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Krish-e unveils IOT based smart kit for farm equipment

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An after-market device, the Krish-e Smart Kit is the first-of-its-kind smart device that provides equipment owners with detailed insights of their tractors and farm equipment, through GPS enabled time tracking and remote monitoring of various parameters from the comfort of a smart phone.

Krish-e Smart Kit

  • Easy tracking of all brands of tractors, harvesters & rice transplanters via a smart phone or desktop
  • Increases operator revenue with accurate acreage measurement
  • Reduces fuel cost by monitoring fuel levels and alerting for fuel theft
  • Tracks total fleet expenses through geofencing alerts
  • Tracks total fleet expenses through geofencing alerts
  • Offers advanced trip replay features
  • Retails at an introductory price of INR 4,995

A cutting-edge offering, the Krish-e Smart Kit is developed by Carnot Technologies, an Ag-Tech start-up, founded in 2015 by four alumni from IIT Bombay in their mid-20s, who as part of the IITB racing team, developed solutions to monitor the performance of race vehicles from the pit.

Today Carnot Technologies is engaged in manufacturing and retailing products and services related to internet-connected devices for monitoring performance of vehicles and equipment, with M&M Ltd. having acquired a significant stake in the company.

The Krish-e Smart Kit enables equipment owners and rental entrepreneurs to sustainably improve fleet performance, improve incomes and manage maintenance costs, while reducing tractor downtime and preventing unauthorised usage of their tractors. The Smart Kit also includes an advanced trip replay feature for tracking commercial transportation and trolley activity.

The kit is brand agnostic and can be installed on any new or old brand of tractor or farm equipment, such as harvesters, rice transplanters and self-propelled sprayers. The kit is paired with an app called the Krish-e Rental Partner App and is available on the Google Play Store. In addition to tracking and monitoring, the app also offers users access to an inventory of high-end farm machinery on a pay per use basis

Ramesh Ramachandran – Senior Vice President and Head Krish-e – Farm Equipment Sector, M&M Ltd. said, “An industry first aftermarket IoT solution, the Krish-e Smart Kit presents the smartest, most affordable and sustainable way for farmers and businesses to connect and monitor their farm equipment on the go. In its scale-up phase, with over 25,000 active users we will officially launch the Krish-e Smart Kit.

Besides farmers, we invite institutions, FPO’s, government bodies and start-ups in the state to partner with us on this connected journey as we aim to digitise every acre and kilometre of rental activity. Going forward we aim to become the leading provider of connectivity for farm equipment in India.”

Pushkar Limaye – CTO, Carnot Technologies commented, “With a vision of building world-class products out of India, we came up with a small plug-and-play device for tractors to help improve their productivity using IoT, with real-time updates on smartphones.

And today we are glad to see over 25,000 kits having already helped farmers digitise their businesses and adding real value on ground. And today with the official launch of the Krish-e Smart Kit, together with Mahindra, we aim to digitise Indian farming with an India-based solution, while reaching a larger audience of tractor owners and rental business owners.

So far Krish-e has over 25,000 active subscribers, 85% DAU (daily active users), spending about 55 minutes per day on the app (in season), with 70% resubscriptions post expiry of the free subscription period.

Individual farmers, institutional buyers, FPOs, and start-ups can purchase the Krish-e Smart Kit from the nearest Krish-e center, the Krish-e website, or Krish-e Sahayaks by calling 1800-266-1555 at an early bird price of INR 4,995 (including taxes and a six-month subscription package for the aforementioned services).

Launched in 2020, Krish-e is a new business vertical from Mahindra. Krish-e offers technology driven services, to minimise income potential of farmers and other value chain players sustainably. Carrying the tag line – ‘Expert Takneek. Naye Upay. Parinaam Dikhaye’, Krish-e services currently focus on the areas of Farm Advisory, Equipment Rental & Used Equipment through an omni channel presence which includes 150 Krish-e centers and app-based touch points.

