California Pistachios’ #CrackItSnackIt Campaign is Back with Sameera Reddy and an Instagram Game Filter that highlights the Fun and Benefits of Healthier Snacking Double Dhamaka! California Pistachios is celebrating its two favorite holidays, World Pistachio Day on February 26, and National Snacking Day on March 4, through its #CrackItSnackIt campaign. The campaign will showcase the enjoyment and benefits of cracking open and eating California Pistachios through a celebrity partnership, a series of humorous videos on social media, and an addictive Instagram game filter. For this year’s campaign, California Pistachios has partnered with Sameera Reddy to advocate the benefits of healthy snacking to her loyal fans. Talking about her association with California Pistachios, Celebrity Mom Influencer, Sameera Reddy said: “Snacking is an integral part of my life, whether it’s for my children, my family or just for me. We absolutely love munching! As a parent of two, I always encourage my family to pick the right snacks that are both delicious and healthy. This World Pistachio Day let’s share our love for Pistas and make mindful choices. Join me and team California Pistachios with #CrackitSnackit to celebrate World Pistachio Day and National Snacking Day!” California Pistachios Partners with Celebrity Mom Influencer, Sameera Reddy Watch California Pistachios’ #CrackItSnackItChallenge video here: Instagram Video Through a series of Instagram Reels in collaboration with some of India’s notable influencers including Nisman Parpia, Pooja and Karan Bafna, Jagriti Pahwa and Santosh Mishra, California Pistachios inspires consumers to see the bigger picture in life this World Pistachio Day! Whatever the problem is today, it might not be the problem tomorrow. The campaign’s emphasis is to take life one step at a time, crack open everyone’s favourite snack and let life flow. In addition to its celebrity and influencer partnerships, and now available for the very first time on National Snacking Day, California Pistachios has developed a game filter on Instagram called the #CatchItSnackIt challenge. With this filter, Instagram users are encouraged to challenge their friends, family, and followers to see who can achieve the highest score! To earn points, users simply move their head to catch as many falling pistachios in a bowl as they can in 30 seconds! Try the California Pistachios’ #CatchItSnackIt filter [here] California Pistachios is a delicious nutritious snack that can bridge hunger between meals, helping to avoid over-eating at mealtimes. Through World Pistachio Day and National Snacking Day, California Pistachios aims to make pistachios the go-to snack choice for people of all ages. California Pistachios contain six grams of protein per 28 gram serving. Offering both crunch and delicious flavor, California Pistachios make a satisfying, convenient, tasty and fun snack choice to include in an everyday diet. For more information about California Pistachios India, please visit californiapistachios.com/, Instagram at @CaliforniaPistachiosIN, and Facebook at /CaliforniaPistachiosIN. # # About California Pistachios: Brought to you by The Wonderful Company, California Pistachios make for a delicious snack that offers both crunch and seasoning. Sun-ripened in the moderate Mediterranean climate of California, these distinctively green nuts pack taste and contain antioxidants and nutrients. And all you need to get the party started is to crack one open! https://californiapistachios.com/ For more details & queries, please contact: Yazad Elavia: yazad.elavia@edelman.com Ambuja Kashyap: ambuja.kashyap@edelman.com Mayuri Jhalani: mayuri.jhalani@edelman.com

More than 4800 students, 176 schools from across the country participated in the competition Let’s Eduvate, one of the leading tech startups providing education services, recently organized a nationwide quiz online competition called ‘EDUVIZ’ to provide encouragement to students for improving their general knowledge. The event received an overwhelming response as more than 176 Schools participated in this inter-school competition. Participation for the competition was open for students in grades 6 -8. Students were tested for their grasp on topics such as General Knowledge and Current Affairs. With 3 stages of the competition conducted online, each stage saw tough competition from students across different schools. In the final round, 9 students were selected out of which 3 winners were announced. Speaking about the quiz competition, Chaitra BM, National Marketing Head at Let’s Eduvate said, “Eduvate has been providing a structured curriculum and academic