https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/agri-business/production production https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/4212/yunnan-flower-exports-maintain-strong-growth-ahead-of-ifex-kunming-2026.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/4212/yunnan-flower-exports-maintain-strong-growth-ahead-of-ifex-kunming-2026.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:45:57 +0530 IFEX 2026 will take place in Kunming, China, from September 18 to 20, 2026. Yunnan, China's leading producer and exporter of fresh-cut flowers, reached another export milestone in 2025, with exports totalling RMB 1.22 billion ($170 million), up 60.5 per cent year on year and ranking No. 1 nationwide for the seventh consecutive year. Nationwide, China's flower exports totalled $579 million in 2025, with fresh-cut flowers accounting for $228 million, up 44.3 per cent year on year. Yunnan-grown blooms are now exported to 64 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, including Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The export growth reflects Yunnan's unique natural and industrial advantages: 130,000 hectares of flower cultivation, a multi-billion-yuan floriculture industry, and production of roughly seven out of every 10 fresh-cut flowers sold in China. Dedicated green channels at Kunming Changshui International Airport, combined with 24/7 customs clearance, move freshly harvested flowers from farm to freight aircraft in less than 20 hours — well within the industry's critical 36-hour freshness window for international shipments. As global demand grows, IFEX Kunming International Flowers & Plants Expo 2026 will bring growers, breeders and buyers together to explore new varieties, technology and cross-border partnerships. Building on the success of the 2025 edition, the exhibition will take place on September 18–20 across 80,000 square meters, featuring four sectors — flowers, coffee, tropical plants and berries — and more than 600 exhibitors with an estimated 45,000 trade buyers. This year's show features the Netherlands and Colombia as Official Countries of Honour, alongside national pavilions hosted by Thailand, Malaysia and other key flower-producing economies. Leading international exhibitors include Legro, Van Egmond, Prime Flowers, Vince Mark, Schreurs, Deliflor, Pindstrup, Rijkland, De Ruiter, Van den Berg, Hasfarm, Florensis, Chrysal, BVB, Armada, Red Peony, Ridder, Van Iperen, NaanDanJain, Hortimed, Holex, Floricultura, Priva, Hoogendoorn, Anthura, Jiff and more. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3627/malaysia-approves-rm45-6m-rice-mill-project-in-kedah-to-boost-paddy-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3627/malaysia-approves-rm45-6m-rice-mill-project-in-kedah-to-boost-paddy-sector.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:56:16 +0530 Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced the initiative for the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) in Jerlun  The government has approved an allocation of RM45.6 million for the development of a rice mill by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) as an initiative to help strengthen the country’s paddy and rice sector. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the mill, which will be built in Megat Dewa, near here, reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring a more organised and competitive production chain. “The new mill will ensure that the collection, processing and production of rice are carried out efficiently, increasing the value-added of paddy yields and providing greater benefits to farmers, particularly by reducing reliance on middlemen,” he said. He said this at the presentation ceremony for the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) contributions and a meeting with farmers’ leaders in the MADA area here last night. Also present were Muda Agricultural Development Authority chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh and Agrobank group president and chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin. Mohamad said that for 2026, MADA is targeting an average paddy yield of 6.1 tonnes per hectare through the modernisation of paddy field management, improvements to irrigation and drainage infrastructure, as well as the optimisation of agricultural input usage. In line with this, the ministry is stepping up efforts to increase the country’s rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR) from 52.6 per cent nationwide and 58.3 per cent in Peninsular Malaysia to 70 per cent by 2030 to strengthen national food security. “The ministry will also implement the 3M approach — build, upgrade and maintain — through the Agricultural Infrastructure Strengthening Master Plan 2026-2040, which will place special focus on the paddy subsector to address ageing infrastructure issues while strengthening production support systems,” he said. He added that this year, his ministry will focus on maintaining irrigation and drainage systems in 14 rice bowl and 13 non-rice bowl areas, targeting works along 2,000 kilometres of irrigation canals, in addition to upgrading 1,346 km of agricultural roads to ensure smooth production and logistics in the agricultural sector. “The overall direction this year is focused on ensuring that the country’s agriculture and agri-food sectors remain sovereign, resilient and capable of facing future uncertainties,” he said.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3614/thailand-strengthens-climate-action-by-driving-low-carbon-oil-palm-production-through-rspo-standards-and-climax-pro.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3614/thailand-strengthens-climate-action-by-driving-low-carbon-oil-palm-production-through-rspo-standards-and-climax-pro.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:46:20 +0530 Improved agricultural practices through the RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard and innovative tools are empowering Thai oil palm farmers to advance Thailand’s climate change mitigation efforts. Thailand is stepping up its fight against climate change through innovative, farmer-focused initiatives that are transforming its agricultural sector into a driver of low-carbon and climate-resilient development.  Increasingly affected by climate change, Thailand faces rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and more frequent floods, storms, and heatwaves that threaten its agriculture-dependent economy as well as millions of livelihoods. Though the country emits around 250–260 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually—approximately 0.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions it remains highly vulnerable, ranking 17th among countries most affected by extreme weather events from 1995 to 2024. This dual challenge underscores the urgent need to accelerate both mitigation and adaptation efforts. In response, Thailand has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30–40% by 2030, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and reaching net zero emissions by 2065. These targets are driving momentum toward low-carbon development, particularly in agriculture. At the same time, the expanding voluntary carbon credit market presents new opportunities, as demand for high-quality, agriculture-based credits may generate additional income for farmers adopting climate-smart practices. Low carbon cultivation, CLIMAX Pro carbon footprint calculator Within the oil palm sector, the 2024 RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard mandates the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts. These practices promote low-carbon oil palm cultivation through improved agronomic and environmental management. However, adoption among smallholders remains limited due to gaps in knowledge, finance, and local support. In collaboration with key partners, RSPO supports compliance with the ISH Standard to advance low-carbon footprint production. Complementing these efforts is the introduction of CLIMAX Pro, a newly developed programme that enables oil palm farmers to calculate their carbon footprint. Initiated by the Sustainable Palm Oil Procurement Project on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation (SPOPP-CLIMA) and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Global Green Chemicals plc (GGC), this free tool empowers farming groups to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their palm oil production activities.  By identifying the most significant emission sources, farmers can better prioritise practical solutions to reduce carbon emissions while strengthening their participation in climate mitigation efforts. Also being developed alongside  the Department of Agriculture, Walailak University, and the Thailand Smallholder Facilitator Network,  The Khanom Model serves as a demonstration of BMP-based, low-carbon oil palm production. By integrating improved soil management, optimised input use, organic amendments such as biochar, and environmentally responsible practices, it functions as a dynamic learning platform for smallholders. These multiple initiatives along several fronts provide pilot low-carbon models that can be replicated to improve farm performance, reduce emissions, and strengthen smallholder resilience – demonstrating Thailand’s clear and collaborative actions to step up sustainability efforts to fight the climate emergency.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:35:23 +0530 Provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announces the launch of SMARTBIOME™, an innovative solution designed to help food manufacturers better understand, control and prevent microbiological spoilage. By combining high‑precision DNA sequencing, advanced bioinformatics and bioMérieux's microbiology expertise, SMARTBIOME™ provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety. Every year, microbial spoilage contributes significantly to food waste and quality losses across the global food industry. Scientific estimates indicate that 15–20% of food is wasted after production, and part of the waste is due to spoilage, with microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, aerobic and anaerobic spore‑formers, and fungi playing a major role in both fresh and processed foods and beverages. For food manufacturers, these challenges lead to substantial economic losses, reputational risks and operational disruption. Identifying the microorganisms responsible for spoilage, understanding their origin and preventing recurrence remain complex and time‑consuming tasks. SMARTBIOME™ addresses these challenges through an advanced, accessible platform for in-depth spoilage investigation. The solution combines high‑resolution DNA sequencing with powerful bioinformatics and data science, an exclusive spoilage knowledge base, and bioMérieux's expert consulting services. Together, these capabilities transform complex microbiological data into clear, actionable insights. Spot spoilage, act confidently and prevent contamination The solution enables food manufacturers to accurately identify spoilage organisms at every stage of production, trace issues back to their root cause using data‑driven insights and strengthen process controls. By monitoring microbiological trends over time, manufacturers can anticipate risks and proactively adjust their processes to prevent future spoilage events before they escalate.  "With SMARTBIOME™, we are giving food manufacturers the ability to understand and control spoilage like never before," declared Alejo Migones, Senior Vice President, Food Safety & Quality. "By combining our microbiology expertise with powerful data science, we continue to enhance our Augmented Diagnostics approach by helping our customers run healthy and sustainable operations."  This innovative solution has been developed in close collaboration with the teams of Neoprospecta, a Brazil‑based genomics and data science company acquired by bioMérieux in January 2025. The teams jointly work in establishing an international reference in technologies and solutions for microorganism analysis, identification and control. SMARTBIOME™ is already available for food manufacturers in several regions worldwide, including North America, Latin America and Europe. "Through the development of sequencing and data‑driven microbiology solutions, we move beyond isolated test results to deliver meaningful, actionable insights. This allows us to support food manufacturers more effectively, helping them improve processes and making bioMérieux a true long‑term partner in their microbiological risk management and quality programs. Ultimately, these advances also contribute to delivering safer products to consumers," added Yasha Mitrotti, Executive Vice President, Industrial Applications, bioMérieux. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3523/corteva-and-bp-launch-biofuel-feedstock-joint-venture-etlas.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3523/corteva-and-bp-launch-biofuel-feedstock-joint-venture-etlas.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:23:34 +0530 Partnership will leverage Corteva technology and bp integrated downstream capabilities to produce and deliver biofuel feedstocks to global marketsCorteva Inc. and BP announced the launch of Etlas, their new 50:50 joint venture that will produce oil from crops – including canola, mustard and sunflower – for use in the production of biofuels like sustainable (or synthetic) aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD). Etlas will harness both Corteva’s century-long expertise in seed technology to develop crops ideally suited to produce SAF and RD as well as bp’s expertise in refining and marketing fuel for the commercial transportation market. Etlas aims to produce one million metric tonnes of feedstock per year by the mid-2030s, which could produce over 800 thousand tonnes of biofuel. Initial supply is scheduled to begin in 2027 for use in co-processing at refineries as well as at dedicated biofuels plants. Leading industry estimates have global demand for SAF growing to as much as 10 million tonnes by 20301 -- from about 1 million tonnes in 2024, while global demand for RD could rise to as much as 35 million tonnes by 20302 from approximately 17 million tonnes in 2024. Etlas is designed to provide a reliable, scalable supply of feedstock to help meet this expected demand. The feedstock Etlas uses will be harvested from crops that are grown on existing cropland, between main food cropping seasons.  Such intermediate crops can help improve soil health while providing farmers with a new revenue stream. As they use existing cropland during times when it has previously been unproductive like a fallow or cover period, they also do not lead to additional demand for land. Judd O’Connor, executive vice president of Corteva’s seed business unit added: “By helping found Etlas, Corteva continues to deliver on two critical parts of our mission: to help fuel the world and to support farmers. Agriculture is part of the solution, and we are excited to see Etlas come to life.” Philipp Schoelzel, senior vice president, biofuels growth, bp added: “This capital light joint venture creates optionality in our biofuels value chain, strengthening our position and helping deliver attractive returns. We’re excited to collaborate with Corteva to deliver what our customers want." Ignacio Conti, Global Business Development Director at Corteva will be the new Etlas Chief Executive Officer and Gaurav Sonar, vice president, Novel Feedstocks at bp will become its Chair of the Board of Directors. “As the aviation industry looks for reliable, sustainable and cost-competitive sources of SAF, it is clear farmers have a critical role to play,” said Etlas CEO, Ignacio Conti. “Etlas brings together global leaders in agriculture innovation and energy production to harness this demand by leveraging technological expertise and trusted relationships with farmers around the world to help scale production and boost supply while offering farmers new revenue streams. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3428/can-africa-grow-what-it-eats-irris-dr-ismail-maps-new-blueprint-for-rice-self-sufficiency.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3428/can-africa-grow-what-it-eats-irris-dr-ismail-maps-new-blueprint-for-rice-self-sufficiency.html Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:04:57 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Dr. Ismail Abdelbagi, Principal Scientist and Regional Representative for Africa at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) lays out a candid assessment of why Africa still imports $8–9 billion of rice annually despite holding the world’s largest reserve of untapped arable land. He argues that the continent’s core bottlenecks—underfunded seed systems, broken value chains, low government investment, and dominance of rainfed, low-productivity systems—must be fixed before any talk of self-sufficiency becomes realistic. Breakthroughs in drought, flood, salinity, and heat-tolerant varieties are finally progressing, but require African-specific breeding pipelines, stronger national programs, and serious funding to reach scale. With consumers shifting toward higher-quality, fortified and convenience rice, Dr. Ismail points to milling modernization, youth-led mechanisation services, and private-sector seed systems as Africa’s next billion-dollar opportunities. Looking ahead to 2035, he says Africa can be food-sovereign and even a net exporter—but only if political stability, modernized policies, and investment-ready ecosystems align to unlock the continent’s true rice potential. Africa’s rice imports have crossed $8–9 billion annually, despite strong policy rhetoric on self-sufficiency. Which structural weaknesses—seed systems, milling capacity, land productivity, or trade dependence—are most urgent to fix, and what would be the fastest win ? Africa has the potential to feed itself and even contribute substantially to global food production and security. The continent holds about 60 to 65 per cent of the global arable lands that has not yet been exploited, with diverse climates suitable for various crops. These vastly underutilized resources position the continent as a future safety valve for global food security. Several general issues are contributing to the inadequate use of these resources such as limited investment in infrastructure including irrigation, modern production and postharvest technologies and marketing platforms.   Several challenges need to be addressed to unlock this potential for the continent to effectively contribute to local and global food security. Governments’ investment in agriculture is still low compared with countries in Asia, mostly less than 1 per cent of their respective GDPs. This is despite the commitment to allocate at least 10 per cent of national GDP to agriculture and rural development, based on Maputo Declaration endorsed by all states in July 2003. Committing to invest in agriculture, including production, postharvest and marketing infrastructure, enabling policy frameworks, providing training and capacity building, and minimizing risks especially for smallholder communities will boost productivity and address food, nutrition and income security, and ensure food sovereignty to avoid dependence on imports in the increasingly becoming less reliable international food market trade. Rice lands and water resources are abundant in Africa, with an estimate of over 300 million ha suitable for rice production, with only about 12 per cent of it currently in use, with low productivity averaging less than half of the world mean production. This is because of dominance of traditional farming approaches, especially in rainfed farming systems that constitutes about 80 per cent of the current rice production areas. Implementing proper policy frameworks that support rapid growth of the rice sector, including adoption of new varieties and modern production practices such as mechanization, effective seed production and delivery systems, access to markets for smallholder farmers (SHFs) to vend their produce at prices that ensures sufficient profits and sustained income, and access to agrochemicals including fertilizers at affordable prices and in time. For this to be realized, rice-based value chains need considerable amendments to reduce intermediaries and provide access of farmers to competitive markets for better choices of prices and to motivate them to produce more. Consolidation of SHF into large fields managed through farmers’ cooperatives and communities will also facilitate implementation of efficient, scale-appropriate technologies to replace the current mostly manual and inefficient production methods being used by smallholders.    Engaging the private sector and other investors is critical for the success of rice-based systems in Africa for effective commercialization of new varieties, development of sustained seed systems and for market access. Intergovernmental arrangements and guidelines are mostly in place but largely not implemented, these agreements can help reduce dependence on import through regional and continental food security and sovereignty. Africa also deserve stronger and binding trade agreements independent of global food and trade instability, although this trade dependence is in part, a result of low production and poor quality of the produce, to meet local requirements. This is further aggravated by political instability and security leading to conflicting investment priorities. Climate shocks are hitting rice hardest in rainfed lowlands, where 80 per cent of Africa’s farmers operate. How close are we to a breakthrough in drought- and heat-resilient varieties that can stabilize yields without costly irrigation infrastructure ? Rainfed rice areas in Africa has not been given sufficient attention for rice production, and farmers still use traditional tools and technologies. This is contrary to the progress made in Asia, where most rainfed areas has been transformed into productive lands, with high and mostly stable yields. The transformation in Asia became feasible after the introduction of varieties that tolerate drought, floods and salt stress, both in coastal and inland areas. This is also coupled with modern production technologies, including water management, proper use of fertilizers, mechanized farming and other suitable cultural practices, with considerable success in increasing and sustaining productivity and income of SHFs in affected areas. Sub-Saharan Africa benefitted little from the stress tolerant varieties developed for South and Southeast Asia, and obviously more efforts need to be devoted to developing and delivering such varieties for Africa to help cope with the vastly worsening climate change adversities. This is only possible through dedicated and well-funded projects to ensure faster progress and impact, especially with the recent scientific developments and use of modern breeding strategies, including molecular tools for genotyping coupled with efficient phenotyping approaches using speed breeding facilities. IRRI started using these technologies in its centralized breeding facilities in Philippines and India, with the products targeting African environment being tested locally in African countries. We are expecting some good progress in the coming few years if resources permit.    IRRI’s Sub1 and salinity-tolerant varieties changed the game in Asia. What are the next frontier traits that Africa needs—especially along the Sahelian dry corridor and coastal deltas facing salinization from sea-level rise? Rice farmers in Africa are facing numerous challenges, including the same issues in Asia – drought, floods and excess salts in soil and water. Besides, other abiotic stresses like iron toxicity in lowlands and nutrient deficiencies due to soil conditions, like phosphorus and zinc deficiencies in uplands, are also serious in some areas. The soils are degraded and deficient in minerals and organic carbon due to continued mining with little replacement. Moreover, the unusual variation in temperatures being experienced, is also leading to considerable reduction in yields, with higher temperatures in some lowland areas and chilling temperatures in highlands. The dominant stains of common rice diseases are sometimes different from those dominating in Asia, making breeding stress tolerant varieties even more challenging.  For these reasons, the stress tolerant varieties released in Asia that made considerable contributions in increasing and sustaining productivity in some countries, like drought, flood and salt tolerant varieties, mostly do not work in Africa, due to variation in other factors, especially diseases and pests and soil conditions. This necessitates transfer of tolerance traits and genes into genetic backgrounds suitable for Africa, and significant efforts and resources need to be devoted to developing such varieties. Due to these and other factors, particularly lack of resources and breeding infrastructure for national breeding programs, our work on developing stress tolerant varieties for Africa has been slow.  The genetic factors responsible for tolerance of drought, floods, salinity and their combinations need to be transferred into varieties suitable for African climate conditions while meeting the consumer and local market requirements and preferences, before they can successfully be commercialized and adopted. This work has been ongoing with some success in releasing few flood-tolerant varieties (with SUB1 gene) in Nigeria and Madagascar, and salt tolerant varieties in Kenya and Tanzania. Some varieties with partial tolerance to drought were released in several countries across SSA. Work is also ongoing to develop varieties that tolerate temperature extremes, where heat waves are becoming common during the season in lowlands and low temperatures in highlands. Ideally, future varieties for Africa should combine tolerance of major abiotic stresses dominating in a particular target region, together with resistance to common diseases. Today’s African consumer is shifting from low-cost staples to quality, fortified, and convenience-driven rice. What innovations in processing, branding, and nutrition could unlock the next billion-dollar opportunity for domestic producers ? Rice is becoming the cereal food of choice in SSA, over the traditional coarse grains like sorghum, millets and teff, because of its palatability, ease of preparation and storage. This shift is driven by several demographic changes, including rapid population growth, with currently over 60 per cent of the population being young, below 25 yrs of age, with shifts in food preferences and conveniences. There is also an exodus of youth to urban areas, seeking better living conditions and opportunities, leaving older generations to deal with farming. This situation can be effectively reversed by providing attractive entrepreneurships through rice farming, such as service provision, especially mechanization, transport and storage, use of IT tools and Apps, seed production and marketing, etc., to make farming more attractive for younger generations. Enabling and supporting such enterprises for young men and women will significantly help in improving productivity and reducing cost of production, while providing employment opportunities for younger generations to stay on farms, reducing pressure on already struggling cities. Similarly, this is opening opportunities for investors and private sector to engage in support provision and even commercial production and marketing. Apparently, all steps along the value chain provide an investment opportunity in most countries. Rice produced locally is not yet competitive with imported rice in most countries, and that is because of many factors, including use of old varieties, poor seed systems to deliver new, improved and high-quality products, poor post-harvest and storage management. Modernizing rice production, including use of quality seeds and sufficient agrochemicals, as well as upgrading the whole value chain, especially postharvest (drying, cleaning, milling, packaging, storage, transport and marketing) will go a long way to make locally produced rice comparable with imported rice, which consumers prefer, especially in urban areas. Subsequently, this will provide good opportunities for investments in Africa. India, for example, could play major roles through bilateral engagements like the existing lines of credit for some countries and through South-South Cooperation and trade agreements. SSA countries can learn a lot from India, through its impressively short journey from being a net importer of rice to the largest exporter in the world within couple of decades. This also provide lots of opportunities for private sector to invest in these value chains, particularly commercial seed production, mechanization and all aspects of post-harvest management. SSA also need to build abilities and investments to adopt climate friendly operations with the expansion of rice industry, and to avoid the issues being experienced in major rice producing countries. The most obvious is the straw and husks burning under intensive rice production systems, involving 2-3 seasons per year, leaving little time to deal with solid wastes. Value addition and processing of these solid wastes can generate more income, e.g. biochar to enrich soil carbon, use in cement industry, mushroom farming, and processed fodder for livestock. Industries involving various products and value addition using rice can also help generate opportunities for commerce and for income. Fragmented national markets raise cost across the value chain. With AfCFTA slowly accelerating, which cross-border rice corridors (e.g., Senegal–Mali, Nigeria–Niger) could emerge as competitive agro-industrial hubs by 2035 ? Most of the intraregional trade in rice and other food commodities in SSA are informal and not well organized to reach their conceivable targets, leading to such fragmented and broken value chains and markets. However, if well-structured and regulated, can play major roles in reducing transaction costs, especially the cost of transport, and could help in resolving issues associated with other non-tariff barriers to encourage and support investments. Several countries in SSA succeeded in substantially increasing their annual rice production and some of them started trading with their neighboring countries. These countries include Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. These countries are also exporting rice to their neighboring countries through mostly informal means. Countries that already achieved self-sufficiency, like Tanzania will likely contribute substantially to its neighbors like Kenya and Uganda. If AI-based advisories, digital extension, and climate risk insurance can reduce production uncertainty, what would it take to mainstream data-led farming among smallholders—technology subsidies, telco partnerships, or new farmer-business models ? AI-based advisories, extension apps and climate risk insurance models are important tools that can help speed generation of relevant information, reaching to extension personnel and farmers and minimizing farmers risks by providing insurance against disastrous incidents. AI proved to be transformative in making difficult technologies accessible and convenient and is becoming increasingly useful in agriculture and environment research. Yet its fast and predictive power raises concerns over the likely risks of its use to benefit SHFs, despite its power to speed generating scientific knowledge for the public.   AI already proved its effectiveness in managing commercial farms in developed countries, and similarly could be adapted to farmers needs in SSA, to support decision making based on legacy data, which will considerably reduce investments and time to come up with bundles of interventions fitting specific local contexts, including forecast of catastrophic incidences, like droughts and floods, disease and pests outbreaks that are becoming more frequent with climate change progression. Climate risk insurance is also being accessed by farmers in Asia. Both AI and climate insurance has not been implemented to any scale in SSA to benefit SHFs, providing good business opportunities and new models for farming and food production. However, digital tools in the form of Apps provided through smart phones are being used by extension personnel and even farmers for training and access to information, including input and output market intelligence, nutrient and water management and for managing and forecasting yields, disease incidences etc.; and are likely to be mainstreamed faster than other digital farming technologies in SSA. The use of these tools, however, need to be carefully assessed and regulated to avoid any risks to farmers due to lack of awareness and capacity or due to risks associated with the technology. This is mainly because SHFs have very little resources to avert any incurred risks caused by erroneous or biased data used to generate such models. There are several ethical risks associated with these data-led tools, especially with AI, which has not been rigorously tested and regulated in Africa, including risks associated with data accuracy, availability and privacy, potential loss of jobs and displacement, biased access to information leading to unequal benefits, “digital divide” based on accessibility, etc. Strict ethical frameworks and transparency need to be in place to protect SHFs and reduce their vulnerability. Similarly, crop insurance requires strict guidelines and assessment to ensure accuracy of information and credibility of claims, which in most cases will be outside SHF‘s capacity. Government-led programs equipped with proper monitoring and data collection is necessary for the success of these advisory and support tools, for them to be successfully deployed in Africa, to mainstream data-led farming.  Africa also lacks an effective geospatial system for instantaneous generation of information on potential climate-related disasters, an area that will require infrastructure investment and training. This is critical to provide both farmers and governments with early warnings and to guide decisions that help mitigate any negative consequences. Successful use of these ventures will also require substantial investments in infrastructure and support services, which opens considerable opportunities for investors. Looking ahead to 2035: what does a climate-secure and investment-ready African rice ecosystem look like—and what is the single hardest political or economic barrier standing in its way ? Provided resources and stability within the coming ten years, I expect several countries in Africa to accomplish food self-sufficiency, and some become net exporters of various food staples, including rice. This will likely lead to continental food sovereignty and less dependence on the currently fragile international trade markets, especially exposure to price shocks that become inevitably frequent due to several triggers such as weather calamities, conflicts and political unrests, leading to panic hoarding in some cases. I believe reaching self-sufficiency will depend on how fast countries and regions make progress in critical areas that are currently holding them back, including the following: Significant and consistent government’s investment in food production and related infrastructure for processing, storage and transport. This should include provision of insurance and subsidy options to derisk and protect smallholder farmers, and to provide minimum farmgate prices to sustain farmers’ income and profit and keep them in the market. Fixing and strengthening rice value chains: Currently SHFs in Africa are getting less than half of the proceeds their counterparts are getting in Asia. This is mainly because the existing value chains are broken, mostly unregulated and dominated by intermediaries. Political stability is critical for sound progress and development of the rice agri-food systems. Fortunately, most countries are moving in that direction. This will encourage investors to take critical roles in financing to revolutionize the food value chains, including rice where relatively little is available in international trade market, and with increasing global demands.   Adjusting policies and guidelines to match those in other successful countries like India, to streamline the development and deployment of innovations faster. Current policies in most countries are outdated and are hindering progress, especially those related to release and scaling of new varieties, delivery systems for quality inputs and outputs, and for engaging private sector and investors to provide needed capital and capacity. This is probably the hardest political and economic barrier standing in the way of SSA to be investment ready and to assume its proper role as global food provider. Some countries are already making strides in this direction. Implementation of national and regional strategies that support growth of the rice sector: All major rice producing countries and few regional economic communities in SSA developed their national and regional rice development strategies that detailed the way to achieve their intended targets by 2030, these strategies are yet to be effectively implemented. The regional Economic Communities (RECs: EAC, ECOWAS, IGAD, COMESA, SADC) and the Associated Regional Agricultural Research Networks (e.g. CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA) also developed policies that assure and regulate collaboration across borders of neighboring countries, within regions and at the continental scales to allow free adoption of varieties released in a particular country, free cross-border movement of seeds, grains, agrochemicals and knowledge, with no non-tariff barriers. Engaging with countries in Asia through South-South Collaboration (SSC) is also being discussed to enhance learning and exchange, and to facilitate investments for faster growth. An example in this direction is the “Seed Without Borders (SWB) agreement facilitated by IRRI. Most countries in Africa already set policies and guidelines that encourages investments in agriculture and food production, others are on the way. There are dire needs for these investments, especially in upgrading infrastructure, facilitating aggregation of SHFs into commercial entities, provision of modern technologies particularly machinery, agrochemicals and marketing platforms --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3286/japans-nippn-corporation-partners-with-greenfield-milling-to-reinforce-u-s-flour-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3286/japans-nippn-corporation-partners-with-greenfield-milling-to-reinforce-u-s-flour-production.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:41:32 +0530 Strategic alliance drives innovation and sustainability in the food supply chain with advanced milling technology and nationwide distribution capabilities. Japan's Nippn Corporation, a leader in food and agricultural innovation, has strengthened its global presence through a strategic equity partnership with Utah Flour Milling, LLC, dba Greenfield Milling. The collaboration marks a significant milestone as Greenfield Milling unveils its flagship flour milling facility in Richmond, Utah, designed to revolutionize the food supply chain. The partnership highlights Nippn's commitment to fostering international alliances and expanding its footprint in the U.S. market. Greenfield Milling, aims to redefine flour production through cutting-edge technology, quality, and strategic partnerships. The new state-of-the-art facility in Richmond is a testament to this vision, featuring advanced capabilities for producing hard wheat, soft wheat, whole wheat, and organic flours. A key feature of the Richmond facility is its dedicated pneumatic flour supply system, which supports Campbell's Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cracker and Milano Cookie plant under a 20-year supply agreement. This initiative underscores Greenfield Milling’s focus on sustainability and efficiency, aligning with Nippn’s values of innovation and quality. Greenfield Milling plans to further expand its operations by leasing assets from Panhandle Milling in Hereford, Texas. This move will enhance its ability to serve the bakery industry with a diverse range of ingredients and mixes, including tortillas, pizza dough, and dry bake mixes, in conventional, organic, and gluten-free formats. Looking ahead, Greenfield Milling plans to upgrade its Utah facility with advanced blending and warehousing automation by 2026, increasing capacity to meet rising consumer demand for high-quality bakery ingredients. This forward-looking strategy reflects Nippn’s influence in driving growth and innovation within the partnership. Genichi Murakami, Vice President of Medicaroid Corporation, a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex Corporation, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. "Nippn's partnership with Greenfield Milling showcases Japan's expertise in creating sustainable and innovative food solutions," he said. "We are proud to support initiatives that elevate industry standards and drive global growth." Together, Nippn Corporation and Greenfield Milling are shaping the future of food ingredients, combining Japanese innovation with American operational excellence to meet the evolving demands of the bakery and retail markets. This collaboration not only strengthens Greenfield Milling’s position in the U.S. but also reinforces Nippn’s role as a global leader in advancing food supply chain sustainability and quality. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3259/yara-international-and-atome-sign-a-10-year-offtake-agreement-for-low-carbon-fertilizer-production-in-paraguay.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3259/yara-international-and-atome-sign-a-10-year-offtake-agreement-for-low-carbon-fertilizer-production-in-paraguay.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:01:00 +0530 ATOME to supply 260,000 tons per year of low-carbon fertilizer, powered entirely by renewable energy, from its Villeta Project ATOME, a leading low-carbon fertilizer developer and the UK's only international industrial-scale low-carbon fertilizer company, has announced the signing of a definitive 10-year offtake agreement with Yara International ASA. The offtake agreement between ATOME and Yara represents a significant step forward in the global transition to sustainable agriculture. Under this agreement, ATOME will supply and Yara will purchase the entire production of 260,000 tons per year (tpy) of low-carbon fertilizer from ATOME's Villeta Project in Paraguay. The fertilizer will be produced using 100% renewable power. Yara and ATOME will collaborate to maximize the market potential and premium value of ATOME's low-carbon fertilizer. This partnership leverages Yara's extensive sales, marketing, and distribution network, coupled with its expertise in relevant markets, to position ATOME's product as a leading solution for decarbonizing agricultural supply chains. By producing low-carbon fertilizer at an industrial scale and powered entirely by renewable energy, ATOME is addressing critical environmental challenges while meeting the growing demand for sustainable food production solutions. With its strategic location in Mercosur and the backing of Yara's extensive distribution network, the Villeta Project is set to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the food sector and advancing regional climate and food security goals. Market Demand for Low-Carbon Fertilizers: The Villeta Project is set to produce low-carbon Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) fertilizer, manufactured from green ammonia derived from 100% renewable baseload hydropower. This production process eliminates reliance on subsidies or grants and is strategically located near major demand centers. Positioned in the heart of Mercosur, the world's largest fertilizer import market, Villeta is poised to disrupt the heavy reliance on imported, fossil-fuel-based fertilizers in the region. The Mercosur region, encompassing major food-exporting nations like Argentina and Brazil, currently depends significantly on fossil-fuel-based fertilizers, much of which is imported from Russia and China. ATOME's low-carbon fertilizer offers a sustainable alternative, addressing both regional climate goals and food security challenges. Environmental Impact and Decarbonization Goals: According to United Nations data, approximately one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are linked to food production. Fertilizer production and use account for more emissions than the shipping and aviation industries combined. ATOME's low-carbon Calcium Ammonium Nitrate product aims to decarbonize the food sector by targeting emissions at the root of the food value chain. Unlike conventional nitrogen fertilizers like urea, which have a significant carbon footprint, ATOME's product is both environmentally friendly and promotes high crop yields. This makes it an essential tool for global food producers seeking cost-effective solutions to reduce emissions in their supply chains. Yara's Role in Advancing Low-Carbon Fertilizers: As a first mover in marketing low-carbon fertilizer alternatives, Yara has been actively selling such products directly into the agricultural supply chains of the world's largest food and beverage companies. The offtake agreement with ATOME will enable Yara to expand its portfolio of low-carbon products, strengthening its position in the market for sustainable agricultural solutions. Chrystel Monthean, EVP Americas at Yara, emphasized the company's commitment to a "nature-positive food future." She noted that Yara's collaboration with farmers, cooperatives, and distributors in South America aligns with the goal of responding competitively to market demand for renewable energy-based fertilizers. Next Steps to Final Investment Decision (FID) The signing of this definitive offtake agreement marks the final commercial milestone in ATOME's journey to reaching a final investment decision (FID). This achievement follows the successful completion of other critical commercial milestones, including the signing of a US$465 million fixed-price, lump-sum Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with Casale. Terje Bakken, Director for Ammonia and Fertilizer Markets at ATOME, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “ATOME is pleased to sign this definitive and final offtake agreement with Yara. We know that making the switch to low-carbon fertilizer is one of the most effective ways to reduce food production emissions. The agreement with Yara is an important validation of our commercial model, underpinned by the market case for the world's biggest food and beverage producers to urgently address agricultural emissions in their supply chains.” Bakken also highlighted the strong and mutually beneficial relationship between ATOME and Yara, expressing gratitude for the trust and collaboration of the Yara team. Chrystel Monthean of Yara echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the company's ambition to contribute to a sustainable food future. She noted that the local supply of fertilizers based on renewable energy would enhance Yara's ability to meet market demand while leveraging its agronomic expertise. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3218/origin-agritech-commences-full-scale-seed-processing-operations-at-xinjiang-production-base.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3218/origin-agritech-commences-full-scale-seed-processing-operations-at-xinjiang-production-base.html Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:08:00 +0530 Leveraging advanced automation to support the National Agricultural Supply Chain Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced that its Xinjiang production and processing facility has commenced full-scale seed processing operations for the 2025 season on August 21, 2025. The Facility's activation marks a critical milestone in Origin's integrated seed production and distribution strategy, positioning the Company to meet growing demand for high-quality corn seeds across China's agricultural markets. Origin's Xinjiang facility is strategically located in one of China's most important corn seed production regions, benefiting from Xinjiang's unique solar thermal resources and climatic conditions for seed development. The region's natural advantages provide an ideal environment for producing premium-quality seeds that meet Origin's stringent quality standards. Weibin Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Origin Agritech said "Through our advanced seed processing equipment and strict quality management systems, we ensure that every seed meets optimal standards, providing farmers with the foundation for successful harvests." The Xinjiang production base operates a fully automated processing production line that integrates cleaning, drying, threshing, precision sorting, coating, and packaging operations. This comprehensive automation significantly improves processing efficiency while maintaining the highest seed quality standards throughout the production chain. The Facility's seed coating technology provides critical protection during early crop growth stages, effectively preventing diseases and pest damage while promoting uniform emergence and robust seedling development. These protective measures establish the foundation for high-yield, stable production outcomes for Origin's farmer customers. Real-time monitoring systems oversee the drying operations, ensuring optimal moisture content and seed viability. The integrated approach to quality control demonstrates Origin's commitment to delivering consistent, high-performance products to its distribution network. With the commencement of full-scale processing operations, Origin is accelerating its logistics and distribution capabilities to ensure the timely delivery of premium seeds to farmers nationwide. The Company's commitment to meeting critical agricultural timing requirements supports China's food security objectives and agricultural modernization initiatives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3183/burnbrae-farms-breaks-ground-on-build-state-of-the-art-egg-grading-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3183/burnbrae-farms-breaks-ground-on-build-state-of-the-art-egg-grading-facility.html Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:39:05 +0530 Spanning more than 150,000 square feet, the new facility is scheduled to be operational late in 2026 Burnbrae Farms® proudly announced plans to break ground on a new state-of-the-art egg grading facility in Strathroy, Ontario. Slated to begin construction in the Molnar Industrial Park, the project marks a meaningful milestone in the company’s growing presence and decades-long connection to the Strathroy-Caradoc community. Spanning more than 150,000 square feet, the new facility is scheduled to be operational late in 2026 and will feature some of the most advanced egg grading technologies in the industry, including automated case packing, palletizing and depalletizing systems, and a fully integrated automated storage and retrieval system. Burnbrae has engaged Michael + Clark Construction, a trusted general contractor based in nearby London, Ontario, to lead the build. “We’re proud to expand our footprint in Strathroy, a place we’ve called home for more than 45 years,” said Ian McFall, Executive Vice President, Foodservice/Industrial Sales & Government Relations. “Working closely with the town to secure land in their industrial park, we’re excited to grow in a way that reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the Hudson family values, which are core to our culture.” The facility will be built incorporating solar energy, heat recovery systems, and electric shore power for refrigerated trailers. These features contribute to Burnbrae Farms’ broader environmental goals. “Investing in cutting-edge technologies and sustainable building practices helps us meet the growing demand for specialty eggs, while advancing our leadership in Canadian egg production, grading, and processing,” Trevor Chang, Vice President, Operations at Burnbrae Farms said. “This facility will ensure we continue to serve Canadian families with high-quality eggs for generations to come.” Burnbrae Farms has been a proud part of the Strathroy-Caradoc community for over 45 years. The new facility is a testament to Burnbrae’s commitment to this community, reflecting the decades of knowledge and experience in local egg production. It underscores the company’s dedication to responsible development and further economic growth in the area. “This is an exciting day for the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc. Burnbrae Farms has been an outstanding corporate citizen for decades, and we look forward to their continued investment in our community,” stated Mayor Colin Grantham. Burnbrae Farms is the largest family-owned and operated egg business in Canada, committed to providing Canadians with nutritious, great-tasting eggs and egg products. For generations, the Hudson family has given back to local communities through grassroots programs, local and national charities, enhancing the lives of Canadians, one egg at a time. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3150/baladna-algeria-secures-integrated-agri-industrial-project-with-an-initial-contract-worth-500m.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3150/baladna-algeria-secures-integrated-agri-industrial-project-with-an-initial-contract-worth-500m.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:00:41 +0530 A total investment of $3.5 billion is planned for the company's integrated agri-industrial project for powdered milk production in Algeria. Baladna has announced the signing of initial contracts valued over $500mn between Baladna Algeria and a group of Algerian and international suppliers and consultants in the capital, Algiers. The agreements are part of the first phase of the company’s integrated agri-industrial project for powdered milk production in Algeria, which represents a total investment of $3.5B. The Baladna Algeria project is considered one of the largest agri-industrial ventures in the world and the first of its kind in Algeria. Spanning 117,000 hectares, the project is being developed through a strategic partnership between Baladna Q.P.S.C. and the Algerian government, represented by the National Investment Fund. Ramez al-Khayyat, Board Member and Managing Director explained that the first phase includes land reclamation and construction work for two out of four farms, one out of two factories, and 700 of the planned 1,400 pivot irrigation units. He added that production is scheduled to begin before construction of the first phase is fully completed, with herd formation planned to start in 2026. On the Qatar Stock Exchange website, the company announced that these agreements mark the official launch of this strategic investment, which will enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports, which will benefit Algeria's economy. Baladna Algeria is a joint-stock Algerian company established through a partnership between a subsidiary of Baladna Q.P.S.C. and Algeria’s National Investment Fund. The signed contracts cover a wide range of critical sectors, including agricultural technologies, production lines, irrigation equipment, water well drilling, steel and metal structure supplies, in addition to consultancy services in project management, topographic surveying, soil analysis, and environmental impact studies. Among the key international suppliers and consultants are GEA (Germany), a leader in dairy processing and automated milking systems; Valmont (USA), specialised in water-efficient irrigation systems; UCC, a globally recognised contracting firm; and EHAF, a prominent engineering consultancy. Leading Algerian companies involved include Condor-Travocovia, RedMed Contracting, and EFORHYD, specialised in water well drilling. Moutaz al-Khayyat, Chairman of Baladna, stated that the signing of these initial contracts, which form a key part of the project’s first phase, marks a major milestone in what is considered one of the largest agri-industrial projects of its kind in the world. He added: "Today, we are taking a critical step in the execution of this integrated agri-industrial project for dairy and powdered milk production in Algeria, which aims to achieve self-sufficiency in one of the country’s most essential and widely consumed food products. We are proud to bring together top-tier global and national expertise through collaboration with leading companies from the US, Germany, Qatar, and Algeria. These combined efforts will ensure the project is delivered on schedule and according to the highest international standards — starting with field studies, soil and water analysis, construction, and the design and implementation of world-class irrigation networks and production lines." Focused on dairy cow farming and powdered milk production, the initiative is expected to supply 50% of Algeria’s national demand for powdered milk, supporting the country’s goal of achieving food self-sufficiency. In addition to dairy, the project will contribute to red meat supply and is expected to generate more than 5,000 job opportunities for the local workforce. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3004/rovensa-next-launches-new-biostimulant-portfolio-to-improve-crop-yield-and-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/3004/rovensa-next-launches-new-biostimulant-portfolio-to-improve-crop-yield-and-quality.html Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:23:04 +0530 Aims to solve pre-harvest to post-harvest stage challenges and impact the marketability and nutritional value of the produce Agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and nutrition worldwide. Crop quality traits are essential for their marketability, consumer acceptance, and overall nutritional value. Ensuring high-quality crops in agriculture, particularly fruits, vegetables, and potatoes, involves overcoming several challenges. These challenges span from pre-harvest to post-harvest stages and can significantly impact the marketability and nutritional value of the produce.  Rovensa Next has launched Biostimulation 360º that can offer growers to overcome challenges and enhance the quality and, thus, profitability of their crops to overcome these challenges. Several physical, chemical, and biological traits determine crop quality. These traits influence the crops’ usability for food, feed, industrial applications, and seed production.   Various parameters define the quality of agricultural production, which can be summarized into two main groups. External parameters include caliber/shape, homogeneity, color/pigments, and firmness/cracking. Internal parameters encompass flavor, texture, and Brix grade. These parameters collectively determine the overall quality and marketability of agricultural products.  Size, homogeneity, and weight: For easy packaging and processing, consumers and processors prefer uniform sizes and weights.  Colour and appearance: Bright, attractive colours indicate freshness and high nutritional value. For instance, vibrant red tomatoes and deep green leafy vegetables are preferred.  Brix grade: In many crops, the Brix grade is the key parameter that determines the quality level of the produce and significantly enhances its commercial value. This measurement, which indicates the sugar content in fruits and vegetables, is crucial for assessing sweetness and overall flavor, making it a vital factor in agricultural production.  Texture and firmness: Crops like fruits and vegetables should be appropriate to withstand transport and storage.  To help our growers reach the desired quality traits for their crops, Biostimulation 360º introduces Biimore, the first Rovensa Next biostimulant, and one of the first in the market, to receive the CE mark under this new regulation. Biimore is a microbial extract ultra-efficient quality promoter biostimulant able to increase the sugar and nutrient movement, photosynthesis, and plant cell wall organisation in plants, with the ability to improve fruit quality in terms of size, weight, and sugar content.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2791/tavant-introduces-ai-agents-for-enhancing-agriculture-and-food-industry-operations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2791/tavant-introduces-ai-agents-for-enhancing-agriculture-and-food-industry-operations.html Mon, 17 Mar 2025 08:30:37 +0530 New AI-powered tools developed using Microsoft Copilot Studio to transform agronomy, and sales operations Tavant, a leading AI-driven technology solutions and services provider, announced the launch of AI Agent accelerators developed for the Agriculture and Food value chain. Built using Microsoft Copilot Studio, these agents have the potential to enable transformative impact across farm productivity, logistics and supply chain, sales, regulatory compliance and agri-lending. The first two AI agents, Sales Assistant and Virtual Agronomist, tackle key challenges in farm management by leveraging AI to automate processes and provide real-time insights. These solutions reduce manual workloads, improve transparency, and enhance decision-making for growers. Sales Assistant enables growers to place orders for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, or nutrients via email, chat, or messaging with their preferred agri-retailer or dealer, eliminating the need for marketplaces or online order management systems. Farm co-ops and agri-retailers can then process these orders seamlessly with AI-driven automation, ensuring faster fulfillment, reduced manual effort, and real-time tracking. Virtual Agronomist acts as a 24/7 AI-powered agronomist, providing farmers with on-demand advice for crop-related queries. By leveraging AI-driven insights, it enhances decision-making, improves efficiency, and ensures farmers have instant access to expert guidance whenever they need it. “Tavant has been driving AI-led innovation across the entire agricultural value chain - helping some of the world’s largest agribusinesses optimize operations, improve decision-making, and enhance sustainability,” said Vikas Khosla, President, Hitech Business at Tavant. “With deep expertise spanning farm operations to food supply chains and a global understanding of agriculture, we give our clients a distinct advantage in an evolving industry. Our AI-driven solutions, powered by Microsoft Copilot Studio, empower agribusinesses to stay at the forefront of innovation - boosting efficiency, reducing costs, and making smarter, faster decisions in an increasingly complex landscape.” "AI has the potential to fundamentally transform the agricultural industry, and Tavant is well positioned to bring this transformation to life,” said Pepijn Richter, General Manager retail, consumer goods, and agriculture at Microsoft. “With deep expertise in AI and a strong understanding of the agriculture domain, Tavant utilizes Microsoft Copilot Studio to build agentic solutions that streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and drive real impact for growers worldwide.” As Tavant expands its AI Agents Accelerator Library, enterprises can look forward to more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable solutions that enhance productivity, profitability, and long-term resilience across the value chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2669/f09d908ff09d9082f09d9080-f09d9094f09d908ff09d908bf09d9081-f09d9082f09d90a8f09d90a7f09d909ff09d909af09d909b-f09d90adf09d90a8-f09d9081.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2669/f09d908ff09d9082f09d9080-f09d9094f09d908ff09d908bf09d9081-f09d9082f09d90a8f09d90a7f09d909ff09d909af09d909b-f09d90adf09d90a8-f09d9081.html Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:50:10 +0530 UPLB may be designated as a strategic site for planting coconut seedlings The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), led by Administrator and CEO, Dr. Dexter R. Buted, held a strategic meeting with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) - College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) Dean, Dr. Amado A. Angeles on January 6, 2025, at the PCA Central Office to discuss potential collaborations aimed at bolstering the agency’s massive coconut planting and replanting programs. UPLB was discussed as the country's national university in promoting initiatives among State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to support the PCA's mission of revitalizing the coconut industry. Furthermore, UPLB may be designated as a strategic site for planting coconut seedlings, further strengthening its years-long commitment to coconut-related programs. The UPLB, known for advancing agriculture, has long been a reliable partner of the authority, particularly for coconut projects, such as the development of new coconut hybrids at its experimental farms. Utilizing its expertise in agricultural innovation and research, UPLB has also been at the forefront of efforts to safeguard and revitalize the coconut industry. UPLB's engagement is part of the PCA's "whole-of-nation" approach, which involves key institutions, stakeholders, and communities in achieving the agency's ambitious goal of planting and replanting millions of coconut trees nationwide. As a result of this renewed partnership, academic institutions are playing a crucial role in driving sustainable agricultural initiatives and expanding the coconut industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2570/agrology-unveils-the-first-to-market-low-cost-nitrous-flux-sensor-for-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2570/agrology-unveils-the-first-to-market-low-cost-nitrous-flux-sensor-for-agriculture.html Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:30:23 +0530 The Agrology Nitrous Flux Sensor delivers a groundbreaking solution, enabling farmers to measure and report climate-smart practices for verified greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions at scale Agrology launched the first real-time, in-field nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux sensor, breaking new ground for climate-smart agriculture. This technology advances efforts by farmers, academics and supply chain partners who are seeking scalable solutions to accurately measure nitrous oxide and other GHG emissions at scale in commercial agriculture. Currently undergoing rigorous in-field validation with experts and partners, the Agrology Nitrous Flux Sensor is available in limited quantities, with a commercial release slated for early 2025. “Agrology's Nitrous Flux Sensor is a paradigm shift in sustainable agriculture as it provides any grower with an affordable, accurate, and continuous tool to measure, reduce, and monitor nitrous oxide emissions, and thus enables GHG reductions and innovations at the source while replacing static factors and rigid, non-conforming models.” The agricultural sector recognizes its role in N₂O emissions and has sought ways to mitigate them. However, reducing N₂O emissions and achieving accurate impact quantification have been challenging due to the lack of affordable measurement tools. This gap has forced farmers and supply chains to rely on estimated emissions factors. Agrology’s new sensor solves this problem at a fraction of the cost of research-grade equipment. Adam Koeppel, Co-Founder and CEO of Agrology, highlighted the challenge and opportunity: “Accurately measuring N₂O emissions at scale has been a significant barrier, limiting the adoption of practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our Nitrous Flux Sensor changes that by enabling precise nitrogen application without compromising yield, empowering growers to implement agricultural practices that lower emissions effectively.” The launch of Agrology's Nitrous Flux Sensor addresses the critical challenge of nitrogen fertilizer management. Fertilizer applied at the wrong time, location, concentration, or in the wrong form not only releases N₂O but also causes water pollution and biodiversity loss. With Agrology’s sensors, growers can measure and verify the impact of climate-smart nitrogen management strategies. These tools, combined with nitrogen reduction programs, support insetting initiatives by providing in-situ data that transparently quantify emission reductions. Growers can benefit from incentives beyond fertilizer savings, further encouraging sustainable practices. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2569/nourish-ingredients-and-cabio-biotech-announce-strategic-partnership-to-manufacture-and-distribute-tastilux.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2569/nourish-ingredients-and-cabio-biotech-announce-strategic-partnership-to-manufacture-and-distribute-tastilux.html Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:25:20 +0530 Collaboration set to revolutionise the production and distribution of innovative food ingredients in China and globally In a landmark cross-continental collaboration, Nourish Ingredients, a leader in speciality fats and precision fermentation, announced a Joint Commercial Agreement with CABIO Biotech, a leading Chinese biotechnology company specialising in microbial fermentation and synthetic biology-based products. Uniting Australian innovation with China’s manufacturing might, the companies will partner to produce and distribute Nourish Ingredients’ flagship product, Tastilux®, unlocking the vast potential of the APAC market. Tastilux® is a premium specialty ingredient derived from natural sources and produced through fermentation. It provides a meaty flavour, aroma and cooking experience to alternative proteins. This is essential in winning overconsumers to the plant-based market by providing a delicious animalic taste. Beyond plant-based meats, this collaboration is ripe to capitalise on diverse market segments. These include the rapidly expanding ready-made meals and prepared dishes sector, the leisure snacks industry, and the ever-evolving spices and condiments market. Under the terms of the agreement, CABIO Biotech will leverage its state-of-the-art facilities and expertise to manufacture Tastilux®, ensuring efficient, high-quality production with minimal waste at global scale. This manufacturing excellence will allow Nourish Ingredients to enter the market with the highest product quality and consistency.The partnership also outlines a clear strategy for market expansion. CABIO will assist Nourish Ingredients by spearheading distribution and sales within the Chinese market, utilising their local knowledge and networks. Meanwhile, Nourish Ingredients will lead commercial engagement and sales in other global markets, with CABIO providing manufacturing support.A key advantage of this collaboration is CABIO’s extensive experience in navigating China’s complex regulatory landscape. This expertise will facilitate rapid market access for Nourish Ingredients’ products in China and potentially other Asian markets, providing a significant competitive edge in these rapidly growing economies. “Our strategic partnership with CABIO Biotech marks a pivotal moment for Nourish Ingredients,” said James Petrie, CEO of Nourish Ingredients. “By leveraging CABIO’s established expertise, we’re not only derisking our supply chain for expansion but also enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative food solutions at scale.”“This collaboration combines our cutting-edge product development with CABIO’s manufacturing excellence and market insights, positioning us to meet the surging global demand for superior food ingredients. Together, we’re set to efficiently produce top-tier products, opening doors to both the dynamic Chinese market and broader international opportunities.”This strategic partnership represents a significant commercial opportunity for both companies. It will allow them to meet the growing demand in China, while setting the stage for expansion into other APAC markets.A key target is China’s burgeoning plant-based meat (PBM) sector. With China’s total meat consumption reaching nearly 100 million tons annually, even a modest 1% substitution with plant-based alternatives by 2026 would create a market of 1 million tons. Industry projections suggest this market could surge to a value of 3.5 billion by 2028, underscoring the immense growth potential. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2458/arzeda-expands-protein-design-capabilities-with-new-38m-funding-to-advance-commercialization-efforts-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2458/arzeda-expands-protein-design-capabilities-with-new-38m-funding-to-advance-commercialization-efforts-globally.html Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:04:26 +0530 Aims to meet global market demand of better tasting stevia and accelerate the commercialization Arzeda, the Protein Design Company™, has concluded $38M oversubscribed funding round to  expand the production capacity of its ProSweet Enzymes™ and ProSweet RebM™ to meet strong market demand of better tasting stevia and accelerate the commercialization of additional breakthrough products in its pipeline. Arzeda has partnered with several global industrial leaders to bring these products to the market including Unilever, AAK, and W.L. Gore & Associates. The new investments is in collaboration with Sofinnova Partners, Fall Line Capital, Sucden Ventures, Silver Blue, and the venture arm of W.L. Gore & Associates (makers of Gore-Tex®), which has been in a joint development agreement with Arzeda since 2022. Previous investors also participated in the round, including the venture arm of the Continental Grain Company, Bunge Ventures, and Lewis & Clark Agrifood. “Arzeda is at a key inflection point with its products now at commercial scale,” said Michael Krel, Partner at Sofinnova Partners. “This funding will enable Arzeda to accelerate the commercialization of its industrial biotech products, including new designer proteins and enzymes that have the ability to reduce GHG emissions. Arzeda’s Intelligent Protein Design Technology™ is transformational to many industrial verticals and they are one of the few companies that have been able to translate this promise into commercial products that solve real- world problems and create value for the customer.” Arzeda’s Intelligent Protein Design Technology™ is built on one of the largest proprietary datasets of high-quality protein designs linked to experimental results and leverages the latest advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) to design and manufacture higher-performing proteins and enzymes tailored for large-scale production. Arzeda’s proteins and enzymes enable alternatives which outperform existing products across various industries, including food, personal and home care, agriculture, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, in a more sustainable manner. The biotech industry has only scratched the surface of what can be done with designed proteins, and Arzeda is on a mission to make this future a reality. Alexandre Zanghellini, co-founder and CEO of Arzeda said “The field of protein design has experienced explosive growth in recent years but has faced challenges in translating these advances into products. Where we excel is in developing solutions that can be manufactured sustainably at scale.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2543/tate-lyle-launches-pioneering-new-automated-lab-in-singapore-to-accelerate.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2543/tate-lyle-launches-pioneering-new-automated-lab-in-singapore-to-accelerate.html Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:41:26 +0530 New robotics systems, to be used for the first time in the Food & Beverage industry,will redefine new product development and boost speed-to-market for Tate & Lyle’s customers Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle or the Company), a world leader in ingredient solutions for healthier food and beverages, launched its new ‘Automated Laboratory for Ingredient Experimentation’, known as ‘ALFIE’, at its Customer Collaboration and Innovation Centre in Singapore. Through the pioneering use of automated robotics, ALFIE represents a revolution in the delivery of mouthfeel solutions for customers, providing faster and more accurate ingredient design and accelerating speed-to-market for new products. ALFIE, which represents a multi-million pound investment in innovation by Tate & Lyle, has the ability to run characterisation tests at around 10 times the current rate, and provides enhanced predictive modelling.  It comprises two robotic systems with complete connectivity and seamless data flow for fast ingredient and solution design. By accelerating sample production, characterisation and modelling, the company will be able to trial new ingredients more efficiently and create new solutions for customers at greater pace. This major investment by Tate & Lyle, with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), makes the Singapore lab Tate & Lyle’s Asia Pacific hub for mouthfeel R&D and customer solutions. While ALFIE will be operated by Tate & Lyle’s on-site scientists in Singapore, it is also connected to Tate & Lyle’s Customer Collaboration and Innovation Centre in Hoffman Estates, near Chicago, US, where scientists will be able to operate ALFIE virtually. Nick Hampton, Chief Executive, Tate & Lyle said, “With this multi-million pound investment we are transforming the new product development process for our mouthfeel solutions, empowering our scientists to accelerate experiment design, analysis, and delivery of innovative solutions for customers. “Our goal was to create a revolutionary tool that will better predict product performance in food manufacturing, allowing us to create faster and improved solutions to customer challenges. ALFIE’s cutting-edge technology will enable us to push the boundaries of food innovation, speed up our customers' innovation cycles, improve consumer choice for healthier food and beverages, and help shape the future of the food industry.” Andrew Taylor, President, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Tate & Lyle said, “ALFIE is a groundbreaking lab which we believe will redefine research and development in our industry. With automation and advanced data analytics at its core, ALFIE will accelerate innovation, enabling us to provide tailored solutions for our customers’ most complex needs.  ALFIE’s unique system will offer our customers access to technology and insights they didn’t have before. “The launch of ALFIE positions our Singapore Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre as a leading food innovation hub globally.  It also aligns with Singapore’s Food Manufacturing Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 which charts the development of Singapore into a leading food and nutrition hub in Asia.  “If you consider that about 60% of the world’s population lives within a five-hour flight of Singapore, the location for ALFIE places Tate & Lyle very much at the centre of the future of food globally.” Marcus Dass, Senior Vice President, Global Enterprises, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) said, "The opening of Tate & Lyle’s new Automated Laboratory for Ingredient Experimentation (ALFIE) reflects Singapore’s position as a trusted hub for the region and for cutting-edge innovation in the food and nutrition space. We look forward to the lab accelerating ingredient solution discoveries and enriching Asia’s food innovation ecosystem.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2524/angel-yeast-contributes-43-46-million-to-establish-new-subsidiary-and-yeast-production-facility-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2524/angel-yeast-contributes-43-46-million-to-establish-new-subsidiary-and-yeast-production-facility-in-indonesia.html Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:30:55 +0530 The registration and land transaction procedures are estimated to be completed before February 2025. Angel Yeast a global leader in yeast manufacturing, is partnering with Indonesian agricultural company PT.Tunas Baru Lampung Tbk (TBLA) to set up a subsidiary in Lampung Province and acquire land to develop yeast production projects, in a move to further optimize Angel Yeast's global yeast production operations and carry forward its international strategy, boosting its competitive advantages in the Asia-Pacific markets. The subsidiary has a registered capital of 381 million yuan ($54.29 million), of which Angel Yeast will contribute about 305 million yuan ($43.46 million) and hold 80 % of the shares, while TBLA will contribute about 76 million yuan ($10.83 million) for 20 % of the shares. The registration and land transaction procedures are estimated to be completed before February 2025. The land to be acquired for the project is held by Sungai Budi Group, and the industrial land has a total area of 15.31 hectares, with the total amount of the land acquisition expected to be worth approximately Rp76.6 billion ($5.015 million). Indonesia has the world's fourth largest population and a high demand for yeast products, with an abundant supply of raw materials and convenient location in the Straits of Malacca. Chen Hongquan, chairman and general manager of Angel Yeast Indonesia Company, noted that from 2010 to present, Angel Yeast has built factories in Egypt and other countries, and that setting up the subsidiary in Indonesia will fully leverage the local resources, strategic location, tariff advantages to accelerate and deepen the company's development in neighboring markets. "The subsidiary will not only solidify our presence in Indonesia's yeast market to address increasing demand, but it will also enhance our competitive edge and long-term profitability in line with Angel Yeast's strategic goals. Additionally, we plan to aggressively penetrate markets in India, Oceania, and North America to accelerate our market development and expand our market share," said Chen. In the first half of 2024, Angel Yeast achieved an operating revenue of 7.175 billion yuan ($1.02 billion), an increase of 6.86 % year-on-year. The total fermentation production reached 204,000 tons, up 11.5 percent year-on-year. Angel Yeast's overseas revenue in the first half of the year increased significantly, driven by the bright prospects of the industry and the acceleration of the company's international development roadmap. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2486/baladna-signs-mou-with-algerian-national-investment-fund-for-baby-milk-project-and-dairy-milk-powder-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2486/baladna-signs-mou-with-algerian-national-investment-fund-for-baby-milk-project-and-dairy-milk-powder-production.html Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:05:29 +0530 The agreement, paves the way for the establishment of an integrated dairy and milk powder production project in southern Algeria, which will become one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the region. As part of strengthening cooperation between Qatar and Algeria in the agricultural and industrial sectors, Baladna Trading and Investment W.L.L., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baladna Q.P.S.C., signed a shareholder agreement with the Algerian National Investment Fund. In a major development aimed at strengthening cooperation between Qatar and Algeria in the fields of agriculture and industry, Baladna Trading and Investment WLL, a subsidiary of Baladna QPSC, has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with the Algerian National Investment Fund. The agreement, paves the way for the establishment of an integrated dairy and milk powder production project in southern Algeria, which will become one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the region. In addition, Baladna signed a cooperation agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production to study the feasibility of an infant milk production project. Additionally, Baladna Trading and Investment W.L.L. signed a cooperation agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production to explore the establishment of an infant milk production project. This project, to be developed in partnership with the Algerian National Investment Fund, will complement the milk powder production project. The signing ceremonies were attended by Mr. Moutaz Mohamad Raslan AlKhayyat, Chairman of Baladna Q.P.S.C., and on the Algerian side by Minister of Finance Mr. Laaziz Fayed, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Youcef Chorfa, and Minister of Industry Mr. Ali Aoun, in addition to the Director of the Algerian National Investment Fund, Ms. Souad Assous, Director General of Agricultural Investment and Land, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, along with several officials from the relevant ministries. The integrated dairy and milk powder project aims to meet the growing demand for dairy and milk powderproducts in Algeria, with a focus on enhancing food security and supporting agricultural investments. The legal framework for the partnership has been established, with Baladna holding a 51% stake and the Algerian National Investment Fund holding 49% of the capital in the Algerian company that will be formed to execute the project. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2380/the-seed-oil-free-alliance-certifies-promising-new-cooking-oil-made-from-algae.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2380/the-seed-oil-free-alliance-certifies-promising-new-cooking-oil-made-from-algae.html Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:09:55 +0530 Algae Can Provide A More Sustainable, Healthy Alternative To Seed Oils The Seed Oil Free Alliance announced Seed Oil Free Certified™ cooking oils as an new alternative to traditional seed extracted cooking oils. The two US-based companies are harnessing technology to produce cooking oil from microalgae. 'Spotlight Foods' is the first company producing oil through fermentation to complete certification by the Seed Oil Free Alliance alongside retailer Algae Cooking Club. Seed Oil Free Certification of both companies’ products followed independent lab testing by the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “Algae-derived cooking oils could revolutionize how we feed a growing world. Unhealthy and unstable seed oils are produced from industrially grown crops associated with deforestation, loss of habitat, pollution, and disruption of biodiversity,” said Seed Oil Free Alliance CEO Jonathan Rubin. “Spotlight™ Foods can produce monounsaturated fats ideal for high-heat cooking in a matter of days with a fraction of the land, water, and carbon needed for low-quality seed oils, and now Algae Cooking Club is making it widely accessible to consumers.” “It may seem unlikely, but this new algae oil is quite delicious, extremely pure, and even higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats than olive oil. What excites me is that it’s all being done in a controlled environment with a lower environmental footprint than many seed oils and without blending with inferior ingredients,” said Dr. Andrew Weil, the Founder of the Andrew Weil University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, who also serves as Scientific and Medical Advisor to the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “If we are going to address the larger challenges around our food system, companies will need to deliver new ingredients that ask less of the planet without sacrificing taste, trust and the overall cooking experience,” said Algae Cooking Club CEO and co-founder Kasra Saidi. Kevin Ward, Sustainability Scientist at Spotlight Foods, explains "Plant-based sugars from sugarcane are fed to microalgae in large, stainless steel fermentation tanks. Similar to yeast fermenting sugar into alcohol, algae efficiently convert sugar into an edible oil in a matter of days. The result is a neutral-tasting cooking oil high in monounsaturated omega-9 fats and low in omega-6 fats, which recent research has shown to be inflammatory.” "Algae-derived cooking oils could revolutionize how we feed a growing world. Unhealthy and unstable seed oils are produced from industrially grown crops associated with deforestation, loss of habitat, pollution, and disruption of biodiversity,” said Seed Oil Free Alliance CEO Jonathan Rubin.  The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization that offers the world's first “Seed Oil Free Certified” seal for qualifying consumer packaged goods (CPG), ready-to-eat foods, food service operations, and bottled cooking oil products. The “Seed Oil Free Certified” seal guarantees consumers that the foods they choose have undergone independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2373/philippines-aims-for-higher-rice-production-under-the-masagana-rice-industry-development-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2373/philippines-aims-for-higher-rice-production-under-the-masagana-rice-industry-development-program.html Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:11:27 +0530 Aims to increase farmers’ incomes, lower consumer prices, and potentially enable the country to export rice again The Department of Agriculture is undertaking a comprehensive review of its Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, aiming to significantly enhance rice production to meet self-sufficiency goals, increase farmers’ incomes, lower consumer prices, and potentially enable the country to export rice again. The DA’s multi-year plan underscores its commitment to transforming the Philippine rice industry, with a strategic focus on enhancing productivity, supporting farmers, and securing food security for the nation. The rice program also encompasses the production of the better rice seeds, optimization of the utilization of fertilizers, and development of a logistics network to bring harvests to market and inputs to farms more efficiently and cost-effectively. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said DA is evaluating the previous administration’s program, which targeted to increase productivity while also ensuring significant increase in farmer’s income, an initiative inspired by the Masagana 99 program launched by the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Current national averages indicate yields of approximately 84 sacks per hectare, highlighting the need for substantial improvements. “We’re recalibrating the program to identify areas for enhancement, including the distribution of improved seeds, expansion of irrigation systems, and adjustments to rice cropping schedules,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said. He expressed optimism that given the right inputs and technologies, rice yield could be increased to  7.5 metric tons per hectare or 150 bags (50 kg/bag) in targeted program areas or even higher in the ideal ecosystem. Last year, the Philippines harvested a record-breaking 20.06 million metric tons of palay across 4.82 million hectares of rice fields. If successful, MaSaGaNa could propel annual palay production beyond 25 million metric tons, even if the target yield is reached only in the 3.39 million hectares of irrigated farmlands. The average per hectare yield of palay in irrigated areas is 4.51 metric tons while in non-irrigated areas it is 3.34 metric tons, putting the national average at 4.17 metric tons, or around 84 sacks of play. The average palay yield per hectare was 3.89 metric tons in 2013 and stood at 3.97 tons in 2018, the year before Congress passed the Rice Tariffication Law that set aside P10 billion in import duties every year to fund modernize rice farming and increase farm productivity. However, Secretary Tiu Laurel acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting the necessity for substantial government investments in agriculture. “After decades of neglect, we must adopt a more scientific approach to farming to boost output and manage costs effectively,” he asserted. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2348/fluid-quip-technologies-to-supply-worlds-first-and-largest-msc-protein-system.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2348/fluid-quip-technologies-to-supply-worlds-first-and-largest-msc-protein-system.html Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:12:13 +0530 The facility to produce corn fermented protein, a high-quality protein ingredient in animal feed, pet, aquaculture feed markets Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) has initiated commissioning of the world’s largest MSC™ System to date at Tharaldson Ethanol’s 175 million-gallon biorefinery in Casselton, North Dakota. This marks the twelfth FQT MSC™ system installed world-wide and expands the production of corn fermented protein, a high-quality protein ingredient in animal feed, providing superior nutrition solutions for pet, aquaculture and other animal feed markets which has up to a 40% lower carbon-intensity than competing products. “Our MSC™ Technology is critical to not only creating a high-quality protein ingredient for pet food, but also allowing ethanol plants to achieve greater corn oil yields,” said Neal Jakel, President of Fluid Quip Technologies, “FQT is excited to commission our largest MSC™ System to maximize the value of every kernel of corn. The project is a testament to the market and value the team has achieved as nutrition customers look for more corn fermented protein to utilize in their rations.” Fluid Quip Technologies provided the MSC™ Technology as well as the engineering, design, procurement, construction management and startup services for the project. The completion of this MSC™ System brings overall production capacity of FQT MSC™ protein products to over 750,000 tons per year. The thirteenth FQT MSC™ system is currently under construction at the Ensus UK Limited’s facility in the UK. Fluid Quip Technologies® (FQT) is a premier technology and process engineering firm based in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA. FQT was founded on extensive experience and know-how within the corn wet milling and dry grind ethanol industries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2327/clean-energys-rng-production-facility-breaks-ground-at-south-fork-dairy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2327/clean-energys-rng-production-facility-breaks-ground-at-south-fork-dairy.html Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:07:18 +0530 The project expected to be completed in 2025 with $85 million investment Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has broken ground on a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, TX. Home to a 16,000-cow herd, the facility will produce RNG, an ultra-clean transportation fuel that is made from organic waste and receives a negative carbon-intensity score. The construction of the digesters and processing plant is forecasted to cost approximately $85 million and is expected to be completed in 2025. The South Fork Dairy facility is set to be one of the biggest RNG production developments in the country with an anticipated 2.6 million gallons of RNG to be produced annually once completed. All the RNG fuel produced at the site will make its way into Clean Energy’s nationwide network of stations. “We are excited to begin construction on the South Fork Texas project. Building anaerobic digesters at a large dairy like South Fork will help the dairy owner, Frank Brand, and his team collect and monetize sizeable amounts of manure waste while also benefiting from the environmental credits an RNG facility brings,” said Clay Corbus senior vice president of renewables at Clean Energy. “The project not only helps us convert our waste into a clean, useable sustainable fuel, but it also helps us with managing manure which for a dairy of our size is quite a feat. We do this while simultaneously reducing our environmental footprint – it’s a direction I hope many other dairies will look to pursuing,” said Frand Brand, owner of South Fork Dairy. Agriculture accounts for nearly 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Capturing methane from farm waste can lower these emissions. RNG is a transportation fuel made entirely from organic waste and drastically reduces GHG emissions by an average of 300% versus diesel. It is so clean that the California Air Resources Board gives RNG from dairy farms an average carbon-intensity score of -330, which is substantially lower than electric vehicles charging with electricity on today’s grid. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2229/pure-bioscience-embarks-into-international-supply-and-license-agreement-with-agrovet-alliance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2229/pure-bioscience-embarks-into-international-supply-and-license-agreement-with-agrovet-alliance.html Thu, 20 Jun 2024 06:35:13 +0530 This dual action makes SDC highly and quickly effective against a broad spectrum of microbes PURE Bioscience, Inc., creator of the patented non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, and AgroVet Alliance, FZE (“AVA”), have entered into a multi-year international supply and license agreement for the purchase and selling of SDC products under special terms and conditions. SDC kills microorganisms by two modes of action: 1) the silver ion deactivates structural and metabolic membrane proteins leading to microbial death; 2) the microbes view SDC as a food source, allowing the silver ion to enter the microbe. Once inside the organism, the silver ion denatures the DNA, which halts the microbe’s ability to replicate and leads to its death. This dual action makes SDC highly and quickly effective against a broad spectrum of microbes. Traditional silver-based disinfectants have short shelf lives – from hours to days. SDC is a stabilized silver ion complex with a shelf life of several years. The unique bond between the silver ions in SDC allows the silver ion to remain in solution while at the same time making it more bio-available for antimicrobial action. Jeff Kitchell, VP of Operations for PURE, said, “AVA has been doing business worldwide in the animal health and livestock industry for decades. We are excited about AVA’s opportunity to add the SDC family of products to an existing network of distributors and customers in the Middle East and North Africa. Our vision for SDC products in this industry aligns perfectly with AVA’s business model, and we are thrilled to partner with AVA.” Nick Nikooforsat, Chief Executive Officer for AVA, said, “We are extremely excited to add PURE’s SDC products to our network of distributors and partners. This is an opportunity to help our customers make a real difference in the success of their business with SDC.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2223/vietnam-developing-circular-economy-in-rice-production-and-processing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2223/vietnam-developing-circular-economy-in-rice-production-and-processing.html Mon, 17 Jun 2024 01:44:32 +0530 Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Vietnam Rice Industry Association (Vietrisa) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently reviewed circular economy approach to minimize negative impacts on agricultural ecosystems and improve economic performance. "In Vietnam's current conditions, farmers have an important role in developing circular agriculture. Therefore, the most important thing is to have policies that benefit farmers so that they can participate in developing circular economy in rice production" Yvonne Pinto, General Director of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Circular economy is an inevitable trend to achieve sustainable development in the future. With abundant by-products from the rice industry, Vietnam is facing a great opportunity to develop an agricultural circular economy. Not only making organic fertilizer from straw, but also other solutions to take advantage of by-products from straw such as: using straw to grow mushrooms, making food and biological bedding for livestock, organic fertilizer from straw, biochar and biosilica from rice husk,... These are potential solutions to help increase the added value of rice by-products, while creating clean and sustainable energy. According to Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), each year, rice production in the Mekong Delta releases about 24 million tons of straw into the environment but only 30% is straw (7 4 million tons) is collected, while 70% of straw is burned by people or buried in fields, causing environmental pollution and increasing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. To solve these problems, Mr. Le Thanh Tung said that circular economy is an approach to minimize negative impacts on agricultural ecosystems and improve economic performance. Taking advantage of secondary sources and waste products from rice production is important in improving the value chain of the region's rice industry. Rice by-products can become raw materials for the next steps, creating an ecosystem of high-quality products. According to Le Thanh Tung, the goal of the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice is that by 2030, 100% of straw will be collected from the fields and processed according to the principle of circular agriculture. In the immediate future, it is necessary to build a database and information on technology to support circular agriculture for rice (specifically, by region, specialized, economic - technical - environmental). Provinces in the region need to develop plans to propose - request, strengthen capacity, and develop production models on straw management towards circular agriculture. Yvonne Pinto committed to strengthening the cooperative relationship between IRRI and Vietnam in the coming time. Vietnam implemented the Project of 1 million hectares of high quality rice, which has received the attention of many countries around the world. The significance of the project has gone beyond the space of one country and reached out to the whole world. IRRI is building many digital toolkits and is ready to share with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2179/brazils-fs-set-to-produce-the-worlds-first-carbon-negative-corn-ethanol.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2179/brazils-fs-set-to-produce-the-worlds-first-carbon-negative-corn-ethanol.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 10:33:17 +0530 First carbon-negative industry, that only uses second-crop corn as a raw material and renewable biomass from planted forests as an energy source FS, one of the largest producers of ethanol and animal nutrition in Brazil, has just completed technical studies that prove suitable geological conditions for injecting carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted in the fermentation phase of biofuel production, in the subsoil. Hence, the company can become the world's first ethanol producer with a negative carbon footprint and the first to develop BECCS technology (acronym in English for bioenergy production with carbon capture and storage) in the production of ethanol outside the U.S., as announced by the Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, during the 3rd Energy Transition Working Group, G20 meeting, which took place in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The adoption of the technology will prevent the release of approximately 423 thousand tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year by the industry's operation in Lucas do Rio Verde (MT). Subsequently, the solution can be implemented in other industrial units of the company, reaching a potential for removing CO2 from the atmosphere of more than 1.8 million tons of carbon per year. The technology is an innovative solution for capturing carbon, one of the main causes of the greenhouse effect, and injecting it underground into deep geological layers, where it will be safely stored for thousands of years, without influencing global warming. Currently, there are only two ethanol producers in the world with BECCS technology in operation, both in the United States. Mato Grosso's industry, however, will be the first carbon-negative industry, as it only uses second-crop corn as a raw material and renewable biomass from planted forests as an energy source. FS CEO, Rafael Abud. "In addition to utilization in automobiles, ethanol produced with the technology can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and marine fuel, making Brazilian ethanol increasingly one of the largest contributors to the world's energy transition". As soon as the senate approves the regulation of the activity – included in the bill for the Fuel of the Future program –, FS will invest an additional R$350 million in the implementation of equipment to capture, dehydrate, compress and inject CO2 underground. Work could begin later this year, with completion scheduled for the end of 2025. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2166/revolutionary-novel-technology-ushers-new-era-of-crop-productivity-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2166/revolutionary-novel-technology-ushers-new-era-of-crop-productivity-sustainability.html Tue, 28 May 2024 12:53:16 +0530 Ohalo™ announces the discovery of Boosted Breeding™ which doubles the yield potential of most agricultural crops Ohalo™ announced the discovery of Boosted Breeding™, an entirely new plant breeding technology that will revolutionize agriculture and sustainably improve crop productivity. Much like hybrid plant breeding systems discovered in the early twentieth century, Boosted Breeding introduces an unprecedented leap forward, with the potential to unlock unimaginable yield, change inefficient agronomic practices, and vastly increase the adaptability and resiliency of nearly any agricultural crop. "The demands on agriculture have never been greater, with estimates that global food production must increase by at least 50% over the next 25 years, according to the UN," said Dave Friedberg, CEO of Ohalo. "At the same time, crop growing regions are shifting, and food production is becoming increasingly more volatile due to changing weather patterns. Boosted Breeding will accelerate agriculture adaptation and increase productivity, helping crops survive and thrive in new environments while reducing the cost and footprint of agriculture." Boosted Breeding Ohalo's Boosted Breeding system enables each parent plant to pass its entire genome to its offspring, rather than a random half of the genes of each parent. These new Boosted™ offspring plants then possess an expanded genome containing all of the genes from each parent, unlocking the following major benefits: Combining Beneficial Traits - Because parent plants pass on a random selection of half of their genes to their offspring in traditional plant breeding, combining beneficial traits (like disease resistance or drought tolerance) is difficult and time-consuming, sometimes taking decades or longer to accomplish, and often requiring trade offs in plant health and growth. Boosted plants immediately inherit all the beneficial traits of both parents, allowing for an unprecedented improvement in Boosted crops. Vastly Increased Health and Growth - With a larger genome, Boosted plants benefit from radically improved genetic diversity and the novel gene networks that arise as a result, leading to plants that are healthier and grow bigger and faster, with overall yield gains of 50-100%+ in early trials. Genetically Uniform True Seed™ - For many crops that are vegetatively propagated, like potatoes, instead of grown from seed, Boosted Breeding unlocks scalable seed-based planting systems for the first time. True Seed™ systems carry lower disease risk and require a fraction of the cost and time associated with vegetative propagation. The Boosted Breeding discovery, resulting from nearly five years of research by Ohalo into the underlying mechanisms of plant reproductive biology, alters the reproductive circuits in parent plants using Ohalo's proprietary proteins and process. This discovery brings an unprecedented level of precision and speed to plant breeding that can deliver vastly improved varieties faster than ever before. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2110/thailand-prepare-for-rice-farming-in-2024-with-effective-water-management-policies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/2110/thailand-prepare-for-rice-farming-in-2024-with-effective-water-management-policies.html Wed, 08 May 2024 11:15:16 +0530 Ministry advises farmers to plant rice alternately wet and dry and promote cultivation of crops after rice fields Plants use little water to increase income Thailand's Permanent Secretary of Agriculture Kick Off opens water delivery to prepare for rice farming in 2024 and advises farmers to plant rice alternately wet and dry. Promote cultivation of crops after rice fields Plants use little water. Increase income for farmers. Prayoon Insakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Revealed after visiting the area to open water delivery to prepare for rice farming in 2024, with Mr. Preecha Phanwa, Chief Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Det Lekwichai, Deputy Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, Mr. Watchara Kraisai, Director of the Irrigation Office No. 12, Royal Irrigation Department, and officials. Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Participated in activities and welcomed at the Irrigation Office No. 12, Chainat Province. and Suphanburi Province Today, the flood gates will be opened at 3 points, consisting of point 1 at the mouth of Khlong Makham Thao - U Thong. Phonthep water delivery and maintenance project, point 2, floodgate at the mouth of the water canal 1, left. Sam Chuk water delivery and maintenance project, point 3, floodgate at the mouth of the water canal 1, right, as well as meeting with more than 200 farmers, groups of irrigation water users, who came to listen. Describe water management during the rainy season in 2024 and methods for alternating wet and dry rice cultivation.     The objective of today's activity is considered to be a kick off to prepare for water management to be sufficient for farming of farmers in the area. It is recommended that farmers use rainwater as the main basis for agriculture. and use irrigation water to support it, which is planning the country's overall water use to be sufficient throughout the rice cultivation season in 2024.     At the same time, relevant affiliated agencies in the area are ready to support. Promote knowledge for farmers in various fields, including crops, fisheries, and livestock, such as alternating wet and dry rice cultivation. Planting crops after rice fields Distributing seeds for plants that use little water and have a short lifespan. Harvest products early There is a high demand for many types of peanuts, baby corn, and potatoes in the market. Fish breeding is supported. Promoting cattle-buffalo raising, etc., which in addition to helping promote the use of water for agriculture in a worthwhile and efficient manner and preserve the ecosystem sustainably It also increases income for farmers in another way. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1964/philippines-evaluates-revitalisation-of-dairy-industry-to-boost-local-milk-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1964/philippines-evaluates-revitalisation-of-dairy-industry-to-boost-local-milk-production.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:35:05 +0530 Reviews possibilities for amending provision requiring commercial milk processors and domestic dairy cooperatives Philippines Department of Agriculture is drawing up plans to significantly increase local dairy milk production, including seeking support from local milk processors to bolster investment in the industry and increase dairy cattle population. Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. discussed that the DA will review Republic Act 7884, or The National Dairy Development Act of 1995, particularly its provision requiring commercial milk processors and domestic dairy cooperatives to agree on the volume of locally produced milk that will be absorbed by the commercial sector.  A volume would have been determined three years after the passage of the act, or by 1998. Despite the passage of the law, however, domestic production remains low at less than 1% of annual demand. “We will draft a measure that will activate the provision of the diary law,” the agri chief said, who had earlier described the development of the dairy industry as “a low-hanging fruit” in the country’s drive to boost economic growth and increase income of those who depend of the industry. PCAFI said a volume hasn’t be agreed upon and suggested the DA, through the National Dairy Authority, set a rule that will “require commercial milk processors and traders to secure their milk supply from local sources (at a volume of) at least five percent of their total requirement, within a full or staggered basis over a certain fixed period.” Despite two laws—RA 7884 and Batas Pambansa 21 or the Dairy Industry Development Act passed in 1980, investments in Philippine dairy milk production remain low despite steady growth in dairy demand. The country imported USD1.6 billion of milk in 2022, mostly in powdered form, from Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. PCAFI said if commercial processors and traders won’t agree to a minimum volume, then the DA could either require a safeguard duty on imported milk that will help fund the development of the local dairy industry or require commercial processors and traders to establish their own dairy farms in the Philippines. NDA records show that cattle production in 2023 reached 17,850 metric tons, accounting for roughly 0.8 percent of total milk consumption of 1.937 million metric tons. Output in 2022 stood at 16,678 metric tons. NDA projects consumption this year to reach 1.978 million metric tons ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1940/australia-estimates-the-value-of-its-farms-fisheries-and-forestry-production-to-be-90-8-billion-in-2024-25.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1940/australia-estimates-the-value-of-its-farms-fisheries-and-forestry-production-to-be-90-8-billion-in-2024-25.html Mon, 11 Mar 2024 03:17:00 +0530 A rebound of up to 6% is predicted, the third highest on record The recent Agricultural Commodities and Australian Crop by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) reports are predicting that the gross value of production in 2024–25 will increase after poor seasonal conditions affected outcomes in 2023-24.  Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville said a rebound of up to 6% is predicted, bringing the gross value of Australian farms, fisheries and forestry to $90.8 billion, the third highest on record. “Above-average summer 2023–24 rainfall and subsequent build-up of soil moisture reserves in eastern Australia is expected to provide a good incentive for planting ahead of the 2024–25 winter crop season,” Dr Greenville said. “Broadacre farm cash incomes are also set to rebound in 2024-25 to $192,000, after significant falls in 2023–24. The forecast improved growing season climate conditions and the expected turnaround in livestock prices in 2024–25 will drive increases in farm income. While the 2024–25 outlook is favorable for production, forecasts predict exports will continue to decline” added Dr Greenville. Dr Greenville further said, in 2023–24 the value of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports is forecast to fall by 13% to $71.6 billion, but this follows the record high the industry experienced the previous year. This decline is expected to continue, with an additional 5% decline expected, leaving the 2024–25 value at $68.1 billion”. The ABARES Agricultural Commodities Report contains ABARES forecasts for the value, volume, and price of Australia's agricultural production and exports, as well as forecasts for farm cash incomes. An analysis of the outlook for commodities in 2024–25 and over the next five years under two different scenarios for domestic and global production and macroeconomic conditions is included in the estimates. The Australian Crop Report is released quarterly and includes forecasts for crop area planted, expected yields and production levels in each relevant Australian state. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1872/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-inaugurates-global-breeding-innovation-center-in-spain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1872/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-inaugurates-global-breeding-innovation-center-in-spain.html Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:37:36 +0530 modernized R&D facility to include vegetable crops bred such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melon Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has unveiled its modernized R&D facility in the heart of Almería, Spain’s agricultural region known as the “Orchard of Europe.” Located in El Ejido, this global breeding innovation center plays a critical role in helping Syngenta bring world-class vegetable seeds to growers in Spain and beyond. Key vegetable crops bred at the facility include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melon. “Every investment we make is focused on one key principle – how can we better serve growers,” said Matthew Johnston, Global Head of Vegetable Seeds and Flowers at Syngenta. “This expanded and modernized facility in El Ejido highlights the importance of Spain in the global agricultural landscape while underscoring our commitment to accelerating our innovation to help growers who are dealing with volatile climates and challenging environments to grow produce and feed the world.” Syngenta’s El Ejido site was first established in 1983 and is now home to 145 employees working across R&D, production, commercial and corporate functions. This most recent investment of $3 million covers a series of enhancements to the site that centralizes seed activities in Europe, allowing Syngenta to better respond to the needs of growers. Investments at the site include upgraded greenhouses to enable year-round breeding activities, redesigned pathology and quality labs, a seed processing area, and deployment of digital tools. The site also includes new office spaces and a new canteen for employees. In addition to El Ejido, Syngenta also invested in expanding breeding operations across other areas of Spain. This includes a new trialing location in La Puebla, Murcia, with a dedicated focus on leafy and brassica crops. Syngenta’s commitment to bring activities closer to the grower is an important step to foster customer centricity across the organization.  “Our investment in Spain is a great example of how our global R&D footprint is intentionally shaped around localized breeding programs, giving us the ability to respond faster to the needs of growers in every region,” said Uri Krieger, Global Head of R&D for Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Flowers. “Our ability to innovate faster is made possible through enabling technologies in the field and in the lab. Capturing data at every step of the R&D process allows us to be precise and effective in our decision processes.” Syngenta was one of first companies to breed vegetable varieties more than 150 years ago, and today is the most global organization in the industry with Vegetable Seeds teams operating in more than 60 countries and shipping seeds to 124 countries.     ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1870/agriloops-invests-13m-euros-to-build-commercial-scale-shrimp-and-greenhouse-farm-in-france.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1870/agriloops-invests-13m-euros-to-build-commercial-scale-shrimp-and-greenhouse-farm-in-france.html Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:20:00 +0530 Mangrove #1 is a key milestone demonstrating the scalability and profitability of first commercial-scale farm Agriloops, a French company combining shrimp and vegetable farming, has successfully concluded a fundraising round of 13 million euros to finance the construction of its first commercial-scale farm, Mangrove #1. Agriloops has adopted the advanced technique of saltwater aquaponics, combining aquaculture and greenhouse growing to offer local, premium shrimp production. “Mangrove #1 is a key milestone to demonstrate the scalability and profitability of our technology. We are eager to demonstrate our unique approach that offers significant environmental benefits while meeting the growing needs of our industry,” said Jérémie Cognard and Romain Vandame, who founded Agriloops in 2016, adding the fundraising marks a milestone for the company, which has been supported since its inception by companies like Ÿnsect’s co-founders Alexis Angot and Antoine Hubert. After an initial round of funding that financed the R&D phase and a pilot farm in Rennes, this second round of 13 million euros marks a new turning point for Agriloops. It allows the Breton company to begin construction of its commercial facility Mangrove #1, which will cover over 1 hectare in Brittany, France, and boast a production capacity exceeding 100 tons of shrimp and fruits and vegetables annually. It consists of an aquaculture building of 2,000 m² and an adjoining vegetable greenhouse of 5,000 m². According to the founders, this aquaponic farm will become one of Europe’s largest, showcasing Agriloops’ approach to sustainable food production. The water from the shrimp basins, loaded with effluents, is recycled and converted into water loaded with fertilizers to feed fruits and vegetables. This aquaponic loop saves a significant amount of fertilizers and up to 90% of water, explain the two leaders. This approach has garnered support from various stakeholders, including government programs like France Relance and BPI France’s DeepTech Development Aid. Furthermore, Agriloops has attracted investment from a diverse range of backers, including banking institutions, historical investors like BNP Paribas Développement and OGHI, as well as new investors such as SPV Aqua Invest, Breizh Up, Transitions First, and Good Only Ventures. The company’s approach has also been recognized internationally, with support from organizations like the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1864/naturalshrimp-patents-first-shrimp-focused-commercially-operational-ras-in-japan-thailand-australia-europe.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1864/naturalshrimp-patents-first-shrimp-focused-commercially-operational-ras-in-japan-thailand-australia-europe.html Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:16:39 +0530 Significant step in advancing sustainable aquaculture practices and ensuring the future of global seafood production NaturalShrimp Incorporated, a Biotechnology Aquaculture Company that has developed and patented the first shrimp-focused commercially operational RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System), has successfuly filed patents in Japan, Thailand, and Australia. These filings mark a significant step in advancing sustainable aquaculture practices and ensuring the future of global seafood production. As NaturalShrimp has previously announced, the technologies the Company has created involving our application of electrocoagulation technology to grow high quality shrimp in aquatic recirculating systems is protected by the Company's 100% ownership in Patents awarded by the US Patent Office. (nos. 10,163,199 and 11,297,809). The technologies represented by these Patents have secured the Company's position not only as a leader in the aquaculture industry but also as a poster child for the developing ESG philosophy gaining ground in countries throughout the world. The intellectual property rights represented by the Company's previously issued patents constitute the backbone of NaturalShrimp's business. As the Company's footprint expands into other countries such as Japan, Thailand and Australia, it is incumbent on NaturalShrimp to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our valuable intellectual property rights from infringement and to secure the benefits of these technologies for the Company and our shareholders. In this respect, NaturalShrimp has already filed for patent protection in Japan, Thailand, Australia, and the European Patent Convention (EPC), all areas in which the Company is either currently doing business or in which the Company seeks to do business. The Company's IP lawyers are currently working with local IP counsel to affect approval and domestication of our existing US Patents in these jurisdictions.  Upon allowance, the Company's patent application with the European Patent Convention allows the Company to elect European rights in over forty European nations, enabling the Company to judiciously plan its expansion into the European countries including countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom and other selected member countries. Patent protection is a very costly process and this extended time period allows the Company to methodically plan and still act with financial responsibility. While the Company is seeking protection for its intellectual property, our team of dedicated researchers and experts has worked tirelessly to develop, refine and enhance our technology with the expectation that additional patents can add to the arsenal of cutting-edge technologies that address key challenges in the aquaculture industry. By securing these patents in Japan, Thailand, Australia, and Europe, we are not only protecting our intellectual property rights but also contributing to the growth and development of the aquaculture sector in these regions. These innovations aim to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and promote responsible aquaculture practices. NaturalShrimp remains dedicated to fostering collaboration within the aquaculture community and looks forward to working with stakeholders in Japan, Thailand, Australia, and many European area nations to bring these advancements to the forefront of sustainable seafood production ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1818/philippines-national-dairy-authority-nda-reviews-strategies-and-proposals-to-increase-milk-production-in-the-country.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1818/philippines-national-dairy-authority-nda-reviews-strategies-and-proposals-to-increase-milk-production-in-the-country.html Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:38:34 +0530 Aims to increase milk output 2.5 times over the next five years Officials of the National Dairy Authority (NDA) recently met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. to discuss strategies and proposals to increase milk production in the country. The NDA provided the DA chief with an overview of the country’s current dairy situation, including a status report on project implementation, number of animals distributed in 2023, and growth figures, among others. NDA Administrator Dr. Gabriel L. Lagamayo said NDA aims to boost the country’s milk output to 80 million liters by 2028, a small portion of the projected demand of 2.143 million metric tons by that time. Increasing milk output 2.5 times over the next five years, he said, requires a dramatic increase in the number of animals in the milking line, enhancing dairy productivity, expanding distribution networks, constructing additional dairy-related infrastructures, and promoting the consumption of local milk and dairy products. Secretary Tiu Laurel welcomed NDA’s suggestions and expressed full support for the dairy agency’s plans. He cited the positive impact of developments in the dairy industry, describing it as “a low-hanging fruit” in government’s goal of boosting agriculture’s contribution to the broader economy and in improving the lives of millions who depend on sector. Pending the release of the national data for milk production from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), NDA records show that cattle production in 2023 reached 17,850 metric tons, accounting for approximately 0.8% of total milk consumption of 1.937 million metric tons. This consumption figure represents an increase of 1,372 metric tons compared to the previous year (2022). The NDA projects a further rise in demand for milk consumption to reach 1.978 million metric tons this year. Dr. Lagamayo stressed the crucial role of the DA Secretary’s support in advancing the industry. and said, “Based on these figures, we should advocate for greater investment in dairy cows which are the primary milk producers”. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1740/nestle-invests-additional-100-million-to-expand-production-in-vietnam-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1740/nestle-invests-additional-100-million-to-expand-production-in-vietnam-market.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:41:30 +0530 Total investment capital at Vietnam site reaches more than $500 million Nestlé Vietnam has announced an additional investment of $100 million to increase the capacity of Nestlé Tri An factory, Dong Nai province, bringing the total investment capital at this factory to more than $500 million. The additional investment in the Nestlé Tri An factory will help increase capacity and capacity to meet the increasing demand for coffee, continuing to make the Vietnamese market a center for coffee production and supply. High value for domestic and world markets. To date, Nestlé Group has invested nearly $830 million through Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd. with 4 factories and 2 distribution centers. In Dong Nai province alone, the company is operating 3 factories, of which Nestlé Tri An is one of Nestlé's largest manufacturing factories in Vietnam. This is also one of the Group's coffee processing factories with the most modern scale and technology in the region. Currently, the factory is producing coffee products with familiar brands including NESCAFÉ, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, NESPRESSO, Starbucks and Blue Bottle. Currently, coffee products produced at Nestlé Tri An factory have been exported to more than 29 countries around the world. In addition, Nestlé is also the largest coffee purchasing unit with a total annual purchasing cost from Vietnam of up to $700 million. Binu Jacob - General Director of Nestlé Vietnam - said: "The project is a testament to Nestlé's long-term investment commitment in Vietnam. It is expected that when the project comes into operation, the factory's capacity will increase, meeting the domestic market's consumer demand and effectively exploiting the export potential, making Vietnam a coffee supply center. High value coffee for the world. At the same time, through this project, we also hope to create many job opportunities and continue to expand long-term investment activities in Vietnam, contributing to sustainable economic development and prosperity of the country". Sustainable coffee production is one of Nestlé's important directions in Vietnam. Besides investing in production technology, Nestlé Tri An factory is always a pioneer in sustainable development through the use of clean energy, biomass energy, and application of circular economy in quality management. waste and conserve water resources. Accordingly, each year Nestlé Tri An factory can reduce more than 14,000 tons of CO2 emissions during coffee processing. In addition, 100% of coffee grounds after production are reused by the factory as biomass raw materials. Wastewater from the coffee production process is also treated, recycled, and reused in the boiler, helping the factory save more than 112,000 m3 of water/year. At the same time, with the desire to contribute to improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, since 2011, Nestlé has implemented the NESCAFÉ Plan program in the Central Highlands region. The program has also brought positive solutions to sustainably develop the Vietnamese coffee industry from distributing high-quality seedlings, farming according to regenerative agriculture, protecting water resources and biodiversity. learn. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1689/brazil-approves-teikko-phc68949-to-control-nematodes-in-soybeans.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1689/brazil-approves-teikko-phc68949-to-control-nematodes-in-soybeans.html Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:19:15 +0530 Plant Health Care® (AIM.PHC.L), a leading provider of peptides used by growers to improve crop production and quality within global agriculture markets, announced that its nematicide, TEIKKO, has received federal approval in Brazil in time for commercial launch for the 2024/25 soybean growing season.  Highlights TEIKKO is an entirely novel peptide product which offers farmers good control of nematode pests, without resorting to conventional agrochemicals; Brazilian farmers spent more than $200m on nematode control in the most recent season; and The Company is in discussion with potential distributors for launch of TEIKKO during 2024. TEIKKO is a novel product, from the Company's PREtec peptide platform, that amplifies a plant's natural defense pathways to provide protection against plant parasitic nematodes which damage plant roots and limit crop yield. TEIKKO is now approved as a seed treatment for the control of root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus brachyurus) in soybean. Research carried out during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 soybean crop seasons showed that TEIKKO gave similar or superior performance to standard agrochemical treatments. TEIKKO offers farmers the opportunity to avoid use of toxic agrochemicals, without sacrificing performance.  Compared with alternative biological products, it brings benefits such as three-year shelf-life and no special requirements for storing, allowing flexibility on distribution to the farmers, low rates for easy industrial seed treatment, no interference or incompatibility with other traditional seed treatments, such as fungicides and insecticides, and reliable performance under different environmental conditions, such as drought or humidity. For the 2023/24 season, the soybean harvested area in Brazil is forecast to be 45 million hectares. According to the latest research published by Kynetec, Brazilian growers spent $215 million on soybean nematode control for the 2022/23 season, which reflects an annualized growth rate of 55% over the last six years.  Additional crops and nematode species will be added to the TEIKKO product label in the future, further expanding its potential use. Plant Health Care is progressing discussions with several distribution partners who will launch TEIKKO in 2024, for use for the 2024/25 soybean growing season. TEIKKO is based on the Company's innovative PREtec technology platform. Derived from natural proteins, PREtec is an environmentally friendly technology which stimulates plant defense and pathogen resistance mechanisms within plants, resulting in improved crop growth and quality along with the ability to withstand a variety of abiotic stresses ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1593/cf-industries-completes-acquisition-of-waggaman-ammonia-production-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1593/cf-industries-completes-acquisition-of-waggaman-ammonia-production-facility.html Wed, 06 Dec 2023 11:03:43 +0530 CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has closed its acquisition of Incitec Pivot Limited’s (“IPL”) ammonia production complex located in Waggaman, Louisiana. Under the terms of the agreement, CF Industries purchased the Waggaman ammonia plant and related assets for $1.675 billion, subject to adjustments. The companies allocated approximately $425 million of the purchase price to a long-term ammonia offtake agreement under which CF Industries will supply up to 200,000 tons of ammonia per year to IPL’s Dyno Nobel subsidiary at production economics. CF Industries funded the remaining purchase price with cash on hand. Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. “We are growing our industry-leading ammonia production capabilities with the addition of IPL’s Waggaman ammonia production facility and team. This transaction deploys our capital efficiently, delivering immediate profitable growth by adding one of the newest ammonia production units in North America into our existing network while advancing our long-term strategic focus on low-carbon ammonia as a clean energy source.” Along with its offtake agreement with IPL, CF Industries will continue to fulfill medium- and long-term offtake agreements with two customers that were in-place prior to the acquisition. The Company estimates that these agreements will generate gross margin per ton commensurate with its existing ammonia segment prior to the greater capacity utilization and operational and logistics optimization CF Industries expects to achieve with the site’s integration into the Company. Additionally, CF Industries anticipates implementing carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies at the site on an accelerated timeline, increasing its network’s low-carbon ammonia production capability while earning 45Q tax credits for sequestered carbon dioxide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1541/darigold-launches-new-operations-in-boise.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1541/darigold-launches-new-operations-in-boise.html Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:06:20 +0530 The new Boise operation area continues to modernize and globalize dairy and agriculture business Seattle-based Darigold, Inc., one of the nation's largest dairy producers with farming and processing operations throughout the Northwest, announced plans to open a new office in the Boise, Idaho area. Farmer-owned Darigold will use the new location to put key parts of its business closer to its network of farms and processing facilities. The company will continue to maintain a presence in Seattle. "While Seattle has always been our home, our operations – including farming and production – are located throughout the Northwest, in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana," said Joe Coote, CEO at Darigold. "With the establishment in the Boise area we continue to modernize and globalize our business. This new office location gives us greater access to a larger workforce focused on agriculture, creates a better opportunity to establish Darigold as an employer of choice and valued community partner, and establishes a presence closer to farming and production operations in much of our region." "Idaho's red-hot economy, including a robust agriculture sector, combined with our business-friendly regulatory environment and strong communities are attracting more and more companies to expand in our state," Governor Brad Little said of Darigold's plans to establish an Idaho office. The new Boise area office comes at a time when Darigold is making other investments to support its co-op. The company made an investment in an aseptic packaging line in its Boise production facility in 2021 and began construction on a new production facility in Pasco, Wash., in 2022, which is expected to open next year. Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen's Association. "Idaho is a growing center for dairy production and securing a major office location from one of the nation's largest dairy producers underscores our state's importance in the nation's dairy industry." Darigold announces Plans for Boise Area Office/p.2 Darigold hopes to secure space in early 2024. The company anticipates completing tenant finish and staffing for the Boise office over the span of 18 to 24 months. "We are thrilled to see Darigold expand its presence in Idaho," said Karianne Fallow, CEO of Dairy West, which represents dairy farm families in Idaho and Utah to promote the dairy industry. "In addition to being home to so many thriving dairy farms, the state also houses a number of agriculture and packaged food companies. Adding this century-old brand to the state's lineup of food and ag companies shows the important role Idaho plays in feeding people around the country and globally." "With this office established in the Boise area, we'll have a better opportunity to establish lean and efficient teams to support the needs of our farmer-owners, our network of operating sites, and our customers," said Darigold's Coote. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1519/evonik-partners-shandong-vland-biotech-form-jv-in-china-to-boost-animal-gut-health-portfolio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1519/evonik-partners-shandong-vland-biotech-form-jv-in-china-to-boost-animal-gut-health-portfolio.html Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:19:48 +0530 Evonik China Co., Ltd and Shandong Vland Biotech Co., Ltd agreed to build a joint venture to expand their presence in gut health solutions products for farm animals globally. Evonik will be the majority shareholder in this joint venture with 55 percent of the shares. The joint venture, called Evonik Vland Biotech (Shandong) Co., Ltd. will have its headquarters in Binzhou, China, and is planned to enter the market in Q1/2024. The joint venture will combine the specific strengths of both partners, including Vland's market access, regulatory capabilities in China as well as its fast innovation cycles. In addition, the joint venture will benefit from Evonik’s global sales force and market access, R&D and global regulatory capabilities. Sales of the new joint venture are expected to be in the low double-digit million euro range. Evonik announced earlier this year that it is developing its specialty nutrition business with system solutions and specialties for poultry, swine and ruminants. The partnership with Vland on gut health solutions is an essential element towards Evonik’s strategy to offer system solutions for its customers in the animal feed industry. Customized system solutions consisting of products, services and knowhow delivering sustainability benefits are part of the strategic core of Evonik's life science division Nutrition & Care, which includes the Animal Nutrition business line. Biosolutions such as probiotics for animal gut health will strengthen the division’s biotechnology platform. “This joint venture combines the strengths of two successful players in the feed additives business and provides a solid platform for future growth,” says Gaetano Blanda, head of the Animal Nutrition business line of Evonik. “Together, both partners gain broader market access for their products and combine their innovative strength.” Both partners will bring their gut health businesses - such as probiotics and formulated products - into the joint venture to cover the Greater China Region. The Greater China Region accounts for more than 20 percent of the global feed additives market. Evonik Vland Biotech (Shandong) Co., Ltd. will also engage in creating new gut health products. As part of the agreement, Evonik will distribute the joint venture’s portfolio outside of the Greater China Region. The joint venture allows Evonik to expand its gut health solutions by adding broader formulation elements to its global product portfolio. "The joint venture of Evonik and Vland will enhance our portfolio in Asia Pacific. Both companies will grow faster together than they would have on their own," says Shirley Qi, regional president of SEAANZ and head of Nutrition & Care Asia at Evonik. The aim of Evonik’s gut health solutions is to maintain the productivity of farm animals without using antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Today, probiotics such as Ecobiol®, Fecinor®, GutPlus® and GutCare® are the basis of this portfolio. They consist of living microorganisms added to animal feed to maintain or restore the microbial balance in the animal’s gut, helping to make animals more resilient. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1402/gpc-expands-with-acquisition-of-specialty-flour-milling-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1402/gpc-expands-with-acquisition-of-specialty-flour-milling-facility.html Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:29:58 +0530 The 64,000 sq. ft. production & seed cleaning facility sits on 35 acres, Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), part of the KENT Corporation family of companies headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, has acquired a flour manufacturing and warehouse facility in Oskaloosa, Iowa. GPC's acquisition further deepens its longstanding heritage of offering innovative, high-quality, plant-based ingredients that consumers worldwide seek, based on the success of its soy and chickpea milling operations in Grinnell, Iowa. The 64,000 sq. ft. production & seed cleaning facility sits on 35 acres, allowing for ample future growth, and product offering diversification, along with strategic vertical integration within other nearby KENT businesses. "As we pursue our vision to continue expanding to meet the desires and dietary requirements of a consistently growing world population, I am excited to be adding this facility to our footprint," said Jimmy Kent, President of GPC. "We will better leverage our soy and chickpea flour production capabilities, while expanding our value-added milling business further." The GPC Oskaloosa milling operation will facilitate future growth in the plant-based, clean-label market categories. GPC has a history of making high-quality, pure ingredients for some of the world's most iconic brands.  GPC's primary products include high-purity alcohols, corn starches, maltodextrins, and corn syrup solids. GPC sells to customers that use GPC ingredients for beverage alcohol, food products, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial starch applications. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1271/australias-wide-open-agriculture-woa-to-establish-a-production-facility-for-buntine-protein-enhanced-oat-milk.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1271/australias-wide-open-agriculture-woa-to-establish-a-production-facility-for-buntine-protein-enhanced-oat-milk.html Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:07:47 +0530 Secures AUD$5 million grant from Government’s Investment Attraction Fund Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) has secured a non-dilutive AUD$5 million grant from the Western Australian Government’s Investment Attraction Fund to establish a production facility for Buntine Protein enhanced oat milk.  The facility will be located in Western Australia and will initially produce oat milk in various formats using the Company's proprietary lupin-based plant protein, Buntine Protein, with initial production to potentially begin this calendar year, with further expansion anticipated across 2024 and 2025.  The new facility is projected to potentially increase WOA's domestic production capabilities, enhance manufacturing efficiencies, and reduce costs, while enabling the company to navigate evolving consumer beverage markets effectively. Recently, WOA has also successfully manufactured an RTD prototype of its Buntine Protein oat milk – which it describes as a nutritional, versatile, and sustainable alternative to traditional dairy milk and other oat milks.  Located strategically adjacent to the Buntine Protein pilot plant, the new facility is expected to produce a range of Oat milk in 1 litre and Ready to Drink (‘RTD’) formats, featuring the Company’s lupin-based Buntine Protein as an ingredient. When fully operational, WOA will gain the ability to introduce a novel beverage into global markets, rivalling traditional dairy in protein content, yet maintaining a coveted creamy mouthfeel.  The new facility is also anticipated to bring about significant cost reductions. These savings would likely stem from enhanced manufacturing efficiencies, improved supply chain operations, and reductions in tariffs on exports to key markets such as SE Asia. Beyond cost savings, the facility should also speed up the new product development process for future product releases.  Wide Open Agriculture CEO, Jay Albany said “we are harnessing this opportunity to champion a new era of sustainable, innovative, and delicious plant-based nutrition.The grant will be disbursed in stages based on the achievement of defined milestones and fulfillment of reporting requirements. The first critical milestone involves the successful execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA). Following that, other milestones include obtaining the necessary regulatory and planning approvals for the construction and operation of the plant-based milk plant. Upon the successful completion of all the prescribed project milestones, the company will have accessed the total grant sum. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1252/chinas-limin-chemical-embarks-into-high-capacity-pesticide-expansion-project.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1252/chinas-limin-chemical-embarks-into-high-capacity-pesticide-expansion-project.html Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:29:09 +0530 Aims to develop 12,600ton/year pesticide TC technological transformation project with high-efficiency and low-toxicity China’s Limin Group is set to invest in its subsidiary Limin Chemical's 12,600 t/a high-efficiency and low-toxicity pesticide expansion project. The project includes 1,100 t/a difenoconazole TC, 5,000 t/a Fosetyl-Na AS, 2,000 t/a amobam AS, 500 t/a tembotrione TC, 1,000 t/a mesotrione TC, 3,000 t/a zineb TC and series by-products. In July 2023, the 12,600 t/a pesticide TC technology renovation project of Limin Chemical Co., Ltd. (Limin Chemical), a subsidiary of Limin Group Co., Ltd. (Limin Group), passed the expert review, which intends to broaden the advantageous product variety with lower production cost and higher quality, and strengthen product competitiveness and increase profit. The project involves crop protection products including 1,100 t/a difenoconazole TC, 5,000 t/a fosetyl-Na AS, 2,000 t/a amobam AS, 500 t/a tembotrione TC, 1,000 t/a mesotrione TC, 3,000 t/a zineb TC and by-products. Among them, difenoconazole is a highly efficient triazole fungicide with broad spectrum, low toxicity and low dosage. On 28 Nov., 2022, Limin Chemical obtained the independent registration of difenoconazole TC in Brazil, the world's second-largest market for the product, where difenoconazole is mainly used on soybean and cotton. In addition, Limin Group's another technological transformation project of 12,000 t/a fosetyl-Al TC, also run by Limin Chemical, entered trial production on 20 April, 2022, with an investment of $31.87 million (RMB230 million). Fosetyl-Al is a systemic and novel anti-infection fungicide with high efficiency and broad spectrum. Enjoying strong market demand and huge growth potential in recent years, this high-end fungicide is mainly used on wine grapes. The project will help the company expand the scale of superior products, improve product quality and reduce production costs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1197/pls-plantations-to-establish-malaysias-first-largest-and-advanced-banana-plantation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1197/pls-plantations-to-establish-malaysias-first-largest-and-advanced-banana-plantation.html Wed, 19 Jul 2023 10:44:33 +0530 PLS Agrofresh will  develop, operate, maintain and harvest an initial 500-acre banana plantation. PLS Plantations announced that its wholly-owned Brighthill Synergy Sdn Bhd has entered into a strategic partnership with Agrofresh Management Sdn Bhd to develop Malaysia’s largest banana plantation.  Agrofresh is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agrofresh International Sdn Bhd, which is extensively involved in the full value chain of the agriculture-based industry. Agrofresh specializes in Cavendish bananas, boasting a rich portfolio of activities encompassing R&D, seedlings, plantation, packaging, trading, and exporting to China, Europe and Middle East. The joint venture establishes a new company named PLS Agrofresh Sdn Bhd,  with PLS Plantations holding 60 % stake and the balance by Agrofresh. PLS Agrofresh will  develop, operate, maintain and harvest an initial 500-acre banana plantation. The partnership aims to scale up to 2,500 acres of banana plantations in the subsequent phases over three years.  PLS Agrofresh executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Tom Chow Chin Kiat said it will build the first large hyper-advanced and modern banana plantation in Malaysia with foresight in R&D, fertilizer production, tissue culture, product development, and international partnerships. By November of 2024, the maiden 500-acre banana plantation of PLS Agrofresh should produce its first banana harvest. PLS Plantations group chief Executive officer Lee Hun Kheng said “As part of the group's strategic collaboration with Agrofresh, PLS Agrofresh is assembling a team of experienced technical experts specializing in the development and operation of banana plantation with international standard from the Philippines”. PLS Plantations group intends to become one of the largest banana planters in Malaysia. The PLS Agrofresh initiative is expected to impact both local and international markets significantly. On a domestic level, the increased banana production will ensure a consistent supply for local consumers, as well as stimulate various sectors of the economy, such as retail, logistics, and food processing. Moreover, it may increase Malaysians' access to this nutritious fruit by lowering prices. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1184/syngenta-creates-syngenta-biologicals-to-integrate-its-biologicals-businesses.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1184/syngenta-creates-syngenta-biologicals-to-integrate-its-biologicals-businesses.html Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:36:48 +0530 Syngenta Biologicals is backed by best-in-class R&D pipeline and commercial capabilities, six production sites globally and more than 1,100 employees Syngenta has launched Syngenta Biologicals, combining Valagro - one of the world's leading manufacturers of biostimulants and specialty nutrients - with its in-house biological business, setting the stage for rapid biological market growth. Syngenta Biologicals brings together Syngenta’s global reach and innovation strengths with Valagro’s proprietary technology platform and team of trusted technical and commercial advisors. Since the acquisition, both companies have worked closely to build a joint foundation in science-based innovation, extensively sharing knowledge and leveraging capabilities crucial for a world-leading biologicals business. “Establishing the Syngenta Biologicals brand marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of our business, giving us a single identity and formalizing our one-team approach in the market. Syngenta Biologicals stands for industry-leading technologies, unparalleled research expertise, and global commercial capabilities, energized by the entrepreneurial spirit and culture Valagro has always been reputed for,” said Corey Huck, Global Head of Syngenta Biologicals. “This move reinforces our strategy of providing farmers with more complementary product and technology choices, and underpins our determination to be the collaborator of choice, and to make agriculture more sustainable,” he added. Backed by its best-in-class R&D pipeline and commercial capabilities, six production sites globally and more than 1,100 employees, Syngenta Biologicals is well-positioned to leverage its deep understanding of farmers’ needs to deliver exciting innovations in this field. Syngenta Biological’s expanding portfolio already includes TAEGRO®, a biofungicide against a wide range of major soilborne and foliar diseases; MEGAFOL®, a biostimulant that helps crops manage stress, and VIXERAN®, a foliar-applied biofertilizer. In addition to accelerating its biologicals research, Syngenta Biologicals is also actively forging collaborations aimed at rapidly expanding its offers of biologicals with wide range of applications including foliar, seed treatments, combinations with fertilizers as well as non-agricultural uses. Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. In more than 90 countries around the world, it offers a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform farmers' decision-making capabilities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1176/new-homogeneous-granular-fertilizer-blue-improves-crop-performance-profitability-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1176/new-homogeneous-granular-fertilizer-blue-improves-crop-performance-profitability-and-sustainability.html Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:14:04 +0530 Brought to you by Timac Agro USA and Rainbow Plant Food, BLUE is an ammoniated, homogeneous granular fertilizer formulated with award-winning, patented ingredients proved to improve fertilizer efficiency. Timac Agro USA, a global innovator in crop nutrition and Rainbow Plant Food, a legacy brand, have collaborated to bring a new generation of fertilizer efficiency tools to the agricultural market. "BLUE is a new fertilizer efficiency tool harnessing the innovation and technology of Timac Agro USA and elevating the high-quality precision nutrients and micronutrients offered by Rainbow Plant Food so that ultimately growers can realize higher profitability and higher performance with a layer of protection to help be more environmentally sensitive," explains Michael Pisciotta, Timac Agro USA Director of Agronomy, Southern US. Michael Pisciotta, Timac Agro USA Director of Agronomy, Southern US BLUE fertilizer products are comprised of superior homogeneous granular technology and a mixture of natural substances that benefit agronomic production. They work to maximize peak performance from the soil to the plant. They can be used as a singular source for all necessary nutrients, or as part of a blend to reap the benefits of enhanced fertilizer efficiency across every acre. "Timac Agro's studies have proven that the presence of BLUE in fertilizer can reduce nitrate leaching, as well as reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff," affirmed Pisciotta. "This collaboration clearly defines how new technology can serve our growers in addressing legacy and next generation challenges." BLUE grade products will empower growers in a variety of field situations such as pre-plant, bedded fertilizer, and top-dress. In varying soil dynamics, a grower using BLUE can capitalize on the natural functional substances and maximize nutrients in a way that they weren't able to with commodity fertilizers. Sustainability is woven into Timac Agro USA's innovation and service to their growers. In addition to enhancing crop performance, BLUE carries significant benefits that help to preserve the natural environment. "BLUE is a tool for service to not only growers but to the environment. Farmers have to be environmentalists at their heart because ultimately if we don't preserve the soil and the land we're not going to be able to farm the next generation," concludes Pisciotta. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1173/origin-agritech-to-construct-innovative-100000-ton-corn-drying-base-in-xinjiang.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1173/origin-agritech-to-construct-innovative-100000-ton-corn-drying-base-in-xinjiang.html Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:54:23 +0530 The joint venture with $11 million funding will fortify Origin's Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (NEC) supply chain. China based agriculture technology company, Origin Agritech Ltd. initiated the construction for an innovative 100,000-ton corn drying base in Shihezi, Xinjiang, in a groundbreaking ceremony. The new base will be situated in its Origin's Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (NEC) plantation bases. The project is spearheaded by the Company's joint venture, Baodao Origin Agritech and Livestock Co. Ltd.  The state-of-the-art facility will include a drying base, a storage base, and supporting facilities. The drying base will have the capacity to process 1,200 metric tons daily, while the storage base will be able to hold up to 50,000 tons of produce. The construction is expected to complete and ready for use by mid September to meet the production needs for the upcoming 2023 harvesting season. The venture, bolstered by an investment of RMB 80 million, or $11.1 million, provided by Origin's joint venture partner and supported by regional financial institutions, is set to fortify Origin's Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (NEC) supply chain. Mr. Guangju Wang, head of NEC Corn Business and General Manager of Baodao Origin, expressed, "With our revolutionary Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (NEC), we're reshaping the agricultural industry. This unique corn variety allows hogs to thrive without expensive soybean meal supplementation, thereby doubling profit margins for feedstock companies. Consequently, the resulting high demand for NEC has allowed us to expand from a $4.4 billion corn seed market to a $83.2 billion corn feedstock market. This leap enlarges our market opportunity by nearly 20-fold, emphasizing the immense potential for Origin within the corn supply chain." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1152/scientist-modify-algae-to-make-rare-antioxidants-in-extreme-environments.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1152/scientist-modify-algae-to-make-rare-antioxidants-in-extreme-environments.html Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:35:55 +0530 AzCATI and KAUST collaborative research develop genetically engineered algae to produce orange-red pigments that make sea food healthier Researcher’s at Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have collaborated with the US based Arizona Center for Algae Technology & Innovation (AzCATI) at Arizona State University (ASU) are genetically engineering algal species to produce therapeutic antioxidant pigments unavailable naturally in nature. An Collaboration between AzCATI and KAUST aims to develop an orange-red antioxidant pigment from fully sequenced algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae incorporated with a gene encoding the pigment. These antioxidants are chemicals called carotenoids, which are yellow-orange-red pigments responsible for the colour of tomatoes and carrots, as well as the pink color of salmon and flamingos through diet.  The genetic modification causes the blue-green coloured alga to produce orange-red antioxidants like canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and has numerous health benefits and has the potential to make seafood healthier.  Introducing astaxanthin to the diets of animals such as farmed shrimp can improve their health and enhance their red colour. The carotenoid pigments can also be used as natural dyes for textiles and have wide nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical applications. The alga also contains a light-capturing blue pigment called phycocyanin which is used as a blue food colouring in confectionery and drinks. The scientists found production of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin did not reduce phycocyanin in the alga, meaning both blue and orange-red pigments can be produced together at once.  Dr. Kyle J. Lauersen, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at KAUST and senior author of the study, says: “For the first time, genetic engineering has been used to change natural carotenoid pigments in a red alga. Genetic engineering of algae can help produce important natural chemicals like carotenoids sustainably. Algae has untapped potential as a sustainable solution which could benefit both the food and health industry, and the science shows it is possible to scale.” Growing algae requires optimal levels of sunlight, trace nutrients and carbon dioxide (CO2). The engineered algae in the study demonstrated tolerance to high levels of CO2 and high temperatures, which is relevant for growing in specific environments, for example, hot urban areas during summer months in Saudi Arabian or American deserts. As Cyanidioschyzon merolae is natively found in extreme environments with high temperatures, it is a promising candidate for local production in these areas. Dr. Peter J. Lammers, Research Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU and co-corresponding author of the study, adds: “These acid-loving red algae have great potential for safe and innovative industrial applications. Their ability to grow in acidified waste afford options for circular economics and renewable materials that could sustain future generations. Together with KAUST, our long-term goal is to eliminate waste and use bioengineering to benefit humans and nature simultaneously. This study is the first of many that will harness biochemical pathways to generate renewable options for chemicals used every day.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1139/vietnamese-vitadairy-partners-with-pantheryx-supporting-pediatric-and-adult-immunonutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1139/vietnamese-vitadairy-partners-with-pantheryx-supporting-pediatric-and-adult-immunonutrition.html Wed, 05 Jul 2023 03:30:00 +0530 PanTheryx commits with 3-year extended strategic partnership to producer colostrum ingredient named ColosIgG 24h and supply to VitaDairy PanTheryx®, Inc., an integrative digestive and immune health company, and VitaDairy®, the leading Vietnamese dairy company, have mutually renewed a multi-year strategic partnership.  PanTheryx, VitaDairy’s No. 1 partner in Vietnam for U.S. bovine colostrum, will continue to be VitaDairy’s exclusive producer and supplier of the colostrum ingredient named ColosIgG 24h. This multimillion-dollar agreement reaffirms their commitment to advancing pediatric and adult immunonutrition, ensuring the well-being of Vietnam’s children, mothers, and vulnerable groups. VitaDairy makes a wide range of products, including ColosBaby® and CaloSure® America‡, using ColosIgG 24h from PanTheryx. ColosBaby®, a growing-up milk brand, is specially created for children and mothers and provides a high level of IgG antibodies, which have scientifically demonstrated immune-boosting properties. The CaloSure® America brand is sold as a multi-benefit nutrition product for aging adults.  Wes Parris, president and CEO of PanTheryx explained that, “By leveraging PanTheryx’s extensive network to collect bovine colostrum within the first 24 hours after calving, VitaDairy ensures the highest levels of immune activity, including IgG antibodies. Together we’ll continue to deliver innovation, scientific expertise, and unwavering commitment to providing quality products that support the health and well-being of adults and children.” VitaDairy aims to develop 'natural immunity solutions' integrated into nutritional products for children and the elderly, providing them with fortified defenses and strengthening their immune systems as a personal arsenal to combat epidemics. VitaDairy's scientific applications of ColosIgG 24h colostrum has significantly extracted the full potential of bovine colostrum for human health benefits. It is estimated that $20B global growing-up milk industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020 to 2025.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1118/bayers-smallholder-farming-initiatives-strive-to-improve-growers-income.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1118/bayers-smallholder-farming-initiatives-strive-to-improve-growers-income.html Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:45:19 +0530 Since joining Bayer's Independent Research projects in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Mexico/Honduras, smallholder farmers' income has increased by 70 to 90 percent Smallholder farmers say livelihoods have improved after participating in initiatives led by life sciences company Bayer. This is the result of research by independent social impact measurement company 60 Decibels on four Bayer smallholder projects in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Mexico/Honduras. In each of the four surveys, a clear majority of participants states that the programs have increased their yields and farming income and improved their way of farming as well as their quality of life, ranging from around 70 percent in Mexico and Honduras to around 90 percent in Kenya. Bayer recognizes the critical role of the 550 million smallholders worldwide in ensuring food security in low- and middle-income countries and for more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. In 2019, the company set the goal to support 100 million smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries by 2030. To ensure that the implemented smallholder farming strategy contributes to that goal and delivers measurable positive impact, Bayer asked 60 Decibels to examine four projects as a starting point. ”The positive results are encouraging because they validate the objectives of Bayer’s smallholder and regenerative agriculture strategy, with its focus on sustainable production and improving the social and economic well-being of farmers and their communities,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy and Sustainability of Bayer’s Crop Science division. “The results underline the importance of access to innovation and modern technologies for smallholders, along with knowledge transfer and market linkage.” 60 Decibels surveyed between 275 and 700 randomly selected smallholders in each of the projects from October 2022 to April 2023. The core set of questions are based on longstanding sector research by 60 Decibels and are an integral part of each impact survey they conduct. Regionally tailored programs lead to positive social impact The different programs for smallholders are tailored to the needs and agronomic conditions in the respective regions. The Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative in India is part of the global Better Life Farming Alliance that Bayer established in partnership with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and Netafim, along with many local partners. At its core, the alliance aims to provide smallholders with education, modern technology, and resources to grow their small farms into commercially viable and sustainable farming businesses. More than 2,500 Better Life Farming centers operating in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Honduras, and Tanzania improve farmers’ access in remote rural regions through the last-mile delivery model. Two thirds of farmers said they have accessed a service like BLF for the first time and feel more confident than before about investing in agriculture. Through the Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative: 78% experienced increased crop production ; 72% reported increased farming income; 74% achieved a better way of farming; 71% said that quality of life has improved. Similarly, In Bangladesh, GeoPotato is designed to support small-scale potato farmers by enabling preventive crop protection and easier decision-making. It is a geodata-driven early warning system for late-blight disease in potatoes to optimize fungicide use, devised by Wageningen Plant Research, Terrasphere, mPower, Bayer and governmental institutions. The study showed that GeoPotato has proven successful and is unique in late-blight alert messaging. It contributes to smallholder farmers’ resilience and recovery from climate shocks. Through GeoPotato: 86% experienced increased crop production, 83% reported increased farming income; 87% achieved a better way of farming; 82% said that quality of life has improved. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1100/thailands-green-rubber-firm-sri-trang-agro-industry-expand-business-operations-in-ivory-coast.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1100/thailands-green-rubber-firm-sri-trang-agro-industry-expand-business-operations-in-ivory-coast.html Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0530 Unveils first raw material procurement center to accelerate raw material sourcing and to educate rubber plantation farmers Thailand headquartered  Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL, the world's leading fully integrated green rubber company and Thailand's largest producer of rubber gloves, has opened the Company's first raw material procurement center in Ivory Coast, aiming to expand its sources of raw material as well as providing agricultural knowledge to local rubber plantation farmers.  The plan is to establish a total of five procurement centers in the country within next year. The primary driver behind the subsidiary and procurement centers in Ivory Coast is the suitable climate and environment for cultivating rubber trees, resulting in continuous increases in production.  Thailand holds significant potential for rubber production and export. The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) estimated that by 2023 Ivory Coast is projected to have a total rubber production capacity of 1.31 million tons, an increase of 23 percent from 2021, with projections of 1.37 million metric tons and 1.42 million metric tons in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Ivory Coast is projected to have a production capacity of over 1.3 million metric tons of rubber this year, surpassing Vietnam and becoming the world's 3rd largest rubber exporter. Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL runs the business with expertise and sustainability from upstream to downstream. The World‘s Leading Fully Integrated Green Rubber Company specializing in rubber plantation management and natural rubber products, it is the only Thai rubber company dually listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET: STA) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX: NC2). Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Managing Director and Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL revealed that it had established a subsidiary last year in Ivory Coast, or Cote d'Ivoire, to support business expansion through procurement of raw materials from new sources, most recently on June 1. The Company commissioned the first center to assess raw material sources with high growth potential, while planning to open five procurement centers by 2024, expanding its capability and coverage in sourcing raw materials. At present, Ivory Coast is the world's 4th largest exporter of rubber, following Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. However, IRSG forecasts that Ivory Coast's rubber production will surpass Vietnam's and become the world's 3rd largest rubber exporter within this year. "We recognize that accessing new supplies in Ivory Coast will greatly support the Company's business in terms of expanding the sources of raw materials. In addition, our on-ground team is also providing agricultural knowledge on rubber cultivation to rubber plantation farmers in Ivory Coast, further enhancing the country's capability as one of the world's top producers of high-quality raw materials," Veerasith added. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1046/thailands-sericulture-researches-develops-improved-silk-varieties.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1046/thailands-sericulture-researches-develops-improved-silk-varieties.html Fri, 09 Jun 2023 11:15:39 +0530 The Department of Sericulture researches new silk varieties, NAN X J108 which is high yield in the north and in winter" explains Prakob Phaopong, Director-General of the Sericulture Department Thailand's Department of Sericulture researches has developed a new silk variety NAN X J108 (a cross between NAN and J108) that can be raised well in the north. Especially in winter most high cocoons yield large yellow cocoons high fresh nest weight and good nest shell weight have a higher nest shell percentage. Helps to increase income for the farmers. The sericulture industry in the northern region It is a commercial sericulture where sericulture farmers are the main occupation. There are entrepreneurs who come to buy cocoon products. The Sericulture Department encourages farmers to grow sericulture according to market-led production policy in the contract farming system. There is a contract or agreement between each other (Contract Farming), which currently operators need Buying 5,000 tons of cocoons from farmers per year, but farmers produce only 2,000 tons of cocoons per year, still a production insufficient to meet market demand One of the reasons was that farmers produced a small number of cocoons. Due to the lack of silk varieties that produce high yields and are suitable for the area's conditions and farming in each season. As a result, farmers are at high risk in raising silkworms. Due to low surviving percentages and efficient cocoon production, there is not enough cocoon production every year to feed and send to entrepreneurs. To ensure business continuity, the Silk Mulberry Department researched and improves silk varieties to create silk that is strong and grows well. It can increase productivity both in terms of the quantity and quality of silk thread. Silkworm variety NAN X J108 (a cross between NAN and J108) from the yellow cocoon NAN (NAN) mixed with the white cocoon J108, is an international variety. According to the research study, it was found that the new silkworm species Able to feed well, giving high yields of cocoons in the northern region especially in winter most have good agricultural characteristics large yellow cocoon high fresh nest weight and good nest shell weight It has a greater percentage of the nest shell, about 20 - 21 percent, has good fertilization characteristics, is easy to fling, and gives a large fiber length to the nest. And can increase the income from the sale of cocoon products is high.       The Sericulture Department is committed to helping farmers increase production. Therefore, research has been brought to help improve silkworm breeding until new and more efficient silkworm varieties are obtained. The Department will bring the new silkworm species to encourage farmers who grow mulberry silkworms in the northern region to breed in the winter. Interspersed with raising silkworm breeds that were raised in the original breeding Yellow Saraburi (J108 x Nang Lai Saraburi) in other seasons so that farmers can increase cocoon yield. in line with market demands And continue to generate stable income for farmers, ”said the Director-General of the Sericulture Department. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1032/zhang-zhiqian-tidetron-founder-and-ceo.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1032/zhang-zhiqian-tidetron-founder-and-ceo.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:41:00 +0530 Zhang Zhiqian, Founder and CEO, Tidetron Bioworks Technology Co., Ltd., China The industrial transformation of agricultural raw materials into processed products for commercialization necessitates the application of synthetic biology during industrial production. Molecular rewriting will be an important component of plant synthetic biology. In addition to engineering microbes to have new abilities, synthetic biology enables agronomists to harness biological power to solve farming and agriculture concerns. By harnessing microorganisms as large-scale production platforms, synthetic biology can also reduce the demand for chemical fertilizers by optimizing nitrogen and phosphorous utilization as well as improve crop nutritional value. By allowing targeted DNA modifications within living plants or single cells, CRISPR tools can enable synthetic biology to reach its full potential. In addition to enabling precision agriculture, the synthetic biology industry has significant potential in processing Agri-food components, substances, and additives; however, infrastructure and production issues remain for mass production. In order to overcome the challenges associated with synthetic biology, Tidetron Bioworks Technology Co., Ltd. has developed a system from research and development to mass production and is among the first synthetic bio-manufacturing platforms in the world to achieve mass production of various substances. As a pioneer in the Agri-Food biotechnology sector, China's Guangzhou city headquartered Tidetron Bioworks Technology has contributed substantially with its remarkable growth trajectory and innovative approaches in the synthetic biology sector. Tidetron is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the industry's evolution to improve the global food system thereby. The acclaimed Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library and component library is a significant resource for Asia's Agri-Food biotech industry. Zhang Zhiqian, Founder and CEO of Tidetron Bioworks elaborates further on the precision Agri-bio manufacturing sector for tackling complex challenges through innovation. How can the precision Agri-biomanufacturing sector address complex challenges through innovation? Innovation is not a one-time fix but a continuous process of developing and improving technologies, practices, and approaches. While addressing complex challenges is also a long-term task. In contrast to conventional production methods, synthetic biology presents a new approach to manufacturing, yielding a low-carbon food source and mitigating the environmental impact associated with traditional methods. We found out that the exciting thing is that the innovation of synthetic biology has emerged as a game-changer in biomanufacturing, which offers a robust set of tools and technologies that enable us to engineer biological systems to produce a wide range of valuable products. And what is more exciting is that it may speed up the process from the lab through the super-factory from the experience of Tidetron Bioworks- the "CELL Factories" we built have the remarkable ability to generate a diverse range of substances. These advancements have the potential to enhance our quality of life substantially. What is the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing as demonstrated by Tidetron Bioworks' groundbreaking biomanufacturing platform? As demonstrated by Tidetron Bioworks, the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing is its ability to revolutionize the production of various substances. Tidetron Bioworkshas pioneered synthetic biology to achieve mass production in the biomanufacturing industry. The core competency lies in our proprietary technology platform-Tidetron Altra, which enables us to synthesize numerous substances that can only be produced in trace amounts or are limited by the characteristics of the native organisms or metabolic pathways. As a result, we can scale up the production of those challenging substances to synthesize in large quantities. Our technology has demonstrated strong versatility and has been validated on dozens of substances and platforms. In addition, we have forged strategic partnerships with esteemed research institutions, academic organizations, and industry experts. This collaborative approach empowers us to tap into cutting-edge research, leverage invaluable expertise, and access critical resources, alongside the significant increase of substances and synthesis yielding the research need. With tools like CRISPR-Cas and other gene-editing techniques, Tidetron Bioworks leverages microfluidics and directional evolution, which enables us to achieve significant mass production and synthesize a wide range of target substances. And by utilizing the innovative Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library and component library, Tidetron Bioworks has overcome challenges associated with transforming and applying scientific research achievements in an industrial setting. The comprehensive approach covers the entire chain from research and development to production, ensuring efficient and effective implementation. The SUPER-Factory established by Tidetron Bioworks further demonstrates our commitment to maximizing production capacity. With annual production exceeding 10,000 tons, we are focusing on the growing demands of industries while maintaining high-quality standards and meeting environmentally friendly needs. This scalability showcases the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing, enabling large-scale production of valuable substances. We strive to provide integrated solutions for various industries, align with the global shift towards eco-friendly practices, and ensure biomanufacturing processes have a lower environmental impact. Could you share more about the honor of establishing the fastest-growing Agri Food Biotech company in China? A culture of innovation and collaboration lies at the heart of Tidetron Bioworks. By harnessing the immense power of synthetic biology, we have developed groundbreaking solutions that effectively tackle the complex challenges present in several industries in China. This strategic move has allowed us to stand out in the market. Also, through fruitful collaborations with renowned beverage and seasoning companies, we have made great strides in bolstering nutrition and championing public health. The cutting-edge Tidetron Altra—an exclusive platform boasting a vast strain variant library and comprehensive component repository- has empowered us to curate a strain variant library of unparalleled magnitude with millions of possibilities. In addition, guided by iterative improvements, we've proudly secured a portfolio of unique production strains exclusively owned by Tidetron Bioworks. Moreover, Tidetron Bioworks has attracted investment and secured funding from renowned venture capital firms and strategic partners alongside our successful business operations. This financial support has given us the necessary resources to scale operations, intensify research and development efforts, and expand production capabilities. It has also allowed us to attract top-tier talent, assembling a formidable team of exceptional scientists, engineers, and industry professionals. The unwavering commitment to sustainability has been pivotal in our success story. With the increasing global demand for eco-friendly and sustainable solutions, Tidetron Bioworks' emphasis on green mass production and environmentally conscious practices has deeply resonated with customers and industry stakeholders. This intense dedication to sustainability has fueled business growth and positioned us as a responsible and socially aware organization. What are the company's strategies for maximizing production efficiency and capacity over the long term? The first strategy is focused on New Services for R&D and Mass Production Integration. By integrating production and research systems, Tidetron is leveraging the Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library to facilitate collaboration and resource sharing. It enables us to reserve valuable data and resources and offer customized solutions across various stages, from material engineering to mass production applications. Additionally, Tidetron actively supports joint patent applications with different sectors, fostering innovation and breakthroughs in the application of synthetic biotechnology through collaborative research and development efforts. The second strategy centers around Intelligent Fermentation, which enables Green Mass Production. Tidetron Bioworks has perfected materials using a customized intelligent fermentation system to ferment and mass-produce the optimal strains rapidly. After meticulous separation and purification, the company achieves high-purity, highly active, and stable quality target materials. It is worth noting that Tidetron's factory boasts an annual production capacity exceeding 10,000 tons while with a low cost of energy consumption, pollution, and carbon emissions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1019/evonik-strengthens-competitiveness-of-its-animal-nutrition-business.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1019/evonik-strengthens-competitiveness-of-its-animal-nutrition-business.html Mon, 05 Jun 2023 14:57:00 +0530 "Investment in global hubs to improve supply security, cost position and sustainability profile with Annual cost savings of €200 million from 2025 onwards", explains Johann-Caspar Gammelin, President of Evonik's Nutrition & Care division.  At Evonik we are transforming the operating model of its Animal Nutrition business to further increase its customer focus, ensure competitiveness and enable further profitable growth. Moving forward, the amino acids business and the specialty nutrition business will operate separately and according to different models - in line with their respective requirements and market conditions. Additionally, Evonik is optimizing the production setup for the manufacture of MetAMINO® (DL-methionine) at its three world-scale production hubs and improving the ecological footprint. These measures to adjust operating models and optimize production will result in an annual cost savings of €200 million with initial savings being realized in the current fiscal year. The full amount will be reached in the 2025 fiscal year. This will also include a reduction of around 200 jobs worldwide. The exact details are still being determined. We are systematically implementing a plan that will develop our Animal Nutrition business, so it continues to grow and succeed in our markets. The strengthened competitiveness of Animal Nutrition will secure its role as strong and important cash generator for Evonik. Animal Nutrition will be run in two distinct operating models: one for its amino acids and one for its specialty nutrition business. The market environment for amino acids is characterized by unchanged strong growth and an attractive sustainability profile but it is also challenged by rising raw material and energy costs. By streamlining the amino acids business organization, Evonik is targeting a streamlined operating model focused on efficiency and cost-leadership. This go-to-market approach will be characterized by a lean sales organization with strong digital competence and processes to benefit the customer. The specialty nutrition business with functional feed additives and digital tools will be developed into a business with system solutions and specialties for poultry, swine and ruminants. By transforming our operating models and by executing our global asset strategy at our three world-scale MetAMINO® production hubs, we will secure our competitiveness in the short term and our leading position in animal nutrition and animal health solutions in the long term. In the amino acids business, Evonik’s investments are focused on optimizing the production setup for the manufacture of MetAMINO® and improving the ecological footprint at its three production hubs on three continents. In the United States, a new plant for the production of MetAMINO® precursor, methyl mercaptan, is currently being built at the methionine hub in Mobile, Alabama. This will further strengthen Evonik’s ability to offer reliable and cost-optimized supply. Additionally, it will reduce the carbon footprint of MetAMINO® from the site by approximately seven percent. In Singapore, Evonik is investing in process optimization. This will result in an improved cost position and an annual capacity expansion of 40,000 metric tons – leading to a total of close to 340,000 metric tons per year. It will also lead to a six-percent reduction of the site’s methionine production carbon footprint. Additionally, in 2022, Evonik further developed and expanded the production facility for MMP (methylmercapto-propionaldehyde) in Wesseling, Germany, reinforcing the European methionine hub in Antwerp, Belgium ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1011/strategic-deal-on-high-quality-development-of-the-salmon-and-trout-industry-begins-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/1011/strategic-deal-on-high-quality-development-of-the-salmon-and-trout-industry-begins-in-china.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:30:00 +0530 Heilongjiang Institute and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. jointly signed a salmon and trout strategic cooperation agreement China's Heilongjiang Institute and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement on May 27 on salmon and trout. In Qingdao Haitian Center, an exclusive forum on the development of large-scale farming ships of high quality was held. The "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement for the High-quality Development of the Salmon and Trout Industry" deal is singed by Wang Yumei and Zhao Yu on behalf of Heilongjiang Institute of the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. Leaders from Shandong Province and Qingdao City attended the ceremony, including Wang Xiaohu, President of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wang Jianhui, Chairman of Qingdao Guoxin Group, Zhao Yu, General Manager, Wang Yumei, Secretary of Heilongjiang Institute's Party Committee, and Wang Bingqian, Director of the Research Office of Aquatic Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology. Salmon genetics and breeding innovation team of the Heilongjiang Institute providing Guosen Group with all-round support for the cultivation of new species of sea-suitable salmon, seed supply and breeding technology. Wang Yumei said that the Heilongjiang Institute will rely on the content of the strategic framework agreement, give full play to its own cold-water fish research and talent advantages, and cooperate with Qingdao Guoxin to carry out deep-sea aquaculture research on high-economic-value salmon and trout, and jointly promote the entire chain of China's salmon and trout industry. construction and high-quality development. Zhao Yu, said, "Guoxin Group's 2.0 series of breeding workboats will start construction one after another in 2023, and the demonstration fleet of breeding workboats has begun to take shape". Guoxin Group, the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences and Heilongjiang Institute hold a long-term partnership and multual support to Blue Silicon Valley of China. Blue Silicon Valley and the Heilongjiang Institute of the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences will jointly explore and create a comprehensive mass production of salmon and trout in the deep sea mode, and jointly promote the industrialization process of salmon and trout in the deep sea and the high-quality development of the marine fishery economy. At the signing ceremony, theme activities were conducted in honor of the first 100,000-ton smart fishery large-scale farming ship in the world "Guoxin No. 1" and "Guoxin No. 2-1" and "Guoxin No. 2-2" construction activities of Guoxin's new generation of standardized breeding ships. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/992/yili-opens-a-new-lactoferrin-factory-in-new-zealand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/992/yili-opens-a-new-lactoferrin-factory-in-new-zealand.html Tue, 30 May 2023 10:30:00 +0530 Chinese dairy giant Yili subsidiary Westland Milk Products lays foundation for the new factory in Hokitika to establish itself as the world's valued bioactive ingredients producer. On May 23, Yili subsidiary Westland Milk Products held a ceremony for the construction of its NZ$70 million ($42.58 million) lactoferrin factory in Hokitika, New Zealand. The investment will enable Yili to rank among the top three global companies in the lactoferrin category with a market share of approximately 10 percent.  The ceremony was attended by New Zealand Minister for Trade, Exports and Agriculture and Tasmania West Coast MP Damien O'Connor; the Director General of the Department of Primary Industry, Ray Smith ; the Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiao Long ; and Chinese Consul General in Christchurch , He Ying. Lactoferrin is a versatile natural protein, that offers immune system benefits as well as antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Its widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries on global markets. The company has invested significant resources in research and development to address the challenges of lactoferrin extraction. In order to improve the quality of protein components and increase extraction efficiency, Yili developed its own alignable lactoferrin extraction technology. As part of its long-term strategic plan, Yili has worked to overcome key technological barriers, increase the company's global reach, and improve its long-term profitability. Yili Westland's director, Zhiqiang Li emphasized on the significance of the global market advantage that both Westland and Yili would gain from Yili's investment in the new lactoferrin factory. "The launch of the Lactoferrin program will secure Westland's position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of valued bioactive ingredients. The investment also signals Yili's commitment to high-quality bioactive ingredients takes over milk ingredients" said Director Zhiqiang Li. "We were one of the first companies to bring this highly specialized protein ingredient to market, and over the past 20 years we've built a reputation for producing exceptional products. Our pipeline of innovation in bioactive ingredients is extensively progressed and we are pleased that we are one step closer to commercializing these concepts" said Richard Wyeth , CEO of Westland. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/993/tecnicas-reunidas-to-develop-worlds-first-zero-emission-nitrogen-fertiliser-plant.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/993/tecnicas-reunidas-to-develop-worlds-first-zero-emission-nitrogen-fertiliser-plant.html Mon, 29 May 2023 09:46:57 +0530 New plant to establish in USA with approx. $1 billion investment using proprietary technology that utilizes only air, water, and zero-carbon electricity as raw materials. Técnicas Reunidas has signed a contract with the green fertilizer company, Atlas Agro, for the development of a zero-carbon fertilizer plant, Pacific Green Fertilizer (PGF), in Richland, Washington, US. The plant will be the first of a series that Atlas Agro plans to build in multiple regions across the world. The estimated total investment is close to $1 billion. The nitrogen fertilizer plant will use proprietary technology for the main process units and will be one of the world’s first full scale zero-carbon nitrogen plant, using only air, water and zero-carbon electricity as raw materials.  Técnicas Reunidas will start the execution of the plant through an EPC contract. It will have the capacity to produce 650 000 tpy of calcium ammonium nitrate and will be composed of the following main units: ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, electrolyzers and air separation. Atlas Agro is building a series of plants to provide the farmers with truly sustainable zero-carbon nitrogen fertilizer, made locally. Atlas Agro’s fertilizers not only improve crop yield and quality and help farmers care for their land and reduce their environmental impact, but also earns farmers premiums for their crops thereby increasing their incomes.  The Spanish company Técnicas Reunidas dominates in the sector internationally, with a presence in 25 countries and a track record of more than 1,000 industrial plants throughout its 60 years of experience. Técnicas Reunidas’ is mainly focused on the development of engineering projects, design and construction of industrial plants for the production of clean fuels, natural gas and chemical products, and solutions linked to the energy transition, circular economy and decarbonization (renewable hydrogen, biofuels, waste recovery, CO2 capture and storage, etc.). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/985/new-global-fertilizer-and-biostimulant-plant-to-be-built-by-yara.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/985/new-global-fertilizer-and-biostimulant-plant-to-be-built-by-yara.html Thu, 25 May 2023 12:48:12 +0530 The new facility is scheduled to be operational by late 2025 in UK, expanding the specialty crop nutrition business with foliar fertilizers and biostimulants production. Yara International is set to build its new global production plant for specialty crop nutrition products and biostimulants intended to increase yields and improve quality. The plant will be one of the largest in the world for these products, which are crucial for achieving food security and combating climate change. The new plant will enable Yara to increase its footprint in this specialty crop nutrition business, one of the fastest-growing agriculture markets. The specialty crop nutrition products are formulated to meet crops' specific needs throughout the growing season and increase their resilience to climate change. While the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, YaraVita aims to double its production capacity and further increase its capacity if needed. To facilitate this, the new plant will be built close to the company’s existing site in Yorkshire, UK. The plant will export almost all of its output to global markets. “Our specialty crop nutrition products help farmers increase yields and quality without increasing land use. That not only benefits farmers but also helpful for the planet,” says Mónica Andrés Enríquez, Executive Vice President for Europe at Yara International. The special nutrients provided by foliar fertilizers (applied directly to the leaf or fruit) are equally important for crop growth and quality as the traditional mineral fertilizers applied directly to the soil. Biostimulants eventually help the plants adapt better to climate change and improve nutrient use efficiency. The global specialty fertilizers market is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% between 2022 and 2027, according to MarketsandMarkets. The CAGR for biostimulants is growing at an even higher rate – more than 12% – DunhamTrimmer estimates, referring to the period from 2018 to 2030. “If one nutrient is lacking or under stress, crop growth, yield and quality can be reduced. Specialty crop nutrition products are complementary to traditional mineral fertilizers and are crucial for achieving balanced crop nutrition. Just in micro quantity usage, they ensure a lower carbon footprint for food production by increasing yield per unit of land,” says Rejane Souza, Senior Vice President of Global Innovation at Yara International. Yara is a global leader in specialty crop nutrition products and one of Europe's largest producers. By combining crop nutrition solutions with agronomic advice and digital tools, Yara offers a comprehensive range of crop nutrition solutions. With its agronomic expertise in foliar nutrients, biostimulants and soils spaning more than 50 years Yara also records 100 years of agronomic knowledge in crops and soils. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/976/australias-agt-introduces-two-new-lupin-varieties-for-the-2024-season.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/976/australias-agt-introduces-two-new-lupin-varieties-for-the-2024-season.html Wed, 24 May 2023 10:10:17 +0530 The two newly developed lupin varieties will demonstrate a leap forward for lupin growers AGT has accelerated yield improvement by applying cutting edge DNA-based genomic selection at a level beyond any legume breeding in Australia in order to accelerate yield improvement. Lupin breeding at AGT keeps pace with wheat and barley breeding using advanced statistics and robotics. The two newly developed lupin varieties will demonstrate a leap forward for lupin growers - offering wide adaptation, high and stable yields, low risk of pod shatter and seed splitting, metribuzin tolerance, and improved stem Phomopsis resistance.” The two new varieties each bring an exciting balance of traits to lupin growers. The two new Lupin varieties will be named and released in spring 2023. Lupins play a significant role in supplying cropping systems with nitrogen and are well adapted to the sandy soils found in the Western Australian wheatbelt. WA accounts for more than 80% of lupin exports and is the world's leading producer and exporter of lupins, so these variety releases are incredibly important for the farmers of Western Australia. “We have been working hard on improving the lupin germplasm that we received from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in 2016.” AGT CEO and Head of Breeding, Haydn Kuchel said. “Plant breeding can be a slow process, but since we took over the Lupin breeding mantle. While using advanced genomics and breeding techniques, this year we took it a step further, fast-tracking the seed production of two distinct Lupin varieties over summer in southern WA. We plan on growing four generations of Lupins in just two years to make sure that WA growers have the best lupin varieties in their paddocks as soon as possible. “AGT has always been committed to developing varieties that deliver greater returns to growers. These two new varieties, tested as AGTP0013 and AGTP0054, are exciting alternatives to what is currently available to lupin growers.” In trials, AGTP0013 has shown itself best suited to northern and central WA and has slightly quicker maturity than PBA Jurien while AGTP0054 displays an advantage in southern growing regions of WA, being slightly slower maturing than PBA Jurien. Both have market leading yield potential and improved CMV resistance and stem Phomopsis resistance over PBA Jurien and Coyote respectively. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/972/indonesian-fertilizer-giant-pupuk-kaltim-timur-pkt-to-invest-4b-on-expansion.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/972/indonesian-fertilizer-giant-pupuk-kaltim-timur-pkt-to-invest-4b-on-expansion.html Tue, 23 May 2023 09:27:00 +0530 Enters a multiorganisational partnership over a joint study on green ammonia production aimed at building a facility that can produce 1 million tones of green ammonia annually Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (PKT), the fertilizer giant with five Ammonia plant units and five Urea plant units in Indonesia has entered into a multiorganizational partnership on a research project investigating green ammonia production. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PKT marks a significant milestone in efforts to achieve carbon-free ammonia production. PKT has collaborated with Copenhagen Atomics, Topsoe, Alfa Laval, Aalborg CSP, and Pertamina New & Renewable Energy to study green ammonia production by signing the MOU in Copenhagen, Denmark.The joint study will focus on building a facility that can produce 1 million tonnes of green ammonia per year, with an estimated investment of $4 billion.Green ammonia production involves the use of 100% renewable and carbon-free processes to manufacture ammonia. With the use of green hydrogen generated via water electrolysis, ammonia is produced without harmful carbon emissions. This breakthrough technology promises to transform ammonia production, ushering in a new era of sustainability and eco-friendliness. The study aims to overcome the challenge of energy intensity in producing green ammonia. Conventionally, the separation of ammonia from its reactants involves significant temperature and pressure fluctuations that rely on the use of fossil fuel energy. However, the study seeks to ascertain whether the use of Thorium-based nuclear technology can enable the production of ammonia without the use of hydrocarbon raw materials while remaining competitive in price.In line with its commitment to sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, PKT aims to replace all grey ammonia products produced using hydrocarbon raw materials with green ammonia, creating a more sustainable future for all. The President Director of PKT, Rahmad Pribadi stated that: "PKT views the joint study as an essential step towards achieving our sustainability goals. We are honoured to work with industry leaders to promote sustainable practices and contribute to a greener planet. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in our focus on innovation to revolutionise the agricultural sector. As consumers increasingly prefer sustainable and eco-friendly products, PKT is proud to be at the forefront of this movement." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/958/japanese-dairy-giant-megmilk-forms-jv-with-agrocorp-to-build-pea-protein-facility-in-malaysia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/958/japanese-dairy-giant-megmilk-forms-jv-with-agrocorp-to-build-pea-protein-facility-in-malaysia.html Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:00 +0530 The companies will invest $21 million in the joint venture. Megmilk Snow Brand Co, one of the largest dairies in Japan, has established association with Singapore-based Agrocorp International, one of the world’s leading pulse traders, to form a joint venture (JV) to manufacture and market plant-based ingredients. The partnership aims to respond to the growing demand for plant-based foods. The companies will invest $21 million in the joint venture. Agrocorp is contributing 51% and Megmilk 49% to build a factory in Malaysia producing pea protein, pea starch and pea fiber for plant-based beverages, meats, and cheese. The factory is expected to commence production in late 2025. Agrocorp has already opened its first facility in Canada's Saskatchewan province. Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd. and Agrocorp International Pte Ltd will leverage their individual strengths to manufacture and sell raw materials for plant-based food processing. In its Medium-Term Management Plan 2025, Megmilk Snow Brand Group specifically identified the plant-based food business as one of its key growth areas. Vishal Vijay director of strategic investments, Agrocorp International said "This joint venture seeks to leverage the strengths of both companies and will see the setting up of a factory in malaysia to manufacture soy-free plant protein products like pea protein, pea starch and pea fibre.  Pea protein can be used in a variety of plant-based food applications in plant-based beverages, plant-based meats, as well as in plant-based cheese, such as the  vegan cheeses by our downstream brand HerbYvore Foods". Agrocorp, an international agribusiness company based in Singapore, is a plant protein extractor. The joint venture to be established in Singapore will establish a manufacturing subsidiary (100% investment) in Malaysia. Plant-based protein pea protein still lags behind soy when it comes to production capacity, but production capacity has been increasing rapidly in recent years, with PURIS opening a large plant in Dawson, Minnesota; Ingredion opening a facility in Nebraska; ADM opening a plant in North Dakota; Cosucra expanding production in Belgium and Denmark; and several Chinese manufacturers expanding production capacity. Legumes like peas are plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation, containing symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within nodules in their root systems, producing nitrogen compounds. Nitrogen is a major component of protein and a required nutrient for plants. Peas, or other legumes, in the crop rotation usually lead to lower needs for mineral and organic nitrogen fertilisers, which contribute to 25% of the total direct greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture in the EU, explains Agrocorp International. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/956/philippines-invest-p65-3-b-in-agri-fisheries-with-4-new-projects-introduction.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/956/philippines-invest-p65-3-b-in-agri-fisheries-with-4-new-projects-introduction.html Thu, 18 May 2023 11:26:25 +0530 APA, FishCoRe, PRDP and MIADP are the four priority projects securing the grants. Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced an investment of P65.3 B (nearly $12 Billion USD) in agri-fisheries with the launch of 4 upcoming projects in agri-fisheries. Arnel De Mesa, the DA's Assistant Secretary for Operations, presented four new major projects at the event to demonstrate the agency's commitment to transforming agriculture and fishing. In partnership with international funding institutions such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization, the recently approved projects include: Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) With a project cost of P2.3 billion, the APA aims at increasing the resilience of agri stakeholders in areas vulnerable to climate change particularly in the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions. Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project (FishCoRe) The FishCoRe targets to improve management of fishery resources and enhance the value of fisheries production in select Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) covering 24 provinces with P11.422 project cost. Scaled-up Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) The Scale-up PRDP will expand its coverage in 82 provinces nationwide with a total project cost of P45.012 billion to improve the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s access to markets and increase their incomes from agri-fishery value chains. Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) The MIADP will focus on 26 ancestral domains in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and BARMM to sustainably increase their agricultural productivity, resiliency, and access to markets and services with a project cost of P6.625 billion. At the annual National Farmers' and Fisherfolk's Month (NFFM) celebration on May 15, 2023, the DA also honored the farmers and fisherfolk and their valuable contribution to food security and economic development. Senior Undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture (DA), Domingo Panganiban said, "Expanding investments in food production will create jobs and promote progress in the sector". ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/947/danish-innovation-to-convert-shrimp-and-fish-farming-derivatives-into-edible-seaweed.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/947/danish-innovation-to-convert-shrimp-and-fish-farming-derivatives-into-edible-seaweed.html Wed, 17 May 2023 07:50:00 +0530 Nutrients and CO2 from land-based aquaculture to be converted to a green protein and valuable high-fiber seaweed species The University of Copenhagen has launched an innovative project co-funding by Innovation Fund Denmark, which has developed a sustainable method to produce fish, shrimp, and seaweed together. Instead of polluting the sea and contributing to global warming, nutrients and CO2 from land-based shrimp and fish farming will be used to produce sea lettuce – a green protein and valuable high-fiber seaweed species – for human consumption. An innovative project called SeaFree, has been launched at the University of Copenhagen in association with Aarhus University and a range of companies who will collaboratively develop a closed, sustainable cycle on land that utilizes residual nutrients and CO2 from shrimp and fish farming to grow high-value seaweed for the food and healthcare industries. The project is expected to reap results in 4 years. "The project aims to use seaweed production to absorb and convert emissions from land-based aquaculture into a high-value product. Among other things, the seaweed will be used for dietary supplements that can prevent diabetes and sustainable foodstuffs innovations. In addition to capturing emissions that would have otherwise been emitted into the atmosphere and aquatic environment, the seaweed produced is both healthy and rich in umami flavour," says Professor Marianne Thomsen from the Department of Food Science at the University of Copenhagen. The project, funded by Innovation Fund Denmark with DKK 14.4 million (€1.9m), is being carried out in a collaboration among the companies Pure Algae, DryingMate, Food Diagnostics, Sigrid Therapeutics, XOventure GmbH/Rigi Care, KOST, SOF Odden Caviar and HanseGarnelen. The project’s starting point is a 40ft container setup equipped with eight one-thousand-liter tanks. The container solution is a so-called Plug’n’Play technology with great export potential. By combining salt water, CO2 and nutrients with LED lights, the unit can produce a full batch of seaweed in just one week, resulting in an extremely short harvest period. "SeaFree represents the latest in recycling technology for land-based shrimp and fish farming. Besides capturing emissions, the system also recirculates surplus heat from the plants to the Plug'n'Play technology. The project includes the development of a new technology that makes it possible to use surplus heat to dry the seaweed which is then sold to the healthcare industry. In this way, SeaFree contributes to a more sustainable and efficient production process," says Marianne Thomsen.   The final product consists of climate-friendly fish, shrimp and sea lettuce – a healthy, fiber and protein-rich seaweed species. In addition to the production of various dietary supplements, sea lettuce is also used as an edible accompaniment when people buy seafood. According to Thomsen, there is huge potential in farming fish and seaweed in the manner envisioned by SeaFree. If all of the world's land-based shrimp and fish farms implemented the method, it could significantly reduce the CO2 footprint of global food systems. "As such, the combination of aquaculture and seaweed cultivation in closed systems may well develop into a new Danish export market. On a global level, it will be possible to implement the technology, marketed as "SeaFree Synergy Solutions", anywhere in the world. As for the technology’s environmental benefits, they are unequivocal. We are already in contact with South Korea, which is very interested in the technology and the project’s development," adds Marianne Thomsen. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/950/agstack-initiates-global-scientific-alliance-devoted-to-in-field-carbon-accounting-in-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/950/agstack-initiates-global-scientific-alliance-devoted-to-in-field-carbon-accounting-in-agriculture.html Wed, 17 May 2023 01:40:56 +0530 A digital open-source field-carbon-model uses remote in-field sensers for carbon measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) The AgStack Foundation, a Linux Foundation project that aims to increase the efficiency of food and agriculture innovation through scalable, reusable open-source digital infrastructure, recently launched a sub-project to develop an open-source, global-scale digital/remote sensing model for monitoring carbon levels in agriculture and forestry. With global warming and climate change prevailing, it has become increasingly imperative to take action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. One strategy that has gained momentum is using agriculture and forestry land for carbon sequestration – the process of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in ground reservoirs. While public-private stakeholders have been developing incentive structures to encourage participation through carbon credit markets, the current measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) process is manual, expensive, and becomes economical only for large growers and projects. Making a sustainable global impact requires an MRV process that provides transparency and scales efficiently to enable participation from stakeholders of all sizes economically viable.  AgStack's subproject will leverage the power of existing digital infrastructure such as the geo-id asset registry and the open-source community to develop models that enable existing carbon sequestration models such as NASA SMAP to be scaled down so they can be implemented at an individual field level. Participants will be able to use the open-source models and compute parameters such as carbon flux through public or private data sources on their own servers and report back using the geo-id digital infrastructure maintained by AgStack.  Climate change is a global challenge that requires urgent action. Carbon sequestration is a promising strategy to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, AgStack is actively trying to solve the MRV process expense through open source. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/936/wmbt-holdings-triggers-digital-agriculture-revolution-promoting-transparent-investment-opportunities.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/936/wmbt-holdings-triggers-digital-agriculture-revolution-promoting-transparent-investment-opportunities.html Mon, 15 May 2023 10:54:37 +0530 A collaborative effort in Europe region is ensuring supply chain transparency and traceability to assist farmers, investors, and consumers by combining traditional agricultural expertise with digital technology Poland's Sandomierz City Government has collaborated with Swiss based WMBT International Investment Group through its Sad Sandomierski to pioneer a new era of digital agriculture. The collaboration aims to lead the Digital Agriculture Revolution to provide investors with transparent and sustainable investment opportunities in agriculture arena. WMBT Holdings and Poland's Sad Sandomierski have signed a cooperation agreement to list and finance the digital agriculture project on the GDE exchange. The collaborative effort not only ensures supply chain transparency and traceability. Farmers, investors, and consumers looking for environmentally friendly and responsible options will benefit from the digital agriculture project's alignment with sustainable agricultural practices and functional food products. Using digital technology and traditional agriculture expertise, the project democratizes access to agricultural investments and enables investors to actively contribute to sustainable agriculture. As one of the world's largest apple producers, Poland holds a 10% share of the global market due to its favorable climate, fertile soil, and extensive experience in apple farming. Using digital agriculture revolution as a platform, WMBT Holdings and the government of Sandomierz aim to change the apple industry in Poland and set new benchmarks for investment agriculture worldwide. Digital agriculture project aims to digitize 10 million apple trees in Sandomierz and create a digital investment platform. Investors can acquire part of the production of apple trees, including apple wine, apple chips, functional juices, etc., over a 10-year period. By purchasing bundles of digital assets, they will also be able to obtain carbon credits for thousands of hectares of orchards. The packages will be able to link a Polish (EU) citizen's digital identity, providing further benefits and opportunities. Sandomierz city government and WMBT Holdings have worked together to advance digital agriculture. Digital assets can facilitate sustainable development, improve investment transparency, and drive economic growth. Investing in digital agriculture will revolutionize the apple industry in Poland by setting a new standard for agricultural investments worldwide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/935/china-emphasizes-investment-and-development-in-agricultural-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/935/china-emphasizes-investment-and-development-in-agricultural-technology.html Mon, 15 May 2023 09:51:43 +0530 Finds pooling resources for technological innovation, cultivate talent, and coordinate production, education, and research essential China is retrospecting its efforts to boost self-reliance and accelerate breakthroughs in agricultural technology to ensure National food security. In an inspection tour of east China's Jiangsu Province, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said that Agricultural technologies need to meet the diversified demand for development across all agricultural sectors. Liu stressed that technological innovation plays a critical role in agricultural modernization, and the country must take steps to remove bottlenecks in agricultural technology development. According to Liu, the country should pool resources for technological innovation, cultivate talent, and coordinate production, education, and research. The development of agricultural technology must be industry-oriented and help ensure the adequate supply of grain and major farm products, said the vice premier. During his tour, Liu was briefed on the growth of winter wheat and called for solid efforts to secure a bumper summer harvest. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/934/evonik-boosts-probiotic-production-to-enhance-animal-nutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/934/evonik-boosts-probiotic-production-to-enhance-animal-nutrition.html Mon, 15 May 2023 09:39:50 +0530 Aiming stabilization of farm animals’ gut health, company has doubled the capacity for producing the leading probiotic portfolios such as Ecobiol®, Fecinor® and GutCare®. Evonik, the global leader in specialty chemicals, with a dedicated portfolio of animal health nutrition, has modernized and expanded probiotics production at its site in León, Spain. This lays the foundations for further growth in the Gut Health Solutions business for the company. Company has doubled the capacity for producing the leading probiotic portfolios such as Ecobiol®, Fecinor® and GutCare®. The León site can now produce 6,000 metric tons of blended final probiotic product per year. The new facilities and improved processes not only increase production capacity, but also improve sustainability. In 2022, Evonik has invested in state-of-the-art fermentation capacities, a new cooling circuit system and a new warehouse at the site, which became operational recently. Evonik Animal Nutrition has developed an innovative portfolio of Gut Health Solutions based on probiotics for swine, poultry and aquaculture. Its probiotics line – from the fermentation of active microorganisms to the finished feed additive and pre-blends – have been manufactured in León since 2016. The site has been developed and optimized continuously. With a stronger focus on probiotic-based alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters, Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line aims to provide solutions that ensure the well-being and performance of the animal while protecting human health and supplying a growing world population with high-quality animal protein. Probiotics are living microorganisms added to animal feed to maintain or restore the microbial balance in the animals' intestines. “As long as there are enough 'good' bacteria to keep potential pathogens at bay, an animal remains healthy,” explains Torben Madsen, head of Sustainable Healthy Nutrition at Evonik Animal Nutrition. “A stable gut microbiota also strengthens the animal's immune system, helping to prevent disease.” Since January 2023, the site has been exclusively using renewable energy sources for electricity and has significantly reduced energy, fresh water, and raw material usage per product. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/926/vietnam-predicts-pepper-and-spices-exports-to-reach-2-b-by-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/146/926/vietnam-predicts-pepper-and-spices-exports-to-reach-2-b-by-2025.html Thu, 11 May 2023 15:11:43 +0530 Pepper accounted for 69.4%; cinnamon 20.6%; Star Anise 5.1%; nutmeg and mace 2.3%; ginger and turmeric 1.6%; and chili peppers 0.8% in Vietnam's during FY2022 Vietnam's pepper exports have reached $1.1 billion in 2022, and is expected to reach $2 billion according to President of the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) Hoang Thi Lien. President Lien further stated that, pepper and spices export revenue reached $1.4 billion, by referencing to the highest growth rate of this industry in post-COVID periods. In addition, Vietnam has standardized its production process along with boosting Organic production which is greatly expected to influence a improved purchase price in the global market. The total global pepper production in 2023 is estimated to reach 526 thousand tons compared to 537.6 thousand tons in 2022. Vietnamese cinnamon production in 2023 is predicted to increase compared to 2022, reaching around 45,000 tons. Le Viet Anh, Head of Office of Vietnam Pepper Association, anticipates that the pepper season in Vietnam in 2023 is relatively optimistic, with an estimated harvest output of 200,000 tons, up 9.3% compared to last year. Meanwhile, according to the International Pepper Community (IPC), the harvests from other producing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, and India are all expected to decrease in comparison to 2022 yield. Vietnam's pepper and spice industry contributed to a total of over $1.4 billion in export revenue in 2022. In the pepper and spice industry, pepper accounted for 69.4%; cinnamon 20.6%; Star Anise 5.1%; nutmeg and mace 2.3%; ginger and turmeric 1.6%; and chili peppers 0.8%. According to the report of the Vietnam Pepper Association, in Q1/2023, Vietnam exported 76,727 tons of pepper, with export revenue reaching $235.9 million up 40.5% in quantity but down 7.3% in value compared to the same period last year. In addition, cinnamon exports reached 18,685 tons with $54.8 million, up 45.8% in quantity and 13.8% in value. Star Anise exports reached 3,369 tons worthing $21.6 million, up 261.9% in quantity. ]]>