Krish-e efforts have been recognised and included in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) January 2023 White Paper on “Accelerating Business Action on Climate Change Adaptation” as an example on how businesses can collaborate with communities to ensure the sustainability of critical natural resources.

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Mahindra’s Farm Equipment sector sells 33,622 Units in India during March 2023

Mahindra’s Farm Equipment sector sells 33,622 Units in India during March 2023

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Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group, today announced its tractor sales numbers for March 2023.

Domestic sales in March 2023 were at 33,622 units, as against 28,112 units during March 2022.

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during March 2023 were at 35,014 units, as against 29,763 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 1,392 units.

The company clocked its highest ever annual sale of 4,07,545 units (Domestic + Exports) in FY’23.

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We have sold 33,622 tractors in the domestic market during March 2023, a growth of 20% over last year. Increase in crop output, mandi prices staying firm, Government support for increase in MSP for major crops and increase in wages under MGNREGA scheme will help improve the financial security of rural households and boost tractor demand in the coming months. In the exports market, we have sold 1,392 tractors.”

Farm Equipment Sector summary
March YTD March
F23 F22 % Change F23 F22 % Change
Domestic 33,622 28,112 20% 3,89,531 3,37,052 16%
Exports 1,392 1,651 -16% 18,014 17,646 2%
Total 35,014 29,763 18% 4,07,545 3,54,698 15%

*Exports include CKD

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Nampo 2023 promises latest trends and technology in agriculture

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A showcase of the newest trends and technology innovations is NAMPO’s promise to visitors at the 55th presentation of the Harvest Day from 16-19 May 2023.

Since its inception, the NAMPO Harvest Day has been the leader in showcasing agricultural innovation and providing that one stop platform to agricultural enthusiasts in South Africa. After an extremely successful and long-awaited return to the agricultural calendar last year, the 2023 NAMPO Harvest Day promises to exceed all expectations once again!

The theme “Agriculture Innovated” confirm the positive role attributed to the Harvest Day and its contribution to the future of agriculture. It will showcase agriculture’s latest technology, machinery, innovations, and productivity solutions.

In its efforts to ensure that NAMPO is the agricultural sector’s most relevant platform and marketplace for innovation, technology, information exchange and discussion, Grain SA has stepped up to have expansions and improvements on the grounds and to the programme, ready for the 2023 NAMPO Harvest Day.

“NAMPO plays an important role in developing the agricultural sector by providing a successful environment for business and producers to interact and do business. It gathers all Agri-role players which present their products and services in the areas of production, machinery, food-processing, inputs as well as other products and services related to the sector. NAMPO is also the place where producers meet and the only trade show that bring together agricultural solutions for all types of farms and crops,” Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s NAMPO, Marketing & Research Development Lead said.

What’s New

Many exhibitors have upgraded and expanded their NAMPO offering and newly paved roads will improve the distribution of feet on the park. The new weapons and outdoor apparel offering has been added with the inclusion of new exhibitors. New outside exhibition spaces on the southern side of the grounds bring the total number of exhibitors to more than 800. A new coffee bar will satisfy any coffee-lover’s appetite offering a relaxed lounge atmosphere situated on the southern side at Gate 2.

The delicatessen stalls have been moved to the NAMPO Padstal offering visitors the freshest and tastiest treats on offer. NAMPO’s food stalls have also expanded, still benefitting non-profit organisations such as schools, churches, and community organisations. An exclusive restaurant, which will offer exhibitors the opportunity to reserve tables for client discussions, has been added to the Fanie Ferreira Hall.

The AFGRI Ladies’ programme has been moved to ensure better visibility and promises fun-packed mornings with well-known personalities like singer Chris Else performing, Mynhardt Joubert showcasing the ability to prepare and present a meal in colour, and Willem Botha who will ensure magic transformations with make-overs.