support to several public and private schools across India. This includes schools in rural areas that don’t get access to such facilities easily. Our goal in organizing the EDUVIZ competition was to provide a knowledge-sharing platform to students. The overwhelming response we received for the initiative is encouraging. The level of knowledge and intelligence shown by the students was even more motivational. We also look forward to holding more such competitions in the near future.” The winners included Jeet Gada from S.E. International School who won a laptop, Paarth Singh from Holy Child Convent High School stood 2nd and won a tablet and Susmitha N from Sri Sai Vidalaya received a Kindle for securing 3rd place in the competition. About Eduvate Eduvate is a B2B arm of the K12 Techno Services Pvt. Ltd., one of the leading school management solution providers in India. Eduvate provides an array of services that includes an integrated Curriculum (In line with NEP Guidelines), individualised Learning Kits for students, centralized ERP system, a platform for Online Classes, E-Books & Interactive Books, Comprehensive Teachers Training, Lesson Plans & Teaching Resources, Ready Question Bank with Assessment Support, Digital Classrooms – Smart TVs & TABs, Marketing & Admission Support, Seamless Implementation Process to K12 schools across the country. Eduvate started its operation in 2010 and its strong academic and non-academic solutions are used by 300+ public and private schools and impacted the lives of 50000+ students so far. Eduvate has also been instrumental in providing massive sustainable growth from 250 students to 30,000+ students to Orchids-The International School, the leading K12 CBSE school chain in India and (another subsidiary of K12 Techno Services Pvt. Ltd) in the last 7 years. Apart from Orchids The International School, Eduvate has expanded its presence in 8 states across India in just a decade and has been furnishing digital and operational support to them. Eduvate’s core anthem is “ Create, Educate, Innovate”

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s leading telecommunications services provider today announced that it has crossed the 10 million unique 5G user mark on its network. Airtel was the first service provider to roll-out 5G services in the country in October 2022. Today, Airtel 5G Plus is available across all states in the country. The company is well poised to cover every town and key rural areas with Airtel 5G services by end of March 2024. In November 2022, Airtel became the first and only operator to have 1 million unique customers on its network within 30 days of its commercial launch. RandeepSekhon, CTO, Bharti Airtel, said “These are early days, but we are thrilled with the response we have received from our customers. Airtel will continue to stay true to its commitment to build a more connected, equitable and sustainable network. With cutting edge 5G infrastructure, a fantastic partner ecosystem and a dedicated workforce that is customer obsessed, we believe we are in the right path to win and deliver a world-class 5G Plus experience to customers across the length and breadth of the country.” Airtel 5G Plus has three compelling advantages for customers. First, it runs on a technology that has the widest acceptance in the world with the most developed ecosystem. This ensures that all 5G smartphones in India seamlessly work on the Airtel network. Second, the company promises to deliver the best experience – between 20 to 30 times higher speeds than today coupled with brilliant voice experience and super-fast call connect. Finally, Airtel 5G Plus network will also be kinder to the environment with its special power reduction solution. In the last one year, Airtel has demonstrated the power of 5G with a host of powerful use cases that will change the way customers lead their lives and do business. From India’s first live 5G network in Hyderabad to India’s first private 5G network at the BOSCH facility in Bengaluru to partnering with Mahindra & Mahindra to make its Chakan manufacturing facility, India’s first 5G enabled auto manufacturing unit, Airtel has been at the forefront of 5G innovation. Airtel has created 5G experience zones across all its retail stores in the country. Customers can walk-in to any store to experience ultrafast Airtel 5G Plus. To know more about Airtel 5G Plus please log on to https://www.airtel.in/5g-network

