Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Bengaluru: Last week, <keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> unveiled a series of new AI-powered partnerships aimed at advancing healthcare, <keyword id="19895783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="keywords">sustainability</keyword>, and agriculture in India The tech giant is collaborating with both local and international organisations to implement AI-driven solutions in <keyword id="21690244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diabetic-retinopathy" source="keywords">diabetic retinopathy</keyword> screening, urban waste management, and agricultural development. According to Google, these announcements were made during a roundtable in Bengaluru, marking the fifth anniversary of Google's Research Lab in the city. This follows the 10th edition of the Google for India event, which showcased the potential of AI to benefit individuals, businesses, and society at large. Dr Manish Gupta, Research Director of Google DeepMind, stated, "Collaborating with key Indian organisations, our focused research in India across language understanding, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability is helping tackle many of the country's unique challenges and creating AI-led solutions that will improve billions of lives." Google is working with <keyword id="23588208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Forus-Health" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Forus Health" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Forus Health">Forus Health</keyword> and AuroLab in India and Perceptra in Thailand to provide 6 million AI-assisted screenings for diabetic retinopathy over the next decade. These screenings aim to detect and prevent blindness in diabetic patients, particularly in resource-limited communities. The AI model has already supported over 600,000 screenings worldwide, with initial research and deployment carried out in India. Sunny Virmani, Group Product Manager, Health AI Research at Google, remarked, "From our initial research to the first patient screening in Madurai, India, we've been committed to translating AI's potential into meaningful change for people globally. And now the partnerships with Forus Health, AuroLab, and Perceptra are helping us expand on this commitment, as a global network of innovators comes together to eradicate preventable blindness due to diabetic retinopathy." Google's CircularNet, an AI-driven computer vision model for waste management, is being deployed in partnership with Bengaluru-based Saahas Zero Waste. CircularNet helps identify and sort plastic waste, facilitating recycling and reducing the strain on landfills. Powered by Google's TensorFlow, the model has shown approximately 85% accuracy in detecting plastic waste during a pilot programme, potentially boosting revenue for material recovery facilities by 10-12%. To support data-driven decision-making in agriculture, Google is also opening its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API to developers. The API leverages satellite imagery and machine learning to provide farm-level insights, such as field boundaries, water bodies, and vegetation. The technology aims to optimise resource allocation and guide sustainable farming practices in India. (ANI)

Google announces AI-led collaborations for India's health, sustainability, and agriculture sectors

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> is intensifying its focus on <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> with the introduction of advanced AI tools aimed at breaking down <keyword id="20932433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="language-barriers" source="keywords">language barriers</keyword> and enhancing agricultural practices, a senior company official said. Abhishek <keyword id="22795920" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bapna" source="keywords">Bapna</keyword>, Director of Product Management at Google <keyword id="20260498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DeepMind" source="keywords">DeepMind</keyword>, highlighted the importance of reducing language barriers in India's economic development. "Language is very essential for economic development. For instance, a language barrier should not hinder someone from explaining their medical issues to a doctor or accessing banking services," Bapna said during his short visit to IIM Calcutta. The tech giant has launched Google <keyword id="19896990" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gemini" source="keywords">Gemini</keyword>, formerly known as Bard, an artificial intelligence chatbot that supports more than 40 global languages, including nine Indian languages. Bapna added that Google's ongoing focus is on continuously improving language quality and expanding support for more Indian languages in the future. Currently, the chatbot supports nine Indian languages - Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Bapna noted the complexity of India's multilingual environment, where people often use multiple languages simultaneously. This presents unique challenges for AI models, as they must correctly identify and apply the appropriate dictionaries to understand and generate accurate responses, Bapna said. To empower developers in India, Google is expanding <keyword id="22364430" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Project-Vaani" source="keywords">Project Vaani</keyword> in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The project offers developers over 14,000 hours of speech data across 58 languages, collected from 80,000 speakers in 80 districts. Additionally, Google introduced IndicGenBench, a comprehensive benchmark designed specifically for Indian languages. This initiative aims to assess and fine-tune language models for more accurate and effective use in India. In a parallel effort to support India's agricultural sector, Google is working towards launching the Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API. This limited availability tool is designed to make agricultural practices more data-driven and efficient. The ALU API aims to enhance farm yields, improve access to capital, and provide better market access for farm products. "On agriculture, right now we are conducting a pilot with the Telangana government that is already underway. Once the pilot is complete, we plan to scale it up and engage actively with state governments," Bapna said. He emphasized that Google's agricultural initiatives are driven by two major goals: improving livelihoods and addressing climate change through necessary interventions. "Banks and insurance companies could also be end users. Right now our focus is to make sure that the technology works properly," Bapna said. By offering granular landscape insights at the farm field level, the ALU API is expected to transform India's agricultural ecosystem.

Google to expand AI initiatives in India, targeting language barriers, agricultural efficiency

