant results.

6. Bolivia and the US have been given the go ahead to work on an international standard for quinoa by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

7. Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effects on foodborne pathogens, according to a study from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

8. An increasing number of commercial organic operations could be contributing to higher levels of greenhouse gases coming from each acre of farm land, say researchers who warn that organic food production needs to take the right direction on emmissions.

9. Egyptians have been unknowingly eating dog and donkey meat, along with meat that is not Halal, the country’s head of food safety has said.

10. A record 400 million acres and 600,000 producers and landowners are currently enrolled in USDA's conservation programs, which has been one of the most successful conservation programs in the history of the country.

11. While imposing health-related taxes on less healthy foods might spare thousands of New Zealanders from early deaths, doing so would also put staples out of the reach of many New Zealanders, the grocery industry’s representative body has warned.

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 15 July'15

1. Nestlé is investing $120m in a 175,000m² manufacturing facility in Dubai to produce Nescafé coffee and Maggi products, creating 400 jobs.

2. Fispal Technology 2015, an international fair for packaging, process and logistics for the food and beverage industry, took place between June 23-26, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

3. The US ‘specialty gourmet’ retail channel – led by retailers such as The Fresh Market and Mariano’s - has 1,000 stores and revenues topping $18bn, according to market researcher SPINS.

4. China’s taste for premium beef has transformed one of Beijing’s rural districts into a breeding base for one of the country’s key processors of premium Angus beef.

5. An Ireland based macroalgae derived feed ingredient firm has raised €1.4m in funding to significantly boost production output.

6. More than 150 people have been sickened by Salmonella in Sweden with authorities linking the illnesses to spice mix.

India Agriculture & Food Updates - 15July'15 !

1. The central government is planning to spend Rs 50,000 crore on farming and irrigation sector besides rolling out a crop insurance scheme.

2. Wheat procurement by State agencies and the Food Corporation of India has crossed 280 lakh tonnes wheat.

3. With retail inflation inching up, contrary to expectations of a downward movement, industry body ASSOCHAM warns of 10-15% hike in onion prices.

4. Display of 'Aeroponics' soilless agriculture, will be the major technology to be displayed at the 15th Edition of the four day agricultural trade fair, 'Agri Intex 2015' which will begin at Coimbatore from July 17.

5. The farmers and traders dealing in agricultural market are now facing tremendous recession due to a long dry spell, the market sources said.

6. While Groundnut cultivation in Chittoor District of A.P. is expected to be 1,36,737 hectares, so far only 81,172 hectares is being cultivated due to delayed rains.

Global Agri, Food & Health updates - 14July'15 !

1. 2000 People in South Philipines experienced health issues after eating Mango flavoured choclates sold on roadside shops.

2. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund joins regenerative agriculture movement, to restore land worldwide.

3. Sherpa Asset Management is selling the pistachio and almond farm near Fresno for around $26m.

4. IIC approved a $40m loan to an Argentinian fertiliser producer Profertil to support the business’ debt profile and provide working capital.

5. In Europe, the debate on the ‘Circular Economy’ is hotting up, as the Juncker Commission tries to work out what changes it is going to make to the existing proposal to make it 'more ambitious'.

6. Asian consumers are fuelling demand for clean labels and natural colourings - and will bolster a trend that  has been dominated by western Europeans until now.

7. The four largest national organisations representing the plastics packaging industry in Europe, Elipso (France), IK (Germany), BPF and PAFA (UK) have urgently called for polymer producers to accelerate restoration of normal supply conditions to plastics and flexible packaging manufacturers.

8. The Texas Department of State and Health Services (DSHS) is investigating to find a common source after more than 150 people were sickened by Cyclospora.

9. New web-based tools are democratizing the concept testing process and enabling everyone from brand managers at large CPG companies to start-ups to get rapid feedback on new product concepts, packaging, pricing or marketing campaigns at a fraction of the cost of traditional market research.

India Agri, Food & Nutrition Updates - 14July'15 !

1. With an intention to complete the Polavaram project, the A.P. govt plans to over compensate the affected farmers than what has been promised in the Land Pooling act.

2. Neethi Aayog chairman has directed the states to relax the rules so that Agricultural Lands can be used for other purposes also.

3. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that rice exports from India would decrease by 20% in 2016.

