Lovely Professional University’s (LPU) School of Agriculture recently hosted an International Conference on Recent Trends in Smart and Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Nutritional Security-2024 (SSAFNS 2024). The conference was aimed at tackling critical challenges in global food systems by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and provided an invaluable platform for students to learn about the latest innovations, sustainable practices and emerging trends shaping global agriculture and food security.

Bringing together experts, policymakers, researchers and practitioners to share knowledge, innovations and best practices to enhance agricultural productivity, resilience and sustainability, the conference focused on areas such as sustainable agriculture and climate resilience, post-harvest management, value addition, technological advances in food and human nutrition, agricultural policy extension and public health.

Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Founder Chancellor of LPU was the chief guest of the event and Dr S K Malhotra, VC of MHU Karnal; Dr J S Sandhu, former DDG (Crop Science) at ICAR and Dr R G Aggarwal, Chairman of Dhanuka Agritech Limited were present as guests of honour. Col Dr Rashmi Mittal, Pro Chancellor of LPU, also graced the event. Other eminent speakers included Dr Naveen Shivanna, Dr Dilfuza J Pushkinova from Uzbekistan, Dr Anil Kumar Anal from Thailand and Dr Pankaj B Pathare from Oman.

Dr Mittal made a comment on how the younger generation perceives agriculture, saying that many people consider it to be low-profile despite its historical significance as the earliest profession in history. He urged legislative changes to better assist farmers, highlighting their crucial role as the foundation of any nation.

Dr Malhotra said that the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) use research and development to tackle the difficulties posed by climate change in agriculture. State governments ought to upgrade intelligent and sustainable methods at the village level in order to successfully execute climate-resilient farming, he further added, explaining that this comprehensive strategy uses AI-based solutions, effective water and fertiliser management, eco-friendly soil and plant health management, protected cultivation and the development of tolerant crop types.

A lecture on Dr M S Swaminathan Memorial was given by Dr Sandhu. He referred to Dr Swaminathan as the pioneer of India's Green Revolution, pointing out that his innovative work had a profound effect on millions of people's lives by changing the country's agricultural landscape and laying the foundation for global food security.

Dr Aggarwal emphasised the revolutionary potential of innovation in Indian agriculture in his speech. Although Indian agriculture is expanding favourably, he pointed out that several crop categories' production is still below international norms. He largely ascribed this to the requirement for high-quality agricultural inputs, non-remunerative crop pricing and farmers' limited embrace of new technologies. He emphasised that raising these elements might greatly raise farmers' profits and general well-being.

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Toshiba has introduced a new SCiB 24V battery pack (P25H20-3), a lithium-ion solution designed for the automotive, marine and heavy equipment sectors. The battery is intended for seamless replacement of conventional lead-acid batteries.

The new product is already being used in the ‘e-Float Terrace,’ an electric boat from Yamaha Motor Co., which is scheduled to begin offering cruise experiences in Yokohama, Japan, this October.

The SCiB 24V battery pack, equipped with 20Ah-HP SCiB cells, is engineered to meet the D23 size specified for starter lead-acid batteries (JIS D 5301). This allows for direct replacement of existing 24V lead-acid units.

The pack can be deployed as a standalone unit or configured in series and parallel – up to 2 in series and 6 in parallel (48V, 5.76 kWh) – to meet power requirements. The battery’s capability to handle high-load operations makes it suitable for marine vessels, commercial vehicles (buses and trucks) and heavy equipment (construction and agricultural machinery).

Toshihiko Takaoka, Vice-President, Battery Division of Toshiba Corporation, said, “We engineer SCiB batteries for outstanding reliability in demanding environments. The 24V battery pack combines excellent low-temperature performance and vibration resistance with robust waterproofing certified to the IPX9K and IPX7 standards. Its exceptional long-life performance helps reduce maintenance requirements for electric boats. To extend these advantages to more partners, we will continue to pursue further orders across marine and other applications.”

The Japanese company shared that tis range of SCiB batteries are known for their high safety, long life, low-temperature performance, rapid charging capability and wide usable state-of-charge range.

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MoEVing, an electric mobility solutions firm, has partnered Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles dealers – Pascos, Johar Automobiles and Bhandari Automotive – to lease a fleet of 700 electric small commercial vehicles (e-SCVs). The fleet includes the Ace EV and Ace Pro EV.

The EVs will be used for last-mile deliveries in the e-commerce, logistics and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors across more than 10 Indian cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. This deployment is expected to lead to a carbon emission reduction of almost 2,000 tonnes per year.

The collaboration introduces a business model where the Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles dealers will own and maintain the fleet, while MoEVing will operate it. This arrangement is intended to unlock operational efficiencies and enable scalable mobility solutions.

The partnership will serve over 20 enterprise clients, aiming to cover an estimated 25 million green kilometres annually.