Old Favourites

The traditional NAMPO favourites still part of the programme, include the popular 4×4 vehicle demonstrations on the Standard Bank 4×4-track and the Adventure Track for side-by-side, motorcycle and quad trails. The well-know Farmer’s Patent Competition with Omnia & Landbouweekblad boasts different divisions for entry and is an exhibition not to be missed. The seed plots on the eastern side of the park, offer a view of grain and feed crops and grass varieties of SA’s leading seed companies.

The Nation in Conversation popular discussion forum bring together role players in the agricultural sector to reflect on issues, locally and internationally. Filmed during NAMPO and accommodating approximately 80 guests in the audience, the discussions are streamed live on various platforms.

The livestock division, include cattle, sheep, pig, and goats, representing almost 100% of the large- and small-stock breeds, as well as miniature horses. Daily livestock exhibitions are also scheduled at the TAU Livestock arena where all standard foot & mouth disease protocols will be followed.

Getting around

Getting around the vastness of the NAMPO Park grounds are covered in more ways than one. Media partner OFM will broadcast live from NAMPO Park with a dedicated Agri hour from 11am and dedicated traffic updates throughout the day will ensure listeners travel safely to and from the event. The “Mieliehop” shuttle service will be running between NAMPO & Bothaville daily and offer long distance shuttles from the OR Tambo airport as well as the surrounding towns. For the air traffic, the Absolute Aviation airport lounge welcome visitors to the northern side of the park with a shuttle service available to Gate 3. Visitors on the park can use some of the nine tractor trailers that follow different routes across the grounds, to ease the burden on the feet.

Agricultural Highlight

This year, NAMPO Harvest Day aims to really realize the NAMPO dream of old. The 2023 NAMPO Harvest Day is definitely a highlight on the agricultural calendar and offer visitors the ideal platform to network with the agricultural industry’s top players and suppliers, strengthen friendships and above all, come and enjoy what this unique and ever-growing agricultural show has to offer, all in one place.

Tickets are available from TicketPro with discounted entry fees when purchasing online. Gates open at 07:00 and close at 17:00. Route directions as well as details on the private air strip appear on the website and the NAMPO App. No pets, bicycles, self-propelled carts or motorcycles will be permitted on the premises. Visitors can use the transport carts moving along three different routes on the grounds throughout the day at no charge.

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Bayer ,Oerth Bio partner to further advance innovations in crop protection

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Bayer and the agricultural biotech company Oerth Bio have announced a new collaboration seeking to develop the next generation of more sustainable crop protection products.

The unique protein degradation technology used by Oerth Bio has the potential to generate products that support Bayer’s sustainability objective to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, via lower application rates and favorable safety profiles.

Oerth Bio was founded in 2019 by Bayer’s impact investment arm, Leaps by Bayer, and Arvinas (NASDAQ: ARVN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the way in the development of targeted protein degradation therapeutics.

Initially developed to fight human diseases like cancer and other difficult to treat diseases, Oerth’s patented PROTAC® (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) protein degradation technology provides an innovative pathway to entirely novel crop protection and climate resilient farm solutions. Oerth Bio remains the first and only company researching agricultural PROTAC® solutions.

“The world’s farmers need dependable and sustainable solutions to crop protection challenges, and PROTAC protein degradation technologies show an increasingly promising path toward a new way to develop tailored technologies,” said Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.

“We expect protein degradation technology, already used in medicine, to be an important cornerstone for the development of new crop protection products that reduce the impact on the environment significantly. Oerth Bio’s work has proven to be promising, and we are looking forward to what the next phase of our work together will bring.”

Oerth Bio’s targeted protein degraders offer the capacity for high-precision product development, low application rates, and paths to overcome biological resistance. Oerth molecules are designed to interact with only one target protein, and safeguard off-target/beneficial organisms.

These attributes combine to offer a very attractive pathway for the development of novel crop protection products that are sustainable, and highly effective. PROTAC® molecules activate a specific naturally occurring process within target species.