4. As per CPI (Consumer Price Index), due to raise in Food Products & Crude Oil prices, Retail Inflation is on a 8 month high of 5.4% .

5. Hyderabad based Agrochemicals company, Nagarjuna Agrichem Ltd has entered into a long term partnership with Germany's Helm AG.

6. Central Govt have decided to Govt Rs.12 Subsidy per litre Kerosene through PDS (ration shops).

7. In the event of rains not occuring by end of July, the A.P state govt has been said to be ready with alternate plan by keeping 70,708 quintals of seeds for sowing.

8. Researchers have found a correlation between Nutrition Deficiency in children in 2009 to that of Global Inflation and high food prices.

9. In the event of Russia's ban on Western food imports, India has a reason to hope and will have to wait for some more time before it starts exporting cheese and other milk products to Russia.

10. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) finds that a majority of rural households depend on manual labour for income and doesn't own agriculture land.

11. State-run Food Corporation of India has procured 27.6 MT of wheat in the 2015-16 marketing season, marginally lower than 28 MT of last year.
  

India Agriculture Updates - 13July'15 !

1. The state-run National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has set a target of providing Rs 30,000 crore as credit to farmers for irrigation over the next three years.

2. Facing the prospect of a deficient rainfall the Maharashtra government may go for generating artificial rainfall from August.

3. Haryana government said it has prepared Rs 143 crore project for rehabilitation of 35-year-old Jawahar Lal Nehru Feeder system.

4. Even as Maharashtra continues to grapple with an agrarian crisis, farmers in Latur, one of the drought-prone districts in the state, are slowly moving towards the organic way of farming to reduce input costs and increase agriculture output.

5. If plans of Telangana Government go well, insurance companies might soon launch agriculture insurance schemes with individual farm holdings as a unit.

6. Illegal import or rationed rice from TamilNadu at low cost into neighbouring areas of A.P state is causing serious problems to local dealers and retailers.

7. The A.P Chief Minister expressed anger over the huge number (925) of pending queries recieved from people, which includes around 1087 outstanding agricultural concerns.

8. DCCBs (District Central Co-operative Bank) are getting ready to issue fresh loans to farmers based on data made available by revenue authorities in WebLand.

India Agriculture & Food updates - 11July'15 !

1. Rabobank partner's with India's Caspian Impact Investment to improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers and enhance sustainable economic development.

2. Detailing the success of Co-operatives in India, the Central Agriculture Minister mentioned that agricultural credit advanced through cooperatives has increased from a meagre Rs 214.35 crore in 1960-61 to Rs 8,6185 crore in 2011-12 with about 17 per cent share in total institutional agricultural credit.

3. Economists at the 34th NABARD foundation day event mentioned that agriculture sector needs more financial support from banks in order to promote sustainable and equitable farming and rural prosperity which will also help in tackling food security issue in future.

4. World Bank would fund 75% of the Hydrology project to be undertaken by A.P Govt. Drought prevention, Water Management & Ground/Surface water recharging activities would be carried out through this project.

Global Agri, Food & Nutrition updates - 11July'15 !

1. €143 (US$160) per person directed to people living in extreme poverty over a year can end world hunger in 15 years, the United Nations (UN) has said.

2. Sherpa Asset Management's agri investment arm will soon close on around $40m of commitments across two projects in Colombia and Peru.

3. Increasing demand for meat and protein for animal feed is putting pressure on animal feed supply, according to the Dutch bank.

4. Russia’s meat industry could reap benefits from the extension of its food embargo, which will not directly increase prices on its domestic market, say market participants.

5. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved the use of stevia-derived sweeteners at up to 29 mg per litre in hot drinks, following a request from Tata Global Beverages GB Ltd.

6. European industry association FoodDrinkEurope has called for an ambitious global climate deal to help justify investment in low carbon technologies.

7. Neogen Corporation has received approval from the AOAC Research Institute for a test to detect Listeria monocytogenes DNA in food and environmental samples.

8. B vitamins may protect against age-related brain wasting, but only in people with high omega-3 levels, says a new study from the University of Oxford.

"For the Farmer (Raithu Kosam)" Event Caveats !

The Founder Director of AgriSolve Mr.Naga Vamshidhar, yesterday attended a 'For the Farmer (Raithu Kosam)' seminar organized by A.P.State Govt (INDIA) on 11thJuly'Friday.