Orchids The International School combined horticulture and financial literacy for a unique initiative Orchids The International School’s Thoraipakkam branch successfully conducted a unique and innovative program called Budding Farmer Activity for Grade 8 students, combining financial literacy and horticulture curriculum. The highlight of the program was the Budding Farmers Market event where students grew their own produce in the school’s polyhouse and sold their crops to parents in a market-style setting. The Budding Farmers Market event was a grand success with students demonstrating their knowledge and skills in horticulture and financial literacy. The students formed different groups such as sales and marketing, studied rates in the market, and fixed prices for each crop. They presented the life cycle of crops, and harvesting techniques, and showcased their understanding of the importance of organic farming. Commenting on the event, Dr Jemi Sudhakar, Principal of Orchids The International School, Thoraipakkam branch, said, “We are extremely delighted with the success of the Budding Farmers Market initiative. Our aim is to provide our students with practical learning opportunities that help them develop important life skills. The combination of horticulture and financial literacy curriculum has proved to be a huge success, and we hope to continue organizing such events in the future. Orchids The International School has always been committed to providing holistic education to its students. The Budding Farmer Activity is another example of the school’s commitment to providing a stimulating and engaging learning environment for its students.” The Budding Farmers Market initiative is an excellent example of how schools can incorporate practical learning into the curriculum. It has provided an opportunity for students to learn important life skills and contribute to sustainable living. The program has helped students to understand the financial aspects of running a business, such as planning, supply and demand, and financial investment. The student’s active participation in the event has instilled a sense of responsibility and ownership in them towards nature and society. They have also gained an understanding of the value of hard work, teamwork, and collaboration. Through the Budding Farmers Market, students have been able to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical experience, making the learning process more effective and enjoyable. About Orchids The International School Orchids The International School is one of India’s leading international K12 school chains. It started its journey in 2002 with its first branch in Hyderabad. In less than two decades, it has grown into 90 branches spread over 25 major cities- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chennai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Nasik, Indore, and Aurangabad. Modern physical infrastructure, personalized attention, and a carefully curated curriculum provide uniformity in all OIS schools. OIS follows the CBSE and ICSE curriculum infused with international teaching methodologies to provide a strong emphasis on personality development along with academic excellence. Currently, it has over 750000+ students and 7000+ teaching and non-teaching staff.

On purchase of every Side by Side Refrigerator, LG customers will get free Times Prime membership with benefits worth over Rs. 60,000 Two giant consumer brands, LG and Times Prime today announce their coming together for a strategic partnership for their “Assured Benefits Carnival,” where the electronic giant will gift Times Prime Annual Membership to its customers on purchase of any “Side by Side Refrigerator”. Upon product purchase, customers will receive a voucher code for the Times Prime annual membership with access to a wide range of benefits from premium & popular brands such as Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Cricbuzz Plus, Gaana Plus, EazyDiner, ET Prime, TOI+,and many more. This one-stop shop also provides exclusive offers and discounts over Rs.60,000 on your favorite brands such as Myntra, Uber, Chaayos, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc. Speaking on the latest collaboration of the brand, Harshita Singh, Business Head of Times Prime said, “The aim of this strategic partnership is to enrich the offering bouquet of an appliance leader like LG with Times Prime’s holistic ecosystem of all lifestyle brands under one app. This wholesome nature of our app integrated with an umbrella of offerings by LG is bound to benefit both brands for sales and engagement.”