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4 AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Volume 02  |  Issue 06  |  August 2021

Publisher & Managing Editor Sub Editor TOP STORIES
Ravindra Boratkar
Nitesh Pillai Scan the RainAg,
Advisor nitesh.pillai@mmactiv.com QR Code Moleaer
Dr C. D. Mayee launch
Former Chairman, ASRB-ICAR Correspondent: APAC nanobubble-
infused
Chief Editor Hithaishi C. Bhaskar fertilizer
Dr. Milind Kokje hithaishi.cb@mmactiv.com
milind.kokje@mmactiv.com Scan the FBSciences
Social Media Cummunication QR Code launches
Advisor - Content CarbonBoost
Vijay Thombre Ankit Kankar Line to increase
ankit.kankar@mmactiv.com soil carbon
Editor
Narayan Kulkarni CFO & Special Correspondent
narayan.kulkarni@mmactiv.com
Manasee Kurlekar
Executive Editor manasee.kurlekar@mmactiv.com
Dr. Manbeena Chawla
manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com Operation & Production

Assistant Editor Asmita Thakar
Dipti Barve asmita.thakar@mmactiv.com
dipti.barve@mmactiv.com
Design
NEOGEN Corp
MEDIA VISION launches
quantitative
Circulation, Subscription test for hemp
and Media Enquiry cultivation

Sudam Walekar
sudam.walekar@mmactiv.com

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AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com AGRO EDIT 5

Shifting Gears with Biofuels

Biofuels is a subject that is being discussed economic and environmental implications. The
for a long time with comparatively very little country’s huge oil import bill needs to be curtailed
progress made till now. India launched the to save money in general and particularly foreign
National Biofuel Policy (NBP) in 2008 targeting 20 currency. Moreover, ethanol blended fuels help
per cent ethanol share in both petrol and diesel by reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
2017. But, the government could achieve only 2 per
cent blending in petrol and 0.1 per cent in diesel till Yet, resources like water and land required
the target year. to produce sources for biofuels also needs to be
looked into. Otherwise the environmental gains
Then, the government had to revise the targets in one form could be the losses in another form,
in the NBP of 2018, prescribing the indicative rendering biofuels seem less viable in the bargain.
target of 5 per cent ethanol in diesel and 20 per
cent in petrol by 2030. But, in case of diesel, the Poultry-based biodiesel production technology
blending percentage continues to be less than has been developed at the Kerala Veterinary and
0.1 per cent even now. In case of petrol, it has Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Wayanad and
increased to 8 per cent as on July 26 in ethanol it is getting ready for viable commercial production.
supply year 2020-21 (December to November). It is cheaper and more efficient. More importantly,
with some engine modifications it can be used as
One of the major challenges in meeting the solitary fuel, and not using it for blending.
targets seemed to be inadequate supply of biomass
due to restricted availability of biofuel sources. Such new type of sources for biofuels will have
From edible sources - like sugarcane, beets, to be tapped and invented if the food vs fuel debate
potato, rice and oil seeds to non-edible sources and the pace slowed down by such debates is to
like Jatropha, used cooking oils, rice straws, be bypassed. Otherwise, in a country with a large
bagasse to industrial waste - everything is useful number of malnourished and undernourished
for producing different grades of biofuels. Using children and women, food would always be the
edible sources, grade 1 level of ethanol can be priority. Finding out non-food sources is crucial,
produced, hence it became embroiled in a ‘food vs considering our growing population and increasing
fuel’ debate. demand for food.

With the availability of large extra quantities Thus, the government should promote research
of food grains with the Food Corporation of India of new sources and provide more funding for
(FCI), particularly rice, the government has the same. Some years back a movement started
allowed the use of rice and sugarcane for ethanol in favour of Jatropha, as it is a good source
production. It recently allocated 78,000 tonne for making biofuels. But, later it lost its thrust
of rice for ethanol production. Though there are probably because it was not very beneficial. It
apprehensions from some quarters regarding the is important to find some other Jatropha-like
use of food grains for producing ethanol, it must be alternatives. The country has a huge area of
noted that our food grain production has increased wasteland, which can be used for growing sources
six-fold and is expected to cross 310 million tonne for biofuels. Beyond ethanol and biodiesel, new
in the ongoing Kharif season. variants like bio CNG, too, should be promoted.
With a lot of developments taking place in new
Thus, food grains for ethanol making is a logical technologies and research, there is probably a need
and welcome move, crucial to meet the targets of for a new long term biofuels policy.
2030. Still, food grain quota for ethanol production
must be implemented cautiously. However, Dr. Milind Kokje,
blending ethanol in fuels can have positive Chief Editor

milind.kokje@mmactiv.com

6 CONTENT AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

CONTENT COVER STORY

Bidding Adieu to21
Crude Imports and

GGRaEsENeHsOUSE

As the country is on the path to recovery from the economic brunt of the
pandemic, cutting expenditures that affect the national coffers seems like
a logical move. India’s annual crude oil imports have been increasing year
on year, while the global petroleum prices have become too prohibitive.
Fortunately, India has an advantage in its abundant agricultural produce and
surplus raw materials that can be used to manufacture ethanol, a viable
renewable energy source. The Indian government has set in motion various
schemes and regulations that will make biofuels, a crucial component to
meet the country’s increasing energy needs. The oft-repeated Atmanirbhar
Bharat vision seems to be at play here, empowering not just the farmers, but
also India’s future towards self-reliance in terms of energy demands.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com CONTENT 7

CONTENT
SPEAKING WITH
26 How India plans to boost
Biofuel Industry

29 India’s big push for Ethanol
production towards self-reliance

32 What’s in the way of India’s
ambitious Ethanol target?

34 SPEAKING WITH

17 "The advancing of E20 target
to FY 2025 has created
“Ethanol production from agri 37 tremendous ethanol capacity
crops will make farmers and 40 building opportunity"
India truly Atmanirbhar” Atul Mulay,

Nitin Gadkari, President, Bioenergy, Praj
Industries
Union Minister, Road Transport & Highways
“Mandatory ethanol blend in
To increase the production of fuel- fuel will immediately reduce
grade ethanol, the government is India’s oil import bill & GHGs”
planning to encourage distilleries Eduardo Leão de Sous,
to produce ethanol from maize
and rice stocks available in state- Executive Director, UNICA
held granaries run by the Food
Corporation of India (FCI). Nitin WEBINAR
Gadkari, Union Minister, Road
Transport & Highways shared his Agri-Inputs news.......................47
Supply chain news...................49
views with AgroSpectrum on how the
production of biofuels can bolster the

growth of the agriculture industry.

REGULARS

Editorial.......................................05 Livestock news.........................13
Your Views.................................08 Startups News..........................15
Policy News...............................09 Technology News.....................43
Finance News............................11 Academic News........................45

8 YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

TOP VIDEO

Nitin Gakari,
Union Minister
Road Transport
& Highways
speaks about
LNG as the fuel
for the future

Scan the QR Arindom Datta, Feedback
Code  EXEC Director
Scan the QR and Head, Rural Good coverage of sustainability
Code  & Development in livestock
Scan the QR Banking/Advisory,
Code  Rabobank The article published on “Bringing down CHG
explains the emission with sustainable cattle feed” in July
role of digital 2021 issue has rightly picked up current issue
technology in of livestock sector. The article highlights how
solving issues of the methane gas and carbon footprints that
agri-industry are generated in producing livestock feed
should be reduced for sustainability.
Kohei Sakata,
Digital Incubator Rajendra Barwale, Chairman, Mahyco Seeds
Lead - Asia
Pacific, Bayer Interesting interview
Crop Science
highlights need The interview of Dr C D Mayee, senior scientist
of collaboration and chairman of Board AFC India published
among Ag-tech in July 2021 issue was really interesting. Dr
start-ups, public Mayee shed light on important issues on
and private players agriculture industry such GM crops, Agri-
for digitalization of exports, etc. Looking forward for many such
agriculture experts’ interviews in upcoming issues.

Courtesy : ThinkAg Charuta Mankar, Nagpur

Coverage of Horticulture industry

AgroSpectrum should publish a special issue
on latest trends horticulture industry and
also highlight the challenges of the industry.
An Information regarding government’s
schemes for horticulture industry and latest
technologies in horticulture will be useful for
agri-entraprenuers and farmers.

Sukrut Jambhulgaonkar, Pune

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com POLICY NEWS 9

Govt pushes APEDA, NAFED MoU to
boost growth of exports
for liberalising by cooperatives

MDA Policy, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
alternative (MoU) with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India (NAFED). According to the MoU, the key
fertilizers areas of cooperation include facilitating APEDA registered
exporters getting assistance under all the Government of
Union Minister for Chemicals India schemes implemented through NAFED. The MoU
and Fertilizers Mansukh also envisages ensuring
Mandaviya reviewed the sustainability and growth
initiatives of the Department of exports by cooperatives
of Fertilizers for Making India by addressing issues such
Aatmanirbhar in fertilizers. as technology, skill, quality
The minister informed that products and market
the government is planning to access. The collaborations
liberalise Market Development between APEDA, which
Assistance (MDA) Policy to functions under the Ministry of Commerce and NAFED,
promote the use of alternative registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act,
fertilizers. MDA policy was also support engaging cooperatives involved in agricultural
earlier limited to city compost production for improving the quality of agri-produce and its
only. There were demands consolidation for better price realisation to the farmers. APEDA
to expand this policy by would facilitate exports by the cooperatives, FPO’s, partners
incorporating organic waste like and associates identified and promoted by NAFED.
biogas, green manure, organic
compost of rural areas, solid/ Nitin Gadkari inaugurates
liquid slurry, etc. The expansion LNG facility plant in Nagpur
will fully complement the
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has
the Government of India. The emphasised the importance of alternate biofuels for diversification
Minister was apprised that of agriculture towards the energy and power sector. Inaugurating
the Matix Fertilisers plant in the country’s first LNG Facility plant at Nagpur he said, "In
Durgapur, West Bengal having our economy we are spending Rs 8 lakh crore for the import of
a capacity of 12.7 lakh metric petrol diesel and petroleum products which is a big challenge".
tonnes will commence soon. Gadkari informed “we have designed a policy that encourages
Minister informed that with the development of imports to substitute cost-effective pollution-
the commencement of the free and indigenous ethanol, bio CNG, LNG and hydrogen fuels.
Ramagundam plant, added He added that the ministry is constantly working on different
12.7 LMTPA indigenous urea alternative fuels. He recommended judicious ulitisation of
production in the country has surplus rice, corn and sugar to prevent them from going waste.
been added which will help
India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-
reliant) in urea production.

10 P O L I C Y N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Govt launches digital platform-
Kisan Sarathi for farmers

A digital platform ‘KisanSarathi’ was launched jointly by

Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers

Welfare with Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics

and Information Technology, on the occasion of 93rd ICAR

Foundation Day.With the digital platform, the farmers can

Finance interact and avail personalised advisories on agriculture and

minister allied areas directly

announces from the respective

revival package scientists of Krishi

for NERAMAC Vigyan Kendra

The Finance Minister (FM) (KVKs). The Union
Nirmala Sitharaman, while
elaborating on the relief IT Minister assured
packages for the farmers
affected due to COVID-19, that the Ministry of
announced a revival package
of Rs 77.45 crore to North Electronics and IT
Eastern Regional Agricultural
Marketing Corporation and the Ministry of
(NERAMAC). NERAMAC was
established in 1982 to support Communications
farmers of the North-East in
getting remunerative prices for will always be
agri-horticulture produces. It
aims to enhance agricultural, ready to provide all
procurement, processing and
marketing infrastructure in necessary support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
the North-East. 75 Farmer
Producer Organisations/ Welfare and to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
Farmer Producer Companies
are registered with NERAMAC. and Dairying for empowering farmers. He also mentioned that
It has facilitated the
registration of 13 Geographical the Ministry of Railways is making a plan to minimise the time
Indicator (GI) crops of
North-East. The company taken for the transportation of crops.
has prepared a business plan
to give 10-15 per cent higher APEDA, DIHAR chalk out
prices to farmers’ by-passing plan to boost agri export
middlemen/agents. It also from Ladakh
proposes to set up North-
Eastern Centre for Organic The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Cultivation, facilitating equity Development Authority (APEDA) in association with the
finance to entrepreneurs. Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) is
working out a comprehensive plan of actions to boost exports
of agricultural produce from Ladakh. Identified areas of work
include enhancement of production of fruits with medicinal
values including sea buckthorn, apricot and organic produce
and introduction of the traceability system, capacity-building
of farmers and value addition of products. APEDA will provide
technical assistance for building the capacity of stakeholders
including entrepreneurs, officials, farmers, branding and
marketing of Ladakhi products and making Ladakh an
‘organic’ region. Officials of Ladakh under the Mission Organic
Development Initiative have formed an organic study group,
drafting ‘organic’ certification documents and implementation
of the certification process in phases. The technological
interventions introduced by DIHAR to Ladakh administration
is helping farmers grow leafy vegetables at -25 degrees.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com F I N A N C E N E W S 11

Sonalika FM announces
records subsidy of
30.6% Rs 14,775 Cr
growth in for DAP & P&K
Q1 tractor fertilizers
sales
Union Finance & Corporate
Sonalika Tractors has quashed all records to clock the highest Affairs Minister Nirmala
ever Q1 cumulative tractor sales at 33,219 units and registered Sitharaman recently announced
30.6 per cent growth even during the testing times of COVID-19. a slew of measures to provide
The tractor industry-led India’s recovery from the front after relief to diverse sectors affected
the first-ever lockdown in the year 2020 and Sonalika Tractors by the second wave of the
posted a dominant performance throughout the year while COVID-19 pandemic. The
outpacing the industry growth consistently. Carrying forward measures announced also aim
the momentum of FY '21 to launch maximum revolutionary to prepare the health systems
products, Sonalika Tractors is fully geared up to launch for emergency response and
maximum new tractors even in FY ’22. Sonalika’s upcoming provide the impetus for growth
technologically advanced tractors will create new benchmarks and employment. Sitharaman
in the industry as they will be equipped with extraordinary announced an additional
features to lead the Agri evolution in India as well as abroad. subsidy to farmers for DAP and
As per a statement issued by the company, it has kept farmer’s P&K fertilizers. The existing
needs at the forefront and innovated aggressively to overcome NBS subsidy was Rs 27,500
the challenges. crore in FY 2020-21 which has
been increased to Rs 42,275
Mahindra sells 46,875 crore in FY 2021-22. Thus,
tractors during June 2021 the farmers will benefit by
an additional amount of Rs
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), 14,775 crore. This includes Rs
part of the Mahindra Group, announced its tractor sales 9,125 crore additional subsidy
numbers for June 2021, which indicate a clear growth path for DAP and Rs 5,650 crore
in the upcoming season. Domestic sales in June 2021 were at additional subsidy for NPK
46,875 units, as against 35,844 units during June 2020. Total based complex fertilizer.
tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during June 2021 were at
48,222 units, as against 36,544 units for the same period last
year. Exports for the month stood at 1,347 units. Company
mentioned that 46,875 tractors were sold in the domestic
market during June 2021 with a growth of 31 per cent over last
year. The sharp fall in COVID-19 cases and resultant easing of
related restrictions, arrival of timely monsoon, increase in MSP
rates for key kharif crops and continued strong Government
support to all agri activities is giving a very strong momentum
to tractor demand.

12 F I N A N C E N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

India's agri exports Aquaconnect
to cross $40B in secures $4M
FY’22: NABARD Pre-Series A Round

After remaining stagnant for the past three Aquaconnect, South Asia's largest aqua farmers’
years at $38.43 billion in 2017-18, $38.74 network, has raised $4 million (Rs 29.7 crore)
billion in 2018-19 and $35.16 billion in in a pre-Series A round led by Rebright Partners
2019-20, the export of agriculture and allied and Flourish Ventures. AgFunder and 6G Capital
products (including marine and plantation also participated in this round, along with existing
products) jumped to $41.25 billion in 2020- investors Omnivore and HATCH.Despite India
21. This represented a stunning 17 per cent being the world’s largest exporter of shrimp and
rise. On the other hand, overall exports from second largest aquaculture producer globally,
India suffered a 7.2 per cent fall to $256.34 the industry is fraught with various challenges
billion, down from the $313 billion in 2020- ranging from unscientific farming practices to
21. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) are inefficiencies in the value chain. Aquaconnect’s
playing a key role in increasing exports from full-stack platform provides a 360-degree solution
the country. There are about 8,000 FPOs in for aquaculture farmers. The startup plans to use
the country, of which 4868 FPOs are funded this pre-Series A funding to strengthen their GIS-
by NABARD and its subsidiaries. The farmers' enabled fintech product development and accelerate
benefits have increased by 20 per cent to the volume of exports flowing through the platform.
40 per cent after they joined FPOs because They intend to launch their Series A round in six to
they get the inputs at competitive prices, hire nine months.Aquaconnect's digital platform helps
machinery and add value to their products to fish and shrimp farmers maximise their income
garner better prices in the markets. by connecting them with smart farm management
tools, financial services and customers.

Licious raises $192M for tech led supply
chain transformation

Bengaluru-based Licious, a tech-powered, full- current round of fundraise, puts Licious at the
stacked D2C fresh meat and seafood brand, has driver’s seat for being the highest funded company
announced Series F funding round of $192 million. in this category. The funds raised through Series
The round is led by Singapore-headquartered F will be deployed towards deeper investment
Investment Company Temasek, and Multiples in technology led supply chain transformation,
Private Equity. Brunei Investment Agency also quality improvement, and customer experience
participated in the round. Existing investors elevation along with expanding presence in a
3one4 Capital, Bertelsmann India Investments, greater number of Indian cities, powering the
Vertex Growth Fund, and Vertex
Ventures Southeast Asia and international expansion plan,
India have also participated in this augmenting capabilities in
round of fundraise, reaffirming existing markets, strengthening
their faith in the category. The Omni channel presence and
powering new product launches.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com L I V E S TO C K N E W S 13

TenderCuts strengthens presence in Bengaluru

Chennai-based startup exciting purchasing experience NABARD, TenderCuts also
leverages NABARD’s network
TenderCuts, India’s first of buying meat and seafood of over 5000 plus farmer
producer organisations which
omnichannel and tech-driven from an organised retail store, includes over 1 million farmers,
which helps TenderCuts to
fresh meat and seafood as this would be the first augment its supply chain, by
establishing direct partnerships
company, sets foot in Bengaluru organised meat and seafood with local farming and fishing
communities and strong
with the launch of its offline retail store in Bengaluru. The backward links to guarantee
absolute freshness.
stores and online delivery. brand would be strengthening

Currently, the residents in its presence in Bengaluru with

the vicinity of JP Nagar, the addition of more stores

Koramangala and HSR Layout in the coming months across

would be the first group of different neighbourhoods.

privileged customers to have an With capital received from

HAP starts milk Giriraj Singh launches
processing & packing Matsya Setu app
plant in Tamil Nadu
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
Chennai-based Hatsun Agro Product Ltd and Dairying, Giriraj Singh, launched the online
(HAP) has begun processing and packing course mobile app 'Matsya Setu'. The app
of milk at its fully automated Greenfield was developed by the ICAR-Central Institute
dairy processing plant in Kangayam taluk, of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA),
Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu (TN). The Bhubaneswar, with the funding support of the
fully automated dairy plant, one of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB),
technologically superior plants in the country Hyderabad. The online course app aims to
is set up at a cost of Rs 101 crore. The plant disseminate the latest freshwater aquaculture
has specialised imported equipment from technologies to the aqua farmers of the country.
Germany to process and pack 3.5 lakh litres Matsya Setu app has species-wise/ subject-wise
of milk per day (LLPD). In tune with HAP’s self-learning online course modules, where
core objectives, the emphasis of the plant’s renowned aquaculture experts explain the
design is on employee safety, hygiene and basic concepts and practical demonstrations on
making products of the finest quality. HAP breeding, seed production and grow-out culture of
has manufacturing locations spread across commercially important fishes like carp, catfish,
five states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, scampi, murrel, ornamental fish, pearl farming
Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. HAP etc. The app can also be an important tool to
further intends to expand its retail network. disseminate the latest information on different
In addition, HAP will provide greater support schemes among the stakeholders, especially
to farmers with access to the best technology, fishers, fish farmers, youth and entrepreneurs
farm inputs, animal husbandry services, across the country, assist them and facilitate ease
specialised cattle feed and direct credit to of doing business.
their bank accounts for their milk supply.

14 L I V E S TO C K N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Aquaconnect Cabinet approves special
launches ‘Pond livestock sector package
Diary’ to maintain
aquafarm The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
activities log chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has
approved the implementation of a special livestock
Chennai-based leading Fish and Shrimp sector package consisting of several activities by
farming startup Aquaconnect has launched revising and realigning various components of the
‘Pond Diary’ a first of its kind feature to help Government of India's schemes for the next five
farmers in maintaining a log of their farm years starting from 2021-22 to further boost growth
activities on the Aquaconnect application. in the livestock sector and thereby making animal
AI and ML technologies will enable husbandry more remunerative to 10 crore farmers
Aquaconnect to decode the collective engaged in animal husbandry sector. The package
intelligence and issue a mass advisory to envisages Central Government's support amounting
all farmers. A simple innovation coupled to Rs 9800 crore over five years for leveraging a
with a smart chatbot will enable 44,000 total investment of Rs 54,618 crore for five years.
farmers to manage their farms better. The The financial commitment of Rs 9800 crore by the
’Pond Dairy’ feature captures farmers' Government of India over the next five years starting
culture production data starting from 2021-22 for these schemes would leverage a total
seeds stocked, water quality reports, daily investment of Rs 54,618 crore in the livestock sector
feed quantity, weekly growth, animal including share of investments by state governments,
signs, expense bills, farm infrastructure state cooperatives, financial institutions, external
details, license, Government records and funding agencies and other stakeholders.
more. Pond Diary is the first step towards
capturing pond production data in a simple
way and bringing precision in aqua farming
with collective intelligence. It is an open-
ended diary platform, wherein the farmers
can write anything about their farm in any
multimedia format.

NEOGEN Corporation partners with Center
for Aquaculture Technologies

NEOGEN Corporation has partnered with the Center for Aquaculture
Technologies (CAT) to deliver high-quality genotyping services
customised to the unique needs of aquaculture producers. The
complementary expertise of NEOGEN and CAT will apply modern
sequencing and genotyping technologies to aquaculture species.
The partnership will enable organisations of any size to realise the
benefits of increased accuracy of selection and gains in performance
by incorporating genetic markers into their selective breeding
programmes. NEOGEN and CAT have previously partnered to develop
cost-effective genomic solutions for the aquaculture sector, including
the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP) 50K genotyping array for
North American Atlantic salmon and white leg shrimp, which are now
commercially available through CAT, as part of their AQUAarray line.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S TA RT U P  N E W S 15

BASF Venture Capital invests in UrbanKisaan

BASF Venture Capital (BVC) has invested in the hydroponics technology for use in tropical
Indian startup UrbanKisaan, which specialises climates such as India. With only one-tenth of the
in hydroponic cultivation of various types of costs, the proprietary technology is significantly
vegetables, greens and herbs in tropical urban more efficient than conventional global standards
environments. This is BVC’s first investment in hydroponics cultivation. The company is also
in an early stage business focusing on India. capitalising on the trend of online food retailing,
Conceptualised in 2017, UrbanKisaan operates which is booming on the subcontinent.
several suburban greenhouses and vertical indoor
farms in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The company
sells fresh produce, some of which is grown directly
in the shops, in its franchisee-owned brick-and-
mortar stores and via an app and website. Both
parties agreed not to disclose the financial details
of the investment. UrbanKisaan has optimised

Unnati partners with Samunnati launches
FPOnEXT, network
Satyukt to offer innovative for FPO finance

farming solutions Chennai-headquartered NBFC Samunnati has
launched FPOnEXT – an exclusive network of
Unnati, a FinTech-driven agriculture entities that are working with the FPO eco-system
ecosystem has joined forces with Satyukt, an via an affiliation programme. The network aims
innovative satellite data analytics company to provide access to financial solutions, market
to help farmers enhance their productivity linkages, value-added services, technology
and promote the best farming practices interventions and other on-tap services to the
using satellite technology. As part of this FPOS at any stage of their formation. FPOS will
collaboration, the forward-looking company receive benefits such as pre-sanctioned loans,
is giving farmers access to Satyukt’s Sat2Farm complementary assessment and feedback from
platform for purposes like soil testing, Samunnati through their grading and engagement
leveraging localised weather information, tool, as well as access to crop, daily weather alerts,
estimating soil moisture, providing irrigation market prices and a dedicated call centre. There
advisory, analysing crop growth, among will also be a focused effort to bring customised
others in real-time. The platform is backed insurance products to the members of FPOnEXT.
by Satyukt’s proprietary algorithm and will Samunnati also plans to on-board Resource
provide farmers with highly personalised Institutions, Producer Organisation Promoting
recommendations for crop nutrition, use of Institutions (POPIS), Training and Capacity
particular plant protection remedies, and Building Institutions and other ecosystem players
everything relevant to ensure a farm’s robust who are committed to FPOS and smallholder
health and productivity. These include over farmers.
100 satellite-based indices and crop variables,
and tracking on-ground farm data, among
others. More than 2.75 lakh farmers will be
able to access this solution in association with
over 15000 uStores across India.

16 S TA RT U P  N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

CropIn, Think, Samunnati bags multiple
awards at 4th CII National
HSBC hold Kaizen Circle Competition 2021

webinar on Agritech startup Samunnati has been ranked as a position holder
in various categories by one of India’s biggest
'Digitizing Crop industry bodies – Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) in the 4th CII National Kaizen
Insurance' Circle Competition 2021 conducted from
May 31 to June 2, 2021. The competition
CropIn, in association with Think had 200+ entries coming from different
and HSBC, recently conducted sectors such as manufacturing,
a webinar on 'Digitizing Crop processing, and service sectors.
Insurance' as a part of the Samunnati has bagged three awards under the below streams.
AgFin Tech Series, Digitizing Samunnati Agro Solutions Pvt Ltd was deemed the winner in
Agri-Finance & Insurance. The the Best Digitalization Kaizen category. Samunnati Financial
primary focus of the series is intermediation and Services Private Limited bagged the Strong
to advance the importance of Commitment Award in the Best Innovative Kaizen in Quality
technology in the agriculture category and 1st Runner Up in the Best Kaizen for Productivity
space. CropIn’s tagline 'Re- Improvement category. The Confederation of Indian Industry
imagining Agriculture with (CII) is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led, and
Data,' outlines how technological industry-managed organisation, with over 9000 members from
innovation in agriculture can the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs.
serve the marginalised in
diverse ways, especially when GreenSat Innovations inks
supported by strong financial MoU with GVT, IndiaHub
institutions. The panellists e-Governance
addressed and discussed
the need to drive financial Agritech Company GreenSat Innovation Labs has signed MoU
inclusion and progressive digital with Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT), a rural welfare organisation
strategy for farmer prosperity and IndiaHub e-Governance, an innovation-driven startup,
using advanced technologies as a technology partner for
at an economic scale and Smart FPO (Farmer Producer
develop need-based Agri- Organisation) initiative. Under
insurance products/models for the initiative, the GreenSat
insurers, farmer-beneficiaries, Innovation App will offer end-
and government agencies. to-end support that extends from
Partnerships of insurers and precision farming to banking,
AgFinTech players for enhancing market linkages, and innovative
the efficiency of marketing and crop insurance products. In
distribution for agri-insurance addition, it will offer direct access
products through seamless to National Commodity and
service integrations were also a Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX)
topic of discussion. The house wherein the latter will offer a commodity trading platform
also agreed that the union of for the bigger FPOs, providing farmers with direct access to
Agtech & Rural Insurance is a the market. The targeted project size for the first year (2021-
successful formula for financial 22) is 100 FPOs with 500 FPOs planned for each successive
inclusion and farmer prosperity. year. More than 10,000 farmers have already signed up for the
project with an additional 5,00,000 farmers expected to be on-
boarded by March 2022.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 17

NITIN GADKARI,

Union Minister, Road
Transport & Highways

“Ethanol production from
agri crops will make farmers
and India truly Atmanirbhar”

The Government of India has proposed a How will the diversification of
target of 20 per cent blending of ethanol agricultural crops for energy and fuel
in petrol and 5 per cent blending of help the agri sector?
biodiesel in diesel by 2030 and introduced
multiple initiatives to increase indigenous When India got independence, the main
production of biofuels. The promotion of challenge of the farmers was to produce enough
E20 fuel is part of the country’s plans to food grains for the people of the country.
cut its oil imports and reduce pollution. It Now, with the efforts of our farmers, not only
is also a move that will benefit sugarcane has the country become self-sufficient in food
growers. To increase the production supplies but also we are able to export large
of fuel-grade ethanol, the government quantities of food grains every year. Its farmers
is planning to encourage distilleries to are producing a surplus of food grains, fruits
produce ethanol from maize and rice and vegetables in the country, surpassing the
stocks available in state-held granaries required consumption in the country.
run by the Food Corporation of India
(FCI). Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Road This increase in agricultural produce
Transport & Highways shared his views compels us to think about its diversion towards
with AgroSpectrum on how the production converting into energy and fuel. Until farmers
of biofuels can bolster the growth of the are unable to produce raw material for basic
agriculture industry. Edited excerpts; fuel in their farms, the dream of ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’ will remain a dream. Each year more
than required sugar for consumption is being
produced, but if we divert the surplus sugar
towards making ethanol, then we will be able to
get a good alternative to crude oil.

Food godowns of the country are stuffed

18 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

with surplus rice. Paddy is being produced in Bharat’ can be realised. As a result, the exchange
large quantities that is adding surplus stock every rate of the rupee can also be strengthened against
year. The country has 40 lakh metric tonnes every foreign currency.
(MT) of surplus food grains. Additionally, 20
lakh tonnes of maize is also lying surplus in the How will the farmers benefit from
godowns. All these crops can be very efficiently increasing ethanol production?
utilised for producing a good quantity of ethanol.
The clear fact is that each and every raw
In 2013-14, 38 crore litres of ethanol was material required to produce ethanol or Biodiesel
produced from molasses. Whereas, the target for is cultivated and produced by farmers. Therefore,
current year is approximately 320 crore litres. the major share of the value addition of Rs
What's astounding is that till June 2021, 180 crore 2,00,000 crore, say up to 70 per cent, will go into
litres of ethanol has already been produced. To the pockets of farmers.
meet the requirement of E-20 we have set a target
of producing 1500 crore litres by 2025. We need What strategies are being deployed by
to think in this direction for converting surplus the government to produce biofuels
agricultural produce into biofuel and energy. on a large scale to fulfil the demand?

How will the rural economy get On June 4, 2018 the government had
a boost by increasing ethanol prepared an ambitious plan called the National
production? Policy on Biofuels, to facilitate 20 per cent
blending of ethanol. This policy document
Presently we are importing crude oil to meet provided a basic action plan to achieve the target
around 85 per cent of our requirement which of 20 per cent blending by 2030. This year, on
amounts to $55 billion, equivalent to Rs 4,25,000 World Environment Day, our Prime Minister has
crore. When we talk about an increase in the reconfirmed India’s determination to have clean
blending ratio of ethanol, the money spent for and green fuel and preponed the target of 20 per
import of crude oil is saved. We also save foreign cent blending by 2025.
exchange, that’s why I always say that ethanol
is an indigenous import substitute for pollution Best Rates of Ethanol in the World
free green fuel. The best part of ethanol is that it Brazil, USA, Thailand, etc. are larger
is being produced by using agricultural produce.
When farmers are producing such crops to be producers of ethanol as compared to India.
used for making ethanol, then automatically In these countries the basic price of ethanol is
we will save approximately Rs 30,000 crore of approximately Rs 43.88, Rs 44.41 and Rs 49.55
foreign exchange, which in turn will go to the per litre, respectively. The Indian government
farmers. This way, the dream of ‘Atmanirbhar has recognised six different sources to produce
ethanol and rates for ethanol made out of these
six types of raw materials are different. These
vary according to the raw material being used.
For instance, Rs 62.65 per litre is the price when
we use sugarcane juice for conversion to ethanol,
Rs 57.61 per litre for using B Molasses, Rs 45.69
per litre for C Molasses, Rs 51.55 per litre for
damaged food grains and Rs 56.87 per litre for
surplus rice taken from FCI. To promote ethanol
production, the Government of India has fixed
highest rates across the globe. This will certainly
boost the ethanol production in the country.

Interest Subvention
To further promote the investment for

capacity building for ethanol production, the
government has proposed a 6 per cent interest
subsidy on the investments. Under this scheme,

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 19

more than 350 distilleries will get 6 per cent of ethanol annually considering storage of
approximately Rs 6000 crore. production equivalent to 15 days.

BIS for E12 & E15 Government is planning to implement
Earlier, only 10 per cent blending was 100 per cent bio-ethanol in the
automobile industry in a big way.
permissible in the country. States like What are the plans of the Ministry
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka had of Road & Transport to facilitate this
achieved this target long ago. The production implementation?
capacity of these states is much more than the
ethanol required for 10 per cent blending. But, In the month of March 2021, I asked
considering 10 per cent cap additional capacity automakers to build flex-engine vehicles. These
remained unutilised. Looking at the potential engines can run using any ratio of blended
of these states, the Government has revised the ethanol ranging from 20 to 100 per cent.
standards for E12 and E15 on June 3, 2021. This 12
per cent, 15 per cent and 18 per cent blending is a The Ministry of Road Transport & Highway
roadmap to achieve 20 per cent blending by 2025. (MoRT&H) has notified BS-VI emission norms
in Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 which are
Augmenting Infrastructure of OMCs applicable to all vehicles post April 1, 2020.
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are Newer vehicles on E20 will have to meet BS-
VI norms. MoRT&H has notified GSR 156(E)
preparing for the projected requirement on March 8, 2021 for adoption of E20 fuel
of ethanol storage, handling, blending and as automotive fuel and issued mass emission
dispensing infrastructure. OMCs are augmenting standards for it. MoRT&H has also notified
their tankage capacity at supply locations, replace Safety standards for ethanol blended fuels vide
plastic equipment of dispensers, and build more GSR 343(E) dated May 25, 2021 on the basis
dispensing stations for E20, and E10 petrol. of Automotive Industry Standard (AIS 171). It
lays down safety requirements for type approval
With the current storage capacity of 17.80 of pure ethanol, flex-fuel and ethanol-gasoline
crore litres we can handle about 430 crore litres blended vehicles in India.
of ethanol annually, considering storage of
production equivalent to 15 days. Flex Fuel Engine technology (FFE) is a well-
accepted concept in Brazil, representing over
Similarly, with the additional planned 80 per cent of the total number of new vehicles
capacities of 26.84 crore litres by 2025, the sold in the country (2019). The Flex fuel vehicles
total tankage capacities will be 44.64 crore used in Brazil operate with E27 or E100 Hydrous
litres, which will handle about 1060 crore litres

20 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

ethanol or any blend between these two. The have also come forward to produce ethanol. In
vehicle technologies for ethanol are already the current year, till June 2021, 160 crore litres
proven along with the compatible fuel system of ethanol has been produced by using sugarcane
globally. So, the selection and optimisation of and approximately 20 crore litres have been
technology for the engine has to be undertaken produced by using surplus rice and damaged food
considering the availability of fuel ethanol. grains/maize. If we have to achieve the target
of E20, then India needs to produce 1500 crore
Regulatory Status of Ethanol as a Fuel: litres of ethanol every year by 2025. To achieve
(i) E5 [blending 5 per cent Ethanol with 95 per this production target 760 crore litres of ethanol
can be made with sugarcane and for balance 740
cent gasoline was notified in GSR 412(E) dated crore litres of damaged food grains/maize can be
19.05.2015 by MoRT&H. The rubber and plastic utilised. Substantial quantities of barren and rain
components used in gasoline vehicles produced fed land can be brought into cultivation for maize
since 2008 are compatible with E10 fuel. in particulars. This technology of making ethanol
(ii) E10 [blending 10 per cent Ethanol with 90 by using food grains/maize is proven and tested.
per cent gasoline was notified in GSR 881(E)
dated 26.11.2019 by MoRT&H. The rubber and What inputs are required for the
plastic components used in gasoline vehicles growth of the biofuel industry in India?
are currently compatible with E10 fuel.
(iii) The use of E85 (85 per cent ethanol by Ethanol Blending with Diesel:
volume) was notified in GSR 682(E) dated This year we have imported 1850 lakh MT
12.07.2016 for 4 wheeler vehicles, 3 wheelers
and 2 wheelers. E100 (pure ethanol) for use petroleum of around $55 billion. To reduce
in gasoline vehicles and ED95 [95 per cent this we need to increase usage of Ethanol,
ethanol and 5 per cent additives (co-solvent, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric
corrosion inhibitors and ignition improvers)] Vehicles (EVs). In the very near future we should
for diesel vehicles have also been included in have target ethanol blending in diesel as well
the same notification. The emission standards apart from petrol.
of E85 and E100 fuels have also been notified.
Tax Benefits:
Ethanol production from sugarcane, Globally, vehicles compliant with higher
wheat, rice and corn has already been
started in India. Are there any other ethanol blends are provided with tax benefits. A
viable ways through which ethanol similar approach may be followed so that the cost
can be produced? Has the government increase due to E20 compatible design may be
validated any technology for the absorbed to a certain extent, as is being done in
production of biofuels? some states for promoting EVs. In order to bring
predictability and to encourage investment by
Molasses is recognised as the basic raw entrepreneurs in terms of expansion/new ethanol
material for ethanol production, but in the last capabilities, the government may declare a floor
few years, standalone grain-based distilleries price of ethanol for five years with an escalation
clause for purchase by OMC’s.

How will the Government make an
ethanol economy of Rs 2 lakh crore in
the next five years?

As we have preponed 20 per cent ethanol-
blended petrol to 2025, this will increase our
demand by 1000 crore litres more. This becomes
a Rs 65,000- 75,000 crore economy. On the
other hand, ethanol blended diesel, E100, flex
fuel vehicles will shoot up the economy and it will
cross Rs 2,00,000 crore within five years.

Dipti Barve
dipti barve@mmactiv.com

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 21

COVER STORY

Bidding Adieu to
Crude Imports and

GREGEaNsHeOsUSE
As the country is on the path to recovery from the economic brunt of the
pandemic, cutting expenditures that affect the national coffers seems like
a logical move. India’s annual crude oil imports have been increasing year
on year, while the global petroleum prices have become too prohibitive.
Fortunately, India has an advantage in its abundant agricultural produce and
surplus raw materials that can be used to manufacture ethanol, a viable
renewable energy source. The Indian government has set in motion various
schemes and regulations that will make biofuels, a crucial component to
meet the country’s increasing energy needs. The oft-repeated Atmanirbhar
Bharat vision seems to be at play here, empowering not just the farmers, but
also India’s future towards self-reliance in terms of energy demands.

22 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

The Department of Biotechnology Relying on biofuels inevitable
has been promoting R&D for biofuel
technology development by recognising Biofuels obtained from organic matter or waste
the need for clean and renewable energy are one of the most valuable renewable energy
for transportation. The Government of India had, sources that can help reduce carbon emissions.
in June 2018, announced a new policy on biofuels Bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and biogas are the three
and an indicative target of 20 per cent blending most commonly used biofuels. Apart from being
of ethanol in petrol and 5 per cent blending of a renewable source of energy, biofuels help in
biodiesel in diesel by 2030. reducing the air pollution of the globe. As per the
Renewable Fuels Association, an association for
After the country took a massive financial America’s ethanol industry, the usage of biofuels
hit due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the has helped in reducing more than 230 million
government bodies have been actively endorsing metric tonnes of carbon emissions since 2007.
biofuel and its usage as it will help the country
to cut down on its crude oil imports. In 2019, Adopting biofuels as an alternative source
India imported around 226 million metric of energy can significantly improve farmers’
tonnes (MMT) of crude oil and this volume keeps income, generate employment opportunities,
rising every year. By mixing a small portion of reduce imports, augment waste to wealth creation,
biofuel with other processed fuels will help the etc. Therefore, the government, through several
government to provide a renewable source of programmes, promotes the production and usage
energy to its citizens and that too at a very low of biofuels.
price.
In order to further encourage the production
In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had and the usage of biofuels, the Government of India
stated that India needs to bring down its oil has launched various schemes and policies such
import dependence from 77 per cent in 2013-14, as National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, Pradhan
to 67 per cent by 2022, when India will celebrate Mantri JIVAN Yojana, Biogas Power Generation
its 75th year of independence. Now, stretching and Thermal Energy Application Programme
further on this concept of using green energy, (BPGTP), New National Biogas and Organic
the central government is planning to direct Manure Programme (NNBOMP), Sustainable
oil companies to sell up to 20 per cent ethanol Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation
blended petrol from April 1, 2023. (SATAT) etc.

According to reports, India imports 83 per Elaborating on the government's schemes
cent crude oil for its domestic use after processing. and policies, Atul Mulay, President, Bioenergy,
Similarly, 50 per cent of its natural requirement Praj Industries, said, “Government has already
is fulfilled by imports. The government has set a taken various strategic interventions to boost
target to reduce this import dependence by 10 per the ethanol production and consumption in the
cent in the next two years. country. Government has recently released a
five year roadmap, advancing the E20 target by
As per the report by NITI Aayog 2021, five years to FY 2025. This has created ethanol
India’s net import of petroleum was 185 Million capacity building opportunities.”
Metric Tonnes (MMT) at a cost of $55 billion
in 2020-21. Most of the petroleum products Ethanol production
are used in transportation. Hence, a successful
E20 programme can save the country $4 billion In India, ethanol is produced through various
per annum, which is around Rs 30,000 crore. sources and depending on the raw materials
Besides, ethanol is a less polluting fuel, and used for their production, their outputs are
offers equivalent efficiency at lower cost than categorised in 1G, 2G and 3G, where ‘G’ stands
petrol. Availability of large arable land, rising for ‘generation’. The source of 1G – the first
production of food grains and sugarcane leading generation of biofuels – include edible sources
to surpluses, availability of technology to produce like molasses, sugar-containing materials like
ethanol from plant based sources, and feasibility sugarcane, sugar beet and sorghum, starch-
of making vehicles compliant to ethanol blended containing materials like corn, cassava and rotten
petrol make E20 not only a national imperative, potatoes, and edible oil seeds. 2G biofuels use
but also an important strategic requirement. non-edible sources like non-edible oilseeds (e.g.
Jatropha curcas), used cooking oil, agriculture

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 23

residue such as rice straw, cotton stalk, corn cobs, Ethanol blended petrol
saw dust, bagasse, etc. 3G biofuels are drawn compatible vehicles
from industrial waste, municipal solid waste, etc.
2G and 3G biofuels are recognised as being more Currently, produced two-wheeler and
advanced. passenger vehicles in the country are
designed optimally for E5, with rubber
“The supply chain for 1G ethanol production and plastic components compatible with
from sugar is well established. Different sugar E10 fuel; their engine can be calibrated for
mills have their own ethanol production capacity. E10 for better performance. As the ethanol
Recently, the government has permitted use of blended petrol (EBP) rolls out in the country,
starchy feedstock (surplus and damaged grains) vehicles need to be produced with rubberised
for ethanol production. Starchy feedstock from parts, plastic components and elastomers
Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be made compatible with E20 and engines optimally
available to ensure uninterrupted supply,” said designed for use of E20 fuel.
Mulay. Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Anjan
Ray, Director Council of Scientific and Industrial The Society of Indian Automobile
Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) Manufacturers (SIAM) has assured that
said, “The new biofuel policy has opened up new once a road-map for making E10 and E20
avenues of using 1G, as well as 2G and also mixed available in the country is notified by the
feedstock. While 1G-bioethanol technologies are Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
well established, and the 2G-bioethanol processes (MoPNG), they would gear up to supply
are moving towards maturity, the Indian energy compatible vehicles in line with the roadmap.
sector now has to roll out production by focusing It is possible to roll out E20 material
on economically viable and scalable technologies compliant vehicles by April 2022 and E20
using waste-based feeds as far as possible and also Engine compatible vehicles by April 2023.
by enhancing productivity and utilisation of 1G However, considering the supply of Ethanol
crops other than sugarcane.” Blended Fuel, it is recommended that E20
material compliant and E10 engine tuned
Some of the leading players in India ethanol vehicles may be rolled out all across the
market are Praj Industries, India Glycols, Bajaj country from April 2023.
Hindusthan Sugar, Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd.,
Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd., Balrampur These vehicles can tolerate 10 per cent
Chini Mills Ltd., Mawana Sugars Ltd., HPCL to 20 per cent of ethanol blended gasoline
Biofuels Limited, Jeypore Sugar Company Ltd., and also give optimal performance with E10
Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd., BSM Sugar and E.I.D Parry fuel. Vehicles with E20 tuned engines can be
India Ltd. rolled out all across the country from April
2025. These vehicles would run on E20 only
Compressed Biogas and will provide high performance.