The Budget 2024-2025 announcement by Union Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> saw productivity and resilience in <keyword id="19931887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture" source="keywords">agriculture</keyword> being prioritised above all else. With a desire to turn focus on <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword>, or Annadatas, ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and its allied sectors. This is quite an increase from the Interim Budget announcement of ₹1.27 lakh crore in February 2024. It is being speculated that this substantial focus on the agricultural sector stems from the BJP's vote share dipping in semi-urban and rural areas during the recent Lok Sabha elections. In fact, when Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> returned for a third term in office, the first file he signed was for the release of the 17th instalment of the PM <keyword id="22000840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-nidhi" source="keywords">Kisan Nidhi</keyword> scheme, ET reported. However, the government's commitment to transforming agriculture and potentially the lives of Indian farmers could lead to the agricultural sector growing at 3.7% in the current fiscal, compared to 1.4% last year, as per the CII. <h2>Key initiatives in agriculture</h2>Transforming Agriculture Research The government is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the agricultural research framework, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity and developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Funding will be allocated on a challenge basis, including to private sector initiatives. This research will be overseen by domain experts from both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Release of New Varieties A total of 109 new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops will be introduced for farmers to cultivate. Promoting Natural Farming In the next two years, the government plans to transition one crore farmers to natural farming practices, supported by certification and branding efforts. This initiative will be carried out through scientific institutions and willing <keyword id="20030597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gram-panchayats" source="keywords">gram panchayats</keyword>, with 10,000 bio-input resource centers to be established based on need. Missions for Pulses and Oilseeds To achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, the government will strengthen their production, storage, and marketing. As outlined in the interim budget, a strategy is being implemented to attain 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) for oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111930255" title="Economic Survey calls for urgent agricultural reforms; cites growth hurdles" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Vegetable Production &amp; Supply Chains Large-scale clusters for vegetable production will be developed near major consumption centers. The government will support Farmer-Producer Organizations, cooperatives, and startups to streamline the vegetable supply chain, including collection, storage, and marketing. Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture Building on the success of a pilot project, the government, in partnership with states, will facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture over the next three years. This year, a digital crop survey for Kharif crops will be conducted in 400 districts, integrating details of six crore farmers and their lands into registries. Additionally, Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit Cards will be issued in five states. Shrimp Production &amp; Export Financial support will be provided to establish a network of Nucleus Breeding Centres for shrimp broodstocks. NABARD will facilitate financing for shrimp farming, processing, and export. National Cooperation Policy A new National Cooperation Policy will be introduced to promote systematic and comprehensive development of the cooperative sector. This policy aims to fast-track rural economic growth and create large-scale employment opportunities. <h2>Budget allocation highlights</h2><ul><li>PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: Will be retaining its allocation of ₹60,000 crore to provide direct financial assistance to 11.8 crore small and marginal farmers.</li><li>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Allocated funds to provide crop insurance to four crore farmers, protecting them from adverse weather conditions.</li><li>e-NAM Expansion: Integration of 1,361 mandis into the e-NAM platform to enhance market efficiency and transparency, benefiting 1.8 crore farmers with an expected trading volume of ₹3 lakh crore.</li></ul><h2>Government committed to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh</h2>The Finance Minister said that the government is fully committed to financing and expeditiously completing the Polavaram irrigation project, which is considered a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. <h2>Future directions</h2>The government aims to increase public and private investment in post-harvest infrastructure and supply chains, promoting aggregation, modern storage, and efficient processing to reduce losses and improve food security. Additionally, the dairy and fisheries sectors will see significant development, with initiatives to boost productivity and exports, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural ecosystem. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111951205" title="Budget 2024-25: Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy's website touts his support for Montana agriculture.</li><li>But the photo he originally used wasn't taken in Montana — it was taken in Kentucky.</li></ul>Republican Tim Sheehy has based his Senate campaign in Montana in part on his support for the state's agricultural sector.On the <a href="https://timformt.com/on-the-issues/">"Issues" section of his campaign website</a>, he argues that he knows "firsthand the challenges we face with the over consolidation of corporate agriculture," pointing to his co-founding of a cattle company to showcase his "direct participation and investment in production agriculture here in Montana."But the photo he originally used to illustrate that "direct participation" — a sunny, green pasture filled with grazing cattle — was actually taken by a photographer hundreds of miles away, in Kentucky.<div type="image" title="The portion of Sheehy's website touting his support for Montana agriculture — alongside a photo taken in Kentucky." height="584" width="2348" msid="101648027" hostid="261" sizebytes="46022"></div>An <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/grazing-cows-222490204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original copy of the photo</a> can be found on the <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Phent">Shutterstock page of Patrick Jennings</a>, a Kentucky-based photographer. A similar photo on the website indicates that the picture used by Sheehy was <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/grazing-cows-kentucky-field-354606956">taken in a field in Kentucky.</a>That wasn't the only example of out-of-state photography on Sheehy's website.The photo that Sheehy originally used to illustrate his support for border security was <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fence-barbed-wire-on-border-object-278430986">taken in Russia</a>, while a photo in his "Forest Management" section <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/misty-landscape-fir-forest-hipster-vintage-736023025">originates from Ukraine</a>.Reached for comment, Sheehy campaign spokeswoman Katie Martin blamed their campaign's digital vendor, Push Digital, for the "unfortunate error.""The website has been updated accordingly," Martin added.The agriculture portion now includes a <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/round-bales-found-livingston-montana-1544162807">Shutterstock image</a> labeled "Round bales found in Livingston Montana," while the forestry section now has a <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/custer-gallatin-national-forest-montana-1884771496">photo taken in Custer Gallatin National Forest</a> and the border security section features a <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/arizona-border-patrol/">commonly-used stock image</a> of the <a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/are-border-apprehensions-up-or-down-it-depends/">southern border wall</a> that's been <a href="https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/8/27/the-network-of-women-environmental-donors-rallying-funds-to-fight-the-border-wall">appeared in several articles</a>.<div type="image" title="Sheehy’s “Border Security” section, which includes a photo taken in Russia." height="600" width="2348" msid="101648028" hostid="261" sizebytes="38706"></div>It's not all that uncommon for political campaigns to use stock imagery that contradicts the message they're seeking to get across.Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/28/rfk-jr-deletes-tweet-advertising-campaign-merch-with-russian-stock-photo/">used a Russian stock photo</a> in a tweet hawking his campaign merchandise, while House Republicans' "Commitment to America" campaign roll-out last year <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-republicans-commitment-to-america-stock-footage-russia-ukraine_n_632dc7afe4b0d12b5404bab1">also included Russian and Ukrainian stock imagery</a>.Often, it's simply cheap and expedient to use stock images, rather than original photos taken solely for a campaign. <div type="image" title="Sheehy’s “Forest Management” section, which includes a photo taken in Russia." height="592" width="2348" msid="101648029" hostid="261" sizebytes="37698"></div>But in a state like Montana — where <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Californians-moving-to-Montana-exodus-tech-16330335.php">suspicion</a> towards <a href="https://my1035.com/why-montanans-dont-like-out-of-staters/">so-called "out of staters"</a> runs high and where <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/27/former-navy-seal-sheehy-announces-montana-senate-bid-00103770">Democrats have already sought to portray Sheehy</a>, who moved to the state in 2014, as a "transplant" — even small choices like these are likely to draw scrutiny.Montana's US Senate election is certain to be one of the most closely-watched in the nation next year; Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is seeking re-election in a state that former President Donald Trump carried by double-digits in 2020, and partisan control of the entire Senate hangs in the balance.National Republicans recruited Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and businessman, to run against Tester. Several Republican senators have already backed Sheehy's campaign, hoping to head off a primary challenge from Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican who lost to Tester in 2018.