.” As one of the most preferred lifestyle super-apps, Times Prime offers an extensive range of benefits on a single platform, from shopping to entertainment and lifestyle brands like Starbucks, Myntra, Uber, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Google One, and many more. Times Prime positions itself as a unique Super App that curates subscriptions and benefits besides elevating lifestyle with superior & exclusive access to global brands and experiences. The campaign is designed to create a sense of urgency and dramatize the importance of availing the benefits of Times Prime subscription. To know more about the LG InstaView Side by Side refrigerator, visit LG Electronics: Buy TVs, Home Entertainment & Appliances | LG India About Times Prime Times Prime is an all-in-one lifestyle membership offered by Times Internet. It aims to upgrade members’ lifestyles by providing premium experiences and benefits across categories. With an extensive range of benefits on a single platform, from shopping to entertainment and lifestyle, brands like Starbucks, Myntra, Uber, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Google One, and many more, Times Prime keeps delighting its members. The idea is simple — instead of paying for different subscription services, pay for one — and you can access all of these at once. In addition to these comprehensive offerings, Times Prime curates exclusive events and experiences, including movie screenings, live sessions with experts, and dining events

Authored by Dr. N Sapna Lulla, Lead Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore Eat for two is a common advice given to every expecting mother. While this suggestion aims to encourage expecting mothers to achieve the optimum weight and ensure complete well-being and nutrition for their child. However, eating for two often leads to more weight gain among pregnant women and increases their risk of being obese. What is obesity? Obesity is a complex disorder that leads to the development of excessive fat in your body. It is measured based on one’s Body Mass Index (BMI). Generally, people with BMI between 25 and 29.8 are considered overweight, whereas people with BMI 30 or higher are considered obese. Obesity is categorized under three levels, indicating rising BMI and health risks. These include – Category I obesity: BMI of 30–34.9 Category II obesity: BMI of 35–39.9 Category III obesity: BMI of 40 or higher. How can obesity impact your pregnancy? Obesity during pregnancy is one of the most common health issues that expecting mothers often face, as it increases the risk of multiple pregnancy complications. Usually, women with an increased Body Mass Index (BMI) experience the following health issues due to obesity – Gestational hypertension: It is defined as high blood pressure that develops during the second trimester of pregnancy and leads to serious health complications Pre-eclampsia: This type of severe gestational hypertension develops in the second half of pregnancy or shortly after delivery. Due to this condition, obese women often develop liver and kidney failure and may sometimes experience seizures, heart attacks, and strokes. Other risk issues include the growth of the foetus and problems with the placenta. Macrosomia:  In this condition, the foetus is larger than usual, which results in birth injuries during the delivery Gestational diabetes: An increase in blood sugar levels during pregnancy often results in large babies, due to which many mothers also have to undergo caesarean deliveries. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are also at risk of developing diabetes mellitus later, which can also be passed to their children. Obstructive sleep apnea: In this condition, a person stops breathing briefly while sleeping and during pregnancy; sleep apnea can make women feel more tired and raise their risk of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, and heart and lung issues. Birth defects:  Pregnant women who are obese are likely to give birth to children who have birth defects like neural tube defects and heart defects Issues with diagnostic procedures:  Excessive body fat can hinder foetal anatomy issues during an ultrasound examination and can make it more challenging to monitor the foetal heart rate during labour. How can you ensure a healthy pregnancy? Despite the risks, obese women can have a healthy pregnancy. Using the below-mentioned tips, obese women can stay fit and healthy. Adopt a weight-loss plan and consider exercises like swimming and walking for at least 30 mins Consume a healthy diet and include low-carbohydrate and high-fat protein foods in your diet Restrict your rice intake Avoid sugar and instead intake food and beverages that have a natural sweetness Lastly, regular consultation with your obstetrician can reduce your risks and can help you achieve your desired pregnancy.