Vikash Mishra, Founder and CEO, MoEVing, said, “Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of green, zero-emission mobility across India’s logistics. We have had excellent experience working with Tata Motors and are looking forward to deploying these vehicles across various use cases and segments. Our innovative business model for operating them on lease will enable scalable, cost-effective deployment of electric vehicles, streamline fleet ownership and maintenance, and accelerate scalability. We look forward to breaking more milestones with the largest deployment of Tata Electric Commercial vehicles across the country”

Pinaki Haldar, Vice-President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, added, “Tata Motors is steadfast in its commitment to driving India’s transition to green, zero-emission mobility. This partnership between MoEVing and our leading dealer partners – Pascos, Johar, and Bhandari Automotive – marks a pivotal step in scaling sustainable last-mile logistics. The Ace EV & Ace Pro EV are engineered to deliver superior performance, uptime and reliability in real-world operating conditions. Additionally, with a versatile range of load deck configurations and payload capacities, these vehicles are designed to meet the diverse needs of customers across businesses. Our robust network of over 200 dedicated EV support centres across the country ensure maximum uptime and swift turnaround, backed by trusted service and deep technical expertise.”

With the addition of 700 e-SCVs, MoEVing’s fleet now includes over 2,500 electric vehicles.

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American electric vehicle major Tesla has reported record revenue and free cash flow for the Q3 CY2025, supported by high vehicle deliveries and energy storage deployments.

The electric vehicle maker posted total revenue of USD 28.1 billion, a 12 percent increase YoY. Free cash flow reached nearly USD 4 billion, which the company states is its highest.

Total vehicle deliveries reached 497,099 in the quarter, a 7 percent YoY growth. Deliveries of the Model 3 and Model Y rose by 9 percent to 481,166 units. Energy storage deployments were a record 12.5 gigawatt hours (GWh), up 81 percent YoY.

Gross Margin stood at 18 percent, a drop of 185 basis points from the previous year. Gross profit was USD 5.1 billion, up 1 percent.

Operating income fell 40 percent YoY to USD 1.6 billion, resulting in a 5.8 percent operating margin. This decline was due to increased operating expenses, which rose 50 percent YoY to USD 3.4 billion, alongside higher average vehicle costs and a shift in sales mix. Lower regulatory credit revenue also impacted profitability.

Net income attributable to common stockholders reached USD 1.4 billion, a 37 percent drop. Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased by USD 4.9 billion to USD 41.6 billion.

During the quarter, Tesla expanded its vehicle range, launching the Model 3 and Model Y Standard variants. The company also launched the Model Y Performance and the Model YL in China, a longer six-seat version.

In the energy sector, Tesla unveiled Megapack 3 and Megablock, its next-generation industrial storage products. Production for Megapack 3 is scheduled to begin at Megafactory Houston in 2026. The company also launched a new lease offer in the US for solar and Powerwall systems.

Tesla launched its ride-hailing service in the Bay Area using Robotaxi technology and began deploying version 14 of FSD (Supervised) in October. The Supercharger network expanded by over 3,500 stalls in the quarter, an 18 percent YoY growth and it launched its first v4 Supercharger cabinets.

“While we face near-term uncertainty from shifting trade, tariff and fiscal policy, we are focused on long-term growth and value creation. We are prudently making the necessary investments in our business, including future business lines, that we believe will drive incredible value for Tesla and the world across transport, energy and robotics,” the company said in a statement.

Tesla indicated that Cybercab, Tesla Semi and Megapack 3 remain on schedule for volume production starting in 2026. Production lines for Optimus, the humanoid robot, are being installed in anticipation of volume production. The lithium refinery in Texas is expected to begin production in Q4 2025.

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Pune-headquartered alternative energy vehicle manufacturer Blue Energy Motors (BEM) has launched its electric heavy-duty truck, which is equipped with battery swapping technology.

The truck was unveiled by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, at Blue Energy Motors’ Chakan facility in Pune. Fadnavis also inaugurated, what is claimed to be India’s first electric corridor from Mumbai–Pune, which is the first step in a plan to electrify national highway corridors over the next three years.

What’s more, Blue Energy Motors has signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to set up a new facility with a capacity of 30,000 trucks, backed by an investment of INR 35 billion. The automaker has received strong demand for its e-trucks and has signed MoUs for over 10,000 units.

The new e-truck is designed for Indian conditions and follows the success of Blue Energy Motors’ LNG-powered fleet. It features an unlimited range with battery swapping, the highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence. The launch also introduces India’s first Energy-as-a-Service model for heavy-duty trucks.

Devendra Fadnavis, said, “This launch showcases Maharashtra’s leadership in sustainable innovation. Blue Energy Motors’ Made-in-India Electric Truck with Battery Swapping Technology, along with the Mumbai–Pune corridor, India’s first highway to go electric aligns seamlessly with the nation’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat and for a greener, self-reliant future. I applaud their efforts in advancing both environmental sustainability and industrial growth”.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder and Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We believe that this is the beginning of the EV Revolution in India for heavy-duty trucks. Our electric truck delivers unlimited range through battery swapping, highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence for fleet reliability. The Mumbai–Pune corridor is the first step in building a nationwide network of sustainable logistics, driving India’s green freight future forward. With our Energy-as-a-Service model, we’re redefining fleet economics offering reduced upfront capital cost, lowest TCO with highest payload, minimal charging downtime and making it well-to-wheel green with renewable energy.”

Also read: Montra Electric Launches 55-Tonne Rhino E-Truck, Unveils Battery Swap Technology Too

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