GOP Senate candidate uses Kentucky photo to tout his support for Montana agriculture — then quickly replaces it when asked about it

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has embraced technology in every field of activity. It is adopting smart farming methods through technology and innovation in the agriculture sector and this may prove to be a game changer in the days to come by substantially raising farmers income. How is this method beneficial? Smart farming involves the application of sensors and automated irrigation practices. It can help monitor agricultural land, temperature and soil moisture. This would enable farmers to monitor crops from anywhere. Moreover, smart farming can help integrate digital and physical infrastructures, which would benefit small farmers. Agri-based startups can reach out to the farmers and help them gain access to such viable and cost-effective solutions. Agri-based, tech-driven startups have been very innovative in assisting farmers and revolutionising farming techniques. They have also addressed one of the most powerful headwinds (climate change) through climate-smart farming. In a unique move, the Indian government is implementing a <keyword id="12166469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-Agriculture-Mission" source="Orion">Digital Agriculture Mission</keyword> (DAM), which includes India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA), Farmers' Database, Unified Farmers Service Interface (UFSI), funding to the states on the new technology (NeGPA), revamping <keyword id="3182679" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahalanobis-National-Crop-Forecast-Centre" source="Orion">Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre</keyword> (MNCFC), Soil Health, Fertility and profile mapping. According to a report published by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in 2019, there were more than 450 argi-based tech-driven startups in India as of 2019. This number has skyrocketed in the last two years as the sector witnessed a surge in investments and funding. Agri-based tech-driven startups have been very innovative in assisting farmers and revolutionising farming techniques. They have also addressed one of the most powerful headwinds (climate change) through climate-smart farming. Under the NeGPA programme funding is given to the governments in various Indian states for Digital Agriculture projects using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Block chain etc. Adoption of drone technologies is being done too. To promote smart farming, the government promotes startups in the agriculture sector and nurtures agri-entrepreneurs. The 'Per Drop More Crop' component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC) aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through micro irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. PMKSY is a scheme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The <keyword id="87560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Council-of-Agricultural-Research" source="Orion">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</keyword> (ICAR) promotes innovation, extension and education in agriculture. A total of 1,575 field crop varieties were released for different agricultural crops during 2014-21. During 2014-21, 91.43 crore agri-advisories were provided to farmers through mobiles. ICAR developed 187 mobile apps on different farm and farmer related services during 2014-21. The agriculture sector plays a vital role in enriching India's economy. Agriculture accounted for almost 17.8 per cent of India's Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2019- 20. According to the World Bank's collection of development indicators, employment rate in the Indian agriculture sector stood at 41.5 per cent in 2020. From a socio-economic standpoint, agriculture is a vital sector which requires focus and awareness at all levels. According to India Brand Equity Foundation, the rising population and changing diets have created a huge pressure on land in India. Farmers are struggling to keep up as crop yields level off, soil degradation rises, water shortage increases, biodiversity declines, and natural calamities become more frequent. Furthermore, agriculture accounts for almost 14 per cent of India's total greenhouse gas emissions. In the meantime, the NITI Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission of India) conducted a study entitled "Efficacy of Minimum Support Prices on farmers", in 2016, which found, among other things, that MSP declared by the government has encouraged 78 per cent of the farmers covered under the study for adopting improved methods of farming such as high yielding varieties of seeds, organic manure, chemical fertilizer, pesticides and improved methods of harvesting etc. Additionally, oilseeds, pulses and copra of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) are procured from registered farmers under Price Support Scheme of the umbrella scheme of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), as per its prescribed guidelines. The Indian national Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep Minimum Support Price or MSP at levels of one-and-half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, government has increased the MSPs for all mandated Kharif (including wheat), Rabi and other commercial crops with a return of at least 50 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production from the agricultural year 2018-19. Moreover, India's National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) is the only source of enrolment for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), on which farmer applications from various designated sources including banks/financial institutions are entered. Specific cut-off dates have been prescribed for enrolment of farmers, debit of premium, remittance of farmers' premium to concerned insurance company and uploading of data of farmers on NCIP. The <keyword id="603825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Food-Processing-Industries" source="Orion">Ministry of Food Processing Industries</keyword> (MoFPI) has been incentivising setting of food processing industries through central sector umbrella scheme �Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and centrally sponsored scheme �PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across all the country. Under scheme of creation of infrastructure for agro processing clusters, a component scheme of PMKSY, the scheme is aimed at development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach and also to create modern infrastructure for food processing closer to production areas and to provide integrated and complete preservation infrastructure facilitates from the farm gate to the consumer. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-must-pitch-for-rupee-as-dollar-distancing-might-be-finally-happening-sbi-ecowrap/articleshow/93513940.cms">India must pitch for Rupee as dollar distancing might be finally happening: SBI Ecowrap</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/snapchat-comes-to-india-with-exclusive-features-heres-how-much-it-costs-and-how-to-sign-up/articleshow/93513880.cms">Snapchat+ comes to India with exclusive features — here's how much it costs and how to sign up</a>

Smart farming can prove to be a game changer in the coming days

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two dozen companies plans to buy $53 million worth of carbon-removal credits from Charm Industrial.</li><li>The startup converts corn stalks and other plant waste into bio-oil, then pumps it underground.</li><li>Climate scientists say carbon removal is essential to keep global warming below catastrophic levels.</li></ul>Not all oil is bad for the planet. Two dozen companies announced plans Thursday to buy $53 million worth of carbon-removal credits from Charm Industrial, which converts corn stalks, leaves, and other waste leftover from agricultural harvests into bio-oil. Charm then pumps that carbon-rich oil underground to be permanently stored. It's a way to prevent organic matter from breaking down and further warming the atmosphere. The company says the oil hardens within days and it estimates the carbon dioxide is locked away for 1 million years.The agreement, one of the largest to date involving the carbon-removal industry, would prevent 112,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere between 2024 and 2030. That's far more than the <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/31520770.12795/aHR0cHM6Ly9jaGFybWluZHVzdHJpYWwuY29tL3JlZ2lzdHJ5P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlcg/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB34a22263" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6,055 tons that Charm Industrial has removed to date</a> under pilot programs. "This purchase is super helpful for fundraising and going out and building up capacity," Peter Reinhardt, the company's cofounder and CEO, told Insider. "It's hard to build capacity for something that doesn't have demand, so a signed contract is really impactful."The deal <a href="https://frontierclimate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was facilitated by Frontier</a>, which was launched last year by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey Sustainability aimed at jump-starting the carbon-removal market with a $1 billion commitment. Frontier had spent only <a href="https://frontierclimate.com/portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5.6 million on carbon removal</a> before Thursday's deal with Charm Industrial. Climate scientists say that carbon removal is essential to stave off catastrophe. Even if countries reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, it likely won't be fast enough to keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial levels. Meeting that global climate goal <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/carbon-removal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will likely require billions of metric tons</a> of carbon dioxide to be removed from the atmosphere by 2050.There are various carbon-removal technologies. Startups like Climeworks <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carbon-dioxide-removal-air-sky-machine-climate-change-climeworks-2023-1">are using fans to suck carbon dioxide out of the sky</a>, while others are using enhanced weathering that speeds up the natural ability of minerals to store carbon dioxide.For its part, Charm Industrial buys agricultural waste from farmers and heats it to high temperatures in a contraption called a pyrolyzer. The process creates both bio-oil and biochar. The bio-oil is pumped <a href="https://charmindustrial.com/faq?question=is-it-safe-to-inject-bio-oil-underground_7d367946" target="_blank" rel="noopener">into wells and salt caverns</a> that store industrial waste or were left behind by oil and gas companies — and that the Environmental Protection Agency regulates."This is an opportunity to clean up these end-of-life oil and gas assets," Reinhardt said. "We can take these abandoned assets that may be leaking oil or methane, refill the empty formation and then plug it or properly seal it off."Farmers can add the biochar to their fields, which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cities-will-make-soil-additive-biochar-to-help-climate-2022-6">can improve soil health and sequester more carbon</a>. But Charm Industrial doesn't account for that in its measurement of how much carbon the company is removing. The <a href="https://charmindustrial.com/Bio-oil_Sequestration__Protocol_for_Measurement_Reporting_and_Verification.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">life-cycle analysis</a> includes the total carbon stored, minus emissions from transportation, pyrolysis, and the injection underground. Today, Charm Industrial charges $600 per ton of carbon removed, but Reinhardt said that could drop to less than $100 by 2040 as the company scales. Growing the company will require access to more agricultural waste, known as biomass. It's also used in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels. Yet Reinhardt isn't worried about a biomass shortage."I would say this is a theoretical concern we encounter in academic circles, but in practice is very far from reality," he said. "Maybe at a really massive scale there starts to be some questions about how we are going to compete for biomass. Right now, we have biomass coming out of our ears."

