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By Michelle Goth, Food Drink Life Are Christmas cards fading away? With social media and texting at our fingertips, many wonder if the tradition of sending handwritten holiday greetings is on its way out. However, many families still cherish the joy of sending and receiving Christmas cards, keeping this heartwarming tradition alive. Before you ditch the card aisle this year, consider the charm, nostalgia and personal touch that only a real Christmas card can deliver. So, is this the end of Christmas cards – or could this tradition be due for a holiday comeback? According to the Postal Museum , the tradition of mailing Christmas cards dates back to mid-19th-century England when the first commercial Christmas card was created by Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant involved in modernizing the British postal system. Sir Cole’s creation quickly resulted in a growing greeting card industry in England and the spread of Christmas cards to America by the 1870s. In America, holiday greetings have changed with the times. As printing technology improved, cards became more affordable, and the imagery and sentiments changed. National Army Museum mentions that families and soldiers mailed cards with patriotic themes during World Wars I and II. A Morning Call article states that in the late 1960s, cards featured psychedelic art and non-traditional colors to reflect popular culture. Today, Christmas cards are a global tradition. However, digital options and social media have introduced new ways for people to send holiday greetings, leading to a decline in the number of cards sent each year. In the early 2000s, TIME reported that Americans sent around 2.9 billion Christmas cards each year. But when social media platforms like Facebook were made available starting in 2004, holiday cards began declining, with the United States Postal Service reporting 1.1 billion Christmas cards now sent annually. Several reasons are behind this decline, ranging from social media availability and texting to environmental concerns and the rising cost of postage stamps. The increased commitments and risks of a holiday meltdown also factor in. Casey Rooney, a mother of three and the owner of Get On My Plate struggled with the decision, sharing, “Last year, several things came up around the holidays and I just could not get Christmas cards out. When I decided a card wouldn’t go out, it was a huge weight lifted.” Despite their decline in popularity over the last two decades, Christmas cards don’t need a eulogy just yet. According to the New York Post , more than half of American families still mail holiday greetings due to tradition and nostalgia, with most Americans preferring physical, customized cards regardless of their age. Ashley Wali, luxury family travel writer at Wanderlux , mails about 50 customized cards each holiday season for reasons beyond tradition, explaining, “I’ve found myself sharing less online in recent years, which makes holiday cards that much more important. They allow me to share big updates from the year and stay in touch with long-distance friends and family.” For Wali, mailing holiday cards is more than just supporting lasting connections. She explains, “Holiday cards are a chance for me to step back and reflect on the year. I write them as much for my friends and family as I do for myself.” Love connecting with family and friends during the holidays but don’t have the time or energy to send out traditional Christmas cards? You’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to keep up with the tradition of mailing cards. Fortunately, there are plenty of thoughtful, creative ways to share holiday cheer without stuffing envelopes or buying stamps. Whether through a quick email, festive social media post or small, in-person gestures, there’s a modern way for everyone to spread joy this season. The original intent of mailing holiday greetings was to nurture connections from afar. With the advent of social media, keeping social connections is easier than ever. Posting holiday greetings on social media can be a fun, creative and eco-friendly alternative to mailing traditional cards. Start by designing a festive image or using a family photo with holiday-themed graphics or frames in design apps like Canva or Adobe Express. For a distinctive touch, include a heartfelt caption or a year-in-review update to share highlights from the past year. Delivering homemade treats or festive holiday foods to nearby friends and family offers a thoughtful alternative to traditional Christmas cards. Instead of mailing a greeting, one can prepare a batch of cookies or spiced nuts packaged in decorative tins or holiday-themed wrapping. Purchased treats, like holiday chocolates, artisanal jams or charcuterie boxes also make excellent options for those who prefer not to cook. Adding a small note with a warm holiday message makes the gift. Minted explains that with the average family ordering 50 to 100 holiday cards each year, opting out can lead to substantial savings. Families might consider donating the amount saved to a charitable organization of their choice in honor of family and friends. Sending an email or e-newsletter instead of a traditional Christmas card offers a quick, eco-friendly and cost-effective way