The impact is expected to be precise and limited to interrupting the specific targeted processes in weeds, diseases or insects that impact crops negatively.

“This collaboration further emboldens our ambitions for first-in-the-world farm centric protein degrader solutions,” said John Dombrosky, Oerth Bio CEO. “It’s a real tribute to Bayer’s leadership and vision, as they significantly invest in breakthroughs that could change farming and the world for the better.”

Oerth Bio is simultaneously developing several novel agricultural applications in nascent crop efficiency and plant resilience segments, ensuring PROTAC® technology can be utilized to its full potential, and provide maximum utility to farmers and the greater food system.

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Kenyan researchers develop striga resistant sorghum variety

Why Africa should practice regenerative agriculture

Kenyan researchers develop striga resistant sorghum variety

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Parasitic weed Striga is a huge constraint to the production of sorghum and other cereal crops. The parasite attaches to host crops and siphons nutrients leading to severe growth retardation and death of infected plants.

And now scientists from Kenyatta University  in Kenya have developed a sorghum variety that is resistant to striga weed, providing a major boost towards achieving food security in the arid and semi-arid areas where the crop is majorly grown.

The striga smart sorghum has been developed through modern technology of gene editing, which involves the use of naturally occurring molecular scissors to improve crops interaction with the environment for better traits such as weed resistance.

The invention has been done by Steven Runo, an Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology at Kenyatta University.

Most cultivated cereals, including maize, millet, sorghum, and rice, are parasitized by at least one Striga species, leading to enormous economic losses. The Striga genus has over thirty species distributed over 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, causing an estimated 7 billion dollars worth of crop losses every year.

Striga control technologies include intercropping with non-hosts, weeding, and chemical control.

However, these strategies are either inefficient or not adaptable to smallholder farming systems. The most efficient and cost-effective way to control Striga infestations would be to develop crops that are resistant to Striga.

Overall, integrated control strategies that exploit natural resistance are universally recommended. However, to date, only a few resistant varieties are released and adopted by farmers and often the resistance is weak or rapidly overcome by the parasite.

Over the past few years, Prof. Runo’s research team has been exploring different methods of building Striga resistance in sorghum and other cereal crops that are key staples in Africa.

The team is working with local farmers and extension officers to select – from a set of Striga-resistant varieties already tested under laboratory and field conditions, sorghum varieties with preferable traits. In this participatory variety selection process, farmers are able to grow sorghum varieties on their farms before making their selection.

This has been particularly important in the identification of farmer-preferred, locally adapted sorghum varieties with improved potential to maintain resistance in farmers’ fields.

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Why Africa should practice regenerative agriculture

New Holland, EFTA partner to boosts farm mechanisation in Tanzania

Why Africa should practice regenerative agriculture

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Severe land degradation in Africa negatively impacts nearly half of all productive land, affecting well over 650 million people.

Practices resulting in land degradation have removed almost a third of the world’s arable land from production over the last 40 years, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing the brunt of this crisis.

Continued inaction to improve and restore land could lead to further losses of USD 4.6 trillion over the next 15 years. To restore degraded lands, regenerative agriculture practices such as crop diversification, tree planting, reduced tillage, mulching, and water conservation techniques spur benefits for both agribusinesses and society.

These techniques improve yields via increased soil nutrient and organic content, reduced soil erosion and improved water retention. Broader environmental benefits also emerge through these practices, including more resilient ecosystems, carbon sequestration, improved water management and stronger biodiversity.

Regenerative agriculture practices are a smart way to stem risk in supply chains.
Risks, including climate risks, are on the rise, potentially inhibiting growth and creating supply disruptions for large agribusinesses. Regenerative practices are comparatively cost effective, relying largely on knowledge, time and labour.

These practices enable farmers to adapt to a variable climate more easily through adopting climate-smart techniques and crop choices. Businesses in SSA already reap the rewards of regenerative agriculture in programmes reaching over 100,000 farmers, with yield increases from 68% to 300%.

Companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), Linking Environment, Agribusiness & Forestry (LEAF) Africa, Nespresso, Olam, Touton and Twiga Foods have already implemented regenerative agriculture programmes in the region. Olam has seen an 80% increase in cotton lint yields through regenerative techniques, which include mulching and crop rotations.

Touton boosted annual yields by 68% through its agroforestry programme, using shade-tree planting. Through a Nespresso training programme, the individual farmers who have fully embraced regenerative practices such as pruning and rejuvenation6 are seeing up to 300% yield increases.

Within just a few years, regenerative farming systems in SSA could greatly increase yields and reduce input costs to farmers. Some benefits can be seen within a single cropping season, though time frames vary significantly, and other impacts can require longer to realise.

The natural benefits of regenerative farming also reduce dependence on expensive inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides, cutting input costs for farmers and providing alternative fodder sources for livestock. The annual savings to farmers across SSA may be as high as USD 17 billion by 2040.

Increased uptake of regenerative agriculture in Africa could support nearly 5 million jobs by 2040 in addition to increasing revenue and food security for smallholder farmers. Farmers adopting regenerative agriculture can benefit from higher and diversified revenue streams, and may generate additional financial capital that can be reinvested at farm level or
help respond to external shocks.

Off-farm employment could also increase alongside yields, as larger harvests require more
labour to transport, process, transform and sell products. The economic benefits for farmers and the surrounding economies from regenerative agriculture is projected to increase food security through reduction of prices and accessibility of varied and
increased food options.

Regenerative agriculture could also sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide, making it a low-cost and effective solution to combat climate change. By 2040, this carbon benefit could equate to a 4.4 GtCO2e increase in SSA soil-based stock alone. Another 106 MtCO2e per year could be sequestered by restoring degraded land with agroforestry systems.

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New Holland, EFTA partner to boosts farm mechanisation in Tanzania

Agritech Israel 2023

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AGRITECH taking place in Tel Aviv, Israel, is the world’s leading agri-innovation exposition for food security solutions.

The international agricultural technology exhibition and conference Agritech has been known worldwide as one of the leading agriculture exhibitions, which is no surprise since Israel is an R&D centre of agriculture, agri-tech and food tech.

Every three years all marketeers, manufacturers and growers from various agricultural sectors come to Agritech. After a hiatus, the international agricultural technology exhibition and conference is returning, taking technology innovation and R&D to the next level.

Join us and discover all the new breakthrough solutions and technologies used to challenge crop and fruit growing, irrigation and water shortage, climate change, desertification, post-harvest and food tech.

Let’s create professional connections and learn about agri-innovation, meet the manufacturers, technology suppliers, new start-ups and fellow visitors from other countries.

The AGRITECH will take place on 3 days from Tuesday, 02. May to Thursday, 04. May 2023 in Tel Aviv.

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New Holland, EFTA partner to boosts farm mechanisation in Tanzania

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Leasing company Equity for Tanzania Ltd (EFTA) and New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial have announced a ground breaking partnership that is expected to bring mechanization to Tanzania’s 3.7m smallholder farmers.