Charm Industrial is getting $53 million to turn agricultural waste into oil that can lock away carbon dioxide for 1 million years

<ul><li><keyword id="17106270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kissangpt" source="Orion">KissanGPT</keyword> is a powerful <keyword id="6171891" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ai-chatbot" source="Orion">AI chatbot</keyword> designed to help <keyword id="59510" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-farmers" source="Orion">Indian farmers</keyword> with their agricultural queries, providing real-time advice on crop cultivation, pest control, soil management, and more.</li><li>It is designed to bridge the information gap between farmers and experts, providing farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed in their fields.</li><li>With its user-friendly interface and multilingual support, KissanGPT is proving to be a valuable resource for farmers across India, helping them to overcome the challenges of farming and achieve greater success in their fields.</li></ul>Amidst the popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT and others, a new AI-powered chatbot called <a href="https://kissangpt.com/">KissanGPT</a> has been launched to help Indian farmers. With India being an agricultural powerhouse, this AI chatbot could be a game-changer for farmers who rely solely on farming for their livelihood. KissanGPT is a ChatGPT-powered chatbot designed to assist farmers with their agricultural queries. It is available in multiple languages, including Hindi. KissanGPT can provide real-time advice on crop cultivation, irrigation, pest control, and other farming-related topics. Farmers can interact with the chatbot via their smartphones, making it an easily accessible and convenient tool for them to use. <div type="image" title="KisaanGPT" msid="99428615" hostid="261"></div> The developers behind KissanGPT, led by Pratik Desai, a computer scientist, hope that it will help bridge the information gap between farmers and experts and provide farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to increase profits. This AI chatbot is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to farmers across the country, regardless of their level of education or location. KissanGPT has already received positive feedback from farmers who have used it, with many saying that it has helped them to make better decisions about their crops and improve their yields. With KissanGPT, Indian farmers now have access to a powerful new tool that can help them to overcome the challenges of farming and achieve greater success in their fields. Farmers in India increasingly turn to KissanGPT, the AI chatbot designed to assist with agricultural queries to maximize their profits. The chatbot has been gaining popularity among farmers, who are using it to seek advice on which vegetables to plant for maximum profit. Farmers ask KissanGPT questions like ‘Which vegetable can be grown for maximum profit?’ and ‘What is the best crop to plant for high yields?’ The chatbot's AI-powered algorithms provide real-time advice and insights on crop cultivation, pest control, soil management, and other farming-related topics, enabling farmers to make informed decisions about their crops and improve their yields. Recently, KissanGPT was used to demonstrate how Indian squash could be used to earn up to 5 lakhs in profit. The chatbot provided farmers with information on the optimal conditions for growing Indian squash, the best time to plant, and how to market the vegetable effectively. With its user-friendly interface and multilingual support, KissanGPT is a valuable resource for farmers across India. As more farmers discover the benefits of using AI-powered tools like KissanGPT, we will likely see even greater adoption and impact in the agricultural sector. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The mind behind KisaanGPT" comment="subhead" text="The mind behind KisaanGPT">The mind behind KisaanGPT</cmsannotation> Pratik Desai, an experienced technology and product executive, has a mission to help Indian farmers overcome the challenges they face through the power of technology. With a background in electronics and communications and an MBA in technology and operations management, Desai has worked as a software engineer at top companies like IBM, Ericsson, and Motorola Mobility. Desai, has focused on building end-to-end IoT, mobile, and digital products and services that utilize the latest advancements in data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He recognizes that Indian farmers face many challenges, from getting the best prices for their crops to finding direct-to-market alternatives, and is determined to help them every step of the way. Desai's passion for empowering farmers stems from his roots in Gujarat, where he witnessed firsthand rural communities' struggles. His ultimate goal is to leverage technology to bring the benefits of advancements in software, hardware, cloud, and AI to farmers across India and help them achieve greater success in their fields. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/music-to-help-focus-home-design-many-tasks-that-ai-can-help-with/articleshow/99085155.cms">Music to help focus, home design &amp; many tasks that AI can help with</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-you-can-open-the-ai-chatbot-directly-from-macs-menu-bar/articleshow/98449632.cms#:~:text=Once%20you%20have%20downloaded%20the,simply%20click%20on%20'Open.'">ChatGPT just got more accessible: Here’s how you can open the AI Chatbot directly from Mac's menu bar</a>