Times Prime, India’s most preferred premium lifestyle subscription product, is all set to host another edition of ‘The Gourmet Table’, at Tuscany Restaurant, located at Trident, Hyderabad on Feb 25th. Curated by Chef Ajit Raman (Executive Chef, Tuscany Restaurant), this fine dining experience is sure to give the members an unforgettable authentic Tuscan experience with delicious food and refreshing beverages in a warm and inviting setup. Times Prime has always strived to give the best of experiences to its members in the form of curated partnerships and lifestyle benefits. This association with Trident is a step ahead in enabling the patrons with a memorable experience. Designed as a Tuscan villa with terracotta flooring, the resplendent interiors of the Tuscany restaurant along with decadent food is bound to give food enthusiasts an immersive dining experience. The one-of-a-kind culinary fest promises the guests an assortment of traditional Italian flavors besides a Mediterranean experience right on their plates, prepared using authentic ingredients such as Mascarpone from Sienna. The menu will feature a plethora of mouth-watering delicacies with an extensive selection of wines from Trident’s wine library, Enoteca. Commenting on this edition of ‘The Gourmet Table’, Harshita Singh, Business Head, Times Prime, said, “At Times Prime, it has always been our endeavor to bring the best of experiences at some of the most sought-after restaurants and hotels across the country for our members. Tuscany Restaurant is a testament to the authentic Tuscan experience and the carefully-crafted dishes along with the surreal setting is sure to provide the guests with a true  gastronomic indulgence.” On curating the experience, Ajit Raman, Executive Chef at Tuscany, said, “Trident, Hyderabad is delighted to be partnering with Times Prime and host this fine dine event at the property. This event will re-launch and showcase Tuscany in a manner like never before, giving the real Tuscan experience that customers would not find anywhere else in Hyderabad.” Times Prime is an all-in-one lifestyle membership that always aims to upgrade your lifestyle by providing premium experiences and benefits across dining, travel, shopping, entertainment, and many more. In addition to the curated experiences like ‘The Gourmet Table’, Times Prime also  offers subscriptions such as TOI Plus ETPrime, Hotstar, SonyLIV, Headspace, Flipkart Travel, Gaana Plus, and Google One, along with special benefits on popular brands like Myntra, Lifestyle, MensXP, Starbucks, Uber, and more. About Times Prime Times Prime is an all-in-one lifestyle membership offered by Times Internet. It aims to upgrade members’ lifestyles by providing premium experiences and benefits across categories. With an extensive range of benefits on a single platform, from shopping to entertainment and lifestyle, brands like Starbucks, Myntra, Uber, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Google One, and many more, Times Prime keeps delighting its members. The idea is simple — instead of paying for different subscription services, pay for one — and you can access all of these at once. In addition to these comprehensive offerings, Times Prime curates exclusive events and experiences, including movie screenings, live sessions with experts, and dining events

Between 2017 to 2021, Sarita Vihar registered 50 crashes, 19 of which were fatal.  To save lives and make Delhi roads safe for all, the SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), with support from BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and in close partnership with the Delhi Government and the Delhi Traffic Police has launched a Tactical Urbanism Trial at the Sarita Vihar Intersection. As per the Delhi Traffic Police, the Sarita Vihar Intersection witnessed a total of 50 crashes between 2017 and 2021, 19 of which were fatal. Five fatalities were recorded each in 2017 and 2019, making these two years periods when the highest number of fatalities on record were registered at the Intersection. During this 5-year period, the highest number of road crashes– amounting to 12 such incidents–were registered in 2019 and 2021. Tactical Urbanism (TU) trials are temporary, quick and relatively low-cost interventions, which test out urban design, transportation planning and infrastructural changes for improving road safety for all road users, especially the most vulnerable, like pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised transport users. Once the interventions are proven, the relevant Government agencies are expected to make them permanent. As part of the Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative, SaveLIFE Foundation tests temporary urban design interventions. An essential component of these trials is road space redistribution to ensure modal equity, road geometrics modification, traffic channelisation, vehicular speed reduction, and addition of pedestrian and cyclist safety infrastructure. The Sarita Vihar Intersection is a tri-junction located on Mathura Road in Delhi, connecting Delhi to Noida and Faridabad. The Intersection is connected to Jasola Apollo in the west, Badarpur in the east and Madanpur Khadar