The partnership also involves Hughes Agriculture Tanzania Ltd (HAT), New Holland Agriculture’s local distributor in Tanzania, and CRDB, one of Tanzania’s leading banks.
Nicomed Bohay, Managing Director of EFTA, commented: “We have done a deal of 200 new tractors with one of the respected top brands in the world for farmers and SMEs in Tanzanian agricultural sector.
This is to reaffirm EFTA’s commitment in collaboration with our business partners, CRDB Bank, Hughes Agriculture and New Holland Agriculture; to provide access to finance without collateral to farmers who wouldn’t have met eligibility criteria from mainstream financial institutions, a special segment of SME’s usually referred to as the “missing middle”, who are too big for microfinance but too small for conventional banks. The delivery of this transaction, and many more to come, confirms EFTA’s position as a leading financial leasing company in Tanzania.”
HAT and EFTA have been working in partnership for over five years, this is the first time a broader partnership, including New Holland Agriculture and CRDB, has been formed to significantly scale up tractor access by smallholder farmers.
It is expected to be the beginning of an ongoing partnership to grow mechanization in East Africa, including in Kenya, through EFTA’s sister company, EFKen Leasing Ltd (EFKen). Both EFTA and EFKen are subsidiaries of EFAfrica Group Ltd of Mauritius.
Stuart Leishman, Managing Director of HAT, commented “Mechanization is key to ensure the long-term goal of Tanzania becoming food secure, and we are proud to be able to play our part in increasing the number of emerging farmers using tractors and implements to improve their yields.
Thanks to our valued partnership with EFTA, New Holland Agriculture and the support of CRDB, we have created a solution where farmers can acquire New Holland tractors from EFTA, at affordable rates. This can be done without the various collateral hurdles that might have otherwise prevented them from accessing this equipment previously.
Hughes Agriculture will provide after sales support via their expanding network across the region to ensure that our customers receive the services, they need to keep their investment running.
HAT is a preferred agricultural and automotive solution provider company in Tanzania. HAT is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Al Futtaim Group. It is a multi-franchise organization and represents some of the world`s leading brands. New Holland Agriculture is the agricultural equipment brand represented in Tanzania.
New Holland Agriculture is a brand of CNH Industrial, a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. In Tanzania, New Holland Agriculture has a strong position in agriculture sector for many years and providing a full line of equipment from tractors to harvesting.
As being the established and reputable manufacturer of agricultural equipment partner of this deal, the representative of the Company, Özkan Eren, New Holland Business Director, Middle East and Africa, stated “New Holland has built a strong presence in Tanzania and constantly providing crucial product improvement feedbacks.
This plays a key role to enhance New Holland’s commitment to continue innovating and adapting to market demands.
Through this partnership, our common objective is to provide the best possible products like TT75 tractor model and services to increase the mechanisation level of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and we are also committed to train the farmers and provide technical support they need to raise the bar on their productivity and profitability together with EFTA.
It is certain that we will continue to invest in Tanzania in support of our local partners”
The commercial bank partner of this deal, CRDB Bank is an integrated financial services provider and the largest Bank in Tanzania, with an asset base of over TZS 10 trillion. It is active in corporate, retail, business, treasury, premier, and wholesale microfinance. CRDB Bank is rated B2 (Stable Outlook) by Moody’s rating agency.
Mr. Abdulmajid Nsekela, The Group CEO and Managing Director for CRDB Bank Plc, commented: “This partnership with EFTA to support the SMEs in Tanzania demonstrates our readiness to support the agriculture sector. SMEs are the engines of growth for the economy, contributing heavily to the country’s GDP and employment.
We will continue with this partnership to ensure mechanisation in agriculture brings the desired outcomes”.
Lastly, Michiel Timmerman, Chairman, EFAfrica Group, said “We are very excited by this ground-breaking deal. This is because of the impact it will deliver, by providing affordable mechanisation and access to a leading tractor brand with excellent after-sales service and parts provided by Hughes Agriculture throughout the country.
But also, because it is a landmark for the Group, having achieved a size and maturity where we can work directly with OEMs in partnership with their dealers in-country, backed by leading local financial institutions. We now look forward to developing the partnership in Tanzania in 2023 and expanding it to Kenya.”
From January 2022 to date, EFTA has already financed 330 tractors, and in addition to this EFTA has directly purchased 200 units of New Holland Agriculture branded TT75 4WD tractors for leasing to smallholder farmers to support the country’s 2025 vision for mechanization, increase agricultural production, and improve food security.
EFTA currently has 1,045 active leases to SMEs and has financed over USD 69 million in equipment for SMEs and farmers who would otherwise be unable to access finance. Annual Tanzanian tractor sales are estimated at 1,800 units, meaning EFTA’s 530 tractors boost Tanzanian tractor access for farmers by 23%.
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Production of sustainable aviation fuel in UK could require huge agricultural land, report warns

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Producing sustainable aviation fuel to supply the UK’s ‘net zero’ ambitions would require enormous quantities of UK agricultural land or renewable electricity to keep flying at today’s levels, a briefing by the UK science academy, the Royal Society, has warned.