From fields to screens: KissanGPT, the AI chatbot helping Indian farmers maximize their profits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tulare Lake used to be the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.</li><li>Farmers diverted the lake's water in the 1920s and replaced it with farmland.</li></ul>California's <a href="https://www.insider.com/california-weather-whiplash-floods-drought-getting-worse-atmospheric-rivers-2023-1">heavy rainfall this past winter</a> may have ended the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/take-a-look-at-lakes-that-dried-up-california-drought-2021-6">years-long drought</a>, but it also brought back the long-dormant Tulare Lake.This phantom lake — which occasionally resurfaces during years of unusually high precipitation — is <a href="https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/good-food/diet-culture-parenting-sri-lankan-cuisine-farmland-water/tulare-lake-water-central-valley-california-mark-arax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larger than it's been in 150 years</a>.The basin began rapidly flooding around March 12-14, when <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151107/precipitation-piles-on-in-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two major storms hit California</a>.The flooding was so massive that NASA satellite <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151284/tulare-lake-grows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">images captured it from space.</a> Here's what the lakebed looked like on February 1, before the flooding:<div type="image" title="Satellite image of Tulare Lake before it flooded in 2023." height="1572" width="1741" msid="101802097" hostid="261" sizebytes="277356"></div>And here's what it looked like on April 30:<div type="image" title="Satellite image of Tulare Lake flooded in 2023." height="1572" width="1741" msid="101802099" hostid="261" sizebytes="242150"></div><h2>Tulare lake flooding threatens California farms</h2>The Tulare lakebed, which is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley, happens to be set on the <a href="https://cawaterlibrary.net/hydrological-region/tulare-lake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">largest agricultural region in the entire state</a> of California.NASA said the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-california-floods-show-damage-rescues-more-rain-coming-2023-1">devastating flooding</a> will likely <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151284/tulare-lake-grows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continue into 2024</a>. That means local farmers may not be able to plant new crops <a href="https://asmith.ucdavis.edu/news/most-tulare-lake-lies-inside-one-big-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">until 2025</a>.That likely drop in supply has the potential to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-65071268">drive up food prices</a>, particularly for produce.<div type="image" title="Four satellite images showing the rapid progression of flooding in Tulare Lake." height="350" width="720" msid="101802101" hostid="261" sizebytes="57142"></div>As of June, the flooded parts of Tulare Lake spanned about <a href="https://abc7news.com/tulare-lake-reaches-peak-california-2023/13356811" target="_blank" rel="noopener">178 square miles</a>, or 113,920 acres — almost the size of Lake Tahoe.One acre-foot, the amount of water it takes to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot, is equal to 325,851 gallons of water, United States Department of Agriculture meteorologist <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/weather-drought-monitor/staff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brad Rippey</a> told Insider in July.While it's unclear how deep Tulare Lake is now, if it's similar to its former <a href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-03-24/as-tulare-lake-reappears-floodwaters-raise-tensions-in-san-joaquin-valley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average depth of about 30 feet</a>, that would translate to more than one trillion gallons of water that have flooded the region so far this year, Rippey said. That's enough to fill over 1.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.Many of the state's <a href="https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top agricultural commodities</a> are <a href="https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Statistics/PDFs/2020_Ag_Stats_Review.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grown in Tulare County</a>, which is the third largest agricultural producing-county in the state. In 2019, Tulare County churned out more than $7.5 billion worth of commodities, including dairy products, table grapes, navel oranges, and cattle.<div type="image" title="Flooded farm crops in Tulare Lake in California." height="683" width="1024" msid="101802103" hostid="261" sizebytes="37784"></div><a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> estimated the damage from flooding across central California between December 2022 and March 2023 will cost roughly $4.6 billion.Rippey said crops in the vineyards and orchards, like nuts and berries, will likely sustain more damage than row crops since entire trees and vines will need to be replanted.<a href="https://www.tacfarming.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TAC Farm</a> sits right at the southeast shoreline of the lakebed. Fortunately for owner Dennis Hutson, the water hasn't flooded his farmland yet.Hutson said he witnessed the flooding of Tulare Lake in 1983 and 1997. This time around, he noticed one key difference: the <a href="https://kmph.com/news/local/hwy-43-closed-south-of-corcoran-due-to-flooding-lake-success-porterville-sierra-nevada-tule-river-tulare-county-kings-county-california-atmospheric-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flooding of Highway 43</a> along the southern San Joaquin Valley. "You saw water on both sides of it, but I don't recall the actual roads flooding at that time," he told Insider, adding that this unusual flooding may be due to local farmers possibly <a href="https://sjvwater.org/flooding-out-other-farmers-was-premeditated-by-the-powerful-j-g-boswell-company-one-farmer-asserts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vandalizing the levies</a> in order to drain the water from their land and redirect it elsewhere.<div type="image" title="Road with water covering it by flooding of Tulare Lake." height="683" width="1024" msid="101802105" hostid="261" sizebytes="51470"></div><h2>Rainfall and a melting snowpack: the perfect storm</h2>Tulare Lake was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River — until the 1920s when local farmers began diverting the water from the rivers feeding the lake.As for why the lake returned with a vengeance this spring, blame it on the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/29/californias-snow-rain-totals-explained/11525451002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">78 trillion gallons of water</a> and counting that have fallen on California between October 1, 2022 and March 20 of this year.By the end of February 2023, Tulare County had its <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping/4/pcp/202302/8/rank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth wettest season on record</a>.Nicholas Pinter, professor of applied geosciences and associate director of the <a href="https://watershed.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Center for Watershed Sciences</a> at the University of California Davis, described Tulare Lake to Insider as "a bathtub without a drain.""Statewide, most flooding was concentrated in low spots in the topography, like Tulare Lake," he said during his May 23 testimony at the California Committee on Agriculture Assembly, which he shared with Insider. "After weeks of rain, the water had basically nowhere else to go."Meanwhile, the Southern Sierra Nevada snowpack <a href="https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2023/April-23/Snow-Survey-April-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached about 300% of the typical season peak in early April</a> — a record high.Here's what the snowpack looked like in March 2022:<div type="image" title="Satellite image of San Joaquin Valley showing snow amount in light blue on March 16, 2022." height="2191" width="3507" msid="101802107" hostid="261" sizebytes="696266"></div>Compared to March 2023:<div type="image" title="Satellite image of San Joaquin Valley on March 16, 2023 showing significantly larger light blue region of snow." height="2191" width="3507" msid="101802109" hostid="261" sizebytes="960076"></div>Tulare Lake began to reappear this March, before <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-storms-boost-snowpack-epic-skiing-conditions-amid-drought-2023-1">the Sierra Nevada snowpack</a> started meltin. But as temperatures rise into summer and the snowpack begins to melt, that water flows into the Southern Central Valley, Rippey said."If the snow melts too quickly, then the valley cannot drain it and Tulare Lake fills," he told Insider. "That's what is happening now. The lake has been sustained — and even further enlarged — during the snow-melt season."It's hard to predict how long the lake will remain, but given the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/temperatures-seen-surging-el-nino-weather-pattern-returns-wmo-2023-07-04/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent development of El Niño</a>, Rippey said climatological odds are tilted toward another wet winter — which could sustain Tulare Lake into 2024 or beyond.

