A training on cocoa fertilisation with farmers in Watte village San Pedro Cote dIvoire. (Image source: AfDB)

The Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism’s trade guarantee project in Cote d’Ivoire is a US$2mn guarentee scheme which was set up to enable farmers to receive capacity-building in fertiliser use and good agricultural practices, while also helping them obtain fertilisers on credit from international fertiliser distributors like OCP Africa

Driven by the hope to boost crop yields, most smallholder farmers in Cote d’Ivoire acquire fertilisers through informal credit, cooperatives and microfinance institutions. However, improper application of these fertilisers often leads to disappointments, with harvests and incomes falling short of expectations.

Initiatives like the trade guarentee project therefore help equip smallholder farmers with the technical skills and know-how to enhance their yields and income. Classes organised under the shade of cocoa trees helps learners to carefully follow instructions as they demonstrate the appropriate fertiliser doses and application techniques for cocoa trees. They also cover the recommended pruning and hoeing practices. A key point emphasised is fertiliser spreading in a circle, one metre away from the tree trunk.

This holistic approach not only encourages good agricultural practices but also combines it with appropriate fertiliser use, thus aiming to improve productivity and empower farmers in Cote d’Ivoire. 

Darling Ingredients plans to begin with its first five plants in the US and later expand to other facilities depending on feasibility and market conditions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Aiming to reduce emissions from its wastewater treatment plants, Darling Ingredients Inc on 5 June, announced its partnership with GreenGasUSA to capture and convert biogas to renewable natural gas (RNG)

Renowned for being a producer of renewable energy and turning food waste into sustainable products, Darling Ingredients plans to begin with its first five plants in the US and later expand to other facilities depending on feasibility and market conditions. 

CEO and founder of GreenGas USA, Marc Fetten expressed his excitement regarding the agreement, while emphasising on their mission to provide economically beneficial solutions to businesses, thereby helping them to reduce their environmental impact. 

"Darling Ingredients has been at the forefront of the effort to repurpose waste and integrate circularity into industrial operations and GreenGas is proud to support this mandate by partnering to convert agricultural and food waste into a valuable renewable energy product,” said Fetten. 

Chairman and CEO of Darling Ingredients, Randall C Stuewe also highlighted that by combining their deep knowledge of RNG obtained from their position in Europe with GreenGas's capabilities in the US, the company aims to significantly decrease its greenhouse gas emissions and help develop a successful RNG business in the US.

The Alliance aims to enhance sustainable agriculture in sugar cane farms. (Image source: Biome Makers)

Global agtech company, Biome Makers has proudly announced its collaborative partnership with the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the National Union of Cane Growers (UNC-CNPR), Syngenta, Bonsucro, Biofábrica Siglo XXI and Biome Makers to promote sustainable and profitable sugarcane production

The initiative focuses on empowering farmers to integrate microbial fertilisers, organic matter, biological pest control, mechanised harvesting, and efficient water use, thereby enhancing soil health and significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biome Makers' innovative BeCrop technology will be essential in evaluating and optimising soil conditions, enabling farmers to achieve higher yields and greater sustainability.

By employing advanced DNA sequencing and machine learning, BeCrop technology helps to analyse and monitor the soil microbiome and provide actionable insights that are critical for predicting crop performance, identifying potential disease threats, and guiding sustainable soil management practices. The data, which can be accessed through the BeCrop Portal, provides detailed soil microbial community reports in a user-friendly format, assisting farmers, agronomists, and advisors in making informed decisions for the next growing season.

Co-founder and CEO of Biome Makers, Adrian Ferrero expressed his excitement to be a part of this groundbreaking alliance, stating that the BeCrop technology would deliver crucial insights into soil health, aiding farmers in implementing sustainable practices that enhance productivity and environmental stewardship. "This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to advance agricultural sustainability through innovative biotechnological solutions,” Ferrero said. 

The funding will enable IBISA to build more pioneering products and expand further into emerging markets. (Image source: IBISA)

Climate Insurtech company, IBISA recently closed a US$3mn funding round to scale its parametric insurance solutions for weather-related risks in Asia and Africa

The strategic investment aims to empower IBISA to make parametric insurance more accessible. As reported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), IBISA is providing simple and efficient parametric insurance products to help those affected by the climate crisis.

The company leverages innovative satellite and actuarial technologies to design and operate parametric insurance products that promote financial resilience in regions where communities are the most vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events. Since establishing a local presence in India in 2023, IBISA is placing a special emphasis on the country.

A number of innovative climate coverages offered by the company include agricultural-focused insurance products, as well as typhoon insurance, and loan protection for financial institutions. In addition, IBISA has also developed a groundbreaking heat stress product insurance initially designed for dairy farmers. Although being used primarily in India, the product is currently being expanded in other countries, such as Bangladesh. 

"Since the beginning at IBISA, we have functioned with great agility as product innovators and bringing these products to market efficiently. This is what drives us. This is our DNA," explained CEO of IBISA, Maria Mateo. "Now, we are entering the industrialisation phase of our journey. With the backing of this fundraising effort and the support of both existing and new investors, our goal is to amplify our product offerings, expand within our current markets, and explore new markets."

Managing director of the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF), Tamer El-Raghy who was one of the investors of the funding round, expressed his excitement to partner with a world-class entrepreneur like Maria, while emphasising the importance of low-cost parametric insurance products for African farmers.

"African farmers are among the most negatively impacted by climate change and the need for low-cost parametric insurance products is a must-to-have for those farmers to be able to absorb a climate shock and IBISA's cutting-edge technology helps developing low-cost insurance products for those farmers," El-Raghy said. "This investment is an invaluable addition to ARAF's portfolio and we look forward to supporting IBISA's regional growth.