The Net zero aviation fuels: resource requirements and environmental impacts report warns there is no single, clear, sustainable alternative to jet fuel able to support flying on a scale equivalent to present day use.

The report explores these resource availability challenges, as well as likely costs, life-cycle impacts, infrastructure requirements and outstanding research questions across four fuel types, green hydrogen, biofuels (energy crops and waste), ammonia and synthetic fuels (efuels)*.

It estimates that meeting existing UK aviation demand entirely with energy crops would require around half of UK agricultural land. While producing sufficient green hydrogen fuel would require 2.4 – 3.4 times the UK’s 2020 renewable (wind and solar) electricity generation.

While each fuel type has advantages and drawbacks, the findings underscore the challenges of decarbonising aviation, especially when resources are likely to be in global demand for a range of ‘net-zero’ objectives.

The report also identifies significant research requirements in scaling up net zero fuels, from storage and handling, to environmental impacts including CO2 and non-CO2 emissions.

Addressing these challenges requires global coordination, particularly for navigating the transition period between current and future generation aircraft.

“Research and innovation are vital tools for the delivery of net zero,” said Professor Graham Hutchings FRS, Regius Professor of Chemistry, Cardiff University, and chair of the report working group. “But we need to be very clear about the strengths, limitations, and challenges that must be addressed and overcome if we are to scale up the required new technologies in a few short decades.

“This briefing tries to pull together those realities, to allow policy makers to understand the future resource implications of today’s policy and R&D decisions and to support international dialogue on this global technology transition.”

Fuel Type Advantages and disadvantages Resource implications
 Biofuels (energy crops and waste) CO2 produced but is mitigated by CO2 capture in the biomass, but little modification of infrastructure or aircraft required. Land availability, for energy crops, and resource availability for wastes, is challenging. Energy crops considered – rapeseed, miscanthus, and poplar wood – would require more than 50% of the UK’s available agricultural land to replace aviation fuels.
‘Waste’ feedstocks including sewage, solid municipal waste, or forestry residues, could contribute towards net zero fuel demand, but there is competition from established markets for these feedstocks and significant investment in fuel production and collection infrastructure is required.
Hydrogen No CO2 produced from the aircraft, significant renewable electricity needed for ‘green’ hydrogen. Substantial modification of aircraft and infrastructure, and assurance of safety and non-CO2 effects, needed. Producing enough green hydrogen to replace current fossil aviation fuel would require around 2.4 to 3.4 times the UK’s annual renewable electricity generation (2020).
Ammonia No CO2 produced from the aircraft, but greater renewable electricity requirement than hydrogen. Substantial modification of aircraft and infrastructure, and assurance of safety and non-CO2 effects, needed. Producing ‘green’ ammonia as a jet fuel would require 2.5 to 3.9 times the UK’s annual renewable electricity generation (2020).
Synthetic fuels Would produce CO2 from the engine but, like biofuels, would require minimal modification of existing aircraft. Efuel production is energy intensive and to be considered ‘net zero’ would require green hydrogen as a feedstock and capture of CO2. When done sustainably using renewable electricity, this would require 5 to 8 times the UK’s 2020 renewable electricity capacity (excluding biofuels).

Global aviation CO2 emissions were approximately 1,000 million tonnes per year in 2018/19, representing 2.4% of global emissions, dropping in 2020 to 600 million tonnes and increasing in 2021 to 720 million tonnes. UK aviation (international and domestic) accounted for 8% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.

The UK has committed to scale up manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and make domestic flying ‘net zero ‘by 2040, but aviation is growing globally, and is one of a number of sectors needing to decarbonise.

While alternative aviation fuels will likely have an increased cost, persisting with traditional kerosene jet fuel is likely to become increasingly expensive as decarbonisation in other sectors accelerates, the report notes.

Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment of the fuel options in the report considered their environmental impacts including emissions beyond CO2 from fuel production to pump, or fuel production to exhaust (known as wake). However, accounting for emissions and environmental impacts depends in part on the assumptions made and availability of data on their use and production.

Despite increasing investment in ammonia and hydrogen fuels, data on emissions are limited in the public domain – in part because of the immaturity of these technologies – so these projections will need to be continually updated as engine data from laboratory, and real-world testing develops.

Research will also be important to understand the impact of non-CO2 emissions from jet engines, and the formation of contrails, which currently contribute significantly to warming by aviation globally. Alternative fuels may reduce these effects, but there are significant uncertainties over this.

Wider considerations, including the development of new airframes to permit hydrogen or ammonia storage, the refuelling infrastructure, and safe refuelling and storage protocols would also need to be investigated and adopted globally.

“How fossil fuel alternatives are produced is critical, as is how we measure their sustainability across the entire cycle of their use,” Professor Marcelle McManus, Director of the Institute for Sustainability, University of Bath and a working group member.

“We need consistency, and we need to apply this globally, because adopting any of these new technologies will create demands and pressures for land, renewable energy or other products that may have knock on environmental or economic effects.”

The report did not consider batteries because they are not expected to reach the energy density requirements of long-distance commercial flight by 2050.

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Netafim boosts precision irrigation in Morocco with new manufacturing plant

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Netafim, an Orbia business and a global leader in precision agriculture solutions has opened its first manufacturing plant in Morocco to enhance the successful implementation of precision irrigation in the country and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector. 

Investment in this plant illustrates the company’s long-standing commitment to helping countries in the region achieve food security and combat climate change.

Morocco is a rapidly expanding agricultural hub in North Africa with its agri-food sector driving economic and social development, contributing 21% the GDP and accounting for almost 39% of national employment.

Its prime location in the heart of EMEA and extensive transport infrastructure enable its high-value crops to be easily shipped to European markets. Morocco’s government initiatives include developing a million hectares of agricultural land while conserving water and creating 350,000 jobs for young people as part of the country’s “Green Morocco” and “Green Generation 2020-2030” plans, to support and modernize the agricultural sector.

While Morocco is a developed agricultural market, the climate poses serious challenges to farming. A devastating drought in 2022 led the United Nations to warn that water shortages will cost the region up to 14% of its GDP by 2050: the largest estimated loss to GDP due to water scarcity in the world.

Netafim’s precision irrigation technologies are ideal for use in arid conditions, maximizing yields while conserving resources. Investment in this new plant contributes to Orbia’s purpose to advance life around the world through scaling clean, smart and efficient solutions that benefit people and the planet.

“Opening this plant is both the culmination of our investment in the region and a gateway to further expansion. We are proud to support the “Green Morocco” and “Green Generation” plans championed by the government to realize the potential of Morocco’s diverse and rich natural landscape and climate. Netafim’s sustainable farming practices will help the Moroccan people and the wider region achieve prosperity and agricultural resilience,” said Gaby Miodownik, Executive Vice President and President of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business (Netafim).

“Netafim’s factory is built right in the heart of an agricultural region to enable farmers in Morocco and across North Africa to derive enormous benefit from precision irrigation. Netafim will provide local farmers with our state-of-the-art products and services and share our agronomic and technical expertise for greater yields and long-term sustainable agriculture practices,” said Gal Yarden, Senior Vice President of Netafim’s EMEA division.

The manufacturing plant will officially open on March 2, 2023 in the Kenitra region of Morocco. The opening is expected to create 200 jobs.

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