Space photos show over 1 trillion gallons of water flooding crop fields in California, and it could mean higher food prices

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A popular weedkiller ingredient was found in the urine of US adults and children.</li><li>More than 80% of urine samples tested contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.</li></ul>Between the myriad chemicals used to deter pests, kill weeds and fungus, and optimize crop yield, it's no surprise that some toxins end up in the food we eat.One such controversial ingredient, a weedkiller called glyphosate, has been found in the urine of more than 80% of American research participants meant to represent the US population.Almost a third of people studied were children between the ages of six and 18, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://wwwn.cdc.gov/Nchs/Nhanes/2013-2014/SSGLYP_H.htm#Analytic_Notes">report</a> published in June. The report used data from the 2013–2014 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm">National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey</a> and involved 2,310 people.Farmers in the US spray more than 200 million pounds of glyphosate, sold as the weedkiller Roundup, over their fields each year, according to the public <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> watchdog group <a href="https://usrtk.org/pesticides/glyphosate-use-in-food-crops/">US Right To Know</a>. The chemical is widely used on genetically modified crops such as corn and soybeans.Thousands of people have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-rejects-bayer-bid-to-stop-roundup-lawsuits/">sued the company that manufactures Roundup</a>, claiming that the weedkiller causes cancer. Public health agencies have been divided on whether the chemical poses a serious health risk, but the CDC's recent finding demonstrates a need for more research.<h2>Glyphosate is the most widely used weedkiller in history</h2>Use of the weedkiller glyphosate has increased at least 15-fold since the 1990s, according to a 2017 study from the <a href="https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/pages/2017-10-24-exposure-to-glyphosate-chemical-found-in-weed-killer-increased-over-23-years.aspx">University of California San Diego School of Medicine</a>.Around that time, Monsanto Co. — the agrochemical company that created Roundup — began genetically modifying crops to resist the chemical, so farmers could spray whole fields without killing their crops.The weedkiller is also used to dry out non-genetically engineered wheat and oats before harvest, and many farmers spray it on their fields before the growing season begins. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/09/weedkiller-glyphosate-cdc-study-urine-samples">The Guardian</a>, glyphosate is considered the most widely used <keyword id="14437287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="herbicide" source="Orion">herbicide</keyword> in history.The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as <a href="https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MonographVolume112-1.pdf">"probably carcinogenic to humans"</a> in 2015. The US Environmental Protection Agency, however, says the herbicide <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate">does not pose a serious health risk</a>.An appellate court that heard some of the cases against Roundup recently urged the EPA to reconsider its findings.Bayer, the German pharmaceutical company that acquired Roundup from Monsanto, has maintained that glyphosate does not pose any risks to humans. Still, the company said it would replace the active ingredient in herbicides meant for residential use <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/supreme-court-rejects-bayer-bid-stop-roundup-lawsuits-85528752">beginning in 2023</a>.A representative of Bayer told Insider that the exposures to glyphosate described in the CDC report are "well below established safety thresholds" that would indicate a risk to human health.