He spoke on the various aspects being carried by AgriSolve including daily news to Farmers Globally & India wise through mKisan and Social media.

He also spoke about how Demand Supply correlation has been achieved for Tomato crop in his farms.

The various subsidies, schemes and authorized Govt suppliers supported by Govt for promoting Micro Irrigation came up for discussion.

Mr.Naga Vamshidhar made the below suggestions to the officials:

1. List of Licensed nurseries to be published, so that farmers can buy genuine & quality samplings that would give better yields.

2. Every of 7 departments under primary sector to share list of Govt. schemes & authorized suppliers similar to that of Micro Irrigation to farmers.

India Agriculture & Food Updates - 10July'15!

1. Union Agriculture Minister called upon state governments emphasizing on reforms in agricultural marketing for 2nd Green Revolution.

2. Maharashtra government today announced a Rs 402 crore relief for the farmers, whose kharif crop had suffered damages last year.

3. Shrimp farmers in the country will now be able to access information on international prices (Japan, USA & EU) for two varieties of shrimps over SMS by sending a missed call to +918590200800(Black Tiger) and +918590100800(L Vannamei) varieties.

4. Farmers can get expert guidance on aquaculture of shrimp through a mobile-App `m-KRISHI Aqua Service’ .

5. The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has requested Finance Minister to hike edible oils custom duty to protect domestic interests.

6. The Centre has announced a hike in the minimum support price of foodgrains to keep inflation in food particles in double digits. Ragi prices have gone up to Rs. 1000/quintal from Rs. 800/quintal.

7. In the 4 A.P. districts of Nellore, Chittoor, Cuddappah & Kurnool rainfall percentage is much below expectations resulting in slow Agricultural works.

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 10July'15!

1. The United States and Switzerland announced today that beginning July 10, 2015, as per Organic Equivalency agreement, organic products certified in the United States or Switzerland may be sold as organic in either country.

2. The UK government has pledged to retain a duty exemption for small-scale cider makers, a policy that has been threatened by the European Commission.

3. More than 150 people have been sickened by Salmonella in Sweden with authorities linking the illnesses to spice mix.

4. The European Cardiology Society (ECS) has urged European policymakers to follow the United States’ lead and ban the use of artificial trans fats in the EU.

5. The Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has taken action against local suppliers found to be engaged in supplying substandard versions of the botanical, ginkgo biloba.

6. Asian consumers are fuelling demand for clean labels and natural colourings - and will bolster a trend that  has been dominated by western Europeans until now, a 5000-strong global survey has found.

7. Mars has opened an $53m M&M’s Peanut plant at its chocolate factory in Stupino, Russia.

8. Half of US consumers surveyed say the fiber level of a food product influences their purchase decision. This is especially true for younger people. The majority of consumers surveyed were interested in healthy, sugar-reduced food applications.

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Updates - 09July'15 !

1. Kellogg has filed an international patent in the US for a food cup packaging assembly that makes it easier to stack and store food products.

2. Transportation issues are a top concern for many CPG companies, according to a survey by BCG (Boston Consulting Group) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

3. A coalition of 483 European organisations has written to MEPs urging them to reject the latest resolution on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) due for vote in the European Parliament tomorrow.

4. Global sugar prices have been on a downward trend – and there is no end in sight, according to Rabobank’s latest sugar quarterly.

5. US cereal sales continue to decline, but retailers know the category is still important and want innovation around prevalent consumer trends, says the CEO of General Mills.

6. Germany is a leading market for stevia-derived sweeteners in Europe – but more education is needed to further boost its usage, according to Mintel.

7. More bakers could source more EU wheat as a strengthening dollar and uncertain weather conditions in the US make prices more competitive.

8. Food and drink manufacturers have slashed their water use by nearly a quarter in the past eight years, as it emerged water deregulation in England could save firms millions.

9. A global boom in stevia leaves Malaysian supplier PureCircle on track to hit a net profit increase of 73% for this financial year compared to last.

India & A.P State Agriculture Updates - 09July'15 !

1. After WTO removed sanctions made by India on U.S meat imports, Poultry Chicken and Egg will be imported from U.S. to meet domestic demand in India.