Village towards the north. It is well-connected by public transport including metro connectivity through the Sarita Vihar Metro Station. The Rama Krishna Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, a government school, is located in close proximity to the Intersection. Elaborating on the road safety situation at the Sarita Vihar T-point, Vijay Kumar, ACP, Sarita Vihar, said, ”With an average of approximately 14,000 pedestrians and approximately 2,12,00 vehicles using the location on a daily basis, the Sarita Vihar T-point experiences heavy pedestrian footfall and vehicular movement. During night time too, heavy vehicular movement has been witnessed on the road. A Foot Over Bridge (FOB) for pedestrians is required at this location to ensure against road crashes and traffic congestion. With regard to this, the concerned civic authorities have been requested to construct a FOB at the Sarita Vihar T-point.” The major issues identified at the Sarita Vihar Intersection include two-wheelers using  pedestrian crossings despite the installation of Jersey barriers to discourage such behaviour. Such traffic violation by two-wheeler users was seen leading to a greater vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash propensity. The pedestrian vulnerability at the intersection was further exacerbated owing to the unavailability of pedestrian signals, making them susceptible to crashes with speeding vehicles. The presence of an educational institution in close proximity, was seen leading to heavy pedestrian footfall along the Mathura Road, especially during the school opening and closing hours. This footfall comprised primarily of students boarding and alighting buses, autos, e-rickshaws and private vehicles. Unavailability of boarding and alighting space was making these students vulnerable. A similar concern was witnessed on the Jasola to Badarpur approach, where the unavailability of dedicated bus bays and designated stops was seen leading to unsafe boarding and alighting. The major TU interventions undertaken at the Sarita Vihar Intersection include streamlining vehicular mobility and school zone-specific traffic calming measures such as rumble strips and signages indicating a 25 km/h speed limit restriction. Other interventions include road dieting, creation of a traffic island to streamline the left turn towards Madanpur Khadar, and the introduction of dedicated spaces for Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) stands at designated bus stops near the Intersection. Further interventions aimed at pedestrian safety include reduction of pedestrian crossing distance and exposure lengths through the creation of protected continuous pedestrian pathways, extended traffic islands with additional waiting spaces and safe pedestrian crossings. These crossings were created through the staggered placement of the existing Jersey barriers and by closing their gaps to ensure against two-wheelers crossing the road at unauthorised points. The month-long TU trial at the Sarita Vihar Intersection was launched on February 20. Commenting on it, Piyush Tewari, CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation said, “SaveLIFE Foundation uses scientific research and in-depth analysis to combat the road crash epidemic confronting the country. The Tactical Urbanism trials undertaken by SLF within its Zero Fatality Corridor programme use data, evidence and design thinking to determine the best possible solutions for saving lives. We are grateful to BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, Delhi Government and the Delhi Traffic Police for working with us towards improving road safety in the capital city.” This redesigning at the Sarita Vihar Intersection has led to a 49% reduction in the total pedestrian exposure distance and a 70% increase in the public space available for pedestrians. This is the eighth Tactical Urbanism trial in Delhi, with the seven previous ones conducted at Bhalswa Chowk, Rajghat Intersection, Gandhi Vihar, Burari Chowk, Signature Bridge, Mukundpur Chowk and Nehru Place. About SaveLIFE Foundation SaveLIFE Foundation saves lives on roads in India and beyond by improving road safety and access to emergency medical care (UN SDGs 3.6 and 11.2). We fix roads: through crash investigations and smart engineering design, we make streets and highways safer for everyone. We strengthen emergency trauma services: with support from ambulance operators, police forces, and emergency medical teams, we train first responders in life-saving skills and bridge gaps between road crashes and the delivery of urgent trauma care. We design impactful policies: working in partnership with government agencies, industry, and grassroots organisations, we create and advocate for regulations that eliminate unsafe driving behaviors and enforce traffic laws to protect all road users. The results: we have reduced road crash deaths on India’s dangerous Mumbai-Pune Expressway by 43%. We secured India’s first Good Samaritan Law to protect bystanders when helping road crash victims. Our technology helps ambulances reach Delhi’s residents as fast as possible during the COVID-19 crisis. Our ambition is to save 1 million lives by 2027.

Today marks the beginning of the two-day Manipal Champion League 2023, Northwest Region, for medical professionals and staff members of Manipal Hospitals in Gurugram, Haryana. Sarandeep Singh, a former Indian cricketer and team selector, originally inaugurated the friendly inter-unit cricket tournament. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sarandeep Singh said, “ Teamwork, communication, and a dedication to excellence are all key components of cricket, similar to healthcare. Being a part of the Inter Cricket Champions League is an honour. I congratulate every participant for participating in this tournament, and I urge Manipal Hospitals’ medical professionals and staff to continue to embrace the characteristics that make cricket such a fantastic sport — qualities that are vital for providing patient-centered care. Keep up the good effort and enjoy your game of cricket to the fullest”. During this tournament, eight teams from across the northwest region of Manipal Hospitals will be participating in the Manipal Champion League 2023. These teams include Dwakra Dynamite, Gurugram Gangs, Ghaziabad Gems, Jaipur Jolts, Kharadi Kings, Baner Blasters, the Royals of Patiala, and Incredible Leaders. The aim of this friendly tournament is to bring people together and help them develop leadership qualities, teamwork, and time management.

Waycool is a full-stack tech-led supply chain player operating from fork to farm New partnership will support smallholder farmers under Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative with access to premium products and solutions via a unified platform   a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with WayCool, one of India’s largest Food and Agritech companies as a strategic partner to deliver end-to-end holistic solutions to smallholder farmers in India. The strategic collaboration aims to provide Indian farmers with access to premium products and solutions via a unified platform and personalized advice, with the goal of establishing and implementing a sustainable crop production model. Through Bayer’s Better Life Farming Centers and Farmer Producer Organisations, smallholder farmers will be able to access timely crop advisory, transfer of good agricultural practices and WayCool’s full stack services. Bayer and WayCool have identified three key focus areas to support the farming community in India through their strategic collaboration. The first is a phydigital platform that offers one-stop solutions, the second is the economic benefits derived from the Food Value Chain partnership, and the third is the use of Bayer’s Better Life Farming Centers and Farmer Producer Organisations. WayCool’s farmer engagement business arm, “Outgrow,” will leverage a digital application to provide farmers with solutions and services, while the on-ground network will be mobilized through WayCool’s Outgrow Network Partners across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, as well as Bayer’s Better Life Farming Centers across the country. Further, WayCool will provide market linkages to help smallholder farmers get better prices for their produce. Speaking on the partnership, Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head – Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, said, “Digitization of the complete value chain is a key enabler of advancing agriculture in India and a primary goal of the Crop Science Division at Bayer. To be able to offer these services to an expanded smallholder farmer base across the country and delivering greater value to them through a capable partner like WayCool will only bring us a step closer to this critical objective.” Commenting on the MoU, Mr. Sanjay Dasari, Co-founder, WayCool, said, “As India progresses towards climate-smart agriculture, and achieving food security, the problem of rising temperatures and pest infestation is a significant challenge for farmers today in crop cultivation. This often leads to a loss in yield and productivity. Recognizing this pain point, we are extremely happy to partner with Bayer and aid the Indian farming community in this fight. Together we hope to support the creation of efficient and climate resistant food ecosystems, in line with our vision to transform the food-supply chain from farm to fork.” The collaboration between Bayer and WayCool aims to expand their network of farmer partners and facilitate the establishment and implementation of a sustainable crop production model. By providing customized services at the Better Life Farming Centers, the partnership will bring economic benefits to all stakeholders and enable farmers to achieve optimal price realization of their output. It represents a strategic alliance to create a sustainable and prosperous future for farmers in India. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability, and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2021, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 44.1 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com  About WayCool WayCool Foods is India’s leading food and agri-tech platform. Focusing on food development and distribution, the company leverages innovative technology to scale and operate a complex supply chain from soil to sale. Through its farmer engagement program – Outgrow, the company works closely with 200k farmers. WayCool operates a full stack, broadline product range across multiple channels and categories such as fresh produce, staples, and dairy, serving over 1,25,000 clients in the general trade, modern trade, and food services space. WayCool’s consumer brands basket consists of Madhuram, Kitchenji, L’exotique, Dezi Fresh and Freshey’s.  