Most Americans have toxic weedkiller in their urine, 'disturbing' study finds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia and <keyword id="11985141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ukraine" source="Orion">Ukraine</keyword> export nearly a third of the world's wheat and barley, over 70% of sunflower oil, and also supply corn.</li><li>About 90% of Ukraine's wheat and other <keyword id="12168891" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grains" source="Orion">grains</keyword> are being held up by Russian blockades of the Black Sea coast.</li></ul>LONDON — Russian hostilities in Ukraine are preventing grain from leaving the "breadbasket of the world" and making food more expensive across the globe, threatening to worsen shortages, hunger and political instability in developing countries.Together, Russia and Ukraine export nearly a third of the world's wheat and barley, more than 70% of its sunflower oil and are big suppliers of corn. Russia is the top global fertilizer producer.World food prices were already climbing, and the war made things worse, preventing some 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain from getting to the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.Weeks of negotiations on safe corridors to get grain out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports have made little progress, with urgency rising as the summer harvest season arrives."This needs to happen in the next couple of months (or) it's going to be horrific,'' said Anna Nagurney, who studies crisis management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is on the board of the Kyiv School of Economics. She says 400 million people worldwide rely on Ukrainian food supplies. The U.N. Food and <keyword id="11963490" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="agriculture" source="Orion">Agriculture</keyword> Organization projects up to 181 million people in 41 countries could face <keyword id="13544066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="food-crisis" source="Orion">food crisis</keyword> or worse levels of hunger this year.Here's a look at the global food crisis:<h2>What's the situation? </h2>Typically, 90% of wheat and other grain from Ukraine's fields are shipped to world markets by sea but have been held up by Russian blockades of the Black Sea coast.Some grain is being rerouted through Europe by rail, road and river, but the amount is a drop in the bucket compared with sea routes. The shipments also are backed up because Ukraine's rail gauges don't match those of its neighbors to the west.Ukraine's deputy agriculture minister, Markian Dmytrasevych, asked European Union lawmakers for help exporting more grain, including expanding the use of a Romanian port on the Black Sea, building more cargo terminals on the Danube River and cutting red tape for freight crossing at the Polish border.But that means food is even farther from those that need it."Now you have to go all the way around Europe to come back into the Mediterranean. It really has added an incredible amount of cost to Ukrainian grain,'' said Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington.Ukraine has only been able to export 1.5 million to 2 million tons of grain a month since the war, down from more than 6 million tons, said Glauber, a former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Russian grain isn't getting out, either. Moscow argues that Western sanctions on its banking and shipping industries make it impossible for Russia to export food and fertilizer and are scaring off foreign shipping companies from carrying it. Russian officials insist sanctions be lifted to get grain to global markets.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other Western leaders say, however, that sanctions don't touch food.<h2>What are the sides saying?</h2>Ukraine has accused Russia of shelling agricultural infrastructure, burning fields, stealing grain and trying to sell it to Syria after Lebanon and Egypt refused to buy it. Satellite images taken in late May by Maxar Technologies show Russian-flagged ships in a port in Crimea being loaded with grain and then days later docked in Syria with their hatches open.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has provoked a global food crisis. The West agrees, with officials like European Council President Charles Michel and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying Russia is weaponizing food.Russia says exports can resume once Ukraine removes mines in the Black Sea and arriving ships can be checked for weapons.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised that Moscow would not "abuse" its naval advantage and would "take all necessary steps to ensure that the ships can leave there freely."Ukrainian and Western officials doubt the pledge. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this week that it may be possible to create secure corridors without the need to clear sea mines because the location of the explosive devices are known.But other questions would still remain, such as whether insurers would provide coverage for ships. Dmytrasevych told the EU agriculture ministers this week that the only solution is defeating Russia and unblocking ports: "No other temporary measures, such as humanitarian corridors, will address the issue."<h2>How did we get here?</h2>Food prices were rising before the invasion, stemming from factors including bad weather and poor harvests cutting supplies, while global demand rebounded strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic.Glauber cited poor wheat harvests last year in the United States and Canada and a drought that hurt soybean yields in Brazil. Also exacerbated by climate change, the Horn of Africa is facing one of its worst droughts in four decades, while a record-shattering heat wave in India in March reduced wheat yields.That, along with soaring costs for fuel and fertilizer, has prevented other big grain-producing countries from filling in the gaps.<h2>Who's hardest hit?</h2>Ukraine and Russia mainly export staples to developing countries that are most vulnerable to cost hikes and shortages.Countries like Somalia, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt and Sudan are heavily reliant on wheat, corn and sunflower oil from the two warring nations.<div type="image" title="Farmer Serhiy gestures standing near a mound of grain in his barn in the village of Ptyche in eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, June 12, 2022. Russian hostilities in Ukraine are preventing grain from leaving the “breadbasket of the world&quot; and making food more expensive across the globe, raising the specter of shortages, hunger and political instability in developing countries." height="5267" width="7023" msid="92308795" hostid="261"></div>"The burden is being shouldered by the very poor," Glauber said. "That's a humanitarian crisis, no question.'' Beside the threat of hunger, spiraling food prices risk political instability in such countries. They were one of the causes of the Arab Spring, and there are worries of a repeat.The governments of developing countries must either let food prices rise or subsidize costs, Glauber said. A moderately prosperous country like Egypt, the world's top wheat importer, can afford to absorb higher food costs, he said."For poor countries like Yemen or countries in the Horn of Africa — they're really going to need humanitarian aid," he said.Starvation and famine are stalking that part of Africa. Prices for staples like wheat and cooking oil in some cases are more than doubling, while millions of livestock that families use for milk and meat have died. In Sudan and Yemen, the Russia-Ukraine conflict came on top of years of domestic crises.UNICEF warned about an "explosion of child deaths" if the world focuses only on the war in Ukraine and doesn't act. U.N. agencies estimated that more than 200,000 people in Somalia face "catastrophic hunger and starvation," roughly 18 million Sudanese could experience acute hunger by September and 19 million Yemenis face food insecurity this year.Wheat prices have risen in some of those countries by as much as 750%."Generally, everything has become expensive. Be it water, be it food, it's almost becoming quite impossible," Justus Liku, a food security adviser with the aid group CARE, said after visiting Somalia recently. Liku said a vendor selling cooked food had "no vegetables or animal products. No milk, no meat. The shopkeeper was telling us she's just there for the sake of being there." In Lebanon, bakeries that used to have many types of flat bread now only sell basic white pita bread to conserve flour.<h2>What's being done? </h2>For weeks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been trying to secure an agreement to unblock Russian exports of grain and fertilizer and allow Ukraine to ship commodities from the key port of Odesa. But progress has been slow.A vast amount of grain is stuck in Ukrainian silos or on farms in the meantime. And there's more coming — Ukraine's harvest of winter wheat is getting underway soon, putting more stress on storage facilities even as some fields are likely to go unharvested and because of the fighting.Serhiy Hrebtsov can't sell the mountain of grain at his farm in the Donbas region because transport links have been cut off. Scarce buyers mean prices are so low that farming is unsustainable. "There are some options to sell, but it is like just throwing it away," he said.U.S. President Joe Biden says he's working with European partners on a plan to build temporary silos on Ukraine's borders, including with Poland, a solution that would also address the different rail gauges between Ukraine and Europe.The idea is that grain can be transferred into the silos, and then "into cars in Europe and get it out to the ocean and get it across the world. But it's taking time," he said in a speech Tuesday. Dmytrasevych said Ukraine's grain storage capacity has been reduced by 15 million to 60 million tons after Russian troops destroyed silos or occupied sites in the south and east.<h2>What's costing more?</h2>World production of wheat, rice and other grains is expected to reach 2.78 billion tons in 2022, down 16 million tons from the previous year — the first decline in four years, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said. Wheat prices are up 45% in the first three months of the year compared with the previous year, according to the FAO's wheat price index. Vegetable oil has jumped 41%, while sugar, meat, milk and fish prices also have risen by double digits.The increases are fueling faster inflation worldwide, making groceries more expensive and raising costs for restaurant owners, who have been forced to increase prices.<div type="image" title="Halimo Hersi, 42, right, buys wheat flour from a shopkeeper in the Hamar-Weyne market in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, May 26, 2022." height="3800" width="5066" msid="92308796" hostid="261"></div>Some countries are reacting by trying to protect domestic supplies. India has restricted sugar and wheat exports, while Malaysia halted exports of live chickens, alarming Singapore, which gets a third of its poultry from its neighbor. The International Food Policy Research Institute says if food shortages grow more acute as the war drags on, that could lead to more export restrictions that further push up prices.Another threat is scarce and costly fertilizer, meaning fields could be less productive as farmers skimp, said Steve Mathews of Gro Intelligence, an agriculture data and analytics company. There are especially big shortfalls of two of the main chemicals in fertilizer, of which Russia is a big supplier."If we continue to have the shortage of potassium and phosphate that we have right now, we will see falling yields," Mathews said. "No question about it in the coming years."

EXPLAINER: How did Russia-Ukraine war trigger a food crisis?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.</li><li>CSA programs are selling plans that connect the farmer to local customers directly.</li></ul>Heavy harvest seasons like summer and fall often inspire planned adventures to go berry picking, apple picking, or on a trip to your nearest farm. As time has gone on, the desire for farm-fresh produce has only increased, with more folks stumbling upon what's referred to as a CSA program. Though the popularity of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs has grown with time, there's still a lot to learn, especially if you're considering joining one. <a href="https://www.drgailmyers.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Gail Myers</a> – cultural anthropologist, founder of <a href="https://www.farmstogrow.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farms to Grow, Inc.</a>, and organizer of its CSA program – helps break down everything you need to know about Community Supported Agriculture. <h2>What is Community Supported Agriculture?</h2><div type="image" title="Older women showing younger women a garden full of kale and other green produce growing" height="3667" width="5500" msid="92684347" hostid="261" sizebytes="2227798"></div>CSA programs are a selling plan that connects farmers and local consumers directly. Instead of farmers selling their product to companies or stores, customers within the farm's community pay in advance to receive a share of the coming harvest's crop. Then, customers regularly pick up a box of produce (often each week) during the harvest season. Many farms also offer add-on items for purchase, like homemade jams, eggs, milk, meat, cheeses, or breads. The idea for CSA programs in the US began in the 1960s from <a href="https://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2022/02/booker-t-whatley-gsnb57-phd-horticulture-black-innovator-who-reshaped-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Booker T. Whatley</a>, a horticulturist and agriculture professor at Tuskegee University, Myers says. During the same time, the CSA movement was <a href="https://www.nal.usda.gov/legacy/afsic/defining-community-supported-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising in other countries</a> like Japan and Switzerland. To generate a more secured income for struggling Black farmers, Whatley shared his idea for clientele membership clubs. These clubs were set to not only guarantee customers for farmers, but also help the farmers plan for the season. Today, these goals are the main reason farms across the country start CSA programs. The type of farm that often starts a CSA are the ones with many different crops. "If you are a commodity farmer, you know selling soybeans or corn, you're not the candidate for a CSA. But if you have a diverse selection of produce, dairy, livestock, or honey, you will want to develop a CSA so you can make sure you sell your crop," Myers says. <h2>How a CSA works </h2>Harvest seasons vary by region. It could be year-round in temperate climates like California, or from April through December or February in other parts of the country. Many CSA programs will offer a yearly share, meaning the customer pays a one-time fee before the season begins. Some farms, especially ones that produce year round, will also offer a three month, month-to-month, or weekly payment option. Typically, the fee breaks down to an average price of $15 to $25 per week. Members will receive a box of produce each week during the farm's entire harvest season. What you get in your CSA will depend on where the farm is in the harvesting season. In the beginning of the season, especially on the east coast, you'll see CSA boxes with more leafy greens and herbs, then they'll start to expand with other warm-weather crops like corn, peaches, melons, tomatoes, and berries. Once you approach the end of summer into fall, you'll start to see more root vegetables, winter squashes, potatoes, and apples. The size of the box can vary, too, which also impacts the price. Many programs will offer boxes (also known as shares) that come in different sizes, small enough to feed one person or large enough for families. <h2>What are the pros and cons of joining a CSA program?</h2><div type="image" title="Fresh produce including carrots, red leaf lettuce, and other green, leafy vegetables." height="4000" width="6000" msid="92684349" hostid="261" sizebytes="1003868"></div>There are a plethora of pros and cons to consider before you join a CSA program. <h3>Pros</h3>CSA programs support and maintain local ecosystems. "If we can keep farmers successfully farming, harvesting, growing, handing the land off to the next generation, teaching that generation how to do that – then we're really ensuring we're taking care of our <keyword id="11894142" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="food" source="Orion">food</keyword> needs, our health needs, and we're supporting a healthy ago-ecosystem," says Myers. When you support the ecosystem through agriculture, you help maintain the presence of healthy pollinators, wildlife, and other parts of our natural environment that we need to survive. Contributing to the support of farms through these programs also encourages farming as a continued profession, says Myers. CSAs are beneficial for the local economy too, since all of the money goes directly to the farmer. Those farmers can then put money back into the economy through the revenue they've generated. If you're concerned about your <a href="http://blogs.colgate.edu/sustainability/2017/09/06/why-you-should-consider-community-supported-agriculture-csa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">environmental footprint</a>, many CSA farms are smaller and use healthier farming practices that help maintain the land. Plus, it takes much less transportation and production emissions for the food to get to you. The produce from CSAs are also picked at the height of their ripeness and nutritional value, and the fresh produce can encourage creativity in your cooking. <h3>Cons</h3>Though there are many benefits, there are some possible drawbacks to consider before joining. CSAs are based on what's ready to harvest, so you don't have control over what produce you're getting each week. Some weeks your box may contain certain types of fruits or vegetables you may not like or aren't familiar with. Some programs allow you to swap items, but others are less flexible. You'll also likely have to wait until a certain day to pick up or receive your share of produce, so you don't have the convenience of going to the grocery store any time. Depending on the CSA, the cost can be quite intimidating. Some CSAs only offer an up-front, one-time payment for the season, which can be hundreds of dollars. It's also worth noting that joining a CSA doesn't necessarily guarantee you produce. You're buying a share in that season's crop, so if it's a bountiful year, you may get a lot. But, if it's a year impacted by drought or natural disasters, you could get less (or even none), though this is rare and some farms have programs in place to mitigate this from happening. <h2>How to find a CSA program near you</h2><div type="image" title="A selection of chives, eggs, potatoes, and tomatoes in front of a white box with the logo reading “Upstate Farms,” full of basil, radishes, and other produce." height="900" width="1200" msid="92684350" hostid="261" sizebytes="82652"></div>It's key to do your research before you join a program, especially if you're looking for one that meets certain needs. Before you begin, consider if you'd like a program that's flexible with payments and share sizes, especially if you're only looking to buy a share for yourself. You'll also want to determine whether you're looking for a program that caters to a specific need in the community, whether that be growing organic crops only, focusing on <a href="https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/ra101-section/ra101-definitions.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regenerative agriculture</a>, or serving the community with a specific mission. Some farms do all of the coordinating themselves, but there are other farms that use organizations to help the flow of the CSA. Many of these organizations work in community access, and seek out farmers they're looking to support directly, like BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ farmers. Once you've gathered what type of CSA you're looking for, Myers says a simple Google search is the best place to start. See what comes up in your area, and field through each choice depending on your goals. You can also use websites like <a href="https://www.localharvest.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LocalHarvest.org</a> or the <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/csas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDA directory</a>, though they may not have every farm listed. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>CSA programs are a selling plan for farms that connects them directly to the customer. Members of the community will buy a share of the farm's produce each season. This guarantees a market for the farm, and the customers get fresh produce each week of the harvest season. CSA programs can vary in the amount of produce you receive, how often you receive produce, what produce you receive, the cost of the share, and the length of the season.There are many benefits to CSA programs aside from getting peak quality produce, such as supporting the area's ecosystem, contributing to the local economy, and a reduced environmental impact. There are also a few possible drawbacks to consider before joining, like cost. Determine your needs, then search for a program that works best for you.

You Searched For "agricultural fields" and got 11 results

Google announces AI-led collaborations for India's health, sustainability, and agriculture sectors

ANI

Google to expand AI initiatives in India, targeting language barriers, agricultural efficiency

PTI

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

BI India Bureau

GOP Senate candidate uses Kentucky photo to tout his support for Montana agriculture — then quickly replaces it when asked about it

Bryan Metzger

Smart farming can prove to be a game changer in the coming days

IANS

Charm Industrial is getting $53 million to turn agricultural waste into oil that can lock away carbon dioxide for 1 million years

Catherine Boudreau

From fields to screens: KissanGPT, the AI chatbot helping Indian farmers maximize their profits

Rahul Verma

Space photos show over 1 trillion gallons of water flooding crop fields in California, and it could mean higher food prices

Rebecca Strong

Most Americans have toxic weedkiller in their urine, 'disturbing' study finds

Andrea Michelson

EXPLAINER: How did Russia-Ukraine war trigger a food crisis?

Associated Press

What is a CSA? Everything you need to know about Community Supported Agriculture programs and why they matter

Kristin Montemarano

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides