[ad_1]
Editor’s note: Agtech Seedlings is a weekly summary highlighting the latest advancements in agricultural technology, focusing on venture capital, product launches, and groundbreaking milestones. Have updates to share? Email us here.
PepsiCo and Yara Collaborate to Reduce Fertilizer Emissions in Europe
A recent collaboration between PepsiCo Europe and Yara, a leading fertilizer manufacturer, aims to deliver lower-carbon crop nutrition solutions and advanced digital tools to encourage regenerative agricultural practices among farmers.
Under this partnership, Yara plans to supply PepsiCo with up to 165,000 tons of fertilizer each year, primarily from its Climate Choice line, which features products produced from either renewable ammonia or low-carbon ammonia through carbon capture technologies, as detailed in their recent announcement.
By the year 2030, Yara intends for its Climate Choice fertilizers to be the exclusive products used in the partnership as production techniques and technologies advance.
The initiative will involve around 1,000 farms across approximately 128,000 hectares (or 316,000 acres) throughout the European Union and the UK, initially focusing on potato cultivation before extending to other crops such as oats and corn.
Farmers will also gain access to digital platforms provided by Yara and PepsiCo, which will facilitate improved nutrient decision-making through comprehensive monitoring of crop and soil conditions.
“By supplying our farmers with fertilizers that possess a lower carbon footprint and equipping them to enhance end-to-end crop nutrition, we can make significant strides toward achieving our net-zero emissions target by 2040,” stated Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo Europe.
Cargill Funds Research to Lower Methane Emissions from Cattle
A program at Colorado State University focusing on sustainable livestock practices has secured a $1 million investment from Cargill to tackle methane emissions produced by cattle.
The funding will be allocated to research how various ingredients and feed additives might affect enteric methane emissions—gas emissions released during digestion, often characterized as cow burps, according to their announcement. Researchers from CSU’s AgNext program will conduct experiments over the next two years to evaluate how different feeding techniques, including grain processing mixed with additives, influence methane production.
“The findings from this pioneering research will pave the way for new technologies in cattle nutrition and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the beef supply chain,” commented Eliza Clark, Cargill’s Protein and Salt Sustainability Leader.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 37% of methane emissions from human activities are connected to livestock and agricultural practices. Although methane does not linger in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it is significantly more potent and impacts global warming more severely.
Syngenta and Ginkgo Bioworks Enhance Development of Biologicals
Pioneer in seeds and pesticides, Syngenta has partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks, a biotech innovator, to fast-track the introduction of new biological solutions, which serve as sustainable alternatives to traditional crop inputs.
This partnership will see Ginkgo developing a microbial strain that can optimize the production of a specific molecule identified by Syngenta as an “innovative biological solution,” as stated in the announcement.
Syngenta and Ginkgo have collaborated previously on advanced seed technologies.
“At Syngenta, we are dedicated to offering farmers a wider range of complementary products and technologies that promote sustainable agriculture,” expressed Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research at Syngenta Crop Protection. “Collaborating with Ginkgo will leverage their unique capabilities to help us meet our productivity targets for the targeted molecule and accelerate our path to market.”
SOURCE
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.