2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has moved to establish a maximum limit for melamine (.15mg per litre) in liquid and in powdered (1mg per kg) infant formula.

3. A.P Agriculture Minister mentioned that with 100 farmers each an FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) will be formed with 9 Lakhs funding for each FPO by NABARD.

4. Kerala government's Rs 300 crore subsidy to rubber farmers may increase production.

5. Basmati rice exports, are likely to register an increase of about 10 per cent over the 3.7 mt recorded during the previous fiscal, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

6. Maharashtra to go for cloud seeding to generate artificial rainfall amid worries of Dry spell and scanty rainfall.

7. To attain double digit growth in Agriculture & Related areas, 'For the Farmer (Raithu Kosam)' programmes are being orgainzed in Chittoor District. Event Details as follows:

A. 9th 10:30 a.m in Kuppam
B. 10th 10:00 a.m in TAMBALLAPALLE
C. 10th Afternoon in Madanapalle - CLRT campus (ADS Office)
D. 14th in Punganur
E. 15th in Srikalahasthi & Chandragiri
F. 16th in Satyavedu
G. 17th in Poothalapattu, GangadharaNellore
H. 21 in Chittoor

India Agriculture & Food Updates - 08July'15!

1. The Centre has lauded Punjab for implementing Food Act in its true spirit.

2. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) launched a mobile application 'Pashu Poshan' that will recommend a balanced diet for cows and buffaloes to help boost dairy farmers' income by raising milk yield and cutting feed cost.

3. India will roll out its multi-billion dollar($20billion) food welfare plan by December, the food minister said.

4. As a part of Digital Telangana week, ICRISAT inks MoU to promote IT-based information for farmers.

5. In order to capture the Agricultural data accurately at the Village Level, 1111 tablets are being planned to be distributed to VROs & Tahsildar's in Chittoor District of A.P.

6. The statisticians in Madanapalle Mandal in A.P. are being requested to furnish the details of Lakes, Streams, Ponds, Wells and other water source in WebLand - webland.ap.gov.in.

7. With regards to the main canal formation for Handri-Neeva in Madanapalle circle around 1110 Acres of land procurement is being planned.

8. For the planned International Airport in Vijayanagar District (in Bogapuram), the land pooling of 5551 acres will be carried out only after consent from the farmers, the A.P State HRD minister is quoted as saying.

9. Nestle India has paid Rs 20 crore to Ambuja Cements for destroying Maggi instant noodles, which were found to be harmful for human consumption by the food regulators in the country.

10. India's Supreme Court has ordered Central Government and it's State counter parts to take tougher steps to curb food adulteration that was seriously endangering health of future generations.

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Updates - 07July'15 !

1. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has backtracked on a recall of ground cumin because of almond after additional testing.

2. Irish police have seized products containing the toxic fat burner dinitrophenol (DNP), the Irish Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has said.

3. Consumption of sugary drinks may lead to an estimated 184,000 adult deaths each year worldwide, according to research, which warns of an urgent need for strong global prevention programs.

4. A genetically modified sheep carrying a jellyfish protein entered the French food system last year following what appears to have been a deliberate abattoir mix-up, it was revealed last week.

5. Nestlé is investing $120m in a 175,000m² manufacturing facility in Dubai to produce Nescafé coffee and Maggi products, creating 400 jobs.

6. Fispal Technology 2015, an international fair for packaging, process and logistics for the food and beverage industry, took place between June 23-26, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

7. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has urged consumers to throw away three 'alternative' fish oil supplements after tests revealed they contained carcinogenic contaminants way over EU safe limits.

8. Mandatory salt reduction is the most effective way to reduce health inequalities and could save up to 4,500 lives in England each year, say scientists.

9. European industry association FoodDrinkEurope has called for an ambitious global climate deal to help justify investment in low carbon technologies, it said in a report released at Expo Milano last week.

10. Mexican food has knocked Chinese food off the top spot as the nation’s favourite foreign cuisine, according to research organisation Future Thinking.

11. Runners adding chia seeds to their diet in the belief that it will boost athletic performance may be disappointed to hear that the ‘superfood’ may not enhance their performance, says a new study from the Appalachian State University.

12. The UK’s online grocery market – valued at £9.57bn a year – is the globe’s second largest after China and is poised for further rapid growth, predicts the grocery think tank IGD.

India Agricultural & Food updates - 07July'15 !

1. Farmers in western India fear that they will have to replant crops if they do not get good showers in another four days.

2. Jeera is the second-largest exported single spice from India fetching over Rs 1,800 crore last year.This year too the exporters are hopeful after rains in Gujarat, Rajasthan.

3. Central Govt decides to scale up Karnataka’s e-Mandi model (Hubli) to national scale, with a 21 panel delegation planning to visit the state for 2 days.

4. The Centre will soon release a package of Rs 1,950 crore for the cooperative sugar mills in Maharashtra.

5. The efforts of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd to export arecanut to China are making headway with representatives from a Chinese company visiting arecanut-growing regions in Karnataka.

6. Major companies of Japan has expressed interest to work with Andhra Pradesh Govt to impement Agriculture Developmental programmes and in Food Processing sector.

7. The A.P. State Govt has procured 52 Metric Tonnes of Toor Dal (Kandi Pappu) for Rs.270 to sell the same at Rss.50 per kg through Public Distribution System (PDS) i.e. Ration Shops.

8. To implement National Food Security Act (NFSA) in accordance with rules 18 & 19, A.P. state has plans to adopt steps in that direction.

9. The A.P.State agricultural minister mentioned that the 3rd phase of Agriculture Loan waivers would be completed by end of July'15.

10. In Guntur district (Amruthalur) of A.P State, incidents related to suicide attempts by farmers were noted protesting leasing of Endowment farm lands.

India Agricultural & Food updates - 06July15!

1. About 30 scientists from across the country are taking part in a 21-day training programme on post harvest process and value addition of millets in an event being held in TamilNadu Agricultural University, with financial support from ICAR (Indian Council of Agrcultural Research).

2. While hilly regions, such as Uttarakhand, can expect good rainfall, the outlook for the rest of the country is mixed.

3. Downtrend in pulse seeds and pulses continuing for the past few days ended with monsoon playing a spoilsport.

4. Flour millers in South India have urged the Government not to impose duty on wheat imports stating that such a move would hurt the consumers’ interest.

5. Barring Urea, Fertilier companies have increased prices of Fertilizers citing reasons of declining rupee value.

6. The Central Home Minister has said that programmes are being chalked out for increasing the amenities in Villages, Developmental programmes, Agricultural Insurance and Savings schemes.

India Agri, Food & Health News - 04July'15 !

1. The government may remove the restriction on traders from holding stock of three pulses -- (chana) gram, yellow peas and red lentil (masoor dal) -- beyond the prescribed ceiling, in view of stable prices of these varieties.

2. Indian Food Ministry proposes 10% duty to curb wheat imports.

3. Riding on the comfort of high value aquaculture shrimp production, Vizag Port continues to emerge as the leading port in seafood exports by value terms during FY-15.

4. Coconut Development Board has urged farmers not to sell of their produce at throw away prices.

5. The Centre has allayed any fear of a shortfall in the sowing of rice, the key Kharif crop, with officials from the Agriculture Ministry stating that sowing and production will not be affected negatively.

6. Farmers in Telangana will soon get phablets (a smart device bigger than a phone but smaller than a tablet). Developed by the global agricultural research institute ICRISAT.

7. Global market volatility and currency fluctuation have not prevented India’s marine exports crossing the one-million-tonne mark in FY15, fetching earnings of $5.5 billion.

8. dible oils market witnessed hectic activities as all local refineries booked good orders from stockists on back of sharp jump on futures markets amid higher physical demand.

Global Agriculture, Food & Health updates - 04July'15 !

1. European commission has launched a Euro71K proposal for a feasibility study on Solar Energy for the food Industry and 2 CPVT food processing demo plants will be built.

2. The Schmersal Group has seen an above-average increase in demand for packaging and food machines from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and is expanding its Brazil subsidiary food production business this year.

3. Seasonal and promotional variations are the main challenge in the distribution of confectionery products, and will further drive just-in-time delivery in the future, says the Nagel Group.

4. SIG Combibloc has confirmed it will spend $70m to expand its carton packaging capacity by 40% in Brazil.

5. Global food prices are likely to remain low over the coming decade driven by lower oil prices, according to a joint FAO-OECD report.

6. The order in which we eat food could play a vital role in how our bodies manage post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels, a small study has reported.

7. As the U.S. economy continues to recover, less expensive store brands are starting to lose their appeal – creating a long-awaited opportunity for national brands to regain market share that they lost during the great recession, new consumer research suggests.

8. While turmeric is still a novel ingredient to many Americans, it’s only a matter of time before it moves from the niche to the mainstream of US food culture.

9. Members of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) i.e. Unilever & Nestle, have committed to halving food waste over the next ten years at an event in New York this week.

Global & India Agriculture, Food updates - 03July'15 !

1. E-kisan, a portal that will go online on July 27, will allow Indian farmers to showcase their farm produce on the Internet for wholesalers to bid remotely before the crop is harvested and sent to the buyer.

2. The Indian government plans to spend ₹50,000 crore in five years (2015-16 to 2019-20) to provide irrigation facility to all farm lands, as a part of new scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.

3. The Telangana govt's 1 week Green Necklace programme would start to plant trees across the start would begin on Friday (03July'15).

4. Indian Government has allocated Rs 200 crore for three years to set up an online national agriculture market by integrating 585 wholesale markets across India - a move that would help farmers realise better prices.

5. China topped the RASFF(Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (European Commission)) notifications by country of origin with 413 last year, followed by Turkey (201), India (199), Spain (166) and USA (164).

6. Nestlé India has been allowed to export Maggi noodles by the Bombay High Court but the product will remain off shelves in India.

7. The European Commission has launched a €71k proposal for a feasibility study on Solar Energy for the Food Industry.

8. The US ‘specialty gourmet’ retail channel – led by retailers such as The Fresh Market and Mariano’s - has 1,000 stores and revenues topping $18bn, according to market researcher SPINS.

9. Cargill may challenge the ruling of South Korea’s competition authority that claims the company was part of an animal feed price rigging cartel over a number of years.

10. Global food prices are likely to remain low over the coming decade driven by lower oil prices, according to a joint FAO-OECD report.

11. The order in which we eat food could play a vital role in how our bodies manage post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels, a small study has reported.

12. Ukraine and Russia are likely to become the bridgehead for the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the rest of Europe.

13. The UK’s online grocery market – valued at £9.57bn a year – is the globe’s second largest after China and is poised for further rapid growth, predicts the grocery think tank IGD.

14. Greece’s exit from the Eurozone – known as Grexit – and possibly the EU threatens British food and drink exports to Europe, currency experts have warned.

15. The A.P.State Agriculture minister said that actions will be taken on those who sell low quality seeds or at higher rates to farmers.

India Agriculture, Food & Health News - 02July'15 !

1. The central government today approved the setting up of an online national agriculture market that will provide more options to farmers for selling their produce across the country, which would help them overcome the issue of paying various taxes at Mandis or market committees.

2. Global prices of agricultural items are expected to decline gradually over the next 10 years as growth in production is likely to exceed demand, according to a latest report released by OECD and FAO.

3. The central Food Minister mentioned that Over 2,000 Food Corporation of India depots would go online by March 2016.

4. Non-basmati rice exporters fear that the currency crisis in Nigeria could pull down shipments of the grain by up to a tenth this year, as Nigeria recently stopped dollar sales to importers of rice and other commodities in the country, to protect its dwindling forex reserves and boost domestic cereal production.

5. In order to reduce the farm sector’s dependence on the monsoon, the Centre today approved 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)' scheme for providing irrigation facilities to every village by converging the ongoing schemes being implemented by various ministries, with a budget allocation of  Rs. 1,000 crore.

6. A farmers’ body approached the National Green Tribunal against the demolition drive on their farms carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in pursuance of the green panel’s ban order on cultivation of edible crop on floodplains of Yamuna.

7. Mango output in Chittoor district has decreased this to a total of 4.56 lakh tonnes as against the expectation of 6.08 lakh tonnes due to Intense summer and untimely rains.

8. The State Govt. of A.P plans to provide Zinc, Zipsum and Boron at 50% subsidy through Agriculture Department.

9. Groundnut cultivation is being covered under Climate Crops Insurance Program and farmers can pay Rs.550 insurance per acre, by providing necessary documentation to the local agricultural office.

10. Britains Food Certification Agency (FCA) has confirmed that Maggie noodles produced and exported from India meets the necessary led levels.