Waste / Biomass sources such as agricultural (MoUs) with energy companies like JBM Group,
residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, Adani Gas, Torrent Gas and Petronet LNG for
municipal solid waste and sewage treatment plant setting up the CBG plants. The ministry, likewise,
waste etc. produce biogas through the process of inked MoUs with technology providers in CBG
anaerobic decomposition. The biogas is purified sectors like Indian Oil, Praj Industries, CEID
to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon Consultants, and Bharat Biogas Energy. Through
dioxide (CO2), water vapour and compressed as these arrangements, the government under the
Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), which has methane SATAT is aiming to complete its target of 5000
(CH4) content of more than 90 per cent. CBG plants by 2023-24 with a production target of
15 MMT.
In order to expand the scope of CBG in
India, the then Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Further, Pradhan said that the Government
Pradhan stated that the country is well poised to is in the process of including CBG under Priority
receive a whooping investment of Rs 2 trillion to Sector Lending. This move will provide ease in the
set up 5,000 CBG units across the country. On financing of CBG plants. He added that Central
that note, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas signed memorandum of understandings

24 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Supply and demand of ethanol “The new biofuel policy has
opened up new avenues of
● Last year, 1.91 billion litres of ethanol was using 1G, as well as 2G and
blended with petrol, achieving just 5.5 per also mixed feedstock. While
cent blending 1G-bioethanol technologies
are well established, and the
● This year, so far oil companies have 2G-bioethanol processes are
signed up contracts for 1.4 billion litres moving towards maturity,
and contracts of additional 310 million the Indian energy sector now
litres are in the pipeline. has to roll out production by
focusing on economically viable and scalable
● There is demand of 5.11 billion litres from technologies using waste-based feeds as far as
oil companies possible and also by enhancing productivity and
utilisation of 1G crops other than sugarcane.”
● Since there is around 21 per cent dip in Dr Anjan Ray, Director, Council of Scientific and
production, the target of ethanol blending Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum
could reach 4.5 per cent only.
“Government has already taken
Source: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, various strategic interventions
Food and Public Distribution to boost the ethanol
production and consumption
Financial Assistance or Subsidy for setting up CBG in the country. Government
plants has been extended to 2020-21 to promote has recently released a five
new projects. As per the Ministry of Petroleum year roadmap, advancing
and Natural Gas, CBG projects are viable and have the E20 target by five years
an attractive rate of return for new entrepreneurs. to FY 2025. This has created
A new package for MSME shall also assist to fund ethanol capacity building
CBG Plants across India. The ministry is also opportunities.”
exploring global funds to fund CBG projects. Atul Mulay, President, Bioenergy, Praj Industries

Reducing stubble burning menace MT of rice straw as feedstock to generate 5250 MT
of CBG annually.
Stubble burning is a very big issue especially
in Delhi NCR region as the entire zone gets To overcome the menace, Col Rohit Dev
covered with haze of air pollution causing serious (Retd), Chief Operating Officer, Punjab Renewable
health issues to living beings. The root cause of Energy Systems Private Limited (PRESPL) has
this hazardous issue is farmers have their backs suggested, “A People Public Private Partnership
against the wall with no other option to burn (PPPP) Model could be evolved to foster
massive biomass as they need to prepare the field mitigation of the stubble burning and use of
for the next crop. These farmers have limited biomass in Bio-Energy Projects; with first, for
storage space and with almost no offtake available, Bio-CNG, being under the aegis of the PMO, and
they prefer burning the stubble. to be implemented for next season, next year and
secondly for Bio-Ethanol (2G) in Bhatinda, Punjab
Last year, the Government of Punjab gave of HPCL / Barghar, Orissa of BPCL by year 2022.
its nod to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) to This model can be replicated for all small, medium
install a CBG plant at the site of closed cooperative and large industrial applications later”.
sugar mills at Rakhra in Patiala. This newly
developed plant will use paddy straw to produce He further added that such installations will
biogas hence it will drastically reduce the stable enhance rural development with double income
burning in the region. for farmers, financial inclusion, more jobs etc.
It is the best way to establish ‘Anna Daata to
On a similar note, Praj Industries is all set to Oorja Daata’ for the farmer community. Also lead
install CBG project at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh. the climate change initiative and work towards
This set up will use RenGas technology developed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed
using proprietary microbes to produce CBG from upon during the Paris Agreement, through the
rice straw. This project which has received a green Biomass-based Bio-Energy Sector by getting green
signal from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation fuels and reducing dependency on fossil fuels and
(HPCL) will have the capacity to process 35000 also, reducing carbon, sulfur oxide and nitrogen

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 25

Edge over CNG A People Public Private
Partnership (PPPP) Model could
Compressed Biogas is considered to have be evolved to foster mitigation
an edge over Compressed Natural Gas which of the stubble burning and
is rapidly gaining popularity especially in use of biomass in Bio-Energy
the automobile sector. However, though Projects; with first, for Bio-CNG,
both are methane-based gases, CBG offers being under the aegis of the
better calorific value and can thus be used PMO, and to be implemented
as green fuel in automotive, industrial and for next season, next year and
commercial sectors. secondly being for Bio-Ethanol
(2G) in Bhatinda, Punjab of HPCL / Barghar,
To explore further on this domain, Orissa of BPCL by year 2022. This Model can
oil marketing companies have invited be replicated for all small, medium and large
Expressions of Interest (EoI) from potential industrial applications later”.
entrepreneurs to set up CBG production Col Rohit Dev (Retd), COO, Punjab
plants and offer CBG in the market for use Renewable Energy Systems Private Limited
in automotive fuels. Apart from adding
another affordable renewable fuel option to “On the one hand, the Indian
the country, it will also help the farmers to Government is promoting the
enhance their income in many ways. expansion of gas mobility as a
cheap alternative to expensive
oxides emissions. India being a huge market for fossil fuels in the country. On the
biofuels, will attract tremendous Foreign Direct other hand, it urgently needs and
Investment (FDI) and establishment of projects wants to contain the problem of
and manufacturing units of varied kinds in India massive air pollution caused by
and that will give impetus to Make in India, more the large-scale burning of waste
employment, better market share of production straw in the fields. Our straw
of biofuels in the world, growth boost to economy biomethane technology is so far the only concrete
etc. answer to both challenges.”

Moved by the potential of India’s CBG sector, Claus Sauter, CEO, Verbio
a German company called Verbio AG is gearing up
to set up its CBG plant at Bhutal Kalan village in which enables the raw materials to ferment in big
Punjab’s Sangrur district. As per the company, it fermenters with a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000
will be using paddy stubble as raw material which cubic metres. The biomass is left in the fermenters
will be collected within the 15 km radius of the with the addition of bacteria for about 30 days.
plant. Claus Sauter, CEO, Verbio, stated, “On the During fermentation, raw biogas is produced
one hand, the Indian Government is promoting comprising about 60 per cent methane. It also
the expansion of gas mobility as a cheap contains carbon dioxide, sulphur and inorganic
alternative to expensive fossil fuels in the country. elements, which are removed in the next steps
On the other hand, it urgently needs and wants in first a desulphurisation plant and then a CO2
to contain the problem of massive air pollution capture plant. The inorganic components are also
caused by the large-scale burning of waste straw in removed. The resulting biomethane with a purity
the fields. Our straw biomethane technology is so of 99 per cent is then fed into the natural gas
far the only concrete answer to both challenges.” grid. Ammonium sulphate solution, straw humus,
phosphate and potassium are also produced and
The company uses an advanced technology can be used as organic fertilizer. The company
further states that four big bales of straw (two
Uttar Pradesh is dominating the tonnes of straw) transformed into biomethane
ethanol production domain in provide enough biofuel to run a mid-class CNG car
India with 58 crore litres of ethanol for a whole year (ca. 11,500 km).
produced by 54 distilleries established
across the state. Experts agree that only a synergetic effort by
the government, farmers and companies involved
in the production of ethanol will help transform
the country economically and safeguard the
environment for the future generations.

Nitin Konde

26 S C H E M E S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

How India plans to
boost Biofuel Industry

India can no longer continue to import crude oil from Oil Producing Countries

at skyrocketing prices. Without governmental initiative, a logical shift towards

relying on biofuels will never become a reality on a large scale. With foresight and

timely intervention, the centre is on its way to achieving a previously unimagined

target for producing ethanol in the country. Let’s explore some of the schemes

that will be instrumental in an India of the future, less dependent (or completely

independent?) on crude imports. based fuels by 2030. The policy builds on the
achievements of the earlier National Policy on
Biofuels have caught up in the last decade Biofuels and sets the new agenda consistent with
and it has become imperative to keep the redefined role of emerging developments in
up with the pace of developments in the the renewable sector.
field of biofuels. Biofuels programme
in India has been largely impacted due to the This policy aims to bring in renewed focus
sustained and quantum non-availability of taking into context the international perspectives
domestic feedstock for biofuel production which and national scenario. The government has
needs to be addressed. In order to promote emphasised achieving energy security of
biofuels in the country, a National Policy on the country with a target of reducing import
Biofuels was made by the Ministry of New and dependence i.e., usage of fossil fuels by 10 per
Renewable Energy during the year 2009. This cent from 2014-15 levels by the year 2022.
National Policy on Biofuels was approved by the
Union Cabinet in May 2018. The policy expands the scope of raw material
for ethanol production by allowing the use of
National Policy on Biofuels-2018 Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like
Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing
The National Policy on Biofuels is aimed at materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food
taking forward the indicative target of achieving grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes,
20 per cent blending of biofuels with fossil-

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S C H E M E S 27

unfit for human consumption for ethanol of Molecular Sieve Dehydration (MSDH) column
production. etc.

The policy allows the use of surplus food Sharing the above information the then Union
grains for the production of ethanol for blending Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and
with petrol with the approval of the National Public Distribution, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao
Biofuel Coordination Committee. in Lok Sabha on February 9, 2021, said “State
gvernments/ UTs have been advised to promote
The policy encourages the setting up of supply the scheme to the entrepreneurs and encourage
chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from them to participate in the scheme so that the
non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short target set by the government could be achieved
gestation crops. well within the timeline. State governments have
also been requested to facilitate entrepreneurs
Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana in arranging land for the project, getting early
environment clearance etc. in setting up of
Continuing its support to the biofuel industry, distilleries. In this regard, webinars/meetings
the Government of India launched ‘Pradhan have been organised with state governments/
Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv lndhan- Vatavaran Anukool UTs, industry, concerned departments of central
fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana’ on February 28, government and other stakeholders.”
2019, as a tool to create 2G ethanol capacity in
the country and attract investments in this new During previous Ethanol Supply Year (ESY)
sector. The said scheme was notified on March 8, 2019-20 (December- November), the minister
2019 in the Extraordinary Gazette of India. said “About 173 crore litre of ethanol was
supplied by sugar mills and distilleries to Oil
The scheme’s objective is to support 12 Marketing Companies (OMCs). In the current
Commercial Scale and 10 demonstration-scale ESY 2020-21, against Letter of Intent (LoI)
Second Generation (2G) ethanol Projects with quantity of 324.69 crore litre and contracted
a Viability Gap Funding with a total financial quantity of 269.88 crore litre, about 48.73 crore
outlay of Rs 1969.50 crore for the period 2018- litre of ethanol has been supplied to OMCs, as on
19 to 2023-24. Out of Rs 1969.50 crore, Rs 1800 February 1, 2021.
crore has been allocated for supporting 12 above
mentioned Commercial projects, Rs 150 crore has Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP)
been allocated for supporting 10 demonstration
Projects and the remaining Rs 19.50 crore will Recently on the occasion of World
be provided to the Centre for High Technology Environment Day, 2021, Prime Minister
(CHT) as administrative charges. Narendra Modi, has launched the ambitious
E100 pilot project in Pune for the production
Financial assistance and distribution of ethanol across the country, to
promote biofuels for a better environment. While
Government has notified scheme for releasing the ‘Report of the Expert Committee on
extending financial assistance to project
proponents for enhancement of ethanol
distillation capacity or to set up distilleries for
producing first Generation (1G) ethanol from
feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley,
corn & sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc.
vide notification dated January 1, 2021. Under
the scheme, government would bear interest
subvention for five years, including one year
moratorium, against the loan availed by project
proponents from banks @ 6 per cent per annum
or 50 per cent of the rate of interest charged by
banks, whichever is lower, for setting up of new
distilleries; expansion of existing distilleries;
converting existing distilleries to dual feedstock;
setting up of new dual feed distilleries; expansion
of existing dual feed distilleries; and installation

28 S C H E M E S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Schemes of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Biodiesel
To encourage the production of Biodiesel in the country, the Ministry of Petrol & Natural Gas

(MoP&NG) announced a Biodiesel Purchase Policy, in October 2005, which became effective from
January 1, 2006. Under this policy Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) can purchase Biodiesel (B
100), meeting the fuel quality standard prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for blending
with High Speed Diesel (HSD) to the extent of 5 per cent at identified purchase centres across the
country.
Biogas

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has realised the potential and role of biomass energy
in the Indian context and hence has initiated a number of programmes for promotion of efficient
technologies for its use in various sectors of the economy to ensure derivation of maximum benefits.

The ministry promotes the installation of biogas plants by implementing two Central Sector
Schemes under Off-Grid/distributed and decentralised Renewable Power. The two ongoing schemes
are:
• Biogas Power Generation and Thermal Energy Application Programme (BPGTP)
The programme promotes biogas based Decentralized Renewable Energy Sources of power

generation (Off-Grid), in the capacity range of 3 kW to 250 kW or thermal energy for heating/
cooling applications from the biogas generation produced from Biogas plants of 30 M3 to 2500
M3 size.
• New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme (NNBOMP)
The objective is to provide clean cooking fuel for kitchens, lighting and meeting other thermal
and small power needs of farmers/dairy farmers/users including individual households and to
improve organic manure system based on bio-slurry from biogas plants in rural and semi-urban
areas by setting up of small size biogas plants of 1 to 25 Cubic Metre capacity.
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)
The government is promoting the use of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) also known as BioCNG. In a
significant push that has the potential to boost the availability of more affordable transport fuels,
better use of agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste as well as to provide an
additional revenue source to farmers, the MoP&NG has brought up an innovative initiative titled
SATAT i.e., Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation initiative on October 1,
2018. Under this initiative, Oil PSUs IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, GAIL and IGL have invited Expression
of interest (Eol) from potential entrepreneurs to procure CBG.

Road Map for ethanol blending in India 2020- modern thinking and modern policies of the 21st
2025’, Modi mentioned that the government has century. With this thinking, the government is
resolved to meet the target of 20 per cent ethanol continuously taking policy decisions in every
blending in petrol by 2025. Earlier the target was field. He said that today, a lot of emphasis
set for 2030. Currently, the ethanol blending is being laid on building the necessary
level in petrol is around 8.5 per cent. infrastructure for the production and purchase
of ethanol in the country. Most of the ethanol
Under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) manufacturing units are mostly concentrated
programme, the government has already in 4-5 states where sugar production is high but
reintroduced the administered price mechanism now Food Grain Based Distilleries are being
for ethanol procurement, allowing ethanol established to expand this to the whole country.
production from multiple feedstocks like heavy Modern technology based plants are also being
molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup, set up in the country to make ethanol from
damaged food grains, maize and surplus rice agricultural waste.
stocks with Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Pooja Yadav
The Prime Minister remarked that the 21st
century India can get energy only from the pooja.yadav@mmactiv.com

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com I N F R A S T R U C T U R E 29

India’s big push for
Ethanol production
towards self-reliance

The ethanol industry expects a great leap in producing ethanol from grains and

agricultural waste after the government's announcement of 20 per cent blending

of ethanol in petrol and 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030. With an

estimated investment of Rs 41,000 crore for ethanol production, sugar mills and

distilleries are ramping up their infrastructure for increasing ethanol production

with the help of the latest technologies.

The Government of India has proposed of 20 per cent, India will need to augment its
a target of 20 per cent blending of sugarcane-based ethanol production capacity by
ethanol in petrol and 5 per cent 78 per cent to 7.6 billion litres, and build grain-
blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030 based ethanol capacity of 7.4 billion litres as per
and introduced multiple initiatives to increase the government’s roadmap.
indigenous production of biofuels. This presents
an opportunity for sugar companies that have Government push
historically struggled with a surplus production
of sugar as well as outstanding cane dues from The government has fixed remunerative prices
states. Mills typically crush cane with Total of ethanol from maize and Food Corporation of
Fermentable Sugars (TFS) content of about 14 India’s (FCI) rice. To produce ethanol/alcohol
per cent, and every 100 kg of TFS yields 60 litres from food grains, more than 165 Lakh Metric
of ethanol. Thus, from one tonne of cane, mills Tonnes (LMT) of additional food grains would
can produce 115 kg of sugar and 45 kg of molasses be utilised. Extra consumption of surplus food
that gives 10.8 litres of ethanol. grains will ultimately benefit farmers as they will
get better price for their produce and assured
India's ethanol market is projected to grow buyers. The government hopes to encourage
$7.38 billion by 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of increased private production of ethanol through
14.50 per cent during 2019-2024, on the back loan-based schemes, while it is building around
of increasing ethanol use in applications such as 12 second generation (2G) bio-refineries to
fuel additives and beverages. According to the help augment grain-based ethanol production
records by the Department of Food and Public
Distribution, the production of fuel grade ethanol
and its supply to Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) has increased fivefold from 2013-14
to 2018-19. In FY 2018-19, India touched a
historically high figure of about 189 crore litres
thereby achieving 5 per cent blending. It is
expected that in the current ethanol supply year
2020-21, more than 300 crore litres of ethanol is
likely to be supplied to OMCs to achieve 8 to 8.5
per cent blending levels. It is also likely that India
would be achieving a 10 per cent blending target
by 2022.

To meet the ethanol requirement target

30 I N F R A S T R U C T U R E AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

capacity. Renuka Sugars announced that it will invest
Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Department of Rs 450 crore to expand its ethanol capacity. In
a regulatory filing, the company informed that
Food and Public Distribution said, “In the next its board has approved expanding production
sugar season 2021-22, about 35 LMT of sugar capacity by 430-kilo litre per day to 1,400-kilo
is estimated to be diverted and by 2025 about litre per day.
60 LMT of sugar is targeted to be diverted to
ethanol, which would solve the problem of excess “Considering the huge untapped demand
sugarcane/ sugar and would also help sugar mills for ethanol due to the policies of Government of
in clearing cane price dues of farmers. In the India on ethanol blending, the Board of Directors
past three sugar seasons, about Rs 22,000 crore of the company approved further capacity
revenue was generated by sugar mills/ distilleries expansion for ethanol production from 970-kilo
from the sale of ethanol to OMCs”. litre per day to 1,400-kilo litre per day,” the filing
said.
Oil marketing companies are expected
to procure 3.32 billion litres of ethanol from “The government of India has mandated 20
distilleries for blending with petrol during the per cent ethanol blending in fuel by 2025 against
2020-21 procurement year, which runs from a current blending of 7.79 per cent. Considering
December 2020 to November 2021. this, the company sees a huge untapped demand
for ethanol for the ethanol blending programme
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the largest of the Government of India which can be of
ethanol-producing state in the country. A total benefit to the company in the future,” the
of 58 crore litres of ethanol was produced by 54 company noted.
distilleries established across the state. As per
government records, the state has manufactured State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
58 crore litres of ethanol, a solvent that is plans to build two second generation (2G) bio-
essentially mixed with petrol for environmental refineries in the southern states of Telangana and
purposes, in 2020-21. By mixing ethanol in Andhra Pradesh as part of the government’s aim
petrol, the Uttar Pradesh government was able to increase ethanol production in the country.
to contribute to saving a total of $75.58 million
of India’s forex reserve, giving a big boost to the Each of the 2G bio-refineries will be set up
economy in these testing times. at a cost of Rs 6 billion ($83 million) and will be
able to produce 500,000 litres/day of ethanol
According to equity analysts, the sugar sector from spoilt and surplus food grain from the Food
is poised to benefit from the government's Corporation of India (FCI) as well as agricultural
push for higher ethanol blending in India. waste such as wheat and paddy straw, said the
It will increase future investment by sugar company in statement.
manufacturers and bio refineries for ethanol
production. Bapi Construction Electrical Engineering
Private Limited (BCPL) announced that its
Additional investments subsidiary BCL Bio Energy Private Ltd has
been granted provisional stage-1 clearance for
To meet the government's target of 20 the production of ethanol from grains such
per cent blending of gasoline, ethanol storage as maize and rice, to blend with petrol. The
capacity of sugar companies needs to expand to project includes ethanol production from grains
three times the current level of about 300 crore at Purnia in Bihar and is expected to resume
litres. commercial production by FY2023.

According to government estimation, about State-run Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL),
10 billion litres of ethanol would be required each the country's largest steel maker, plans to
year to meet the 20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel construct India's first gas-to-ethanol facility at its
standard by 2025. Similarly, the Ministry of Food Ferro alloy plant in Chandrapur, Maharashtra.
and Public Distribution has also estimated that Investment of Rs 4 billion ($54.8 million) to
an investment of Rs 41,000 crore is expected to produce 50,000 litres/day of ethanol from the
meet the requirement. facility, which will convert gases such as carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen into
Sugar manufacturer companies have already ethanol using fermentation technology.
started investing to increase their ethanol storage
capacity. Recently leading sugar company, Shree Most of the ethanol manufacturing units

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com I N F R A S T R U C T U R E 31

are concentrated in 4-5 states where sugar “In the next sugar season 2021-
production is high but now food grain based 22, about 35 LMT of sugar is
distilleries are being established to expand estimated to be diverted and
this to the whole country. Leading sugar by 2025 about 60 LMT of sugar
manufacturer companies are expanding their is targeted to be diverted to
ethanol production capacity by using modern ethanol, which would solve the
technologies. problem of excess sugarcane/
sugar and would also help sugar
Use of technology mills in clearing cane price dues
of farmers. In the past three
Praj Industries, India’s industrial biotech sugar seasons, about Rs 22,000 crore revenue
company has developed innovative technology to was generated by sugar mills/ distilleries from the
produce Bio-bitumen based on lignin (one of the sale of ethanol to OMCs”.
co-products resulting from the second generation Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Department of
(2G) ethanol plants). The Netherlands-based
Circular Biobased Delta, one of Europe’s Food and Public Distribution
premier consortia to promote bioeconomy, has
approved Praj’s Bio-bitumen samples processed “Responding to the
from Purified Lignin, as a part of their flagship government's vision of
CHAPLIN program. Atmanirbhar Bharat, we decided
to divert sugar cane syrup to
Lignin is one of the co-products resulting the distillery to manufacture
from the 2G ethanol plants, paper making and ethanol. Praj will design,
also from Compressed Biogas plants. Bitumen engineer, supply, install and
is a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons increase our capacity from
produced by fractionation of crude oil and has 400 KLPD to 600 KLPD ethanol
wide applications in road construction and production using sugar syrup as
roofing as binder. raw material.”
Samir Somaiya, Chairman & Managing Director of
Praj had provided Bio-bitumen samples Godavari Biorefineries Limited (GBL)
processed from Rice and Wheat Straw as
feedstock in their 2G Biorefinery Demo plant facility - Praj Matrix. The ‘SHIFT’ technology
in India to CBBD for testing and evaluation. minimises energy and water footprint while
After thorough evaluation and studies in their maximising value for customers.
advanced laboratories, CBBD has approved Praj’s
Bio-bitumen sample for scale up in Asphalt on a Samir Somaiya, Chairman & Managing
Dutch test strip on the road. Director of Godavari Biorefineries Limited (GBL)
said, “Responding to the government's vision
In April 2021, Praj Industries has bagged of Atmanirbhar Bharat, we decided to divert
an order to set up India’s largest capacity sugar cane syrup to the distillery to manufacture
syrup based ethanol plant from a Godavari ethanol. We are happy for our association with
Biorefineries Ltd (GBL) in Karnataka. As a part Praj as our technology partner for increasing
of this project, Praj will expand the existing our manufacturing capacity. Praj will design,
ethanol manufacturing capacity to 600 kilo litre engineer, supply, install and increase our capacity
per day (KLPD), using sugarcane syrup. When from 400 KLPD to 600 KLPD ethanol production
commissioned, this will become India’s largest using sugar syrup as raw material.” The
capacity syrup based ethanol plant. This capacity Government of India has made several strategic
expansion planned by GBL is in line with the interventions by way of progressive policies,
Government’s biofuel policy to increase the conducive financial mechanisms, to encourage
ethanol manufacturing quantity in India using the sugar sector to limit surplus sugar production
various sugary feedstocks. and instead, produce more ethanol. Sugar
manufacturing companies, bio refineries and
The expansion capacity at GBL plant will distilleries are ramping up their infrastructure to
continue to be a zero liquid discharge facility. The expand the ethanol capacity with the support of
expansion will maintain zero liquid discharge government finance schemes and investment by
norms by deploying innovative technology i.e. private players in the industry.
SHIFT, developed in Praj’s state-of-the-art R&D
Dipti Barve
dipti.barve@mmactiv.com

32 R O A D B L O C K S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

What’s in the way of India’s
ambitious Ethanol target?

Despite a lot of push from the the other main biofuel in India’s economy, high
dependence on sugarcane juice or molasses
government through policies and remains a concern. Overall, ethanol availability
– as well as farmers in states that do not grow
regulations, the country's biofuel sugarcane – would benefit from adoption of other
ethanol-amenable crops like sweet sorghum and
sector is facing a lot of issues that are tapioca. Second-generation (2G) ethanol, where
agricultural or forestry wastes are converted
hampering the growth of this sector. to ethanol without relying on edible crops like
sugarcane as the main carbon source, faces the
Renewable energy can be termed as the challenge of seasonality and variability in the
right fodder for any developing nation feedstock. Technologies for 2G ethanol are yet to
owing to its nature of not causing any reach maturity in India, though several projects
harm to the environment. It also helps are currently being developed with significant
in cutting down the transport cost drastically as financial support from the government.
it is less expensive than fossil fuel. Realising the
importance of production of renewable energy to Elaborating on the topic, Dr Anjan Ray,
slash down on crude oil imports, the government Director, Council of Scientific and Industrial
of India over the years floated many schemes and Research–Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR–
policies to foster companies and institutes who IIP) said, “Yes, raw material supplies are a key
are constantly working in this domain. However, challenge. Theoretically, if we calculate the
despite pushing various promotion campaigns amount of carbon we import for fuel, we have
and trade activities, India biofuel producers are more than the required carbon within our reach,
unable to cater the domestic demand. and most of it is accounted as waste. Surplus
agri waste (250 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT)/
Elaborating further on these shortfalls, Mili year) alone can supplement ~25 per cent of
Sejpal, Proprietor, Sunshine Industries said, our projected ethanol demand by 2030. But
“We are the manufacturer of biodiesel in India. connecting the gap, i.e. bringing feed to factory
Our focus is on supplying biodiesel to Indian oil and factory to field, keeping seasonal variation
marketing companies so that they can blend it and the high cost of transporting low-density feed
with diesel. Currently, the biodiesel industry in over large distances, is the primary concern.”
India is facing lots of challenges. After the last
quarter of the financial year 2019-2020, almost “Firstly, the raw materials used for production
80 per cent of genuine biodiesel manufacturing of biodiesel are allowed to be exported, this export
plants are shut.” of biodiesel’s raw materials should be stopped so
that it will be available in adequate quantity for
Raw materials woes

Raw materials are considered as the backbone
of any sector so their easy availability is of utmost
importance. Similarly, the biofuel industry also
thrives on the availability of raw materials as their
output is directly proportional to quantity and
the quality of raw materials used in obtaining the
biofuel. Supply chain management is essential
for the production of biofuel. Around 60-70 per
cent cost of the biodiesel process depends on raw
material (vegetable oil). Continuous supply of
feedstock oil (non-edible and used cooking oil) is
also a challenge to run existing biodiesel plants in
India. Similarly, for first generation (1G) ethanol,

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com R O A D B L O C K S 33

domestic manufacturers. If the government can’t “Surplus agri waste (250
give us fair pricing for the biodiesel then export MMT/y) alone can supplement
of biodiesel should be allowed to run our plants,” ~25 per cent of our projected
added Mili Sejpal. ethanol demand by 2030.
But connecting the gap is the
Ramping of production cycle primary concern.”
- Dr Anjan Ray, Director, Council
As the demand of ethanol is rising, production
rate needs to be scaled up and for that producers of Scientific and Industrial
have to roll up their sleeves to ramp up the Research–Indian Institute of
production capacity. “We have to understand that
India is a diesel driven country, and however, uses Petroleum (CSIR–IIP)
around 700 MMT gasoline per day. By 2030, the
consumption may reach around 800 MMT/day. “Currently, the biodiesel
Achieving a 20 per cent ethanol blend to gasoline industry in India is facing lots of
will supplement around 160 MMT gasoline/day. challenges. After the last quarter
So, we have to produce almost 160 MMT ethanol of the financial year 2019-2020,
per day by 2030. As of 2019, India produces almost 80 per cent of genuine
almost 60 MMT/day fuel ethanol. So there is a biodiesel manufacturing plants
whopping gap of around 100 MMT/day of ethanol are shut.”
production,” said Dr Ray.
- Mili Sejpal, Proprietor,
Indian oil companies are looking for ethanol Sunshine Industries
production from 2G/hybrid feedstock, rather than
depending upon distilleries to supply ethanol Energy with an aim to lower the environmental
from 1G sources (mainly molasses). So, the math degradation and prevent greenhouse gas
is straightforward. Production has to meet the emissions rolled out the National Biogas and
supply target of almost 100 MMT/day of fuel Manure Management Programme (NBMMP).
ethanol at least to meet the demand. This includes This initiative was well backed up by the subsidies
the requirement of supply of around 60 MMT/day for family-type biogas plants to increase adoption.
from distilleries. Initially, the initiative struck the right chord and
was welcomed with lakhs of biogas plants being
The new biofuel policy is much more flexible installed across the length and breadth of the
in terms of carbon diversity and based on country. Later, due to the lack of information
biofuel production data. The new policy is much and communication about the plant operation
improved. Therefore, the approach should be and application of the digested biogas slurry and
multi-pronged and may cover the government’s inability to perceive the return in terms of value
mandates on biofuels blends, Original Equipment resulted in discontinuation of lakhs of biogas
Manufacturers (OEMs) readiness to bring the plants across the country. There was a severe
latest vehicle technologies available elsewhere and marketing snag due to which NBMMP failed to
consumer awareness. Already the government is showcase major advantages of installing a biogas
working towards making E20 blends available plant.
soon. The OEMs need to introduce more flex-fuel
vehicles to run on ethanol-gasoline blends like Benefits such as hike in revenue from
E10, E20, E85 and ED95. agriculture with the use of high quality and a
low-cost homegrown digested biogas slurry as
Milli Sejpal also pointed out that to enhance fertiliser and constant use of these fertilisers will
production of biodiesel, the government needs enhance soil quality in the long run were given a
to put a universal pricing cap to encourage miss.
producers. She further said that it is time for the
government to treat biodiesel as a commodity and On the compressed biogas front, the country is
concurrently also work on scaling up non edible far behind in its aim to install 5,000 compressed
oil tree plantations in wasted lands. biogas (CBG) production plants. As of now, only
two are operational and foundation stones have
Roadblocks been laid for five others. The delay in replacing
transport fuels with cleaner biogas imperils the
The Ministry of New and Renewable country's energy security and makes it more
dependent on imported crude.

Nitin Konde

34 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

"The advancing of E20 target
to FY 2025 has created
tremendous ethanol capacity
building opportunity"

ATUL MULAY,

President, Bioenergy,
Praj Industries

Praj Industries is India’s most successful company in the field of biofuel and other
bio-based technologies that was started as an enterprise under the name of Praj
Counsel Tech, three decades ago. Founded in 1983 by Dr Pramod Chaudhari and
made public in 1994, Praj Industries has an influence on five continents. Mainly
focussed on providing and developing 2nd generation ethanol technology, Praj
Industries is India’s leading manufacturer in engineering processes and projects.
As a global process solutions company, it is driven by innovation and integration
capabilities, offering solutions to add significant value to bio-energy facilities,
brewery plants, water and wastewater treatment systems, critical process equipment
and systems, compressed biogas plants, HiPurity solutions and bio-products. Over
the past 35 years, Praj has focused on environment, energy and agri- process led
applications. The company has been a trusted partner for process engineering, plant
and critical equipment and systems with over 750 references across 75 countries.
Atul Mulay, President, Bioenergy, Praj Industries, shared his views on the status of
ethanol production in India with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts;

How is Praj contributing in attaining to help fulfil the government's vision of 20 per
the government's vision of 20 per cent cent blending in petrol. End to end technology
ethanol blending in petrol (E20) solutions for production ethanol offered by
by 2025? Praj inspire project developers and investors’
confidence for capacity building.
As a flag bearer of the ethanol industry, Praj
works on multiple fronts such as technology, In line with government policy of expanded
ecosystem development, policy advocacy etc. range of feedstock to boost ethanol production,

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 35

Praj has developed technologies to process throughput of ethanol plants and at the same
variety of feedstock such as sugary (C molasses, time minimise water and energy footprints.
B heavy molasses and sugarcane juice), starchy In normal cases alcohol concentration after
(damaged/ surplus grains) and lignocellulose fermentation is usually 12 per cent; however our
(agriculture residues such as wheat straw, SHIFT technology takes the concentration to 15
rice straw etc.) to make ethanol projects per cent. Due to this, steam consumption during
technologically viable. the distillation process is lower. For the syrup
dilution process, instead of using fresh water, up
To improve commercial feasibility of ethanol to 50 per cent recycled spent wash is used. This
plants, Praj Matrix, our R&D centre continuously results in lower spent wash generation resulting
works towards improving the process efficiencies in lower energy requirement (almost 40 per
and reducing energy and water footprints. We cent lower) for its concentration. Thus SHIFT
have been working closely with government technology contributes to overall enhancement of
agencies at state and national level to help techno commercial feasibility.
formulate and rollout progressive biofuel policies.
Praj Industries has partnered with
By actively participating in the leading Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
industry forums such as Confederation of Limited (HPCL) for setting up a
Indian Industry (CII), Maharashtra Chamber of Compressed Biogas (CBG) project
Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh using
etc., Praj has been furthering the causes of the RenGasTM technology developed
biofuel industry by taking up important industry using proprietary microbes to produce
issues at appropriate government agencies for CBG from rice straw. How will this
expeditious resolutions. bolster the growth of the biofuel
industry in India?
Being a global player, Praj is privy to ethanol
industry’s global best practices which it shares Praj is honoured to partner with HPCL for
with stakeholders from time to time with the the Badaun project that has capacity to process
objective of overall improvement of industry 35000 MT of rice straw as feedstock to generate
standards. Praj recognises that success of 5250 MT of CBG annually. It will also generate
E20 blending programme is contingent upon high quality solid as well as liquid bio-manure
wholehearted participation of automakers. for ferti-irrigation. This project has a potential to
To ensure cooperation of the auto industry, save up to 15000 MT of CO2 emissions per year.
Praj works closely with Automotive Research
Association of India (ARAI), Pune, and OEMS for HPCL Badaun CBG project will serve as a
application development of advanced biofuels. showcase installation by demonstrating end to
end functioning of the value chain. This will
Currently ethanol blending in petrol is close definitely inspire developers and investors to
to 10 per cent. To achieve the government’s target actively consider setting up CBG projects. This
of 20 per cent by 2025, a significant capacity project will lay to rest any apprehensions about
addition in the range of 1000 Crore Litres of technology, feedstock management, energy off
ethanol is envisaged. Praj is highly optimistic take etc.
about achieving this target with an integrated
approach and close collaboration amongst the India currently imports 45 per cent of natural
industry stakeholders. gas which is further processed for producing
compressed natural gas (CNG) that is extensively
Recently, Praj Industries bagged an used in meeting India’s energy demand. India is
order to set up India’s largest capacity taking concerted efforts to improve the share of
syrup-based ethanol plant from gas in its energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030, from
Godavari Biorefineries Ltd (GBL) in 6 per cent currently.
Karnataka using ‘SHIFT’ technology.
How SHIFT technology will minimise CBG is a high octane renewable gaseous fuel
energy and water footprint, while produced by processing bio-based feedstock
maximising value for customers? such as press mud, agricultural waste etc. This
not only helps in energy self-sufficiency but also
Using Praj’s proprietary SHIFT technology, helps in reduction in carbon intensity especially
we are able to significantly improve the

36 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

in the transportation and industrial sectors, thus Feedstock availability: The supply chain for
helping conserving the environment. 1G ethanol production from sugar is well
established. Different sugar mills have their
In a first of its kind initiative in the world own ethanol production capacity. Recently
the Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable the government has permitted use of starchy
Transportation (SATAT) programme launched by feedstock (surplus and damaged grains) for
the government, 500 plants are envisaged to be ethanol production. Starchy feedstock from
built over a period of five years. Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be made
available to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Praj Industries has developed Advanced technologies for ethanol
innovative technology to produce Bio-
bitumen based on lignin (one of the production by processing bio based feedstock
co-products resulting from the 2nd in an efficient manner will facilitate project
generation Ethanol plants). How can it viability.
contribute to the growth of the ethanol
production industry? What are the opportunities in the
biofuel sector in India? What is the
Praj has always endeavoured to deploy future of Biofuels & 2G Ethanol
innovative technology solutions to maximise technology in India?
the value of ethanol plants by developing value-
added co-products from waste streams to Opportunities in the biofuel sector are
increase project attractiveness. abundant in India. Transportation fuel mix
is undergoing a major transition by way of
Bio-bitumen based on lignin, is one such mainstreaming of renewable low carbon biofuels.
co-products resulting from the 2nd generation While biofuels usage in surface transportation
Ethanol plants, paper making and also from has already gained momentum, its application
Compressed Biogas plants. Praj has now in the aviation sector is about to take off.
developed a proprietary process (under Also application of marine biofuels in water
patenting) to convert the crude lignin into Bio- transportation are ushering on the horizon.
bitumen. It has potential to replace this fossil
based bitumen and offer eco-friendly green Future of 2G ethanol technology in India
bitumen. The binding and viscoelastic property appears very promising as it positively impacts
of Bio-bitumen makes it useful for applications in the interest of stakeholders across the value
asphalt. chain delivering differentiated value. Biofuels
produced from captive resources i.e. agriculture
Praj’s Bio-bitumen samples have been residues, facilitates energy self-reliance as it
approved by Netherlands-based Circular Bio reduces dependency on the imported crude
based Delta, one of Europe’s premier consortia and associated forex bill. It also provides an
for scale up in Asphalt on a Dutch test strip on additional revenue stream for farmers. Carbon
the road. neutral cycles triggered by combustion of biofuels
help curtail health hazards attributable to the air
What inputs are required for the pollution due to burning of agriculture residues
growth of the biofuel industry in India? and emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

Sustained Policy support: The government India’s first batch of commercial projects
has already taken various strategic interventions based on 2G ethanol technology is under
to boost the ethanol production and consumption development. Praj is working on three numbers
in the country. of advanced biofuel refineries in India, based
Demand visibility: The government has on proprietary 2G enfinityTM technology.
Construction and Installation activities are in
recently released a five year roadmap while full swing at all sites and we expect mechanical
advancing E20 target by five years to FY 2025. completion of the first project by February 2022.
This has created ethanol capacity building We expect to commission this plant in June
opportunity. 2022.
Attractive pricing: Government has
announced differential pricing for ethanol Dipti Barve
based on different feedstock to facilitate
financial viability of projects. dipti.barve@mmactiv.com

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 37

“Mandatory ethanol blend in
fuel will immediately reduce
India’s oil import bill & GHGs”

EDUARDO LEÃO
DE SOUS,

Executive Director,
UNICA

The Uniao da Industria de Cana-de-Acucar (UNICA) is the leading association for the
sugarcane industry in Brazil, representing 50 per cent of all sugarcane production
and processing in the country. Its member companies are the top producers of sugar,
ethanol, renewable electricity and other sugarcane-derived products in Brazil’s South‐
Central region, the heart of the sugarcane industry. In 2018-19, Brazil produced 621
million tonnes of sugarcane, which yielded 29 million tonnes of sugar and 33 billion
litres of ethanol. That makes Brazil the world's second largest sugar and ethanol
producer, behind India and the United States, respectively. Eduardo Leão de Sous,
Executive Director, UNICA shared his views on the global ethanol market and the way
forward with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts;

How is UNICA contributing to the Specifically with India, we have had a close
production of biofuels such as relationship for the last 10 years at various levels,
ethanol? from the Indian sugar private sector, represented
by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA)
UNICA represents around 60 per cent of to the automobile industry, Society of Indian
the total sugarcane and ethanol production in Automobile Industry (SIAM), including the
Brazil, a country which has a vast experience in government and other major stakeholders.
using ethanol for the last 50 years. During these
five decades, we have not only highly benefited In this effort, I have personally been in India
from the use of ethanol as a fuel on a large scale many times. Last year, for instance, before the
but have also learnt relevant lessons in terms of mobility restrictions imposed by the pandemic,
addressing appropriate technologies and public in mid-March, I had been in Delhi three times.
policies for ethanol. Consequently, UNICA, First, in January, together with our presidential
together with the Brazilian government, has been mission, during the Republic Day, during which
working closely with the stakeholders in India our two governments signed the Memorandum
and other countries, to share this experience and of Understanding to cooperate on clean
technology know-how. energies. Then, we came back in mid-February

38 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

to participate in the Auto Show, in Greater the use of biofuels and assist India in boosting
Noida, wherein we launched the campaign ‘Bring its ethanol programme. It envisages technical
Back My Blue Sky’ to educate and demonstrate collaboration and exchange of technology in
the benefits of ethanol to the environment terms of second-generation ethanol and flex-
by reducing CO2 emissions and eliminating fuel automobile engines. In terms of diverting
particulate matter from the atmosphere. Finally, surplus sugarcane in producing ethanol, we
we have also organised, together with ISMA can contribute with the Indian government in
and the Brazilian government, a summit called presenting the Brazilian case study to highlight
‘Ethanol Talks’ where stakeholders from both that it has benefited from a similar diversion.
countries engaged and debated on the solutions In Brazil, all the sugar mills are attached to
for adoption of ethanol. The blend of ethanol distilleries in such a way that they have the
in gasoline, when adopted, through clear and option of producing either sugar or ethanol
long-term public policies, can provide an depending on the price ratio between the two
instant decrease in Green House Gas (GHG) products. This is an interesting mechanism to
emissions. Additionally, it has a lot of economic reduce market risks, thus increasing the chance
benefits as well such as the reduction of oil of having better revenue. Such is the benefit
import bills. India currently imports 80 per and the beauty of this flexibility that ethanol can
cent of its oil requirements. Brazil used to have bring to the sugar industry.
a similar situation in the past but, due to the
use of ethanol, we have managed to reduce The Government of India has
our oil imports to as low as 15 per cent of our proposed a target of 20 per cent
consumption. blending of ethanol in petrol and 5 per
cent blending of biodiesel in diesel
Brazil has spent the last 50 years improving its by 2030. What inputs are required to
production methods and has gone through different achieve the target of increasing the
public policies and their consequences. This makes production of ethanol and biodiesel in
us a big testing field, and we are willing to share India?
knowledge and help India and other countries to
develop a robust ethanol policy that will go a long Predictability is the name of the game here.
way to create a sustainable ecosystem. The more predictability you have, the higher
the chance of having a successful ethanol
UNICA is a part of a recent MoU programme. Clear rules in place will allow
signed between Brazil and India to investors and entrepreneurs to make their
develop a robust ethanol policy. How decisions based on the rules that they have now
will UNICA help divert the surplus and will have in the near future.
production of sugarcane to produce
ethanol in India? One of these mechanisms is to have a
mandatory ethanol blend plan so that the mills
The Memorandum of Understanding will know that the demand will be there. In
(MoU) was signed last year between the two Brazil, for instance, all petrol has a 27 per cent
governments (India and Brazil) to promote mandatory ethanol, and this is a fundamental
tool to provide predictability.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 39

Another important mechanism is to have be encouraged to promote its consumption,
a clear pricing and tax mechanism. The as it would reduce the dependence on just two
government must clearly establish the rules of countries, such as Brazil and the US, in case they
the pricing and could also consider some tax need to import the biofuels.
differentiation between fossil and renewable
fuel that recognised the positive externalities of What is the impact of COVID-19 on the
the latter. This is a very important signal to the global ethanol market and what is the
producers and allows them to plan investments way forward?
appropriately.
The major impact of the pandemic on the
Another important mechanism could be global ethanol market was related to isolation
to construct an attached distillery to a sugar measures. Due to the lockdown imposed in
mill. Therefore, with these policy mechanisms, the majority of the countries, people stayed at
the private sector will have the adequate home and did not use cars. The result was a
environment to put a plan on investment in sharp reduction in demand for fuels in general,
distilleries to guarantee the production of ethanol thus negatively impacting ethanol demand and
and to provide the required infrastructure for prices. But with the acceleration of vaccination
that. worldwide and the opening up of economies,
the demand for ethanol is already picking
Ethanol-blending is a low hanging fruit for up. Another important impact was a better
India because all the feedstock, i.e. the sugarcane, understanding of the negative impacts of the use
and the infrastructure for distribution is already of fossil fuels on greenhouse gas emissions and
in place. India is currently the second largest air quality. With the lockdown in large cities,
sugarcane producer, from which you can extract there was an impressive reduction of these
the juice to produce ethanol. Moreover, the two pollutants, which reflected in much better
blending of ethanol to gasoline is already taking conditions for the environment and public health.
place in different levels of mixture depending on
the region of the country. But the government What are the opportunities in the
of India should ensure a 20 per cent mandatory biofuel industry in India?
blend all over the country. India has all the
conditions required to quickly implement a India has all the conditions required to
higher level of ethanol blend. quickly increase the supply of ethanol. It can
easily divert the juice that has been used to
What is the status of the global produce surplus sugar to produce ethanol. This
ethanol market? would be a market solution for India’s sugar
industry, which currently relies on subsidies to
In the case of ethanol, the production is still export those sugar surpluses. There are several
very concentrated in two countries, Brazil and benefits to adopting and increasing the usage of
the US. Together, we produce more than 80 per ethanol.
cent of the total ethanol in the world, the reason
why it would be interesting to see other countries Firstly, using ethanol as vehicle fuel can
producing and consuming ethanol. In fact, this eliminate particulate matter in the air, which
is where India can play an important role and will reduce air pollution in large Indian cities
take the lead in Asia. As mentioned earlier, and thereby the occurrence of lung and heart
India has all the conditions required to become diseases among citizens. Secondly, it could benefit
an important player not only in terms of ethanol from the reduction of GHG (Green House Gas)
consumption but also in terms of its production. emissions, as it is currently the third-largest
emitter of CO2 in the world. Finally, it would
The steps that India is currently taking are also reduce dependence on imported oil, which is
important in shaping its domestic ethanol market currently more than 80 per cent in India, while
but we still must work on the internalisation enhancing the rural economy. All in all, we see
of the ethanol market. And this should happen a lot of opportunities for India to have a sound
in countries that present competitive and ethanol policy. It is a win-win game.
comparative advances in production such as the
ones in tropical and subtropical regions. If more Dipti Barve
countries produce ethanol, more countries would
dipti.barve@mmactiv.com

40 W E B I N A R AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

How much-awaited UK
Biopesticide Reforms will
prove beneficial to industry

Bio-control is a worldwide issue, but the UK environment is particularly open to

change right now, thanks to the post-Brexit situation.
The Biopesticide Summit, which took place
via a virtual platform on July 6, 2021, on Pesticides will drive down the use of older
focused on regulatory challenges and pesticides. We know that we are causing harm. If
called for reform to create a regulatory we fail to grasp this opportunity, it will be hugely
disappointing.”

environment that nurtures and supports the Divergent views
BioProtection (formerly known as Biopesticide)
industry. This is a worldwide issue, but the UK Talking about public opinion on bio-control

environment is particularly open to change right in Germany, Prof. Dr Ralf-Udo Ehlers, Owner/
now, thanks to the post-Brexit situation. Share Holder bei e-nema GmbH said, “The major
problem is that the majority of the public does
During the summit a panel discussion

was held on the need for reform, visions for a not have an idea about bio-control. We don’t
successful regulatory system, and how the World have them on our side. Many of the NGOs work
BioProtection Forum (WBF) is working towards against chemical pesticides and are not in favour

process reform in the UK biopesticide regulation. of bio-control. Although we are progressing
The panel discussion was led by Dr Minshad A and working with them, many of the politicians
Ansari Founder, Chairman, WBF. and ministries are just ignoring us. Germany is

During the discussion Tristan Jervis, Senior
Public Affairs Consultant said, “The UK-led
reform would be highly beneficial to the industry.

Enterprises and the large pesticide companies “The UK-led reform would be
have taken the wise decision to develop highly beneficial to the industry.
biopesticide arms, wherein the benefits are faster, Enterprises and the large
simpler, and less expensive. A better staff system pesticide companies have taken
can possibly have the impact of faster decisions the wise decision to develop
being made, better decisions being made, more biopesticide arms, benefits are
biopesticides being approved faster. Companies faster, simpler, less expensive.”
are going to benefit from these drives to push
things through. Some changes happening would Tristan Jervis, Senior Public
Affairs Consultant

be extremely beneficial for the biopesticides “The UK can be a leader in
industry.” the development and use of
biopesticides. We can combine
Sharing his thoughts, Nick Mole, Policy that with all the grand plans that
Officer, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) said, we have got, like the 25-year
“We have at the moment a unique opportunity as environment plan. Whatever
we look to develop our own standalone regulatory comes out of the National Action
regime for pesticides. The UK can be a leader in Plan on Pesticides will drive down
the development and use of biopesticides. We the use of older pesticides, as we
can combine that with all the grand plans that know that we are causing harm.”
we have got, like the 25-year environment plan.
Whatever comes out of the National Action Plan Nick Mole, Policy Officer,
Pesticide Action Network (PAN)

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com W E B I N A R 41

probably the hardest nut to crack. We always try “The major problem is that
to get into a discussion with the ministry and the majority of the public
we have been neglected. We were told to write a does not have an idea about
letter, that is our major problem. We are dealing bio-control. We don’t have
with a lot of opposition and a lot of work against them on our side. Many
our industry. I think that is a major problem to of the NGOs work against
crack this wall. We have a lot of ideas which could chemical pesticides and are
work, but we need a lot of lobbying and a lot of not in favour of bio-control.
support from societies, otherwise we will not Although we are progressing
crack that wall.” and working with them,
many of the politicians and ministries are just
Speaking on behalf the regulators, Adrian ignoring us.”
Dixon, Operational policy: Plant Protection Prof. Dr Ralf-Udo Ehlers, Owner/Share Holder
Products, Health and Safety Executive (HSE),
Chemicals Regulation Division, UK said, “The bei e-nema GmbH
actual cost of applications will depend on when
applicants talk to us. There is a bigger question “The actual cost of
around, how much does the government want applications will depend on
to support things like bio-pesticide where the when applicants talk to us.
economic models are different. This will be There is a bigger question
reconsidered as part of the National Action Plan around, how much does the
sort of response and agri environment support.” government want to support
things like bio-pesticide
The Brexit impact where the economic models
are different. This will be
Sharing her views on bio-control issues in reconsidered as part of the
the UK, Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director, National Action Plan sort of response and agri
International Biocontrol Manufacturers environment support.”
Association (IBMA) said, “There are two really Adrian Dixon, Operational policy:
key opportunities that we have, one is the UK Plant Protection Products HSE, Chemicals
is traditionally more open to industry and
particularly post Brexit. A meeting last year with Regulation Division
the Ministry of Environment, they were really
“There are two really key
opportunities that we have,
one is the UK is traditionally
more open to industry and
particularly post Brexit. A
meeting last year with the
Ministry of Environment,
they were really interested in
bio-control, with discussions
about what bio-control
could bring, discussions about taking some of
the land, taking production and using that for
bio-diversity as we would still be able to get the
yield.”
Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director, IBMA

interested in bio-control, with discussions about
what bio-control could bring, discussions about
taking some of the land, taking production and
using that for bio-diversity as we would still be
able to get the yield. I think the UK is a great
opportunity and something that we can co-
create”.

Jennifer further added, “The second big
opportunity that we have in the UK is the French
Presidency in Europe. The French have a national
bio-control plan, which has two key goals. The
first is the definition of bio-control, but they want

42 W E B I N A R AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

a European one. They understand the importance “I feel we don’t need efficacy
of definition in order to move legislation forward. data because we need to
The second is the simplification or adaptation of have a faster registration
the regulation of bio-control.” process and the farmers or
growers are wise enough to
Talking about the requirement of efficacy buy a product that works. If
data of the product, Thorben Looije, Owner it is not working the product
and Director, Valto said, “I feel we don’t need won’t be sold, buyers aren’t
efficacy data because we need to have a faster stupid. So, we don’t need
registration process and the farmers or growers efficacy data.”
are wise enough to buy a product that works. If it Thorben Looije, Owner and Director, Valto
is not working the product won’t be sold, buyers
aren’t stupid. So, we don’t need efficacy data. It “The US has a huge number
is sometimes very difficult to prove the efficacy of government research
of our products because of all the things which centres and land grant
are happening in the environment. So to make it universities that do the
easy, quit the efficacy data and see and practice extension work. They work
how it works.” very closely with the farmers
and they do the validation
Sharing similar thoughts, Dr Owen Jones, work, so it is not the case
Managing Director, Partner, Lisk & Jones that the market decides.
Consultants, said, “My understanding is that It has been thoroughly
in the sustainable use directive they are still tested, dependence locations and the company
advocating that we have extension services anyways will have efficacy data otherwise they
to fill that role. The US has a huge number of can’t market the product.”
government research centres and land grant Dr Owen Jones, Managing Director, Partner,
universities that do the extension work. They
work very closely with the farmers and they do Lisk & Jones Consultants
the validation work, so it is not the case that the
market decides. It has been thoroughly tested, “We have to convince users
dependent locations and the company anyways that by using biological
will have efficacy data otherwise they can’t products, it is going to add
market the product.” value to their commodities,
fetching better prices.
Valuing bioproducts Anything below 70 per
cent is not controlled, it is
“The efficacy data, control, suppression is considered as suppression.
being described, with efficacy data, there is Anything beyond 70 per cent
a borderline that there should be a delivery is a benefit and can be a part
60 per cent, 70 per cent, 80 per cent. Saying of integrated pest management.”
that efficacy data is not needed would be quite Dr Minshad A Ansari, Founder, Chairman,
controversial in terms of end-user point of view World Bioprotection Forum (WBF)

because bio-pesticides today are only used for
high-value crops and the cost is two-three times
higher than conventional pesticides. We have to
convince users that using biological products, it is
going to add value to their commodities, fetching
better prices. Anything below 70 per cent is not
control, it is considered as suppression. Anything
beyond 70 per cent is benefit and can be a part of
integrated pest management. Application is key
point, and if application is right, biopesticides are
going to deliver satisfactory results,” concluded
Dr Ansari.

Prabhat Prakash
prabhat.prakash@mmactiv.com

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S 43

ICAR-IVRI receives patent for instant
soup mix made from spent hen meat

The ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar
Pradesh has received a patent (No. - 370161) for utilisation of spent hen meat for the

preparation of instant soup mix. The team of inventors include - Dr Palanisamy
Gokulakrishnan and Dr Sanjod Kumar Mendiratta of the Livestock Products
Technology Division of the Institute. In the invention, an improved process was
standardised for the preparation of instant soup mix using the spent hen meat,

starch, spices and condiments. The developed technology can ensure nutritious,
palatable, convenient and ready-to-reconstitute meat products to the consumers. The
prepared instant soup mix when packaged in Aluminium foil-LDPE laminate pouches (Al foil
15µ - LDPE 40µ), had a shelf life of > 3 months at room temperature. Soup has good sensory
qualities in terms of appearance and colour, consistency, flavour, meat flavour intensity and overall
palatability. It is high in protein content (>26 per cent) and low in fat (<2 per cent).

Pixofarm, UPL partners MIT scientists’ device
to bring digital tech for ways to protect seeds from
apple farmers stress of water shortage

UPL Ltd., a global provider of sustainable Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of
agriculture solutions, announced recently that it Technology (MIT) have come up with a process for
is partnering with Austrian company Pixofarm protecting seeds from the stress of water shortage
GmbH to bring exciting new digital technologies during their crucial germination phase, and even
to apple farmers. Pixofarm and UPL will work providing the plants with extra nutrition at the
together to expand grower access to Pixofarm’s same time.The process, undergoing continued
technology to help improve the efficiency, tests in collaboration with researchers in Morocco,
productivity, and sustainability of fruit farms. UPL is simple and inexpensive, and could be widely
– one of the world’s leading agri-inputs companies deployed in arid regions, the researchers say.
and a key supplier of crop protection, biological The findings are reported in the journal Nature
and organic inputs to fruit growers – believes that Food, in a paper by MIT professor of civil and
Pixofarm can help apple growers reduce costs environmental engineering Benedetto Marelli,
and optimise yields by improving growers’ access MIT doctoral student Augustine Zvinavashe
to data on the status of their crop and orchard. '16, and eight others at MIT and at the King
UPL will support Pixofarm’s growth by expanding Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco.
its access to apple growers across Europe and The two-layer coating the team developed is a
giving Pixofarm additional capital to invest in direct outgrowth of years of research by Marelli
accelerating product development towards a fully and his collaborators in developing seed coatings
integrated smart farming solution. As an OpenAg to confer various benefits.
Digital Partner, Pixofarm’s expansion will be
supported by the UPL network which currently
operates across 130 countries.

44 T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

SatSure, PAU, Celebrating Farmers Edge
Int. partners for licensing of
St Gallen launch fermentative processing tech

patent-pending The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has recently entered into
an agreement with a Nashik-based startup Celebrating Farmers
data products Edge International for licensing of fermentative processing
technology ‘Brewed vinegar production from sugarcane and
SatSure, a decision intelligence fruits. The pact was signed by Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of
company based in Bengaluru Research, PAU, and Vipan Sareen, Director, Celebrating Farmers
and Switzerland-based St Edge International Private Limited, on the behalf of their respective
Gallen (Switzerland), has organisations. Several fermentation technologies on vinegar
launched two new patent- production from sugarcane, grapes, jamun and apple have been
pending data products recommended and commercialised by PAU. The research focuses
to address the challenges on increasing the use of fermented/natural vinegar prepared from
around soil moisture and traditional fruits that carry nutritional and therapeutic values
crop monitoring at scale. The besides the value addition of the horticultural produce. There is
farm-level soil moisture and a need to promote brewed vinegar among consumers as synthetic
the 'India Cropland Data Layer' vinegar, which is found in abundance in local markets, yet has
datasets will be available on its health concerns with no nutritional value. PAU has so far signed
data platform SatSure Sparta six Memoranda of Agreement for the commercialisation of brewed
exclusively from July 15, 2021, fruit vinegar technology.
for visualisations, download and
API based consumption, along IIT Mandi develops
with its freemium datasets on AI-powered model to
vegetation, land, water change detect potato Blight
detection and climate data
categories. SatSure mentioned Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
that both the products bring Mandi, have developed a computational model for automated
forth the team's expertise in disease detection in potato crops using photographs of its
satellite data analytics and AI/ leaves. The research led by Dr Srikant Srinivasan, Associate
ML. Just like SatSure Cygnus, Professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering,
where it is providing high- IIT Mandi, in collaboration with the Central Potato Research
frequency optical satellite data
by overcoming the visibility Institute, Shimla, uses Artificial Intelligence (AI)
issues of cloud cover, especially techniques to highlight the diseased portions
during the monsoon season, of the leaf. The computational tool developed
through the India Cropland by the IIT Mandi scientists can detect blight
data layer. in potato leaf images. The model is built
using an AI tool called mask region-based
convolutional neural network architecture

and can accurately highlight the diseased
portions of the leaf amid a complex background of
plant and soil matter. The blight is a common disease of the
potato plant, which starts as uneven light green lesions near
the tip and the margins of the leaf and then spreads into large
brown to purplish-black necrotic patches that eventually lead
to rotting of the plant.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A C A D E M I A N E W S 45

ICAR-DRMR signs ICAR-IISWC,
MoU with Advanta for
licensing of Rapeseed- UPES inks
Mustard hybrid
MoU to prevent
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-
Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (DRMR), crops from wild
Bharatpur, Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of Understanding
animals
(MoU) with Advanta/UPL Limited, Hyderabad for the
non-exclusive Licensing of Rapeseed-Mustard The ICAR-Indian Institute of
Hybrid - NRCHB-506. UPL, formerly Soil and Water Conservation
United Phosphorus Limited, is an Indian (IISWC), Dehradun,
multinational company that manufactures Uttarakhand recently
and markets agrochemicals, industrial signed a Memorandum of
chemicals, chemical intermediates, and Understanding (MoU) with
speciality chemicals, and also offers the University of Petroleum
crop protection solutions. Dr PK Rai, and Energy Studies (UPES),
Director, ICAR-DRMR, and Dr Shailesh Dehradun, Uttarakhand for the
Kumar, Representative, UPL Limited took Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
Internet of Things (IoT)-based
part in the MoU on the behalf of their respective solution for agricultural field
organisations. The commercialisation of high- protection from wild animals.
yielding new varieties/hybrids shall help in bringing more Dr M Madhu, Director, ICAR-
areas under the improved and promising varieties/hybrids IISWC and Dr Veena Datta,
that can help to enhance the production and productivity of Registrar, UPES signed the
oilseed especially rapeseed-mustard in the country. MoU on the behalf of their
respective organisations.
CSK HP scientists develop 13 As per the MoU, both the
crop varieties for farmers organisations have agreed to
take up a collaborative project
Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh (CSK HP) Krishi for designing, developing,
Vishvavidyalaya, which developed 13 crop varieties for cultivation implementing and analysing
in Himachal Pradesh, has been released for cultivation. This the cost-effective IoT solution
information was disclosed by HK Chaudhary, Vice-Chancellor, for crop protection from wild
CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidyalaya. The newly developed and animals and long-distance
released wheat variety HPW 373 (Him Palam control room-based system for
Gehun 3) has been recommended for late sown animal detection, surveillance
rainfed conditions in the low and mid-hills and repellent. The two growing
of Himachal Pradesh. It has good chapati- technologies- AI and IoT can
making quality parameters coupled with effectively provide practical
a high degree of resistance against yellow solutions to protect crops from
rust and leaf rust coupled with a high yield wild animals in both the hills
potential of 28.0 - 32.0 quintal per hectare. and plain areas.
Barley variety HBL 804 (Him Palam Jau 2) is
a dual-purpose, six-rowed, hulled barley variety,
suitable for timely sown rainfed conditions in low and mid-hills
of Himachal Pradesh. The soybean variety Him Palam Hara Soya-
1 (Himso-1685) has been recommended for rainfed conditions in
the mid-hill zone of H.P. It is highly resistant against frog eye leaf
spot, pod blight, bacterial pustule, and brown spot diseases.

46 A C A D E M I A N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

ICAR-CIFA, WWF provide alternative
livelihood source to farmers in Sundarbans

The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater are trained on post-stocking management
Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Odisha has measures. The application of lime and pellet feed
joined hands with World Wide Fund for Nature was also demonstrated by a team of institutes’
(WWF) and Bali Nature Life Society, an NGO as the scientists. The fish attained an average growth
technical partner, to help increase the livelihood of of about 55 to 65 gms in two months. A portable
farmers at Kumirmari, Gosaba, South 24 Parganas, FRP Carp Hatchery is being installed in order to
Sundarbans, West Bengal. Discovery Inc has create a self-sufficiency of fish seed production.
been providing funding support for the work. The The initiative intends to benefit 50 scheduled caste
adopted ponds were stocked with 15 kg Indian women representing five self-help groups namely -
Major Carp Advance fingerings and beneficiaries Annadata, Bagna, Golap, Priyajan and Shristi.

Irrigation practices Bumblebees may use
influencing
precipitation humidity of flower to
patterns: Study
locate nectar: Study
Climate researchers have discovered that excess
irrigation over northern India has shifted the A new study shows that bumblebees may
September monsoon rainfall towards the north- use the humidity of a flower to tell them
western part of the subcontinent. It has increased about the presence of nectar. According to
widespread weather extremes over Central India. scientists at the Universities of Bristol and
These meteorological hazards expose vulnerable Exeter, bumblebees may use the humidity
farmers and their crops to risks of failure. The of a flower to tell them about the presence
study establishes that monsoon precipitation is of nectar. The research has shown that
sensitive to the choice of irrigation practices in bumblebees can accurately detect and choose
South Asia and can help plan agricultural practices between flowers that have different levels of
in this region. South Asia is one of the most heavily humidity next to the surface of the flower.
irrigated regions of the world, largely using The study, published this week in the Journal
groundwater, and its major summer crop is paddy of Experimental Biology, showed that bees
which is cultivated in water flooded fields. Hence could be trained to differentiate between
it was pertinent to study how such practices can two types of artificial flowers with different
influence the monsoons which form the fulcrum levels of humidity if only one of the types of
of this agro-based economy. Subimal Ghosh, flowers provided the bee with a reward of
Professor in Department of Civil Engineering sugar water. To make sure that the artificial
and Convener at Interdisciplinary Programme in flowers mimicked the humidity patterns seen
Climate Studies (IDPCS) and his climate group, in real flowers, the researchers built a robotic
investigated the impact of agricultural water use sensor that was able to accurately measure
on the Indian summer monsoon using a climate the shape of the humidity patterning.
model.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A G R I I N P U T S N E W S 47

Mahindra Erisha Agritech inks
launches new long-term deal with MTW
range of rice
transplanters Minsk Tractor Works (MTW), the Belarusian brand of
to improve agricultural machinery, has reached a long-term agreement with
productivity New Delhi-based Erisha Agritech (India) for localisation and
assembly of tractors under the joint brand 'DARSH BELARUS.'
Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm The agreement was signed between Vitali M Volk, General
Equipment Sector launched a Director, MTW, and Darshan Rana, Managing Director, Erisha
new range of rice transplanters Agritech (A Rana Group Company).Erisha Agritech will acquire
in Telangana. A rice 200 units of Belarus tractors by the end of the year 2021. As part
transplanter is a specialised of the implementation of the deal, localisation and assembly of
machine, to transplant paddy tractors under the 'DARSH BELARUS' brand will get underway
seedlings into paddy fields, to at the Indian sites of Erisha Agritech soon. The new agreement
ensure uniform transplanting with MTW will enable Erisha Agritech to power optimum
which helps to increase yield. farming solutions to farmers and provide them with high-end
It is labour and time saving technology. The two companies are also looking towards inking
as compared to manual new deals for the supply of tractors to India’s neighbouring
transplanting. The new countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
technology can help farmers
overcome issues related to Mahindra restructures
labour shortage, especially its Farm Equipment
during these difficult times. business in Turkey
Mahindra launched the
Mahindra Planting Master Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, announced that its subsidiary
Paddy 4RO, India’s first 4-row Erkunt Traktor Sanayi A.S. (Erkunt), will acquire the
ride-on type rice transplanter. Agriculture Machinery business from Hisarlar Makina Sanayi
Mahindra’s rice transplanters ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Hisarlar), also a subsidiary of the
are designed by Mitsubishi company. In a reverse deal, Mahindra Overseas Investment
Mahindra Agricultural Company (Mauritius) Limited (MOICML), a wholly-owned
Machinery of Japan and are subsidiary of the Company, and Erkunt have agreed to sell
customised to the specific their entire stake of 94.3 per cent in Hisarlar, for an aggregate
needs of Indian rice farmers. consideration of Turkish Lira 6.6 million (equivalent to approx.
The new rice transplanters Rs 5.6 crore). As part of the restructuring of its subsidiaries in
of Japanese technology offer Turkey, Mahindra Group will exit Hisarlar’s Metal Fabrication
state-of-the-art features, business. Erkunt will acquire the Agricultural Machinery
quality and ease of operation. business of Hisarlar, including select related
assets, Intellectual Property and Brand
use rights. Mahindra Group, through
Erkunt, will continue to stay invested
in the core business of Agricultural
Machinery products ranging from soil
tillage to post-harvest segments.

48 A G R I I N P U T S N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

UPL launches new NPP business unit

UPL, a leader in sustainable agriculture products research and development capabilities, and will be
and solutions, has launched ‘NPP’ – Natural supported by UPL’s unique, proven ability to rapidly
Plant Protection – a new global business unit bring products to market on a global scale. NPP’s
housing UPL’s comprehensive portfolio of natural portfolio will play a vital role in addressing farmers’
and biologically derived agricultural inputs pain points – including abiotic stress, soil health,
and technologies. NPP will act as a stand-alone residues, and resistance management – in developed
brand, consolidating UPL’s existing bio solutions and developing agricultural markets alike. NPP’s
portfolio, network of R&D laboratories and facilities greatest strength will be the ability to cross-pollinate
worldwide, which currently accounts for 7 per cent innovation across regions, understanding and
of UPL’s total revenues. NPP’s global offering will learning from the needs of one market to increase
continue to benefit from UPL’s extensive global the speed and depth of penetration into another
distribution footprint, drawing on innovation, market.

CCI approves acquisition of Zuarinagar plant
of ZACL by Paradeep Phosphates

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ZACL, a public listed company, is also a part of
approves the acquisition of the Zuarinagar the Adventz Group. It is primarily engaged in the
plant of Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) development and manufacturing of fertilizers
by Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL). The in India. It has manufacturing facilities at
proposed combination envisages acquisition Zuarinagar, Goa where it produces Urea and
of the Zuarinagar, Goa plant of ZACL by PPL. non-Urea fertilizers.
As a result of the acquisition, PPL shall acquire
the business of developing and manufacturing
urea and non-urea fertiliser products presently
being carried out by ZACL at the Zuarinagar,
Goa Plant. PPL, part of the Adventz Group, is
engaged mainly in the manufacture and sale
of non-urea fertilizers, namely, di-ammonium
phosphate (DAP) and NPK fertilizers. It also
imports and sells Muriate of Potash (MoP).

Delhi HC grants interim injunction to FMC
Corp against Natco for patent infringement

FMC Corporation announced that the Delhi chlorantraniliprole in India under the trade name
High Court has granted the company an interim Rynaxapyr active, which is the primary ingredient
injunction against Natco Pharma. The interim in Coragen and Ferterra insecticides. Coragen and
injunction restrains Natco from manufacturing, Ferterra insecticides are approved for controlling
using, distributing, advertising, exporting, pests on rice, sugarcane, vegetables, maize as
offering to sell and/or selling any product which
contains chlorantraniliprole, FMC's leading insect well as other important crops. These
control active ingredient. FMC filed the lawsuit insecticides and their patented active
against Natco at the Delhi High Court in October ingredients are well known by farmers
2019 for potential patent infringement
of certain Indian patents covering and recognized for their favourable
chlorantraniliprole. FMC sells safety and environmental profile, which

has earned them a green label from
India's regulatory body.

AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S 49

SLCM receives European grant for AI/ML-based app

New Delhi-headquartered agri technology and pulses. The app will enable the trader or farmer
warehousing solutions conglomerate Sohan Lal to scan crop seeds for quality assessment. It will
Commodity Management (SLCM) has received be able to check multiple quality parameters
a technical assistance grant of EUR 125,901 for a variety of food grains and pulses within
(Rs 1.11 crore) from the Technical minutes with up to 90 per cent accuracy as
Assistance Facility of Incofin agRIF
fund (agTAF) and the Smallholder compared to a lab test. The results will be
Safety Net Upscaling Programme automatically compared with pre-fed
(SSNUP) for AI/ML-based data in the back-end system, which
quality app. The app will help will regularly update itself using
towards the development of the machine learning (ML) with Python
quality application for food grains and programming language, on a real-
time basis.

Maersk to Maersk is redesigning its ocean network in West & Central Asia
redesign its ocean that connects countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
network in West & Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia to the world. The changes in
the network are primarily aimed at improving speed to market,
Central Asia providing higher predictability and offering more flexibility to
customers’ supply chains. Further, redesigning the network
will also bring more resilience to the customers’ supply chains,
protecting them better from operational challenges that arise
out of contingencies. The ME6 service as well as transhipment
on AE1 at Colombo will be discontinued. The ME7 service
will connect South India’s lifestyle, retail and automotive
manufacturing sector directly to Europe. The cargo will thus
flow smoothly without getting affected by unforeseen delays
in case of congestions. The new FI4 service, which combines
previous Jade Express and Chennai Express, will connect South
East Asia with India and Pakistan on a single direct service.

GI certified mango varieties
shipped to Bahrain

A consignment of Geographical Identification (Malda, West Bengal), Fazli (Malda, West
(GI) certified Fazil mango variety sourced from Bengal), Dussehri (Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh)
the Malda district of West Bengal was exported and Amrapali and Chausa (Malda, West Bengal)
to Bahrain. The consignment of Fazil mango was and Langda (Nadiya, West Bengal). The varieties
exported by APEDA registered DM Enterprises, of mangoes were sold through 13 stores of the
Kolkata and imported by Al Jazira Group, group in Bahrain. The mangoes were sourced
Bahrain. The shipment to Bahrain comes a few from farmers in Bengal and Bihar by APEDA
days after APEDA organised a mango promotion registered exporters.
programme at Doha, Qatar where nine varieties of
mangoes including GI certified from West Bengal
& Uttar Pradesh were displayed at the stores of
importer Family Food Centre. The nine varieties
which were exported includes GI certified
Khirsapati (Malda, West Bengal), Lakkhanbhog

50 S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | AUGUST 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Kisan Rail's SLCM bags MP state
contract for Management
60 operational of Agri Commodities

routes brings Agri technology and warehousing solutions conglomerate,
Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM), has received
relief to a record contract as a service provider for the Preservation,
Management and Security (PMS) of food grain stock from
farmers the State Government of Madhya Pradesh. The contract
involving the management of over 322,000 metric tonnes
The introduction of Kisan (MT) of primarily wheat, paddy and other notified agricultural
Rails by the Indian Railways commodities on behalf of the Madhya Pradesh Warehousing
has given farmers wide access & Logistics Corp. (MPWLC) is for two years. Based on SLCM’s
to Indian markets. Kisan Rail performance, the PMS contract can be extended by another
has so far carried 2.7 lakh year at the discretion of MPWLC. SLCM will be providing
tonnes of consignment. Till PMS services at 11 locations in the districts of Sheopur, Bhind,
now, 60 routes have been Shivpuri, Guna, Ashok Nagar and Datia in the Gwalior Zone
operationalised. Till June 18, of the central Indian state. SLCM will be executing this open
2021, a total of 850 trips of CAP contract using its AgriSuraksha solution that incorporates
Kisan Rail trains were operated the latest cutting-edge internet-based surveillance technology,
on 60 routes, transporting enabling monitoring as well as interaction with the personnel
more than 2.7 lakh tonnes of at the site.
consignments. Railways have
been relentlessly pursuing Kashmir exports Mishri
with various stakeholders variety of cherries to Dubai
– including the Ministry
of Agriculture & Farmers The first commercial shipment of Mishri variety of luscious
Welfare, state governments cherries from Kashmir valley has been exported to Dubai from
(including departments of Srinagar. APEDA assisted the shipment of cherries to Dubai by
agriculture/ horticulture/ Desai Agri-Food, a venture company of Innoterra, Dubai. Prior
fisheries, etc), and local to this shipment, a sample consignment was sent in the middle
bodies and agencies, Mandis of June 2021 from Srinagar to Dubai through air which were
etc. – to plan the rollout of transhipped from Mumbai. Following an encouraging response
Kisan Rail services. Kisan from the consumers in Dubai, the first commercial shipment of
Rail enables movement of Mishri variety of cherries were exported to Dubai. Jammu and
perishables including fruits, Kashmir produces more than 95 per cent of the total country’s
vegetables, meat, poultry, production of commercial varieties of cherries in the country.
fishery and dairy products It produces four varieties of cherry — Double, Makhmali,
from the production of surplus Mishri and Italy. Prior to the shipment, the cherries were
regions to consumption or
deficient regions; speedy harvested, cleaned and packed by
movement ensures minimum APEDA registered exporters
damage during transit; enables while the technical inputs
farmers to utilise the vast were provided
railway network to gain access by the Sher-
to distant, bigger and more e-Kashmir
lucrative markets. University of
Agricultural
Science and
Technology of
Kashmir.