The University of Birmingham is launching a unique and prestigious new fully-funded scholarship, including accommodation expenses, for students in India – offering the winner a mentoring opportunity with the University’s Chancellor Lord Karan Bilimoria and leading alumni. The Lord Karan Bilimoria (Chancellor’s) Scholarship will include a full tuition fee waiver and accommodation costs up to the duration of the programme for the winner, as well as four runner-up awards of a £5,000 tuition fee waiver. The scholarship is only open to Indian students applying for postgraduate study programmes at the University’s campuses in Birmingham and Dubai. Candidates must have a valid offer of study from the University of Birmingham. Candidates should have an excellent academic track record and demonstrate that they have overcome challenging circumstances. They should also have an innovative idea that can solve some of the complex challenges facing both the UK and India. Successful applicants who reach the final round will be asked to submit a three-minute video answering two key questions: What challenges have you overcome in life? What innovation would you suggest to solve a challenge faced by India and the UK? Launching the Scholarship, Lord Bilimoria commented: “I am hugely proud of the University of Birmingham’s education partnerships in India and delighted to launch this exceptional opportunity to encourage outstanding individuals to join us – whether at our iconic new campus in Dubai or our beautiful historic campus in Birmingham. “Our University’s motto is ‘per ardua ad alta’ which translates as ‘through adversity to high things’. This is a sentiment which inspires us, as we begin our search for scholarship candidates who have beaten the odds to achieve academic excellence and can demonstrate an innovative idea with the potential to solve any of the complex challenges facing both India and the UK. “I look forward to meeting the successful candidate and it will be a particular pleasure to mentor them as they set out on their voyage of educational discovery with the University of Birmingham and become successful leaders.” Applications are now open and further details can be obtained from https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/funding/postgraduate/india-lord-karan-bilimoria-scholarship.aspx The University’s relationship with India dates to 1909 when the first cohort of Indian students arrived in Birmingham to study for degrees in Mining and Commerce. It now has more than 2,000 Indian alumni and some of India’s most distinguished and finest minds were educated at Birmingham, including Mr Ajit Kumar Seth, 30th Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of India, and acclaimed writer and critic, the late Dr U R Ananthamurthy. The University of Birmingham has several significant partnerships in India, underpinned by its India Institute which aims to increase the visibility, impact and coherence of Birmingham’s engagement in the country. Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “I am delighted that the University of Birmingham is further strengthening its engagement in India with this scholarship. What a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate in being mentored by an icon of UK-Indian business, Lord Bilimoria.” –ENDS– About The University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is a global top 100 university and a member of the elite Russell Group of UK universities. It was established by Queen Victoria in 1900 as Great Britain’s first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. Renowned for its research excellence, the University’s researchers have received 10 Nobel Prizes. From pioneering organ transplants, discovering gravitational waves and furthering understanding of Shakespeare, to developing cures for cancer, advances in robotics and revealing the structure of DNA, the University has been at the forefront of some of the most ground-breaking discoveries of the last 100 years. The University of Birmingham Dubaiadheres to the same teaching standards and values as the Birmingham campus, bringing the heritage, prestige, and global recognition of the UK campus to Dubai. The University of Birmingham Dubai’s iconic new campus will be embedded with cutting-edge technology, allowing innovative, multidisciplinary teaching, and learning to deliver an educational experience like no other in Dubai. LordKaran Bilimoria is the founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited, a Joint Venture with Molson Coors, and Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India. In the Monde Selection, one of the most prestigious quality awards in the world for beer, the Cobra range have collectively been awarded a total of 128 Gold and Grand Gold medals since 2001, making it one of the most awarded beers in the world. Lord Bilimoria is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, a former Chancellor of Thames Valley University (now the University of West London); he was the youngest University Chancellor in the UK when appointed. Karan was a former Senior Non-Executive Director of the Booker Group now TESCO PLC (2007-2016); he is one of the first two visiting entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge; he is a founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council. In 2006, Karan Bilimoria was appointed the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, making him the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords.  In 2008 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharti Samman by the President of India. He is an Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge and was Chair of the Advisory Board of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University from 2015-2020 and subsequently appointed as an Honorary Ambassador.