Crops

Key outcomes of the meeting included the development of plans for establishing Centres of Excellence on Millets in major millet-producing countries. (Image source: ICRISAT)

Representatives from the global south gathered in Dubai from 25-26 March, to convene a collective action plan to secure the future of millets

High-level representatives from leading millet-producing countries in the global south including India, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Malawi, alongside prominent organisations such as the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), and the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), came together to devise strategies for strengthened collaboration under a shared vision of resilience for the drylands.

Key outcomes of the meeting included the development of plans for establishing Centers of Excellence on Millets in major millet-producing countries, that envision to serve as hubs for innovation, research, and knowledge exchange, driving sustainable crop production, resilient value chains, and broader consumer access to affordable and nutritious millet-based diets. The convening also served as a platform to reaffirm a shared commitment to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the global south, particularly by supporting food security, poverty eradication, and environmental sustainability.

“It is important that we build on the momentum and legacy of the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYM2023) to ensure the world has access to millets, which are Smart Food with the ability to feed and nourish the planet amid growing global populations, increasing temperatures and climatic events,” remarked director general of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes.  

For more information, visit: https://www.icrisat.org/ 

The 'PARTNER TO GROW… Sustainably Together' initiative aims to continuously support business partners, particularly SMEs. (Image source: CP Foods)

Through its 'PARTNER TO GROW… Sustainably Together' initiative, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods), a conglomerate in the agro-industrial and food business is steadfast in fostering robust and sustainable partnerships within the supply chain 

Building on the success of the first year of the project, CP Foods recognises the importance of implementing best practices to elevate operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, and adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This year, the company has extended the project's scope to encompass medium-sized enterprises and large enterprise suppliers across the entire food supply chain, thereby enhancing partners' competitiveness and generating new business opportunities, fostering mutual growth.

Furthermore, CP Foods is committed to supporting more SME suppliers through diverse activities offered under the SMEs Plus programme that aim to cultivate essential knowledge and skills among partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality products, efficient resource and energy management, waste reduction, low-carbon product development, and preparedness to adapt to global changes and trade regulations concerning climate change. Examples of these projects include Value Chain Cost Optimisation, low-cost and eco-friendly practices, Environmental Preservation, Carbon Footprint Reduction, and SME Development Programmes on Food Safety.

For more information, visit: https://www.cpfworldwide.com/ 

ZeaKal's PhotoSeed technology improves the crop’s oil and sustainability profile without compromising yield or protein. (Image source: ZeaKal)

In an attempt to deliver higher energy corn, agritech company ZeaKal recently developed its new groundbreaking PhotoSeed technology to improve the oil and sustainability profile of the corn crop, without compromising its yield or protein

Upon immediate implementation of this technology, replicated field trials during the first year showed a significant 23% increase in corn oil composition. The technology was found to enhance the plant's photosynthetic capacity, capturing more CO2 and sunlight. This additional carbon capture increases oil production without taking away the energy necessary to maintain modern yields.

Just as in soybeans, nutrient and energy densification in PhotoSeed corn translates to more carbon captured in the seed. With higher oil production that does not require additional inputs or land, PhotoSeed becomes a sustainability embedded trait that has the potential to lower the carbon intensity score of the crop. 

In 2022, ZeaKal created a closed loop US system called the NewType model to capture and share premiums from better composition, processing advantages, and improved sustainability metrics with farmers and producers. Starting with its integration into Gro Alliance—the nation's largest, independently owned contract producer of seed corn and soybean seed—ZeaKal follows the model's success into the company's extensive germplasm collection, breeding programme, and fully integrated seed production. 

“The future of agriculture must be grounded in innovation that democratises value creation or else agriculture will not be responsive to demands for improved sustainability, nutrition, and energy,” said co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal, Han Chen. “Starting with the grower, our vision is to leverage trait technology and replicate our NewType model to ensure value creation and sharing across the entire supply chain.”

PhotoSeed corn commercialisation is expected in the 2027 growing season.

For more information, visit: zeakal.com

At left, Dr Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech; at right, Ho Ren Hua, CEO of Thai Wah. (Image source: Alltech)

Alltech and Thai Wah Public Co. (TWPC) have announced a collaboration aimed at advancing carbon reduction efforts in the Asian agri-food industry by leveraging scientific nutritional solutions and technologies 

Imagindairy and Ginkgo Bioworks collaborate to develop and produce animal-free non-whey dairy proteins. (Image source: Ginkgo Bioworks)

Imagindairy, an Israeli-based foodtech company dedicated to revolutionising the dairy industry with sustainable and commercially viable animal-free dairy proteins, has joined forces with Ginkgo Bioworks, a leader in cell programming and biosecurity, in an exciting new partnership 

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