to spread holiday cheer. The email can include personalized messages, festive images or holiday videos. For families that prefer a newsletter-style greeting, an e-newsletter allows extensive sharing of family news. Some choose to send Christmas cards late or opt for alternative holidays to send greetings. Sage Scott, writer at Quote Queendom said, “After years of fighting an uphill battle I finally started sending New Year’s or Valentine’s Day cards instead. It is one less thing for me to do during the hectic holiday season, gives me time over the holidays to get updated photos of our family, and stands out in our friends and family members’ mailboxes since they receive it at an alternative time of the year.” Delaying the sending of holiday cards allows for a more relaxed and less rushed approach to sharing good wishes. While Christmas cards have experienced a decline due to digital alternatives and time constraints, they are far from disappearing. The tradition still holds value for many, offering a way to show thoughtfulness that technology can’t replicate. For those seeking alternatives, there are plenty of creative ways to spread holiday cheer without the mailbox, from sharing social media greetings to donating in honor of loved ones. Whether it’s through sharing your favorite homemade Christmas cracker candy or sending a festive e-newsletter, these options keep the spirit of the season alive, proving that Christmas cheer doesn’t have to come from a card alone. Michelle Goth is a professionally trained cook and cookbook author dedicated to celebrating Midwestern cooking traditions. She shares easy recipes for family dinners and holidays at Blackberry Babe .Ending the housing crisis means taxing pensioners who won’t downsize
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NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global gift card market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.1 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 14.46% during the forecast period. Growth of E-commerce sector is driving market growth, with a trend towards rise of open-loop gift cards. However, additional loss of money in using gift cards poses a challenge.Key market players include Alighieri, Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc., Card USA Inc, Duracard Plastic Cards, Fidelity National Information Services Inc., Fiserv Inc., FleetCor Technologies Inc., Givex Corp., Hennes and Mauritz AB, InComm Payments, JIFITI PRODUCTS, Kindcard Inc., PineLabs Pvt. Ltd., Plastek Card Solutions Inc., Runa Network Ltd., Square Inc., Tele Pak Inc., TransGate Solutions, Village Roadshow Ltd., and Yiftee Inc.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Type (E-gifts cards and Physical gift cards), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Key companies profiled Alighieri, Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc., Card USA Inc, Duracard Plastic Cards, Fidelity National Information Services Inc., Fiserv Inc., FleetCor Technologies Inc., Givex Corp., Hennes and Mauritz AB, InComm Payments, JIFITI PRODUCTS, Kindcard Inc., PineLabs Pvt. Ltd., Plastek Card Solutions Inc., Runa Network Ltd., Square Inc., Tele Pak Inc., TransGate Solutions, Village Roadshow Ltd., and Yiftee Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth Gift cards have become a popular trend in both physical and digital retail spaces. Prepaid cards loaded with a specific amount of money are widely used for various payments at stores, websites, restaurants, and even for experiences like travel and OTT platforms. Consumers love the convenience of gifting without the hassle of carrying cash or tangible gifts. Businesses, retailers or brands, other businesses, and corporate clients use gift cards as rewards & incentives for customer loyalty, employee engagement, and B2B sales. Digital gifting options have gained popularity among younger generations, especially Millennials and Gen Z, who prefer cashless transactions and e-commerce activities. Impacting factors include loyalty programs, customer behavior, internet penetration, and the Demonetization and Digital India initiatives. Market participants include FinTechs, PayTechs, and mobile wallets, offering digital platforms for gifting, making the process more practical, customizable, and environmentally friendly. Strategic alliances between retailers, travel companies, and content platforms like SonyLiv, Zee5, MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip, Thomas Cook , Ola, Starbucks, Domino's, Chaayos, and E-Commerce Market have further boosted the trend. Gift cards serve as a marketing tool for brand owners, offering tax-advantage cards, e-gifting, M-commerce, and E-commerce options. An increasing trend among vendors is the launch of open-loop gift cards instead of closed-loop ones. Open-loop cards, which are not limited to a specific business and are branded with payment card processors like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, offer greater flexibility for customers. With acceptance almost everywhere, these cards have gained popularity. InComm Payments, a leading UK-based company, introduced Vanilla Go, a global open-loop gift card brand, several years ago. Continuous innovation in this segment is driving growth for vendors. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This gift card market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 E-gifts cards- E-gift cards have become a popular and convenient gifting solution in the retail sector, offering enhanced versatility and flexibility over traditional physical cards. These digital cards are instantly delivered via email, eliminating logistical barriers and serving as a suitable last-minute gifting option for consumers with busy lifestyles. The growth of e-gift cards is driven by the increasing digitalization of the retail industry and the convenience they offer to both senders and receivers. In the corporate sector, e-gift cards have gained traction as a preferred gifting option for employees, clients, and stakeholders, reducing the effort required to select personalized gifts. Vendors benefit from e-gift cards as they eliminate printing costs and can be easily integrated with their core products and services, increasing operational efficiencies. The launch of full-service gift card malls, such as TheGiftCardShop.com by InComm Payments, further simplifies the process of sending e-gifts. These factors are expected to fuel the growth of the e-gift card segment in the market during the forecast period. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis Prepaid gift cards have revolutionized the way we express love, gratitude, and appreciation. These plastic or digital cards allow the recipient to use a specific amount of money for payment at various stores, websites, restaurants, and businesses. The convenience of gift cards makes them a popular choice for consumers, especially younger generations, who prefer e-gifting, M commerce, and e-commerce. Consumer behavior trends show an increasing preference for gift cards as they offer flexibility and convenience. Retail outlets, restaurants, and businesses use gift cards as a marketing tool to boost sales and customer loyalty. Strategic alliances between brands and card issuers further expand the reach of gift cards. Digital and virtual cards add to the convenience, allowing instant delivery and easy redemption. Mobile gift cards offer contactless payment options, making them a preferred choice during the pandemic. With the rise of e-commerce and m-commerce, gift cards have become an essential component of the retail landscape. Market Research Overview Prepaid gift cards have revolutionized the way we express love, gratitude, and appreciation. These cards allow the giver to load an amount of money onto a card, which can be used for payment at various stores, websites, restaurants, and businesses. The recipient enjoys the convenience of making cashless transactions for their purchases, especially during special occasions like birthdays, holidays, or other celebratory events. Digital gifting options have become increasingly popular among consumers, especially younger generations such as Millennials and Gen Z. With the rise of mobile wallets and digital platforms, consumers can now send digital gift cards to their loved ones online. This trend is impacting various retail sectors, including travel companies, OTT platforms like SonyLiv and Zee5, food chains such as Starbucks, Domino's, and Chaayos, and e-commerce marketplaces. Factors like loyalty programs, customer behavior, and internet penetration are driving the growth of the gift card market. Brands and retailers use gift cards as a marketing tool to boost sales, customer engagement, and cash flow. Other businesses, including corporates and individual users, also use gift cards for B2B sales, employee engagement, and tax-advantage cards. The convenience, customizability, and practicality of gift cards make them a preferred choice for consumers. Moreover, the growing trend of e-gifting, M commerce, and strategic alliances between digital services and physical retail spaces are further expanding the market's reach. The impact of the Digital India initiative and demonetization on e-commerce activities have also contributed to the growth of the gift card market. FinTechs and PayTechs have entered the market, offering innovative payment methods and customer journeys, making it a dynamic and exciting space to watch. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gift-card-market-to-grow-by-usd-1-1-billion-2024-2028-as-ai-redefines-landscape-e-commerce-boosts-revenue---technavio-302314104.html SOURCE TechnavioLibra Daily Horoscope Today, December 27, 2024 predicts career growth
EV Charger Service Market is Booming Worldwide | Gaining Revolution In Eyes of Global ExposureUndefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level Media
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Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | California infant dead, 10 sick in listeria outbreak tied to Yu Shang Food products Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | Whooping cough cases in California six times higher than last year, report shows Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.Pune: Organic farming has been the buzzword for many years now. It is good for health, good for the soil and great for the climate. Yet, in our country, only four per cent of agriculture land is under organic farming. Few states in India, Sikkim (100%) and Madhya Pradesh (27%) lead with Maharashtra at 1.6%. So, what is it about this good thing that makes its adaptation so difficult? For one, it is not easy to switch from using chemicals to organic agricultural practices. According to the norm, a farmer is expected to keep the farm free from sowing for at least three years to rid the soil of the chemicals that have leached into it before beginning to use organic farm inputs. Apart from this, input costs make organic farming rather prohibitive to the small farmer even though the demand in the market keeps growing at 22.20% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2024 to 2032, according to market analysis firm Market Research Future. Enter XEN Farms, a startup founded in 2021, to address the supply side problems of organic farming. Diptesh Mukherjee, an IIT Bombay graduate, had got a job at Whirlpool Corporation, USA, that had collaborated with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to develop among other things ways to grow food in space! Diptesh said, “Due to the presence of micro-gravity, it is impossible to grow food there. But I developed a vacuum insulation system to prevent this loss (for which his company filed a patent) so that it could make growing of certain plants possible.” Though Diptesh comes from a family that is involved in paddy farming, he didn’t really have access to the deep knowledge that this job exposed him to. “I understood that soil organic carbon was the most important element in the process of farming. We all have studied about photosynthesis in school, but the deep role that carbon plays in maintaining our environment was revealed to me when I was working on the green technology project for NASA,” he said. According to Diptesh, organic carbon held by the top layer of the soil holds the key to productive farming. “Take for example sand by the sea. Why can’t you grow anything there except for mangroves and palms? Because the soil there lacks organic carbon. It is pale in colour. Black soil is great for farming because it has a higher percentage of organic carbon as well as iron and other nutrients. “It is this carbon in the soil that helps increase the fertility and microbial activity of the soil. If you observe the pattern, about 25 years ago farmers did not use the amount of fertilisers and pesticides that they use now. Typically, their requirement for these chemicals keeps on increasing over time either out of ignorance or because they are poorly informed. The result is chemicals used by the farmer ends up destroying the microbial activity of the soil and soil health, that in turn reduces its ability to absorb moisture and reduces the ability of roots to absorb nutrients from the soil. All this affects the yield quantity and quality, while still increasing the cost to the farmer.” The solution in Diptesh’s mind lay in developing a fertiliser that could increase the organic carbon content of the top soil at an affordable price. His training and experience led him to do research on the subject. “Along with my childhood friend Pratik Sinha, we did a number of trials that eventually led to a perfect all-in-one organic fertiliser that could do many things like rapidly increase soil fertility, soil organic carbon and yield quality and quantity significantly from the very first season,” he said. Seems hard to believe. But Diptesh has trials to back his claims. “After building our product Carbosutra, we conducted trials with more than 1,500+ farmers and 80+ crops, worked with Technoserve Foundation in a Walmart Foundation-funded regenerative farming project in Maharashtra to record the impact of Carbosutra on the individual crops.” Running his office from 99 Springboard at Yerawada with his co-founder and field staff of eight, Diptesh said, “Pune is the epicentre of agriculture in Maharashtra.” The benefits The product enhances plant health and immunity as it is enriched with macronutrients, semi-macronutrients, micronutrients, and microorganisms. The diverse nutrient profile ensures robust plant growth and health. It is pathogen-free, as it undergoes solar sterilisation to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens, which boosts plant immunity and ensures soil biodiversity. It improves soil health by restoring organic carbon and organic matter that is one of the main issues in agriculture. It enriches soil properties as the improved soil organic carbon and organic matter lead to better water infiltration, moisture retention, nutrient availability, and biological activity of microorganisms. This reduces erosion and nutrient leaching, ensuring long-term soil fertility. Economic option The product helps in providing high yield and quality to farmers. The firm has recorded an average 50% and up to 100% increase in crop yield and significantly better quality (shape, size, colour, texture, taste, and nutrition). This directly translates to higher income for farmers. It’s affordable as unlike conventional organic farming, which might see an initial dip in yield, Carbosutra ensures no such dip and provides a cost-effective solution for farmers. The product addresses greenhouse gas emissions by replacing synthetic nitrogen-based fertilisers with Carbosutra to significantly reduce N2O emissions, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Synthetic fertilisers account for 13% of global agricultural emissions, and Carbosutra provides a sustainable alternative. It helps increase soil organic carbon, which is crucial for sequestering carbon and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with the global need to mitigate climate change. The product supports regenerative agricultural practices by restoring damaged soil and preserving biodiversity. This makes sustainable farming affordable and scalable. By maximising crop yield and quality, Carbosutra increases nutritional content of yield and thus contributes to food security and nutrition, which is critical for meeting the demands of a growing population. The bane of selling Despite the product being organic, effective, low dosage and reasonably priced at ₹ 180 per litre and increasing demand for organic products, sale of organic fertilisers is “not easy at all”, says Diptesh. “After having successfully developed and tested Carbosutra, we realised that selling to farmers is unlike sale of other products. First of all, the farmer is doubtful of new products, he is not willing to try out something new. And even if he does, he will use it as long as you give it to him for free. Which is what we did with our trials. Once you put a price to the product different factors come into play. “Then he will demand that you buy off his produce like he does when he purchases chemical fertilisers from the local agricultural dealer in his village. Typically, they buy the fertilisers, seeds, pesticides on a loan and as payment pledge a portion of their produce to him. What generally happens is that the use of chemicals serves to damage the crops as well as the soil, thereby reducing his productivity. The farmer uses more of the same in the next round that creates a vicious cycle of reduced productivity, increased cost of materials and debt,” he said. So, how will you sell? This too requires innovation. “One has to understand the psychology of the farmer. He will use my product if I give it for free, but is not willing to buy it without the insurance of purchase of his produce. The other thing we realised is that farmers are influenced by certain big farmers of their village whose advice they will take. They are also willing to accept what the dealer of their village recommends. So, we have decided to focus on NGOs and philanthropic foundations who work with farmers and are looked upon with trust by the community. Additionally, we will get involved in CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities of large companies that use their funds to help farmers,” he said. XEN Farms started by tying up with TechnoServe Foundation in Maharashtra that has 40,000 farmers as their FPO (farmers’ producer organisations)/FPC (farmers’ producer companies) members. “We have launched a unique programme. We will do a ‘30 Day Challenge’ demonstration where farmers of certain villages will choose a piece of land that is infertile or known to give poor results and by using Carbosutra we will show them significantly better results in 30 days,” he said. XEN Farms has also collaborated with Syngenta Foundation to impact the livelihood of significantly more farmers through their large network of agri-entrepreneurs. “What this will do is give the farmers of a certain village proof that our product works and backed by an NGO they trust and will be more prone to buying our product. In fact, we did it in Nashik, Ahmednagar and Solapur. With our demos about 40%-50% farmers buy in. Then in the next cycle about 15% new farmers join. This way we plan to spread the use of Carbosutra,” he said. The second sales technique is to tie up with large companies in their CSR activities. “We are in talks with large corporate CSR arms and a couple of philanthropic foundations that typically invest anything from ₹ 1 crore to ₹ 100 crore in such initiatives.” Investment So far, the duo has spent ₹ 60 lakh of their savings and borrowings from friends and family. “To be used in R&D, trials, government approvals and setting up of the manufacturing unit on a two-acre plot in Surat. Till date, we have received a grant from TIHAN (Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation) IIT Hyderabad of ₹ 25 lakh. We aim to raise funds at a later date from VCs (venture capitalist) who can get us market access. As of now, we continue with our bootstrapping plus grant,” he said. The future Prime minister Narendra Modi at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26) unveiled a roadmap to combat climate change and reduce India’s carbon footprint. The Union Budget for 2024-2025 has allocated ₹ 1.52 lakh crore to boost agricultural productivity and promote natural farming. As part of the initiative, the Centre aims to transition 1 crore farmers across the country into natural farming within the next two years. While the central government is pushing for greater use of organic farming techniques, there are challenges that startups like XEN farms have to deal with. With deep insights and innovative thinking, looks like XEN will rise up to this challenge.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midnight Oil and Imagine are thrilled to announce their recent accolades at the Clio Entertainment Awards and the 61st Annual Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) Awards. Midnight Oil Takes Home Three Clio Entertainment Awards Out of thousands of global entries, Midnight Oil, an Imagine Group company, is celebrating a major win at this year's Clio Entertainment Awards, winning three awards for outstanding Out-of-Home (OOH) creative work. The prestigious Clio awards honor groundbreaking ideas and innovation in advertising, and Midnight Oil's wins highlight its ability to craft bold, engaging experiences. The awarded campaigns include: Imagine Among Top 10% of Creative Excellence at the 61st Annual GDUSA Awards Out of 8,000 entries, Imagine is honored to be named among the top 10% of creative works selected as winners in the 61st annual GDUSA Awards. This prestigious competition recognizes outstanding creativity across print, packaging, POP, interactive, video, and more, celebrating the innovative work that drives results for brands and businesses alike. Imagine's winning projects reflect our commitment to pushing creative boundaries while delivering value to our clients: Check out the full articles on our website. About Imagine Imagine is an industry-leading provider of visual communications solutions. As a trusted partner to the world's most successful brands, Imagine designs, produces, and delivers beautifully crafted print and digital solutions that inspire action and get results. From concept to consumer, our end-to-end solutions include creative design, pre-media, décor, commercial print, store signage, specialty packaging, out of home, fulfillment & kitting. With a customer technology stack powered by Dotti, a single, flexible platform designed to manage even the most complex in-store marketing programs and a collection of talented designers and innovators in Imagine Studio, all backed with powerhouse print and digital production capabilities Imagine has the solution. Learn more at theimaginegroup.com or moagency.com . Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/708b4657-1d52-4940-9ca9-3ed8628eba94 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afbd9898-9a94-4457-9870-5b756b5e81f3 CONTACT: Contact: Diana Black Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected]AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. EST
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Vance tells residents in hurricane-stricken North Carolina that they haven't been forgottenPatriots safety Jabrill Peppers, accused of domestic violence, cleared to practice and play
REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pattern Computer®, Inc. (“Pattern” or “the Company”) today announced that it has entered into a multi-target partnership with Phenome Health, a Seattle-based nonprofit research organization led by CEO Lee Hood, MD, PhD. Delivering value through health innovation. Phenome Health employs a data-driven approach to wellness and disease that integrates diverse types of health data. “Pattern is a pioneer in finding novel patterns in complex data that cannot be discovered using other techniques or tools. The speed of AI innovation is accelerating and is rapidly emerging as a strategic imperative. Pattern is optimally positioned to leverage the expertise of our Pattern Discovery EngineTM (PDE) into the next worlds of trustworthy, transparent computing. Since its founding, Pattern has been on a strategic path with a roadmap largely focused on building our PDE and using it to generate world-class, high-value assets. These include and are not limited to seven combination cancer drugs, and new diagnostic advances, against the world’s top five cancers. We seek to partner with firms to bring these therapeutic and diagnostic technologies – such as our ProSpectral TM device, a game-changing medical diagnostic tool and research instrument – into clinical trials,” said Mark Anderson, Chair and CEO. The Partnership will integrate Pattern’s technologies with multi-omics time-course data on individuals with the goal of discovering new drivers of human health and longevity – seeding novel strategies to make these discoveries actionable as part of the standard of care. “By measuring how lifestyle choices impact our short, medium, and long-term health, we will identify genes, pathways, and microbes that can be targeted at a molecular level to improve health, rather than merely treat disease. Our goal in this project is to be instrumental in Phenome Health’s mission to develop the tools and insights that power data-driven personalized health,” Anderson added. Further, the ProSpectral platform will be used to develop surrogate measurements for expensive multi-omics. ProSpectral makes rapid measurements on two drops of saliva that capture rich biochemical information about the individual and their oral microbiome. An early goal will be to determine the extent to which patterns of gene expression, metabolism, and changes in the microbiome can be reconstructed from ProSpectral’s non-invasive, reagent-free assay. Anderson noted, “Success in the integration of ProSpectral with existing multi-omic technologies would reduce the cost of collecting longitudinal molecular data by orders of magnitude – opening precision medicine to regions and economies that are currently priced out of state-of-the-art care. The lightweight, portable nature of our platform ensures that data can be collected anywhere, anytime, without supply chain or economic constraints The rapidity of measurements – seconds instead of hours or days – stands to enable real-time decision support for medical professionals in a way that has never been possible before.” “We are enthusiastic about a partnership with Pattern and the possibilities of identifying non-invasive, rapid, and cost-effective approaches to data-driven personalized health,” added Lee Hood, CEO of Phenome Health. “We envision a world where everyone is empowered by their own data to improve wellness and prevent disease. We see technologies like those developed by Pattern as facilitating this reality.” About Phenome Health Phenome Health was established by internationally acclaimed scientist and entrepreneurial visionary, Lee Hood, to contribute solutions to major challenges causing a crisis in healthcare. The aging population and other factors are driving an explosion of chronic disease that largely contribute to increasing costs at an unsustainable rate in a healthcare system not equipped to solve these problems without a radical paradigm change - namely shifting from a reactive system that focuses on treating disease to a proactive system focused on optimizing health. Economic analysis predicts such a paradigm change would drive trillions of dollars in resources upstream, creating massive opportunity in the health and wellness marketplace. We strive to accelerate this shift through a systematic approach to define health, develop a disease-agnostic discovery framework to understand how and why people transition to disease, and identify new approaches to prevent and reverse disease development. Our ambitious strategy leverages advancements in biotechnologies and computer science to capture and interpret high dimensional health data in order to invent the solutions needed to solve the healthcare crisis. https://phenomehealth.org/ About Pattern Pattern Computer, Inc. uses its Pattern Discovery EngineTM to solve the most important and intractable problems in industry, business and medicine. These proprietary mathematical techniques in advanced AI can find complex patterns in very-high-order data that have eluded detection by much larger systems. As the Company applies its computational platform to the challenging fields of drug discovery and diagnostics in cancer, it is also making major Pattern Discoveries for partners in other sectors, including extended biotech, materials science, aerospace manufacturing quality control, veterinary medicine, air traffic operations, and energy services. See www.patterncomputer.com . CONTACT: Laura Guerrant-Oiye (808) 960-2642 – laura@patterncomputer.com The foregoing contains statements about Pattern Computer’s future that are not statements of historical fact. These statements are “forward looking statements” for purposes of applicable securities laws and are based on current information and/or management’s good faith belief as to future events. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “should,” “could,” “will,” and similar expressions signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties, which change over time, and actual performance could differ materially from that anticipated by any forward-looking statements. Pattern Computer undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Copyright © 2024 Pattern Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved. Pattern Computer, Inc., Pattern Discovery Engine, PatternBio, TrueXAI, and ProSpectral are trademarks of Pattern Computer Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment period
ATLANTA — Kyrie Irving had 32 points, six assists and seven rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-119 on Monday night without star Luka Doncic. Jaden Hardy had a season-high 23 points in his first start of the season for Dallas, which has won five of six. Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie had 22 points each. Irving had 10 points at halftime after being stifled by Hawks guard Dyson Daniels but heated up in the second half, including a stretch where he hit five consecutive field goals. Doncic missed his third straight game with a right wrist strain. Jalen Johnson had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who have lost four of five. Trae Young had 18 points and 16 assists. Takeaways Mavs: Dallas lost in overtime at Miami on Sunday night and is in the middle of a 15-game stretch that includes 11 away games. Klay Thompson (plantar fascia) and Quentin Grimes (illness) also sat. Still, they had enough to win without Doncic, who scored 73 points in the Mavs' lone visit to Atlanta last season. Hawks: After a series of early-season injuries, the Hawks had a full complement of players and two days of rest, but they still couldn't get past a team that was playing the second half of a back-to-back. Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) moves against Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Mike Stewart Key moment Irving scored 14 points in a three-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, during which the Mavs went from trailing 104-103 to leading 118-109. Key stat Marshall and Hardy, late additions to the starting lineup for the Mavs, combined for 45 points and nine rebounds. Up next The Hawks will face the NBA-best Cavaliers in their next two games — at Cleveland on Wednesday and at Atlanta on Friday. The Mavs will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday.