https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/agri-business/%28sme%29%20small%20scale%20industry (sme) small scale industry https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3681/malaysias-upm-promotes-use-of-technology-in-the-agricultural-sector-to-strengthens-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3681/malaysias-upm-promotes-use-of-technology-in-the-agricultural-sector-to-strengthens-food-security.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:29:56 +0530 Training opportunities for farmers to enhance their skills and capacity Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is actively promoting the use of modern technology in the agricultural sector to strengthen national food security. By integrating technology and involving the younger generation, UPM aims to enhance agricultural productivity and improve the quality of produce. The initiative addresses Malaysia's reliance on imported food and the uncertainties caused by global geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the need for domestic food production capabilities to ensure a stable supply. UPM’s vice-chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, highlighted that technology is a critical strategy to increase output, streamline production processes, and reduce operating costs in agriculture. One of UPM’s key approaches is to transform the profile of farmers in Malaysia, which currently consists largely of the older generation. The university seeks to leverage the younger workforce, particularly its graduates, to modernize the agricultural sector. Ahmad Farhan stressed that without the adoption of technology, it would be impossible to lower production costs or improve yields and quality. This focus on technology-driven solutions aligns with UPM’s broader mission to innovate and prepare the agricultural industry for future challenges. The vice-chancellor made these remarks during a media event hosted by UPM, underscoring the institution’s commitment to advancing the sector. In addition to promoting technology, UPM collaborates closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to address pressing issues and boost local food production. This partnership aims to reduce the country’s dependence on food imports by intensifying efforts to enhance domestic agricultural output. The university’s role in this collaboration includes providing expertise and resources to support sustainable and efficient farming practices. By working hand-in-hand with government agencies, UPM is contributing to a more resilient food supply chain that can withstand economic and environmental pressures. Training opportunities for farmers are another critical component of UPM’s strategy. The university offers programs to enhance farmers’ skills and capacity by sharing expertise and introducing new agricultural technologies. These initiatives are designed to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt modern practices, ultimately improving their productivity and efficiency. This focus on capacity-building reflects UPM’s dedication to not only advancing research and innovation but also directly supporting those working on the ground in the agricultural sector. As part of its strategic agenda, UPM is committed to helping Malaysia overcome economic challenges and ensure food security for its people. Through its multifaceted approach—combining technology, collaboration, and training—the university is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of agriculture in the country. These efforts underscore UPM’s role in fostering innovation, supporting local farmers, and contributing to the well-being of the nation by ensuring a stable and sustainable food supply. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3663/kku-gistda-and-mhesi-network-drive-sgi-farm-to-revolutionise-smart-farming-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3663/kku-gistda-and-mhesi-network-drive-sgi-farm-to-revolutionise-smart-farming-in-thailand.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:37:42 +0530 Enhance community products and packaging for sustainability Thailand's Khon Kaen University (KKU), in collaboration with the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) Northeastern Network Operations Unit, conducted a workshop titled “Enhancing Agricultural Production with Modern Technology and Smart Farming through the SGi-Farm Geo-Informatics Innovation Platform.” The event, aimed at systematically upgrading the capabilities of Thai farmers for smart agriculture, was held at the Ban Faek-Non Samran Community Rice Centre Enterprise in Nakhon Ratchasima and the Isan Khiao Organic Rice Community Enterprise in Khon Kaen. Over the two-day event, the focus was on integrating knowledge transfer with hands-on practice. Farmers learned to use geo-informatics technology via the SGi-Farm platform to manage data throughout the entire production chain—from farmer registration, cultivation plots, and field activities to production standards, yields, and final products. This allows for precise cultivation planning, cost reduction, and a tangible increase in production efficiency. A key feature of the project is the application of climate change data from satellites for analysis and forecasting. This enables farmers to make timely decisions regarding water management, planting, and harvesting, leading to more effective control over the quality and quantity of their produce. Dr. Siraprapa Bamrungkit, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Khon Kaen University, stated that in addition to developing the upstream and midstream value chain, the university plays a crucial role in advancing the downstream segment. KKU provides comprehensive support for product and packaging development, from designing brand identity and selecting appropriate materials to creating labels and product information. This support extends to integrating a traceability system via QR codes on packaging to enhance credibility, add value, and strengthen market competitiveness. This initiative not only helps modernise community products to meet consumer demands but also opens up new market opportunities for farmers, enabling them to generate sustainable income. It strengthens the local economy while promoting the Creative Economy, which uses knowledge and innovation as key tools to add value to local resources. The workshop fostered a collaborative and participatory atmosphere, creating a space for genuine knowledge exchange among academics, government agencies, and local farmers. It highlighted Khon Kaen University’s role as a “University for Society,” applying academic knowledge to create tangible, real-world outcomes in partnership with communities. From a sustainability perspective, this project not only increases agricultural productivity but also enhances food security, reduces inequality, and promotes social innovation. It aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), aiming for balanced and sustainable societal growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3615/usda-initiates-a-trade-mission-to-indonesia-aimed-at-boosting-exports-cutting-costs-and-supporting-american-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3615/usda-initiates-a-trade-mission-to-indonesia-aimed-at-boosting-exports-cutting-costs-and-supporting-american-farmers.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:49:17 +0530 The delegation included 41 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and representatives from four state departments of agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg met in Jakarta, Indonesia, to lead an agribusiness trade mission to expand market access and boost U.S. agricultural exports. The delegation includes 41 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and representatives from four state departments of agriculture. “While Indonesia was our 11th largest market in 2024, the opportunities here in the world’s fourth most populous nation cannot be overstated,” said Under Secretary Lindberg. “We are here to showcase the strength and diversity of U.S. food and agricultural products – and to demonstrate how recent commitments from Indonesian officials will translate into new sales that drive dollars back into the pockets of America’s farmers, ranchers and communities. When producers can reach more customers abroad, they can spread costs, operate more efficiently, strengthening their bottom line and making goods more affordable at home.”  Indonesia is an upper-middle-income country with a real GDP of $4.1 trillion, an annual growth rate of 5%, and a large, rapidly expanding middle class, the country offers strong demand for high-quality imported food and agricultural goods. Its young population is also driving a growing interest in innovative and convenient food products, reflecting new opportunities for U.S. exporters. This trade mission is happening at a critical time thanks to the landmark U.S.–Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. This agreement eliminates tariffs on nearly all U.S. agricultural exports and reduces longstanding non‑tariff barriers, unlocking more than $1.6 billion in U.S. agricultural exports and helping to rebalance trade. In 2025, USDA trade missions connected more than 200 U.S. companies with buyers in Hong Kong, Thailand, Peru, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, generating projected 12-month sales of $125 million. Building on that success, USDA will lead missions in 2026 to the Philippines, Türkiye, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3542/csiro-opens-free-program-for-smes-developing-farm-and-food-technology-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3542/csiro-opens-free-program-for-smes-developing-farm-and-food-technology-solutions.html Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:31:08 +0530 Innovate to Grow is helping Australia’s farm and food innovators turn big ideas into real-world impact. Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on Australia’s farm and food innovators to apply for its latest Innovate to Grow program — helping small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) turn big ideas into research-driven solutions. The free, eight-week online program is designed to help SMEs turn early ideas into clear R&D plans, build innovation capability and connect with the right research expertise — empowering them to seize new opportunities and reduce risk. Applications are now open and close by 15 February 2026. Dr Ingrid Appelqvist, Senior Principal Food Material Scientist at CSIRO, said the program comes at a pivotal time for the sector as new digital, biological and advanced manufacturing technologies reshape Australia's food system. "We're seeing rapid transformation across farm and food technology, including advances in areas like AI and process digitisation," Dr Appelqvist said. "SMEs play an important role in this transformation, but many are still navigating how to progress early-stage ideas, reduce risk and access the right expertise. Innovate to Grow gives them the tools, networks and confidence to turn emerging opportunities into well-defined R&D pathways." "From sustainability and waste optimisation to new value-add products and more resilient supply chains, Australian food and agriculture businesses are well-positioned to lead — and programs like this help them get there." Since launching in 2020, CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow has supported more than 750 SMEs across a range of sectors. The program provides participants with expert facilitators, self-paced learning modules and networking opportunities to turn emerging ideas into actionable research plans. One recent participant, Esther Rupenovic, founder of Tasmanian business Jack and Chelo, joined Innovate to Grow in 2024. Her company creates chef-prepared, nutritionally balanced meals for dogs — developed with pet nutritionists and delivered via subscription.  Esther said the program unlocked practical research pathways she hadn’t previously considered, helping her see how science could scale the business. CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Farm and Food Technology is suitable for SMEs developing or supplying solutions in: Agritech and AI Food and beverage manufacturing, packaging and transport Livestock and aquaculture Value-add products Waste optimisation and recycling Energy reduction and circular economy Other emerging farm and food technology applications. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3433/malaysia-assesses-smallholder-inclusion-and-tech-adoption-for-sustainable-palm-oil-transformation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3433/malaysia-assesses-smallholder-inclusion-and-tech-adoption-for-sustainable-palm-oil-transformation.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:33:41 +0530 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) annual conference  explored issues from smallholder financing, ecosystem regeneration to supply chain innovation The Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025) by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) convened global stakeholders to call for stronger adoption of existing technological and scientific tools to strengthen the quality, productivity, and sustainability of the sector. Experts discussed how smarter data, digitalisation, and diligence can unlock the potential of the industry, drive equity for smallholders and strengthen trade resilience amidst legislative, regulatory and geopolitical disruptions. In a moderated conversation with Professor Simon S.C. Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), H.E Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the necessity to respect the balance between environmental issues, social justice, and economic development amidst the challenges of unilateral sustainability expectations in this shifting global landscape. "Even though the world is shaped by regions, trading blocks, and borders, sustainability is universal, and so should standards. Sustainability grows stronger when everyone is included." In her keynote address, Dr. Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, Chairperson of Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Discipline, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, highlighted the role of scientific solutions in advancing the sustainable palm oil sector. "Science has already delivered breakthrough solutions - from DNA testing for seed quality to biomass utilisation in a circular economy - to advance sustainable production. Our greatest challenge today is no longer innovation, it is implementation". A Fellow of the Royal Society, she called for a unified, industry-wide commitment, stating that technology without take-up was costing the palm oil sector in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia as much as USD 6 billion and USD 1 billion respectively in oil palm productivity annually, while increasing smallholder vulnerability. Smallholders spotlight Smallholder inclusion was a central focus of the three-day dialogue. Despite comprising about 40% of the total oil palm plantation area, smallholders remain marginalised from national, regional and global markets. They face mounting challenges, including a slowdown in demand for smallholder credits, cuts to government budgets for development funding, and disrupted trade relationships caused by shifting tariff policies. "Smallholders have done the hard work to show they can produce sustainably, proving their commitment through the pursuit of RSPO Certification," said RSPO CEO, Joseph  D'Cruz. "Yet they are bearing a crushing burden with decreasing support. Their inclusion in the sustainable palm oil supply chain is imperative for transforming the sector." A collective voice from large growers to downstream actors, social and environmental NGOs, assurance and financial actors called for more diverse market incentives for RSPO Certified Independent Smallholders (ISH) to access the physical market. Discussions highlighted practical solutions such as price premiums, access to finance, risk-sharing, and long-term contracts, as potential pathways to support smallholder inclusion at a greater scale. Speaking on behalf of smallholders during the Opening Ceremony, Pedro Seijas Cárdenas, Group Manager of the Peruvian smallholder group, Asociación de Productores Monte Alegre de Neshuya (APROMAN), asserted: "Every credit sold, every hectare certified, and every community strengthened is a reminder that sustainable palm oil is not built in boardrooms, but in the soil, under the sun, in the hands of those who cultivate hope." In 2024 alone, 284,188 Independent Smallholders Credits worth US$6.5 million were bought to directly benefit 116 RSPO Certified ISH groups. Further reinforcing this commitment, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Malaysia's National Association of Smallholders (NASH), Asia School of Business (ASB) and RSPO to facilitate smallholder capacity building and access to international sustainable markets. Certified growth, conservation and evidence-based impact In the last year, RSPO Certification has expanded to São Tomé and Príncipe and Sri Lanka, bringing the total certified oil palm area to 5.1 million hectares across 24 countries. A total of 425,597 hectares (ha) are now conserved under RSPO Certification – an area 17 times the size of Kuala Lumpur and 29,469 ha of riparian reserves are also set aside for protection. D'Cruz remarked, "While certification is a milestone achievement, it is only part of the sustainability journey. The world is moving beyond measuring impact in terms of certificates and certified hectares. We must also show our success in terms of resilient communities, protected forests, and empowered farmers. We are shifting from a badge economy to a world that prioritises measurable outcomes and evidence-based impact." This approach was exemplified through a MoU signed between Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo and RSPO, aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable palm oil awareness in China. RT2025 also honoured members whose work exemplifies sustainable commitments. The RSPO Excellence Awards celebrated outstanding contributions across five categories: PT Dharma Satya Nusantara for Conservation Leadership; Farmers Association Mitra Harapan for the Smallholder Award; Lestari Capital for Innovation; Wild Asia Group Scheme for Communicating for Good; and AAA Oils & Fats for Shared Responsibility. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3417/malaysia-boosts-national-seed-hub-initiatives-to-reduce-seed-imports-by-30-by-2040.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3417/malaysia-boosts-national-seed-hub-initiatives-to-reduce-seed-imports-by-30-by-2040.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:33:45 +0530 Aims to strengthening the competitiveness of the country's agricultural sector through the development and use of quality local seeds: National Seed Council meeting YB Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad bin Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, chaired second meeting of National Seed Council (MBN) 2025 held at MARDI Muadzam Shah, Rompin, Pahang. The meeting brought together various representatives from ministries, government agencies and seed industry experts from the private sector. This council serves as the main platform in strengthening the competitiveness of the country's agricultural sector through the development and use of quality local seeds, with a target of reducing seed imports by 30% by 2040. The establishment of the National Seed Hub is also among the strategic initiatives to strengthen the development of local seeds and breeds, thus ensuring the stability of supply and food security for the country. Among the strategic decisions of this meeting include: • Strengthening the direction of coconut seed development, with a target of achieving a Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) of 100% by 2035, which will be implemented by the Malaysian Department of Agriculture; and • Implementation of domestic production of Golden Pochard fish seeds through collaboration with strategic partners, which will be led by the Malaysian Department of Fisheries to strengthen the country's aquaculture industry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is committed to continuing to strengthen the sustainability of the local seed and breeding industry in an effort to reduce dependence on imports, while increasing the capability and competitiveness of the seed industry in the international market. This seed security agenda not only serves as a catalyst for the development of the country's agro-food industry, but also serves as the foundation for the preservation of national sovereignty and food security. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3404/golden-agri-resources-gar-launches-mtk-seed-to-strengthen-climate-resilience-in-indonesias-palm-oil-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3404/golden-agri-resources-gar-launches-mtk-seed-to-strengthen-climate-resilience-in-indonesias-palm-oil-sector.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:33:07 +0530 GAR’s innovation arm, the SMART Research Institute (SMARTRI), MTK seeds are designed to protect productivity during drought periods Dami Mas, the seed division of leading agribusiness Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), has launched DxP Dami Mas MTK (Moderate Toleran Kekeringan), a major milestone in efforts to build a climate-resilient palm oil industry. MTK is the first oil palm seed to have its superior performance under drought conditions validated and approved for sale by Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture. Developed over more than a decade by GAR’s innovation arm, the SMART Research Institute (SMARTRI), MTK seeds are designed to protect productivity during drought periods, a growing global challenge for palm oil producers. Addressing a US$4.5 Billion Challenge Drought conditions caused by climate change are becoming more frequent, more prolonged, and more extreme, causing lower yields and declining oil quality. For every 100mm of water deficit, where an oil palm’s demand for water exceeds available supply, yield can decline by 8-10%, resulting in income loss for farmers and productivity challenges for downstream processors. SMARTRI models estimate that these drought-related productivity losses cost Indonesia’s palm oil industry over US$4.5 billion on average each year. In high-risk regions such as Lampung, dry conditions can reduce yield by up to 21%. DxP Dami Mas MTK has been bred to address this challenge. In extensive field trials, MTK seeds demonstrated at least 12% higher yields than standard varieties in drought conditions. These performance differences increase as conditions become more extreme. MTK seeds performed over 25% better than standard varieties during prolonged dry periods caused by El Niño in 2015 and the Indian Ocean Dipole in 2018. “Climate change is no longer a distant risk for palm oil producers; it’s a reality they can see in the field and on their balance sheet,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre Caliman, Director of SMARTRI, who has led over a decade of research into the impact of climate conditions on palm productivity. “Commercial approval for the MTK seeds is recognition that there is a science-backed solution that can help to protect productivity and build a climate-resilient palm oil sector.” While many seed varieties demonstrate some degree of resilience in dry conditions, DxP Dami Mas MTK are the first seed varieties to have their performance under water deficit conditions validated through extensive field trials and independently verified by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture’s scientific review panel. Advancing Agricultural Innovation The MTK breeding programme refined the best characteristics from over 1,800 mother palms, analysing the performance of over 40,000 seedlings to identify candidates with the best  performance under artificial drought conditions. SMARTRI scientists implemented High Throughput Phenotypic Screening technology to measure the drought factor index (DFI) for each plant – a set of variables that determine a plant’s performance under water stress. From the 14 seed families selected as candidates for drought tolerance, two seeds – MTK 1 and MTK 2 – were validated as the successful seed varieties following field trials in South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and North Sumatra. A Step Forward for Sustainable Agriculture “We work closely with growers and smallholder farmers to understand their needs,” said Suryanto Bun, CEO of Dami Mas. “These climate-resilient seeds build on our existing higher-yielding and disease-resistant varieties to offer more innovations that can help growers protect their productivity and incomes against climate change.” Dami Mas is now accepting interest from buyers in Indonesia, with the first seeds due to deliver in early 2026. MTK seeds will be progressively made available to more customers as Dami Mas accelerates its breeding programme. Recognising the growing global impact of drought on agriculture, the company also sees applications for palm growers in West Africa, Latin America and India. The launch of DxP Dami Mas MTK supports GAR’s commitment to innovation in sustainable agriculture. By equipping farmers with climate-resilient seeds, the company aims to strengthen food security, protect livelihoods, and contribute to enhancing agricultural productivity. “This seed represents the future of oil palm cultivation,” concluded Dr. Caliman. “By combining scientific research with our agronomy experience, we hope to bring innovation into the hands of farmers to create a more resilient, productive, and sustainable palm oil industry.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3341/nestle-reenforces-trade-relationship-with-thai-coffee-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3341/nestle-reenforces-trade-relationship-with-thai-coffee-industry.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:15:46 +0530 Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. has renewed its partnership with the Thai Coffee Farmers Association through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. renews its commitment to purchasing Thai coffee beans for the 2025/2026 season while promoting Regenerative Agriculture and research to enhance productivity, quality and sustainability for local farmers. Strengthening its long-standing support for Thailand’s coffee-growing communities, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. has renewed its partnership with the Thai Coffee Farmers Association through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainability and improving livelihoods. The agreement covers the purchase of coffee beans from Thai farmers for the 2025/2026 production season and includes initiatives to promote Regenerative Agriculture, improve yields and coffee quality, and protect the environment. Nestlé will also continue its research and development of high-yield coffee plantlets, enabling farmers to increase productivity, income and quality of life. The MoU signing ceremony was honoured by the presence of the Governor of Chumphon Province. Ms Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., said: “For several decades, Nestlé has continuously supported our local coffee farmers. Additionally, Nestlé has consistently been the largest purchaser of locally grown Robusta beans in Thailand. “The signing of this MoU each year reaffirms our commitment to purchasing Robusta coffee beans directly from Thai farmers. Moreover, we encourage farmers to adopt Regenerative Agriculture practices in their coffee plantations through knowledge-sharing programmes and training sessions. This approach not only enhances coffee production in both quantity and quality but also helps restore ecosystems, protect soil and water resources, and strengthen resilience against climate change.” Mr Thianchai Chookittiwiboon, Governor of Chumphon Province, added: “We are very pleased that Nestlé continues to support our coffee farmers through the direct purchase of locally grown beans. Coffee is a key economic crop for Chumphon, and we have great potential to make our cultivation more efficient and responsive to market demand. These efforts will help farmers improve their income and quality of life while boosting the provincial economy. This aligns with our goal to develop Chumphon into a ‘Robusta Metropolis’ recognised both domestically and globally.” Mr Prayoon Songprasert, Chairman of the Thai Coffee Farmers Association, said: “For decades, Chumphon’s coffee farmers have benefited from Nestlé’s support — not only through direct bean purchases but also via training on sustainable cultivation methods. The coffee plantlets developed by Nestlé consistently deliver high yields and quality, helping farmers increase income and living standards. This ongoing partnership motivates farmers to continue their craft with confidence and pride.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3339/a-global-innovative-aims-to-empower-market-gardeners-and-small-scale-growers-with-scalable-regenerative-agriculture-practices.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3339/a-global-innovative-aims-to-empower-market-gardeners-and-small-scale-growers-with-scalable-regenerative-agriculture-practices.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:48:37 +0530 Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and Market Gardener Institute (MGI) Partner to Deliver Regenerative Solutions for Small-Scale Growers Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and Market Gardener Institute (MGI) today announced a new collaboration aimed at providing proven regenerative agriculture practices to market gardeners and small-scale growers around the world. This partnership combines AEA’s industry-leading regenerative products and protocols with MGI’s trusted training programs, creating a powerful alliance to support the next generation of ecological farmers. “I’m thrilled to announce a new collaboration between AEA and the Market Gardener Institute,” said MGI founder Jean-Martin Fortier. “After years of conversations with John Kempf, we both feel our organizations have reached a moment where we must join forces to empower the next generation of small-scale organic growers with cutting-edge knowledge, tools, and science. Together, we’re launching new research trials that will help refine and share regenerative practices for the farms of tomorrow. The future is now.” The two organizations are running field trials focused on optimizing soil health and improving crop quality across a range of market garden systems. These trials are designed to provide real-world insights that directly benefit small-scale growers, helping them implement regenerative practices with confidence and clarity. Both AEA and MGI are committed to lowering the barriers to entry for small- and mid-sized growers looking to adopt science-based, regenerative growing methods. AEA and MGI are co-developing a new line of products specifically tailored to the unique needs of market gardeners. This dedicated product line is available now for pre-sale and will further enhance growers' ability to build soil health, boost crop resilience, and produce high-quality, nutrient-dense food. MGI students will receive exclusive discounts on AEA products, making effective regenerative tools more accessible than ever. “Regional and local food production is absolutely critical for a food-secure future,” said AEA founder John Kempf. “AEA’s regenerative toolkit will be a game-changer for market gardeners and small growers. Together with the Market Gardener Institute, we’ll be able to revolutionize the way market gardeners approach plant nutrition, bringing them pest-resistant crops, and bountiful harvests of nutrient-dense, marketable produce.” At the core of this collaboration is a shared vision: empowering growers with practical tools and education that enhance ecological health while improving productivity and profitability. Together, AEA and MGI are demonstrating what’s possible when agronomic science and hands-on education come together in support of a more resilient food system. This partnership also signals AEA’s commitment to serving farmers at every scale—from large commercial operations to highly diversified market gardens—ensuring that all growers have access to the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in a changing agricultural landscape. This collaboration means more than just new tools—it represents long-term support, trusted education, and a regenerative path forward. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3314/malaysia-and-kazakhstan-strengthen-trade-relations-in-agriculture-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3314/malaysia-and-kazakhstan-strengthen-trade-relations-in-agriculture-food-security.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:39:22 +0530 Leaders review potential collaboration, like opening market access for Malaysian agricultural products to Kazakhstan Malaysia and Kazakhstan have committed to strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, including bilateral trade and research and development (R&D). Kazakhstan’s Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev met with Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and discussed potential cooperation in the agri-food sector and agricultural technology. This included opportunities for joint R&D between the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and research institutions in Kazakhstan. Both parties also saw significant potential in the agricultural production sector through joint investments to address global food security issues. Malaysia and Kazakhstan also expressed their commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation in agriculture, food security, and modern agricultural technology. The visit is expected to explore the opening of market access for Malaysian agricultural products to Kazakhstan, such as composite products based on dairy or eggs as well as durian fruit. According to KPKM, in 2024, the bilateral trade value in the agriculture sector between Malaysia and Kazakhstan reached RM201.42 million. Of this amount, Malaysia’s exports were recorded at RM200.98 million, comprising mainly coffee, cocoa, tea, spices, and manufactured food products. Meanwhile, imports from Kazakhstan to Malaysia included a variety of food products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3293/jica-and-ecom-unite-to-support-small-scale-coffee-farmers-and-stable-coffee-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3293/jica-and-ecom-unite-to-support-small-scale-coffee-farmers-and-stable-coffee-supply-chain.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0530 Contributing to improving livelihoods and building resilient and sustainable supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a loan agreement for up to USD75 million with ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Limited (ECOM), a global integrated supply chain merchant and processor of agricultural commodities , and ECOM Agroindustrial Asia Pte Limited (EAA), one of its group companies. Co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The partnership marks a milestone in JICA’s first exclusive working capital loan, as it represents a significant step in strengthening cooperation with key global agricultural trading companies to support Asia’s agricultural and food supply chain. The JICA loan is designed to strengthen supply chains and improve livelihoods and create employment opportunities for small-scale farmers in the Asia-Pacific region. This is being done by supporting the stable procurement of coffee from over 60,000 smallholder farmers in India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Vietnam. The project supports purchase funds from small-scaled coffee farmers, and consulting services such as coffee certification support, climate change adaptation pilot projects and farming support to female farmers. These services enhance the climate resilience and strengthen gender equality of the region's coffee value chain. India’s coffee industry grew to account for 3% of global production in 2022, placing it 8th worldwide. It provides direct employment to over two million people in India. Additionally, 98% of coffee farmers are small scaled, relying on limited land for cultivation and unstable coffee income, resulting in fragile livelihoods. This loan is aligned with India’s “The Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) mission" to double farmers' incomes, emphasizing the need to improve agricultural productivity in order to increase farmers' income. It also complements Japan’s global development agenda. Specifically, the Apulia G7 Leader’ Communiqué in June 2024 has set as a goal of G7 public-private initiatives to support the global coffee value chain and small-scale farmers in coffee-producing countries. Furthermore, it reflects the former Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio’s commitment, as announced at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, to promote sustainable development through the “Facility for Supporting Agricultural Supply Chain and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE).” This program, with USD 1 billion in funding, aims to address global food security challenges. YASUI Takehiro, Director General, JICA Private Sector Partnership and Finance Department, stated, “We are honoured to launch JICA’s first exclusive working capital loan with the ECOM Group, a global top runner in agricultural trading that builds transparent, sustainable and resilient coffee supply chains all over the world. We hope to expand our financing scheme to support supply chain business like this one from now on. This project is a testament to the strong partnerships we have built with ECOM and ADB. It will strengthen the coffee supply chain and help address critical challenges such as poverty among rural farmers, gender inequality, climate vulnerability, and the need for sustainable economic opportunities in the region.” JICA remains committed to supporting inclusive and sustainable development initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region through strategic partnerships and providing innovative financing solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3270/pepsico-unilever-lead-groundbreaking-collaboration-to-advance-regenerative-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3270/pepsico-unilever-lead-groundbreaking-collaboration-to-advance-regenerative-agriculture.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:05:30 +0530 STEP up for Ag strengthens farmer-facing organizations by providing tools, training, and funding to accelerate adoption of sustainable practices and build resilient supply chains PepsiCo and Unilever have launched Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture (STEP up for Ag), a pre-competitive initiative designed to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of farmer-facing support organizations across North America.     "PepsiCo is rooted in agriculture, and farmers are at the heart of our food systems. STEP up for Ag is about investing in the organizations that support farmers every day, aiming to ensure they can grow, innovate and lead the transition to more sustainable agriculture," Chief Sustainability Officer, Jim Andrews said. "When farmers thrive, we all thrive." Empowering Farmer Support Organizations Regenerative agriculture can be a powerful tool to promote healthier soil, as well as to reduce agricultural emissions, enhance biodiversity and watershed health, and help raise the standard of living for farmers and farming communities. It's why PepsiCo— which sources approximately 50 key agricultural crops and ingredients from more than 60 countries around the world— has a goal to drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres by 2030. Scaling regenerative agriculture requires more than just technical solutions—it depends on trusted relationships and local expertise. Farmers are more likely to adopt new practices when they see clear benefits and receive guidance from organizations they know and trust. That's why farmer-led, farmer-facing support groups are critical to the success of corporate regenerative agriculture programs. "The PepsiCo program has given me the flexibility to try a lot of the regenerative practices I have wanted to implement, and across more acres. When we decided to do this regenerative agriculture thing, we wanted to be playing the long game. Something that will benefit our soil, that will benefit me if I am farming in my fifties and sixties. Or my kids if they are farming after me," Chris Beaudry, 4th Generation farmer in St. Front, Saskatchewan and South East Research Farm member, said. "When you, as a farmer, start looking at your soil having an interdependent relationship with you, then you can start making decisions that benefit you, benefit the crop and benefit us as humans as well." STEP Up for Agriculture seeks to strengthen these local organizations by equipping them with tools, training, and resources needed to support farmers on the ground. This approach is designed to unlock scale by meeting farmers where they are, with the aim of accelerating adoption across diverse geographies and creating a ripple effect of trust and innovation throughout the supply chain. "Regenerative agriculture is a big part of how we're building a stronger, more resilient supply chain and food system – and Unilever is committed to rolling out regenerative agriculture principles across 1 million hectares globally by 2030," said Kristina Friedman, Head of Sustainability for Unilever North America. "STEP up for Ag can help us move faster and smarter, empowering farmer-led groups with the tools they need and opening doors to more great suppliers to grow our business. Our longstanding work with Practical Farmers of Iowa has been game-changing, and this next chapter is a huge step forward." Through STEP up for Ag, corporate and philanthropic partners will provide funding and strategic support to help farmer support organizations: Develop robust business and strategic plans to boost profitability and local economies Expand staffing and training to better equip farmers with the tools of the future Establish measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to track sustainable progress against goals Enhance implementation capabilities to support scalability Access new revenue streams and partnerships to grow support for farmers over time "Farmers learning about new conservation practices requires an ecosystem of learning. First, each of us must understand 'why' it's important. Second is learning --- available information is now so easy to obtain. But the essential third and most valuable part of our ecosystem is the ability to have a real farmer, an experienced mentor, stand side by side and help," Jim Moseley, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary (2001-2005), farmer and board member of FarmAdvisor said. "Investing in and supporting these relationships is important because those who have already adopted new conservation practices understand the consequences for the future of our productive US soils, our water quality, and a diverse biological community if we don't." Transitioning more farms to regenerative agriculture requires deep collaboration—no single company or organization can do it alone. By working together across sectors, STEP up for Ag is building a shared ecosystem of support that empowers farmers and drives lasting change at scale. Farmer Facing Support Partners: Phase I will include South East Research Farm (SERF), supporting farmers throughout the Canadian Prairies, and Practical Farmers of Iowa, supporting farmers across western Canada and the US, and Farm Advisor, a farmer-led, Indiana-based initiative that pairs experienced conservation farmers with peers to accelerate the adoption of soil health practices through mentorship, education, and on-farm support. "From the beginning, Practical Farmers of Iowa has aimed to cut through the noise with clear, science-based information and a farmer-to-farmer network grounded in trust. Over a decade ago, we saw that farmers were ready to adopt practices like cover cropping—and we needed to scale up to support them. Having all these major names invest in our capacity came at a pivotal moment," Sarah Carlson, Senior Programs and Member Engagement Director, Practical Farmers of Iowa, said.   Over the next two years, STEP up for Ag will aim to facilitate peer learning, host annual in-person workshops and develop shared tools and resources to scale impact. Through this partnership—and with the potential future involvement of additional major organizations—this growing network aims to help drive meaningful, long-term progress toward a more sustainable agricultural future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3254/cambodia-and-philippines-discuss-strengthening-bilateral-trade-and-food-supply-resilience.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3254/cambodia-and-philippines-discuss-strengthening-bilateral-trade-and-food-supply-resilience.html Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:19:44 +0530 Signs MoU to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, ensure mutual food security, and promote sustainable trade The Philippines and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening agricultural cooperation during a bilateral meeting between Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Dith Tina. The meeting, held during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Cambodia, focused on enhancing agricultural trade, food security, and market access for farm products. Minister Dith expressed optimism about the growing demand for Cambodian agricultural exports in the Philippines, particularly premium aromatic rice, which is increasingly sought after in urban areas like Manila. Secretary Tiu Laurel, in turn, highlighted the potential of Cambodian products such as rice, fish, meat, and vegetables to meet the needs of the Philippines’ expanding population. He noted that the Philippines is preparing to welcome more Cambodian agricultural goods, a move that will bolster bilateral trade and improve food supply resilience. “This bilateral meeting is a step forward to flesh out the agreement signed earlier this year by the Philippines and Cambodia on agricultural trade, cooperation, and knowledge transfer,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. The talks emphasized the importance of mutual food security and sustainable trade between the two nations. The meeting builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation signed in February during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s state visit to Manila. The agreement aims to boost investments in Cambodia’s agriculture sector, particularly in rice production, and explore trade opportunities in vegetables and meat while facilitating technical exchange and training. As part of their ongoing collaboration, Secretary Tiu Laurel and Minister Dith visited the Khmer Food Group and the Tram Bok Modern Agricultural Community to observe best practices in vegetable farming and agri-innovation. These visits underscored the shared goal of enhancing agricultural productivity and fostering knowledge exchange between the two countries. The bilateral meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to advancing agricultural cooperation, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable trade. This partnership is seen as a significant step in strengthening the agricultural ties between the Philippines and Cambodia, paving the way for greater collaboration in the future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3244/indonesia-promotes-biochar-as-a-solution-to-agricultural-land-degradation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3244/indonesia-promotes-biochar-as-a-solution-to-agricultural-land-degradation.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:33:23 +0530 Restoring damaged agricultural land and ensuring long-term soil sustainability The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is urging the widespread adoption of biochar technology as a strategic solution to combat the country’s worsening agricultural land degradation crisis. Devi Erna Rachmawati, Vice Chair of Kadin Indonesia for Agriculture, emphasized that biochar is essential for restoring damaged agricultural land and ensuring long-term soil sustainability. "Right now, Indonesia is in urgent need of biochar technology. More than 60% of our agricultural land is degraded and no longer healthy. Biochar offers a practical solution, and the raw materials are abundant across Indonesia," Devi said during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled "Biochar for Soil Improvement: Sustainable Innovation to Build the Future of Agriculture", held at Kadin Tower, Jakarta recently. The discussion highlighted three main themes: The role of biochar as a future-oriented agricultural technology; The application of microbial and humus-based soil treatments; The implementation prospects and challenges of biochar usage in Indonesia. Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich form of charcoal produced through the pyrolysis of organic materials such as wood, straw, or leaves. It is known to improve soil fertility by enhancing its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Additionally, biochar helps sequester carbon in the soil, significantly contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Kadin plans to formally recommend the adoption of biochar to key government stakeholders. “We will send a recommendation letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, the House of Representatives (DPR), and other relevant policymakers. Biochar cannot work in isolation; it requires synergy with fertilizers and microbial technology to successfully restore degraded land,” Devi explained. She iterated that, Indonesia must urgently address land degradation to achieve its food security goals. Restoring the soil is the top priority, as improved land productivity will drive economic benefits, particularly for farmers. To support this agenda, Kadin Indonesia has established a research and development site in Lebak, Banten, spanning 180 hectares. The facility is open for collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and private sector stakeholders. Echoing Devi's remarks, Dedi Nursyamsi, Senior Expert at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the crucial role of biochar in promoting productive and sustainable farming. According to research, biochar can enhance soil productivity, rehabilitate contaminated land, and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. "Biochar is a game-changer. It serves as a habitat for beneficial microbes, improves soil aeration, water retention, nutrient availability, and helps remediate soils contaminated with pesticides or heavy metals," Dedi explained. He also pointed out that biochar holds great potential in the emerging carbon trading market, offering both environmental and economic value. One such innovation is Biotron, a 3-in-1 biochar formula developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, enriched with microbes and liquid organic fertilizer. Indonesia is actively promoting Biotron to farmers in Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Java, with plans to scale up the initiative through industry collaboration. However, Dedi noted that the supply of biochar is still limited, calling for greater support from the business sector. Etty Pratiwi, Researcher at BRIN, highlighted the potential to utilize agricultural waste as raw materials for biochar production. “There are agricultural waste hotspots in various regions that can be harnessed through farmer education and community engagement programs,” she said. Etty stressed the need for an integrated approach, combining biochar with organic fertilizers and microbial treatments to tackle critical land degradation issues caused by soil quality decline and climate change. Maria Wahono, CEO of PT Bhetochar Energi Nusantara, discussed the untapped potential of Indonesia's biomass waste, which produces millions of tonnes annually. “Through pyrolysis technology, this waste can be transformed into high-value biochar that lasts in the soil for centuries and contributes to long-term carbon sequestration,” she said. Biochar, Maria noted, is also effective for post-mining land rehabilitation and contaminated soil remediation. However, the growth of this industry depends on an enabling ecosystem, including product standardization, production infrastructure, and market education. Yuventius Nicky, Director of R&D at PT Bhetochar Energi Nusantara, highlighted the significant economic potential of biochar, noting that it directly benefits farmers by utilizing raw materials sourced from them and increasing yields once degraded lands become productive. He pointed out that addressing Indonesia's 12.7 million hectares of critical land requires collaboration beyond individual companies, emphasizing the need to work with fertilizer producers and microbiologists. Nicky also stressed the importance of raising farmer awareness and establishing demonstration plots, as farmers are more likely to adopt new technologies when they see tangible results.IPJ. Arnawa from PT Nex Bio Tech International emphasized that biochar can gain widespread acceptance if properly introduced and explained, stating, "It all depends on how we educate and socialize the concept." His company has partnered with Kadin to launch the Next Bio Academy, a hybrid educational platform designed to reshape farmers' perceptions by highlighting the importance of soil health, the consequences of degraded land, and the potential of biochar and advanced technologies. Arnawa also introduced nano-technology-based solutions that deliver nutrients directly through plant stems or leaf pores, bypassing the soil entirely. He concluded, "Practical innovations like this can shift the perception that organic farming is expensive. Over time, farmers will see that it's actually more cost-effective and leads to better yields." The FGD, organized by Kadin Indonesia in collaboration with PT Bhetochar Energi Nusantara and PT Nex Bio, attracted over 100 participants, including business players, researchers, and agricultural experts, attending both in-person and online. The event served as a platform for sharing concrete solutions to the complex challenges facing Indonesia’s agricultural sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3237/xinjiangs-cotton-irrigation-technologies-contribute-to-central-asias-sustainable-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3237/xinjiangs-cotton-irrigation-technologies-contribute-to-central-asias-sustainable-development.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:59:56 +0530 China and Uzbekistan strengthen ties through sustainable agriculture In Uzbekistan, cotton is more than just a crop—it’s a symbol of national wealth and scientific collaboration. Referred to as "white gold," cotton fields in the suburbs of Tashkent are now at the heart of a groundbreaking initiative that showcases the power of international cooperation. A demonstration site for water-saving drip irrigation technology, established in 2012 through a partnership between the China's Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography and a local Uzbek research institution, has revolutionized cotton farming. The technology uses plastic sheets and strategically placed hoses to deliver water directly to the roots, reducing evaporation and warming the soil. Li Yaoming, director of the Research Center for Green Development of Silk Road, highlights the success of this method, which has increased cotton yields two- to threefold and cut water usage by over 50% compared to traditional irrigation. Initially met with skepticism, the technology has since gained widespread acceptance, with Central Asian institutions and governments seeking to replicate its success. Uzbekistan aims to expand this innovation across 2 million hectares of cotton fields, potentially saving 8 to 10 billion cubic meters of water annually. Redirecting surplus water to the Aral Sea could help combat salt dust storms and improve the regional environment. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to address shared challenges in the region, such as water scarcity, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. Xinjiang and Central Asia, both located in temperate desert zones, face similar threats, including rising temperatures and shrinking glaciers. Since the 1990s, China has worked closely with Central Asian countries to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Innovations like drought monitoring systems and desertification control measures have been introduced across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Li emphasizes that this cooperation is a two-way exchange. While Central Asia benefits from Chinese expertise, researchers gain valuable data and insights from field trials in the region, accelerating technological advancements. Looking ahead, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has designated 2025 as the "Year of Sustainable Development." Collaborative projects will leverage remote sensing, big data, and photovoltaic technologies to further enhance regional sustainability. Talent development is also a priority, with 97 Central Asian students already trained in advanced agricultural techniques, and more to follow. This partnership not only strengthens scientific innovation but also builds strategic trust and fosters new forms of collaboration, ensuring a greener future for the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3205/khalifa-fund-for-enterprise-development-supports-10-emirati-small-and-medium-enterprises-smes-to-participate-in-grains-africa-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3205/khalifa-fund-for-enterprise-development-supports-10-emirati-small-and-medium-enterprises-smes-to-participate-in-grains-africa-2025.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:50:47 +0530 Grains Africa 2025 serves as a gateway to promising agricultural markets, which are poised to reach a USD 1 Trillion by 2030 Abu Dhabi's The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) is supporting 10 Emirati SMEs to participate in Grains Africa 2025, a leading global event for advancing agriculture and food security, which will be held from August 21 to 23, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. Khalifa Fund is a not-for-profit economic development fund of the Government of Abu Dhabi, dedicated to supporting small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). The small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by KFED are active in agriculture technology, food security, and sustainable agriculture. The participation aligns with KFED’s efforts to drive the expansion of the national entrepreneurial ecosystem and catalyse development, particularly in key sectors. It further highlights KFED’s strategic vision to promote innovation, empower SMEs and enhance the global competitive edge of Emirati enterprises, while advancing national goals such as Emiratisation across industries and supply chains, as well as export growth.  Grains Africa 2025 serves as a gateway to promising agricultural markets, which are poised to reach a USD 1 Trillion by 2030.   The event is being held alongside AgroFoodPlastpack Exhibition 2025, convening exhibitors from 16 countries, further underscoring its role in fostering international collaborations aimed at addressing critical challenges in the food sector and positively shaping the future of the agriculture sector.   Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of KFED, said: “This participation highlights our commitment to supporting Emirati startups and entrepreneurs, while enhancing their global competitiveness, and is in line with Khalifa Fund’s vision to establish a sustainable business ecosystem, which will support long-term growth and economic diversification”.   The UAE companies backed by KFED will showcase their innovative solutions at the event, including smart agriculture technologies designed to enhance productivity, value-added food manufacturing ventures and climate-conscious sustainable agriculture solutions. Some of the key exhibitors are East Gate, a specialist in bakery equipment; iPack, high-quality sterile cardboard provider; Printing Talk, offering precision-printed packaging solutions for cafes and food companies; iPlast Industries, a pioneer in plastic pallets and innovative packaging solutions that cater to food and beverage manufacturers, particularly in filling lines; Samira Maatouk, a unique brand of premium Emirati coffee; Orion, supplying advanced packaging products like films, liners, sleeves and bags tailored for the food and beverages industry; and Popular Popcorn, a family business offering healthy and premium popcorn varieties.  KFED’s participation in Grains Africa 2025 will enable UAE companies to expand into African markets, while strengthening local public-private integration. It further underscores the success of the Fund’s ‘SME Export Enablement Programme,’ launched in 2025, which aims to equip small and medium-sised enterprises with the tools and support necessary to enter international markets. Through expert advisory services, capacity building, and access to global trade platforms, the program enhances the global competitiveness of UAE-based businesses and helps them identify and seize export opportunities.   KFED’s supported SMEs participation in Grains Africa 2025 is part of the Fund’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and strengthen collaboration within one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. It also aligns with its strategy to support sustainable development goals (SDGs) and consolidate the UAE’s position as a globally leading destination for industrial and agricultural innovation.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3168/philippines-to-revitalize-coconut-industry-sector-and-boost-export-strategies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3168/philippines-to-revitalize-coconut-industry-sector-and-boost-export-strategies.html Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:43:42 +0530 Each year, the industry exports an average of USD2 billion worth of crude and refined coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra meal, and coconut water from about 14 to 15 billion nuts. Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the urgency of the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the amendment of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, saying it is vital for the revitalization of the coconut sector—the country’s top agricultural export earner. Tiu Laurel recommended revising the law in order to direct the trust fund's resources to the most critical needs--particularly replanting. Coconut trees are rapidly aging, and without immediate replacement, the industry is at risk, he urged Coconut trees over 50 years old produce less than half the potential yield of younger trees, which stands at around 80-100 nuts a year. While the fruit-bearing capacity of older trees may be temporarily boosted with salt fertilization, replanting is the only long-term solution to sustain the viability of the coconut sector. Around 3 million farmers working across 3.6 million hectares, the Philippines is the world’s second-largest coconut producer and exporter, after Indonesia. The sector, however, is underperforming: only 134 processing plants are operating—many at just 50 percent capacity—and 60 oil mills remain well below their combined capacity of 3.7 million metric tons due to lower farm yields. Tiu Laurel emphasized that these reforms go beyond boosting productivity—they aim to secure the livelihoods of millions of Filipino coconut farmers. He noted that increasing farm yields could allow the Philippines to capitalize on the growing demand for coconut oil, particularly in Europe. While annual targets are expected to be met, Tiu Laurel highlighted the need to accelerate the pace of planting to ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability. In 2024, despite El Niño, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) managed to plant 8.6 million seedlings exceeding the 8.5 target—quadruple the previous two-year average. Still, this falls short of President Marcos’s vision to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028. For 2025, the government has allocated P1 billion for planting/replanting and P1.8 billion for fertilization. But to truly scale the effort, the P80-billion trust fund must be refocused toward high-impact programs that lift productivity and farmer incomes. The proposed amendment will allow greater flexibility to ensure a more responsive and adaptive approach to the evolving needs of coconut farmers and the industry. Aside from massive and sustained replanting, said Secretary Tiu Laurel, the amendment to the trust fund also allow the PCA to focus on providing drip irrigation, water impounding, fertilization and farmers welfare. “We’ve consulted with agencies, farmer groups, and stakeholders to ensure the amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act reflect the sector’s growing needs,” said PCA Administrator Dexter Buted ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3147/smallholder-oil-palm-farmers-in-aceh-subulussalam-indonesia-are-empowered-through-stakeholder-partnerships.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3147/smallholder-oil-palm-farmers-in-aceh-subulussalam-indonesia-are-empowered-through-stakeholder-partnerships.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:01:13 +0530 Musim Mas, Nestlé and AAK renew their partnership to address environmental, social and economic concerns  Musim Mas, Nestlé, and AAK have renewed their partnership for the fourth consecutive year to continue supporting independent smallholder oil palm farmers in Aceh Subulussalam, Indonesia. This partnership, originally launched in 2021, focuses on the risks associated with deforestation and the broader environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by smallholders. The Subulussalam Smallholders Hub is at the heart of this collaboration. This landscape-based initiative by Musim Mas trains smallholder farmers and village extension officers (VEOs) in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) principles. VEOs act as local trainers and knowledge multipliers in their communities. Over the past three years, the program has exceeded expectations, training 1,581 smallholder farmers  (initial target: 1,250) and 117 VEOs  (initial target: 60). During the second phase, the 20 top-performing VEOs received advanced requalification on Indonesia's ISPO certification, including modules on home composting to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. With the 2025 partnership renewal, the initiative will directly train an additional 500 smallholder farmers and 20 additional VEOs through advanced training. This will allow the program to reach more than 2,000 smallholder farmers and 40 VEOs with advanced skills . Beyond environmental outcomes, the partnership aims to strengthen the long-term resilience of communities. Musim Mas plans to introduce new advanced training modules for its programs on women smallholder farmers , youth engagement , and financial literacy . Women will continue to receive support in nutrition and business management, while striving to involve male family members to foster an inclusive and supportive environment. Recognizing the importance of engaging the next generation, the program will include youth awareness raising on sustainable agriculture, NDPE practices, and market expectations. Tailored capacity-building platforms will be developed to inspire innovation and engagement among young farmers. The initiative also addresses the need for financial planning , especially as smallholders prepare for palm replanting cycles. Financial management training will enable them to make informed decisions and ensure their long-term self-reliance. Musim Mas, Nestlé, and AAK reaffirm their shared vision for sustainable and inclusive palm oil production in Aceh . With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EDR) coming into force soon, the partnership also provides a critical support mechanism to help smallholders overcome compliance challenges and remain active participants in global supply chains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3112/rea-empowers-indonesias-smallholder-farmers-by-fostering-sustainable-palm-oil-production-value-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3112/rea-empowers-indonesias-smallholder-farmers-by-fostering-sustainable-palm-oil-production-value-chain.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:31:00 +0530 Over 600 Independent Smallholders in East Borneo supported with EUDR Compliance and RSPO Certification facilitated by Technical Assistance from KOLTIV PT REA KALTIM PLANTATIONS (REA), continues to advance its SHINES (SmallHolder INclusion for Ethical Sourcing) programme to improve the livelihood of smallholders through RSPO certification and European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance. Launched in October 2024, SHINES brings together corporate partners to drive transformative changes and foster shared responsibility across the value chain. REA is a leading palm oil producer committed to sustainable, traceable, and inclusive production since 1991. A subsidiary of R.E.A. Holdings PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange, REA operates in Balikpapan and East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Their operations span oil palm plantations, palm oil mills, and kernel crushing plants, complemented by forest conservation efforts covering approximately 18,000 hectares. Through initiatives like the SHINES programme, REA aims to enhance RSPO-certified supply chain compliance, improve productivity, and secure long-term market access for smallholders, aligning with evolving international regulations such as the EUDR. "Smallholder inclusion is key to sustainable development,” said Bremen Yong, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of REA. “SHINES presents a strong business case that brings together stakeholders across the value chain to drive transformative change, improve livelihoods, and strengthen supply chain integrity," added Bremen. Through targeted interventions, REA ensures that producers comply with international regulations and gain improved access to economic opportunities. Smallholder cooperatives in Kutai Kartanegara, namely Koperasi Perkebunan Belayan Sejahtera, Gotong-Royong, Tunas Harapan, Bina Wana Sejahtera, and Karya Penoon are provided with training, technical support, and market incentives for those meeting EUDR requirements and industry standards, ensuring long-term compliance and market access. KOLTIVA Supports SHINES with Mapping and Traceability Expertise As part of the programme’s traceability and compliance component, REA engaged KOLTIVA, a Swiss-Indonesian agritech company, to provide technical support for polygon mapping, farm assessments, and the deployment of its traceability platform, KoltiTrace. This comprehensive solutions will facilitate more than 600 independent smallholders in ensuring full compliance with EUDR requirements. “KOLTIVA’s work with REA underscores our shared commitment to building a resilient and sustainable palm oil supply chain. By integrating farm assessments, technological adaptation through KoltiTrace and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), we are enabling producers to meet the evolving regulatory landscape while improving their long- term economic prospects,” said Manfred Borer, CEO of KOLTIVA. Its approach combines innovative digital solutions with on-the-ground interventions, ensuring that producers can seamlessly navigate the complexities of global sustainability standards. Related to this project, KOLTIVA is currently rolling out its KoltiTrace platform across 10 cooperatives in East Kalimantan, aiming to map and verify farm polygons. This digital traceability infrastructure provides the baseline for legal land verification and ongoing monitoring required under RSPO and EUDR standards. Indonesia’s smallholder readiness for EUDR remains limited. Roughly 41% of Indonesia’s oil palm plantations—around 6.7 million hectares—are managed by independent smallholders, yet studies show only 1% of these smallholders are “cleanly and clearly” certified, meaning they meet traceability and legality requirements aligned with the EUDR. Major obstacles include inadequate geolocation data, unclear land tenure, and lack of digital systems. Without urgent action, many smallholders face exclusion from EU markets under the new regulation (Palm Oil Monitor, 2023 ). The SHINES programme directly responds to this readiness gap by providing smallholders with the tools and support necessary to achieve traceability, certification, and compliance. It represents a tangible step toward closing these gaps, offering smallholders a viable pathway to meet regulatory requirements and secure long-term market access. In the next phase, KOLTIVA will support the implementation of a segregation feature requested through the KoltiTrace FarmGate system update. This will allow suppliers to distinguish between EUDR-compliant and non-compliant Fresh Fruit Bunches at the point of delivery. This feature responds to a core requirement of the EUDR, which mandates that commodities from land plots with verified compliance must remain physically separated from those without supporting evidence (European Commission, n.d.). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3093/fao-and-itu-launch-global-initiative-empowering-youth-to-drive-innovation-in-agrifood-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3093/fao-and-itu-launch-global-initiative-empowering-youth-to-drive-innovation-in-agrifood-systems.html Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:29:08 +0530 Launch “Robotics for Good - Youth Challenge 2025-2026” to tackle global food insecurity At the opening of the AI for Good Summit (8-11 July)  in Geneva today, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) officially launched the Robotics for Good – Youth Challenge 2025–26, a global initiative aimed at empowering youth to drive innovation in agrifood systems. The second edition of this initiative invites young people aged 12 to 18 from around the world to design and build robots that help address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges - food insecurity. “This challenge is not just about robotics,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu during his keynote address at the summit. “It is about empowering youth to become agents of change in the fight against hunger.” FAO will serve as a strategic partner in the initiative, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and support through its Youth Innovation Lab and Transformative Research models. Digital divide In his address, the Director-General also highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing food security and building climate‑resilient agriculture. Qu presented FAO’s vision for inclusive and ethical AI in agrifood systems, designed to empower farmers and rural communities, particularly in low-income countries.   “The digital divide is becoming development divide,” Qu said. “If we allow these gaps to persist, the promises of artificial intelligence to reduce poverty, improve resilience and drive innovation will remain out of reach for those who need it most.” According to the ITU, 1 in 3 people worldwide remains offline, most of them in rural and low-income countries. Nearly 2.6 billion people still lack access to the Internet, and only 26% of people in low-income countries use it at all. According to the World Bank, fewer than 1 in 5 people in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to broadband, limiting not only connectivity, but also the capacity to participate in the digital and AI revolutions. Leveraging the power of AI in agrifood systems The Director-General outlined how FAO is harnessing digital tools to close the connectivity gap and drive transformation across global agrifood systems—from precision agriculture and resource management to food security early warning systems and market access. FAO’s approach focuses on ensuring that AI technologies benefit those who need them most. This includes new AI-powered advisory services tailored to smallholder farmers and delivered in local languages, made possible through partnerships such as with Digital Green. Through generative AI, FAO has already reduced the cost of farmer advisory services from 30 dollars to just 3 dollars per farmer, with further reductions anticipated. Through FAO’s advanced remote sensing and geospatial platforms, AI allows the Organization to rapidly analyze drought, water stress, crop types, land use and forest management. FAO is also leveraging open-source Big Data to track food security threats before they become crises. Predictive models help farmers make better-informed decisions about sowing, harvesting, and marketing their crops. Among its flagship innovations, the Organization is piloting a specialized “knowledge bot” built on its extensive repository of nearly 150,000 scientific publications, and working on the world’s first agrifood-focused foundation AI model to provide tailored, context-specific solutions from planting to post-harvest. As a founding member of the Digital Public Goods Alliance and a signatory to the Rome Call for AI Ethics, FAO continues to champion digital solutions that are guided by transparency, human dignity, and the principle to “do no harm.” The Director General re-affirmed that responsible governance of AI is essential to delivering the Organization’s Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—leaving no one behind. Qu called on all partners to work together to ensure that AI is inclusive, transparent and human-centered, addressing global challenges while accelerating progress across agrifood systems. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with over 40 UN sister agencies and co‑convened by the Government of Switzerland, the Summit brings together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, startups, civil society, and other stakeholders to harness AI’s potential in solving global challenges.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3094/rockefeller-foundation-supports-brac-to-empower-smallholder-farmers-across-asia-and-africa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/3094/rockefeller-foundation-supports-brac-to-empower-smallholder-farmers-across-asia-and-africa.html Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:28:23 +0530 BRAC secures $300,000 grant to develop a program forging to empower 3 million women smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda by 2030. In a significant move to deliver results for communities susceptible to increasingly erratic weather, The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a $300,000 grant to BRAC to support the development and launch of an initiative to empower three million smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda to lift themselves and their families out of vulnerability by 2030. "Smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of so many challenges, including the impact of climate change," said Deepali Khanna, Head of Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation. "Through our support of BRAC, we are empowering smallholder farmers not only to withstand disruptions, but also to advance solutions that can help build the foundation for lasting economic opportunity."  Piloting first in Bangladesh's coastal and drought-prone regions, this initiative will offer farmers a comprehensive bundle of services including access to agricultural technologies, real-time climate and weather information, financial services such as adaptive insurance, and strengthened market linkages. Lessons learned will help guide the scaling of the model to African nations where BRAC already operates. "At BRAC, we believe in equipping people and communities with the skills they need to build their own resilience," said Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC. "The Rockefeller Foundation's support takes an important step in showing that locally driven innovation, when scaled up, can unlock pathways for millions of people to do that." The initiative adopts a bottom-up, community-led approach, emphasizing local ownership, cultural relevance, and long-term sustainability. With rising salinity, erratic rainfall, and resource degradation increasingly threatening rural livelihoods, BRAC's initiative offers timely, holistic solutions grounded in both data-driven insights and local knowledge. The Rockefeller Foundation's support reflects its broader vision to expand economic opportunities by investing in community-led, scalable innovations. BRAC aims to raise $300 million in funding for this initiative that will enable transformative change for approximately 14 million people. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2995/korean-investment-firm-makegroup-aims-major-agricultural-partnership-in-liberia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2995/korean-investment-firm-makegroup-aims-major-agricultural-partnership-in-liberia.html Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:55:01 +0530 Considering major projects in agro-processing, cold storage systems, and agricultural machinery hubs South Korea’s leading investment firm, MakeGroup, is setting its sights on Liberia’s agriculture sector, expressing a strong interest in forging a transformative partnership with the country. The initiative is a major step toward strengthening international cooperation in support of Liberia’s agricultural and economic growth. During a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture in Monrovia, MakeGroup’s Chairman, James Juhee Han, led a nine-member delegation and outlined the company’s vision for investment in Liberia. The group is considering major projects in agro-processing, cold storage systems, and agricultural machinery hubs, with a focus on long-term infrastructure and maintenance support. Chairman Han emphasized MakeGroup’s intention to go beyond symbolic agreements by proposing a binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) rather than a typical Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). "The MOA clearly outlines shared goals and responsibilities. In fact, we are proposing two specific MOAs—one focused on general agriculture and the other on poultry” explained Chairman Han. In addition to its agricultural interests, MakeGroup also announced plans to establish a Universal Bank in Liberia with an initial capital of $100 million. This institution, if realized, would be the largest financial entity in the country, providing specialized services including housing and agriculture. However, Chairman Han noted the company's flexibility to align with the Liberian government’s plan for a dedicated Agriculture Enterprise Development Bank, a proposal currently under legislative review. Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, welcomed MakeGroup’s proposal, describing it as a timely and strategic opportunity that aligns closely with the Ministry’s priorities. Minister Nuetah said. “The priorities you outlined—mechanization, processing, poultry, and cold storage, align perfectly with our national agenda. We will do our best to ensure these plans are realized.” Minister Nuetah then provided an overview of Liberia’s current agricultural priorities, highlighting the development of 50,000 hectares of lowland for rice production, with 12,000 hectares already mapped. In cassava, he mentioned that construction is underway for the country’s first local starch-processing plant, with plans to expand the model to five other regions. For mechanization, he explained that Liberia is establishing 18 agricultural machinery hubs, eight of which are currently under construction, with equipment expected to arrive from China by August. Minister Nuetah added, “We want to move beyond smallholder farming done in patches. Our goal is to create large, modern, mechanized farms that boost productivity and create jobs.” Both sides agreed to review and finalize the draft MOAs before the delegation’s departure from Liberia. Chairman Han also requested a detailed list of Liberia’s agricultural priorities to help inform a joint action plan that could guide the partnership moving forward. The proposed collaboration echoes the Liberian government’s broader strategy to attract long-term, high-impact investment in agriculture as part of its “Liberians Feed Yourselves” agenda. As Liberia pushes toward food security, rural development, and economic self-reliance, partnerships like the one being pursued with MakeGroup are seen as critical to achieving these national goals. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2990/danish-government-collaborates-with-indonesia-for-sustainable-palm-oil-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2990/danish-government-collaborates-with-indonesia-for-sustainable-palm-oil-production.html Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:43:46 +0530 The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative drives sustainability and smallholder engagement In Indonesia, a new partnership aims to make palm oil production more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.By promoting sustainable palm oil production, it aims to increase smallholder livelihood security, protect the environment, and comply with global sustainability standards and regulatory frameworks, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative brings together global integrated palm oil group Musim Mas, sweet-packaged food company Ferrero, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Preferred by Nature, Agriterra, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). Funded by the Danish government's Danida Green Business Partnerships (DGBP) programme, this initiative aims to enhance independent smallholder livelihoods, protect the environment, and promote sustainable palm oil production in line with global sustainability standards and regulatory frameworks, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods InitiativeThis five-year project focuses on implementing scalable solutions for sustainable palm oil production. Its aim is to support 5,400 independent smallholders in adopting regenerative agricultural practices that improve farming conditions, reduce synthetic inputs, and strengthen climate resilience. The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative will also strengthen two farmer organisations and help 2,500 farmers achieve certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards. Additionally, it aims to create diversified income opportunities for 2,000 community members—60 percent of whom will be women—while implementing measures to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate deforestation risks. A key element of the initiative is establishing a multi-stakeholder jurisdictional alliance to promote ecosystem restoration and ensure alignment with sustainability standards. Preferred by Nature, an international NGO headquartered in Denmark with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture and forestry projects, will lead project coordination, capacity building, and training in sustainable practices. Dutch agri-agency Stichting Agriterra will focus on strengthening farmer organisations, enabling financial sustainability, and fostering cooperative business models, while international NGO SAN will provide expertise in regenerative agriculture and deliver on-ground support through its Indonesian partners Kaleka and Setara Jambi. Both Musim Mas and Ferrero have a shared interest in securing a sustainable and traceable palm oil supply chain that complies with regulatory standards and meets voluntary commitments. Olivier Tichit, Director of Communications and Sustainability at Musim Mas, said: "Empowering smallholders through training and support is key to building a resilient and sustainable palm oil supply chain. Musim Mas takes a landscape-based approach to sustainability. Across the Smallholder Hubs we operate, we work with governments, suppliers, smallholders, NGOs, and other players in the landscape to achieve sustainability transformation. This project will enable us to contribute in a new dimension with our new partners." Nicola Somenzi,  Head of Responsible Sourcing at Ferrero, said: "We aim to create a thriving supply chain which benefits farmers' livelihoods and communities, protecting people and nature. Beyond sourcing RSPO segregated palm oil for our products, our active participation in initiatives like this strengthens the foundation for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that creates long-term value for all. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2976/malaysia-to-revitalize-cocoa-farms-and-boost-local-production-through-strategic-initiatives.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2976/malaysia-to-revitalize-cocoa-farms-and-boost-local-production-through-strategic-initiatives.html Fri, 30 May 2025 10:04:47 +0530 Aims to strengthening the cocoa value chain from farm to the global market; Malaysia's cocoa export value reaching RM15 billion in 2024 The Malaysia International Cocoa Festival (MICF) 2025, held from 24 to 27 May 2025, concluded with remarkable success and outstanding achievements in strengthening the national cocoa industry and placing it firmly on the international radar. With over 25,000 visitors attending over four days, MICF 2025 officially achieved its objectives – becoming the premier platform that unites innovation, business networking, technical knowledge, and cultural exchange within the regional and global cocoa landscape. The festival was officiated by the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who reaffirmed the government's commitment to revitalizing cocoa farms and boosting local production through various strategic initiatives. In his speech, he also highlighted Malaysia's need to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which now serves as a key guideline in the international export market. "We not only need to increase our cocoa yield, but also ensure our production complies with traceability, accessibility, and sustainability standards as outlined in the EUDR. Malaysia must be recognized as a responsible and sustainable cocoa producer," he stated. He further shared that the government will utilize existing land and introduce high-quality modern agricultural practices to double cocoa yields. He urged smallholders, investors, and cooperatives to embrace this national initiative, which also opens new economic opportunities, especially in rural areas. "Although local cocoa bean production remains modest, our efforts have shown a significant 65% increase – from 269 tonnes in 2023 to 445 tonnes in 2024. We must balance a strong downstream sector with more sustainable upstream production," he added. MICC 2025 welcomed over 1,000 participants from 25 countries, including industry players, government agencies, researchers, and students, in a two-day international conference. The conference featured presentations and forums covering topics such as cocoa sustainability, product innovation, traceability, smart agriculture, and cooperative development. The Director General of the Malaysian Cocoa Board, Datuk Dr. Ramle Kasin, also played a key role in the success of MICF 2025. He led the MCB team in planning and executing what is considered the most prestigious event in the national cocoa industry calendar. Under his leadership, MCB also strengthened research and development (R&D) in cocoa breeding, processing techniques, and innovative product development. With Malaysia's cocoa export value reaching RM15 billion in 2024 and export volume increasing to 690,000 tonnes, MICF 2025 clearly demonstrated that the Malaysian cocoa industry remains relevant, has sustainable growth potential, and is globally competitive. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2919/the-growhub-partners-with-why-ventures-to-deploy-agri-tech-solutions-empower-vietnamese-farms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2919/the-growhub-partners-with-why-ventures-to-deploy-agri-tech-solutions-empower-vietnamese-farms.html Mon, 19 May 2025 12:21:49 +0530 Helping local farmers track yield quality, gain direct market access, and ensure end-to-end transparency THE GROWHUB LIMITED, a Singapore-based company leveraging blockchain technology to enhance product traceability and authenticity, announced a strategic partnership with Why Ventures, an immersive learning and business growth platform, to deploy its traceability system across cacao and coffee farms in Vietnam's Central Highlands, with both organizations set to launch this joint inaugural project at Why Ventures' pilot site. This initiative serves as a testbed for implementing The GrowHub's traceability tools and digital solutions aimed at helping local farmers track yield quality, gain direct market access, and ensure end-to-end transparency; from bean-to-bar or bean-to-cup. Following the establishment of the Company's new regional branch in 2024, The GrowHub continues to expand its footprint by focusing on software and research development services, including R&D, tech capability building, and data analytics, laying the foundation to promote tech-driven solutions in agriculture within Vietnam. As part of this partnership, Why Ventures will integrate The GrowHub's traceability platform into its entrepreneurship learning journeys, allowing students, young professionals, and educators to experience how technology can create sustainable value across the agricultural supply chain. The partnership is set to expand beyond cacao and coffee, offering scalable learning and tech integration opportunities for other agricultural sectors in Vietnam in 2025 and beyond. "Vietnamese farmers are already producing world-class cacao and coffee, but they often lack the digital tools to compete in global markets," said Christine Ng, Founder of Why Ventures. "This partnership gives these farmers access to The GrowHub's proprietary traceability solution that aims to help build trust with consumers, improve sustainability, and increase profits through better data and storytelling." Alec Ngo, COO of The GrowHub added: "We are excited to work with Why Ventures to introduce our traceability solutions to farms in Vietnam, where they are already driving meaningful progress in sustainable agriculture. Through this partnership with Christine and Why Ventures, we aim to cultivate a new generation of agri-entrepreneurs who are tech-savvy, environmentally conscious, and globally competitive." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2891/moa-hosts-taiwan-agricultural-information-exchange-programs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2891/moa-hosts-taiwan-agricultural-information-exchange-programs.html Fri, 02 May 2025 13:09:25 +0530 Key role in creating a bridge between Taiwan’s agricultural industry and world markets Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture held an event related to Australian agricultural experience, April 29 in the southern county of Pingtung, highlighting government commitment to promoting a collaborative relationship that prioritizes local producers’ needs and increases the experience of domestic personnel to compete in international markets. Organized by the MOA Department of International Affairs, the physical and virtual event brought over 130 academics, business representatives, experts and officials together. Sharing their observations during the event were delegation members to the 19th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Meeting; and Evoke AG, an Asia Pacific premier agrifood innovation event, both held in February in Brisbane. Highlights included topic discussions on international trends such as food and agriculture supply chain transparency and a case study on zero use of fossil fuel in farms. Participants further explored issues such as biosecurity management, cross-border agro-industrial cooperation, investment incentives and restrictions in the Australian market and the complementary nature of bilateral industries. In addition, the MOA unveiled two international agricultural leadership training programs in the final session. In the first, the MOA will work with the U.K.-based nonprofit organization Nuffield International and other international partners to cultivate young agricultural personnel aged from 18-30 in a program that supports youth to travel overseas to learn about industry-related innovation and management. A second program assists those aged over 30 to gain management expertise and play a key role in creating a bridge between Taiwan’s agricultural industry and world markets. The MOA emphasized that Taiwan’s agriculture must move toward high-value and sustainable development to face global challenges such as climate change and intensified trade competition. Australia is a close partner and shares interest in areas spanning smart agriculture and sustainability, the MOA said, expressing anticipation of further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2852/agco-grants-300000-to-enhance-youth-knowledge-and-skills-for-sustainable-agrifood-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2852/agco-grants-300000-to-enhance-youth-knowledge-and-skills-for-sustainable-agrifood-systems.html Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:49:15 +0530 Collaborates with FAO World Food Forum to initiate strategic programs AGCO Agriculture Foundation, a private foundation with the vision to prevent and relieve hunger through sustainable agricultural development, announced a new partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).   The Foundation is providing a USD 300,000 grant to support the World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Skills Hub program to strengthen youth skills and capacity for sustainable agrifood systems in the Global South. The WFF, launched in 2021, is an independent network of partners hosted by the FAO and serves as the premier global platform to actively shape agrifood systems for a better food future, accelerating the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within this framework, the WFF Global Youth Action Initiative harnesses the engagement, empowerment and employment of young people to provide positive action toward the transformation of agrifood systems. "Attracting young people to agriculture is essential to create a future to sustainably feed the world," said Roger Batkin, Board Chair of the Foundation. "Through strategic partnerships and programs, our Foundation is helping a new generation of agricultural leaders be ready to tackle the challenges of agricultural and food systems. Our collaboration with the FAO World Food Forum affirms our commitment to building skills and capacity, cultivating knowledge and creating pathways for young people to meaningfully engage in agriculture." "Formal education programmes often fall behind in preparing young people for leadership roles in the various sectors of the agrifood system," said Kazuki Kitaoka, the FAO Director for the Office of Youth and Women. "We are excited to partner with the AGCO Agriculture Foundation in developing innovative approaches that offer knowledge and skills, equipping youth with the capacities they need to drive a positive transformation of our agrifood systems." To foster inclusive and participatory ways of supporting skills enhancement of younger people, the project will focus on creating an evidence base for demand-driven skills, increasing access to knowledge and resources and empowering young people to become knowledge brokers who can further share the lessons gained from the program within their farming and entrepreneurial communities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2806/sopri-an-integrated-funding-project-provides-financing-and-resources-to-smallholders-to-replant-oil-palm-sustainably-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2806/sopri-an-integrated-funding-project-provides-financing-and-resources-to-smallholders-to-replant-oil-palm-sustainably-in-indonesia.html Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0530 A partnership between Abler Nordic, Livelihoods Funds, Musim Mas, and Temasek Foundation aims to support at least 400 smallholders A sustainability impact fund manager, Abler Nordic, has partnered with a Singapore-based philanthropic organization, Temasek Foundation, which runs impact projects in Asia, as well as sustainable palm oil producer Musim Mas and Livelihood Funds to launch the Sustainable Oil Palm Replanting in Indonesia (SOPRI) initiative. The pilot initiative facilitates smallholders' access to finance and resources so that they can replant oil palm trees sustainably, increasing their income and preventing forest encroachment. In Indonesia, smallholders cultivate more than 40% of the land devoted to oil palm, but they face a significant challenge: aging oil palm trees reduce yields, making replanting urgent and costly. Without access to affordable financing, some smallholders risk expanding into rainforest areas, accelerating deforestation and climate change. The SOPRI project is a key component of Abler Nordic's Climate Smart Fund, launched in its pilot phase with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, which combines public, philanthropic, and private capital to create deforestation-free value chains and support smallholder resilience projects. The Temasek Foundation is strengthening this blended finance model by setting aside catalytic capital to guarantee and derisk smallholder loans through the SOPRI project, thereby reducing financing costs for smallholders and limiting risks for private investment. Initially, the SOPRI project will support 400 smallholder farmers on 400 hectares in Sumatra , offering long-term loans for replanting, financial literacy training, sustainability certification, assistance with land titling, and participatory village planning to promote responsible land use. In return, smallholders agree to avoid encroaching on the forest, which is subject to satellite tracking and on-the-ground monitoring. The project is designed to demonstrate that sustainable replanting is both financially viable and scalable, with future phases aiming to reach more than 20,000 smallholders. The Climate Smart Fund will act as the lead organization, managing financial operations and coordinating implementation with local partners such as Koltiva and Bank Amar. Musim Mas is providing technical support to help smallholder farmers achieve sustainable palm oil certification and access markets, while Livelihoods Funds is contributing its training and certification expertise to help farmers transition to sustainable practices. Beyond replanting, the project is also exploring climate-resilient agroforestry models, integrating oil palms with shade trees and cash crops to improve soil health, regulate microclimates, and help smallholders adapt to climate change. Abler Nordic now aims to expand the Climate Smart Fund, which grew from an initial $10 million fund to $40 million at its first close, by using a combination of investor capital, guarantees, and grants to implement concrete and sustainable climate actions. Arthur Sletteberg, Managing Director of Abler Nordic , said: “Building long-term relationships with smallholder farmers, communities, and local partners is at the heart of our work. What we are doing is complex and unprecedented in many ways, but the results so far show that we have the right model and risk mitigation measures to scale up the Climate Smart Fund and create meaningful long-term change for smallholder farmers and the climate.” Sébastien de Royer, Senior Project Manager – Southeast Asia at Livelihoods Ventures , said: “At Livelihoods Ventures, through this partnership, we aim to provide smallholder farmers with the technical support and guidance they need to transition to sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.” Mr. Rob Nicholls, Musim Mas's Managing Director of Projects and Partnerships , said: "This initiative is about more than just financial support; it's about giving smallholder farmers the knowledge and resources they need to implement sustainable practices. We believe that collaboration and engagement can have a positive impact on the environment and the communities involved in palm oil production." Ms. Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate and Livelihood at Temasek Foundation , said: “  This pilot initiative will be a game changer. By unlocking financing through catalytic capital, smallholder farmers can replant sustainably without bearing huge financial risks. Temasek Foundation is committed to collectively building this public-private-philanthropic partnership with Abler Nordic, Livelihoods Funds, and Musim Mas as part of nature-based solutions. Not only are we making a positive impact on the environment, but we are also paving the way for scalable and meaningful long-term solutions.  ” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2693/bayer-and-pula-foundation-partner-up-to-insure-10-million-smallholder-farmers-in-sub-saharan-africa-and-south-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2693/bayer-and-pula-foundation-partner-up-to-insure-10-million-smallholder-farmers-in-sub-saharan-africa-and-south-asia.html Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:17:29 +0530 Aims to make smallholder farmers more resilient to droughts and floods, which threaten harvests, livelihoods, and global food security Bayer Foundation and the Pula Foundation announced at World Economic Forum that they are planning to provide insurance coverage for 10 million smallholder farmers by 2030. The collaboration aims to enhance climate resilience among smallholder farmers, protecting them against the growing impacts of droughts and floods, which threaten harvests, livelihoods, and global food security. It will help build private-public collaborations and shape the insurance market for agriculture in Africa and Asia. The Pula Foundation has developed scalable and data-driven agricultural insurance solutions designed to safeguard smallholder farmers' investments in their farms. By mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, the Pula Foundation ensures that farmers receive financial compensation for yield losses, enabling them to recover, reinvest, and build long-term resilience in the face of climate uncertainty. By 2030, Bayer Foundation’s grant for insurance premium support in the amount of 10 million euros – supported by a donation from Bayer’s Crop Science Division – will unlock a potential insurance coverage of 127 million U.S. dollars for 10 million farmers working with national governments in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Mali. The grant originates from Bayer Foundation’s Social Innovation Ecosystem Fund which targets mature and high-impact solutions for underserved communities. “Our Crop Science division is committed to deliver innovative, farmer-focused solutions that drive sustainable growth and regenerative agriculture. By unlocking climate finance and collaborating with partners like the Pula Foundation, we aim to deliver ecosystem-based approaches that empower smallholder farmers and their communities to overcome challenges and thrive,” added Rodrigo Santos, President of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and Executive Director Bayer Foundation. Pula Foundation and Bayer Foundation already demonstrated in 2021 that building such public-private partnerships to offer insurance protection at scale works: Together with the Zimbabwean Government and as part of the Zimbabwean Conservation Agriculture Program, they developed an insurance solution that protects the input investments farmers made. With the catalytic support of Bayer Foundation for this pilot, 31,000 farmers were insured against climate risks such as droughts in the first year, which the public-private partnership network of Pula Foundation scaled to more than 1 million farmers after three years. Rose Goslinga, Director of Pula Foundation says “This partnership with Bayer Foundation will enable us to expand our reach and ensure that millions more farmers can secure their livelihoods and build resilience against climate risks.” According to FAO, in 2023, around 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity. Smallholder farmers make a significant contribution to food security and supply in their countries: more than half of the food consumed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is produced by smallholders. Yet, they face heavy challenges that pose severe constraints to their ability to serve their communities. Examples are lack of climate change adaptation tools, lack of access to agricultural inputs and inadequate credit and insurance services. Bayer aims to support a total of 100 million smallholder farmers in LMICs by 2030 by improving their access to agricultural products and services. This also includes collaborations with partners. To achieve this, Bayer strives to create market models that generate benefits and reduce business risks for all partners in the value chain, including smallholder farmers. This is implemented by helping smallholder farmers gain access to the agricultural value chain and increase their productivity and income, as well as by creating resilience to ensure the long-term food security of smallholder farmers, their families and rural regions in LMICs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2652/indonesias-koltiva-empowers-smallholders-of-natural-rubber-industry-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2652/indonesias-koltiva-empowers-smallholders-of-natural-rubber-industry-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:36:17 +0530 Empowers smallholders with traceability and training for EUDR compliance The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) presents a significant challenge for Southeast Asia’s rubber industry, which accounts for 80% of global natural rubber production. Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia lead in production, with Thailand exporting an impressive 4 million tons annually (35% of global output) and Indonesia following with 2.5 million tons. These figures represent a powerhouse industry driving export values of $19.7 billion in Thailand and $5.6 billion in Indonesia, firmly rooting rubber as a critical player in their economies and the global market (ARC, 2022). Smallholders face unique hurdles in adapting to the stringent traceability and sustainability requirements mandated by the regulation. According to Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, commodities entering the European Union must be deforestation-free and accompanied by comprehensive due diligence documentation (EU, 2023). However, compliance remains a formidable task for smallholders due to fragmented supply chains, limited infrastructure, and challenges such as land legality and mixed-origin rubber. In response, Koltiva, a leading agritech company for enterprises to make global supply chains traceable, inclusive, and climate-smart, has introduced tailored solutions that empower smallholder producers to overcome these challenges while maintaining their livelihoods and market access. Manfred Borer, CEO & Co-Founder at Koltiva. “Our tailored solutions are bridging the gap between regulatory demands and smallholder capabilities, ensuring compliance, sustainable growth and market resilience.” Koltiva provides comprehensive support to help smallholders comply with EUDR regulations. From supply chain mapping and land documentation to training and traceability through its (traceability platform) KoltiTrace and (producers’ training coaching) KoltiSkills solutions, Koltiva ensures smallholders meet standards and maintain access to global markets. To support smallholder producers meeting the complex requirements of the EUDR, KoltiSkills offers a range of specialized services to build capacity and ensure compliance. For instance, KoltiSkills has already coached approximately 6,000 Rubber producers, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to navigate regulatory challenges effectively. In addition, Koltiva has already mapped and registered more than 180,000 producers and verified more than 790,000 Ha of farm plots and production areas in Southeast Asia, mainly in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Smallholders in Southeast Asia face significant hurdles in meeting EUDR requirements, including limited formal land documentation, fragmented traceability systems, and lack of geolocation compliance. For instance, in Indonesia, only 10,000 hectares of 3.2 million smallholder plantations have Plantation Cultivation Permits (STDB), risking a $527 million export loss (Asia News, 2024). Vietnam and Cambodia also struggle with mixed-origin rubber, complicating cross-border traceability (Lesprom, 2023). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2513/trashed-3.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2513/trashed-3.html Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:13:52 +0530 Value Line Steering solution with new automated steering system democratizes access to advanced agricultural technologies Topcon Agriculture has launched new Value Line Steering solution , designed specifically for producers using mid-sized tractors on small and medium-sized farms. The new product line represents a significant step toward making automated steering technology, typically used on larger machinery, accessible to a broader range of producers. “At Topcon Agriculture, we are committed to democratizing technology, putting precision agriculture in the hands of more growers around the world,” said Antonio Marzia, executive vice president and general manager, Topcon Agriculture. “With Value Line, we are opening up opportunities for producers with smaller or older machines and smaller specialty farms by boosting the value of their machinery with automated steering capabilities based on our premium steering technology, which has been proven for decades on larger equipment. It is an integrated system designed to work seamlessly with a variety of tractors, including ISOBUS-UT compliance for universal compatibility and ease of use. Our goal is to provide high-quality, reliable, affordable and value-added technology that works with a wide range of applications, machines and brands, in keeping with our philosophy of being a partner to producers and supporting their independent brand choices.” The Value Line Steering solution is a comprehensive package that includes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, electric steering controller, touchscreen console and Horizon Lite software, compatible with front-steer tractors. Producers also have the option to add local, satellite or RTK correction services, such as Topcon’s Topnet Live , which provides enhanced accuracy based on specific needs. Automated steering enables more efficient use of resources, reducing input costs for seeds, fertilizers and fuel. This not only improves farm output, but also contributes to more sustainable farming practices. Greater precision in field operations can also improve crop productivity, further increasing profitability. “Producers across a range of agricultural sectors, including commodity crops, specialty crops and mixed farming systems, will see significant benefits to their operations from the technology. There is huge potential for growth in the agricultural sector, and Value Line is another step for Topcon to be a preferred partner in this dynamic landscape, promoting adoption and effective collaboration with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and producers,” said Marzia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2506/australia-strengthens-grape-and-wine-sector-with.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2506/australia-strengthens-grape-and-wine-sector-with.html Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:30:38 +0530 Five new directors appointed for Wine Australia board The Australian Government has appointed five new directors to the non-executive board representing the interests of the Australian wine industry. Wine Australia invests in research, development and extension, covering issues of national importance for the local wine industry. Directors work to ensure compliance with Wine Australia’s regulatory functions by investing in research and development, building markets and disseminating market information and knowledge. New directors are serving a three-year term effective from 1 October 2024.  Dr Angeline Achariya, Victoria Ms Roslyn Baker, Queensland Mr Andrew Kay, South Australia Ms Elizabeth Riley, New South Wales Ms Peta Slack-Smith, Victoria. Australia’s grape and wine sector thrive and is delivering a multimillion-dollar package to boost the sector’s long-term viability. The Government’s $3.5 million Grape and Wine Sector Long-Term Viability Package includes an independent impact analysis led by Dr Craig Emerson concerning fair trading, competitive relationships, contracting practices and risk allocation in the sector. Public consultation for the analysis is now open. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP said, “The new Wine Australia directors are suitably qualified and together possess a wealth of skills, expertise and board experience.They will help foster and encourage profitable, resilient and sustainable Australian wine grape and wine businesses. Wine Australia is well positioned to continue supporting a competitive wine sector, growing domestic and international markets and protecting the reputation of Australian wine, thanks in great measure to the contributions of the outgoing board members.”  Government is encouraging stakeholders from across Australia’s grape and wine industry to share their views as part of a multimillion-dollar package to boost the sector’s long-term viability. Feedback on existing regulation in the sector is being sought through the independent impact analysis of the grape and wine sector’s current rules concerning fair trading, competitive relationships, contracting practices and risk allocation.  In August the Government announced the appointment of Dr Craig Emerson to undertake this analysis, as part of the Government’s $3.5 million Grape and Wine Sector Long-Term Viability Package. Feedback collected from the consultation will inform advice about whether existing regulation could be made more effective, or if additional regulatory or other interventions are warranted to improve the grape and wine market. The analysis will provide recommendations to the Government to support the industry’s long-term sustainability.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2503/acreshield-developing-an-innovative-ai-solution-to-solve-the-yield-gap-problem.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2503/acreshield-developing-an-innovative-ai-solution-to-solve-the-yield-gap-problem.html Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:11:19 +0530 The AI-based seed selection program provides farmers with accurate yield predictions for crop protection through smarter seed selectionAcreShield, the developer of Yield Optimizer™, completed its Series A funding of more than $2.5 million. Yield Optimizer is the first commercially accepted proven artificial intelligence (AI) seed selection program for yield prediction that uses independent seed performance data and provides farmers with guaranteed ROI performance. The board of directors authorized Series A for an additional $2 million. Kaylee Williams, investment director of InnoVenture Iowa, a co-investment fund that supports world-changing technologies created in Iowa said “We saw the potential for this AI technology to disrupt a billion-dollar market in a key industry – agriculture. Every row crop farmer faces the Yield Gap problem. AcreShield brings a truly innovative solution to solve the Yield Gap and, by doing so, is creating a 180-million-acre opportunity in the U.S. alone. This is something the industry has never seen before.” Scott Stewart is president of Vertical Ventures Inc., which invests in companies leveraging technologies such as generative AI and machine learning. He said, “AcreShield fits the firm’s investment thesis as its proprietary seed trial data and model give farmers the ability for a smarter seed selection.” It also caught his team’s attention, as seed selection is paramount to a successful farming operation. Stewart added, “We chose to become the lead investor in AcreShield Series A funding for three main reasons. First, AcreShield’s AI Ag Tech platform is up and running with a distributor network in place and with paying customers. It has demonstrated revenue success and is on track for rapid growth. Second, because of its smarter seed selection model and the proprietary data set used, they can offer farmers a performance guarantee. We haven’t seen anything like this before in the AI market. Lastly, investors always have a foundational requirement in any investment – the team. The AcreShield team has proven to be consistently successful. The entire package complements our AI investment portfolio.” Billy Rose, AcreShield CEO, concurred, saying, “The Yield Gap is a serious farmer challenge, which is why we created and built AcreShield to solve this billion-dollar opportunity with AI-powered smarter seed selection for greater yields. We do this by managing our own independent seed trials, which provide unbiased data sets that feed our AI Yield Optimizer. The net result is that farmers have better yield and financial performance, which is so needed with today's low commodity prices. We’re solving a large farmer problem – the 'Yield Gap,' by demystifying smarter seed selection with financial protection.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2499/australias-victorian-farmers-welcome-green-drought-support.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2499/australias-victorian-farmers-welcome-green-drought-support.html Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:22:46 +0530 Funding package would be used to help give farmers the tools needed to respond to the current dry conditions and comes after sustained advocacy by local farmers Victorian Government announces drought funding assistance for South West farmers amidst record-breaking dry conditions.  VFF President Emma Germano said the $13.53 million funding package would be used to help give farmers the tools needed to respond to the current dry conditions and comes after sustained advocacy by local farmers and the VFF.  “Parts of the South West are the driest on record and I would like to thank Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence for listening to farmers and lending a helping hand. For many months as this green drought has lingered the VFF has been hearing from local farmers and relaying this information back to the government. It’s encouraging to see some action to help those doing it tough. This is a sensible and proportionate response by the government and comes in addition to existing supports such as the Farm Household Allowance and Regional Investment Corporation loans.”   “The VFF’s priority has been to see the immediate needs of farmers particularly around mental health and business advice being addressed. We know during times of drought, the financial, emotional and mental health burden on farmers and local communities is immense. It’s important that farmers know these services are there to help them and that they are comfortable in reaching out,” Germano said.  Eligible farmers in the South West will receive up to $5,000 as a co-contribution grant to support water infrastructure upgrades to pipes, tanks, troughs, dams, stock containment areas, and grain and fodder storage.   Ms Germano said these grants would support immediate and long-term needs of farmers.  Germano added the VFF will continue to monitor conditions state-wide and communicate information back to the government.  “Farmers know the land better than anyone and that’s why targeted funding to support water infrastructure upgrades is so important. It gives farmers the ability to better prepare their farm for immediate challenges and for future drought conditions. I would encourage eligible farmers to apply for the support and learn more on the Agriculture Victoria website. We will be closely monitoring conditions throughout Victoria to help ensure the government is tuned into the issues on the ground”    ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2494/gafsp-launches-75m-financing-window-to-mobilize-private-investment-into-high-potential-agricultural-entrepreneurs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2494/gafsp-launches-75m-financing-window-to-mobilize-private-investment-into-high-potential-agricultural-entrepreneurs.html Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:16:51 +0530 GAFSP, a multilateral partnership platform has deployed more than $2.5B of donor resources for global food and nutrition security financing  Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has launched a new $75 million investment window to accelerate financial innovations supporting smallholder farmers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the agri-food sector, with the aim of boosting food security and agricultural development in low-income countries. The Business Investment Financing Track (BIFT) aims to de-risk private investments, making it easier for investment vehicles to mobilize additional finance for investments in high-potential yet traditionally underserved segments of the food system. This comes at a time when the global food system is confronting overlapping challenges, including supply chain disruptions, and more extreme weather events induced by climate change. GAFSP is a multilateral partnership platform that has deployed more than $2.5 billion of donor resources for global food and nutrition security financing since its establishment by the G20 in 2010. Through the BIFT, GAFSP will support innovative blended finance solutions to foster transformative agricultural investments, particularly in underserved regions and value chains. The BIFT joins GAFSP’s existing financing tracks targeting low-income country strategies and programs, agribusinesses, and producer organizations, which represent a global portfolio of 300 projects benefitting over 20 million people. The BIFT will seek to incentivize public-private partnerships, promote civil society engagement, and strengthen co-financing platforms that aggregate funding from a range of investors, including impact investors, asset managers and banks, to support larger, more impactful programs. The BIFT requires blended finance solutions to build on strategic public investments made in nutritious food value chains, involve non-governmental organizations, and leverage grants or concessional finance instruments such as guarantees and insurance, as well as concessional debt and equity to attract private investments. “High-potential agri-MSMEs in lower-income countries are being left behind by financial markets and have no way of breaking into regional or global markets. The BIFT will deploy systemic solutions tailored to the needs of small producers and early-stage agribusinesses so they can achieve scale and tap into conventional financing.” said James Catto, Director of International Development Policy at the United States Department of the Treasury and Chair of the GAFSP Steering Committee. The BIFT pilot will run through June 2026, in partnership with the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Blended finance solutions supported under the pilot will specifically target smallholder farmers, producer organizations, MSMEs, and agribusiness start-ups involved in the production or marketing of nutritious foods for local and regional markets. These segments and value chains have historically been neglected by private investors because they are seen as too small, too risky, or offer modest returns. “BIFT is a significant step forward in addressing the smallholder financing gap by unlocking much-needed private capital,” said Felipe Dizon, Acting Program Manager of the GAFSP Fund at the World Bank. "This is not just about financing projects; it is about working with a range of partners, from government to civil society to the private sector, to create long-lasting solutions that improve food security, climate resilience, and economic opportunities across some of the world’s most vulnerable regions." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2484/enko-chem-inc-develops-a-new-mode-of-action-discovery-capability-to-accelerate-development-of-sustainable-new-crop-protection-compounds.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2484/enko-chem-inc-develops-a-new-mode-of-action-discovery-capability-to-accelerate-development-of-sustainable-new-crop-protection-compounds.html Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:24:07 +0530 New MOA’s are vital to the development of new categories of innovative, safe, pest fighting solutions. Enko Chem, Inc., an AI-informed crop health company, announced that the company has validated a unique capability to rapidly discover novel modes of action (MOA) using a systems approach that can effectively unlock solutions for nagging pest resistance problems for growers worldwide. “There are simply not enough alternatives on the market today,” says Jacqueline Heard, CEO and Co-founder, Enko. “Farmers face the harsh reality of losing 40% of their crops to weeds, insects and disease annually and are stuck using decades-old products that no longer work effectively and where continued reliance is not sustainable." Enko’s discovery platform, ENKOMPASS™, recently identified a new mode of action, a novel weed control target, and biologically active chemical inhibitors in just 4 months using AI-assisted data analysis techniques. The capability can be applied to discover new MOAs for many crop health needs. Enko’s rapid rate of target discovery has the potential to help the world get ahead of the rate of failing crops, stay abreast of the negative effects of climate change, and feed its growing populations safely. Enko (Enko Chem Inc.) designs safe and sustainable solutions to farmers’ biggest crop threats today, from pest resistance to new diseases. By applying the latest drug discovery and development approaches from pharma to plants, Enko is bringing an innovation model to agriculture and meeting farmers’ evolving needs. Founded in 2017, and led by a team of proven scientists, entrepreneurs, and agriculture industry veterans, Enko is backed by investors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Anterra Capital, Finistere Ventures, Nufarm, Novalis LifeSciences, Germin8 Ventures, TO Ventures Food, and Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2479/australia-to-strengthen-information-system-to-support-regional-tomato-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2479/australia-to-strengthen-information-system-to-support-regional-tomato-industry.html Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:33:17 +0530 Working towards biosecurity response to the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus under the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. The Australian Government is working closely with the South Australian Government to support tomato industry workers who were halted due to the impacts of tomato brown rugose fruit virus, and their financial wellbeing is a top priority at this difficult time. South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions is responsible for leading the biosecurity response to the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus under the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. The Australian Government continues to provide support to state and territory governments and domestic industries, and to engage with trading partners to minimise its impact. Minister for Government Services Mr. Bill Shorten said Minister for Government Services Mr. Bill Shorten said quarantined workers would have access to individualized information about government payments and services. “Services Australia has stepped in quickly to provide priority access to its specialist Financial Information Services (FIS) Officers, who can provide comprehensive information on termination payments, superannuation and Centrelink payments,” Minister Shorten said.  “They’ll be working hand-in-hand with the South Australian state government’s taskforce to help these workers through their next steps. While this is an evolving situation, the bottom line is that workers impacted should take advantage of the support available through Services Australia. This includes income support payments such as Job Seeker may be available, but individual circumstances can impact on eligibility, which is why tailored assistance can be so valuable.” Services Australia also provides comprehensive services for those that do not speak English as a first language, including free interpreting and translation services in over 200 languages. Additionally, Pacific and Timor-Leste workers engaged under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme will also receive assistance under Services Australia.  The PALM scheme settings require approved employers to have contingency plans in place for unforeseen circumstances. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to initiate contingency arrangements including redeployment of impacted PALM workers to ensure that they continue to achieve the benefits of participating in the PALM scheme.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2475/qarbotech-to-launch-first-state-of-the-art-factory-in-malaysias-puchong-to-produce-qarbogrow-photosynthesis-enhancement-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2475/qarbotech-to-launch-first-state-of-the-art-factory-in-malaysias-puchong-to-produce-qarbogrow-photosynthesis-enhancement-technology.html Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:21:31 +0530 New $1.5M funding from investors to build a fully equipped state-of-the-art technology capable of producing 100,000 liters of QarboGrow monthly Qarbotech, Malaysia's leading innovator in agritech and biotechnology solutions expanding across Southeast Asia, boosted by new $1.5 million funding from investors including 500 Global, Better Bite Ventures, EQT Foundation, ID Capital, and Epic Angels Limited. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Qarbotech's global growth strategy and demonstrates the company's commitment to bringing its cutting-edge technology to new markets. The seed extension round will enable Qarbotech to deepen its presence in key markets such as Malaysia, as well as grow in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have an increasing demand for advanced agritech solutions.  Chor Chee Hoe, CEO of Qarbotech said “QarboGrow photosynthesis enhancer, is a formulation that utilizes a safe and organic compound with similar properties to chlorophyll. This locally researched formulation helps plants to photosynthesize more efficiently, leading to significant increases in crop yields. We believe that QarboGrow can be a game changer in Southeast Asia to confront the pressing challenges of food security in the face of climate change".  To further support their regional expansion, Qarbotech is opening its first factory in Puchong, Malaysia, equipped with state-of-the-art technology capable of producing 100,000 liters of QarboGrow monthly. “This new facility will not only increase our production capacity but also enable us to meet the growing demand across Southeast Asia more efficiently,” said Amirul Merican, COO of Qarbotech. Khailee Ng, Managing Partner, 500 Global mentioned that the impressive technology may secure additional funding from them to enhance the yield by by 60% in the regions vulnerable to climate change. Expressing confidence in future partnerships with Qarbotech to aid Indonesian farmers, Dr Muhammad Reza Hani, CEO of PT Iceh Agro Indonesia, says, “We are excited to distribute QarboGrow photosynthesis enhancer in Indonesia. Our pilot project in Aceh, across 400 hectares of rice fields, has demonstrated the effectiveness of QarboGrow in improving rice yields and increasing farmers’ income. "  “Qarbotech embodies our commitment to support a more sustainable, climate-friendly food system through transformative technology - with their offering both improving economic outcomes whilst significantly lowering emissions. We are excited to back this dynamic team and their journey to transform the global food system,” said Michal Klar, Founding Partner at Better Bite Ventures. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2465/chinas-grid-zhenjiang-power-supply-company-ensures-international-sales-expansion-for-local-wine-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2465/chinas-grid-zhenjiang-power-supply-company-ensures-international-sales-expansion-for-local-wine-industry.html Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:16:07 +0530 Aims to support the high-quality development of the wine industry in Dingzhuang. China's (Zhenjiang State) Grid Zhenjiang Power Supply Company sent personnel to the grape sorting center in Dingzhuang Village, Maoshan City, to inspect the power supply of two automated sorting lines and compressors in cold storage facilities, aiming to support the high-quality development of the wine industry in Dingzhuang. Known as the "birthplace of grapes in China", Dingzhuang Village has the largest fresh grape production base in Jiangsu Province. Over the past 34 years, the village has cultivated 52 grape varieties including "Kyoho", "Summer Black" and "Shine Muscat", expanding its cultivation area from two mu (about 0.13 hectares) to 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares), with an annual output exceeding 20,000 tons. Currently, Dingzhuang grapes are sold through a nationwide network of more than 2,000 supermarkets and shopping malls and have entered high-end markets in Southeast Asia. In recent years, with the rapid growth of e-commerce, the grape industry in Dingzhuang has also improved its online sales system. To better adapt to this new sales paradigm, the village built a new grape sorting center in 2022, equipped with a 1,600 cubic meter cold storage facility and four additional refrigeration units. In early August this year, five additional chillers were installed, increasing energy consumption by 100 kW. The local power supply department proactively responded by offering customized power solutions, assisting with online applications for new business expansion facilities, and opening a "green channel" to accelerate the connection of a new 400 kVA special transformer in 18 days, a time shortened by 30 days. This rapid response has effectively boosted the development of the local specialty economy and facilitated the export of Dingzhuang grapes to international markets. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2441/rouge-agtech-accelerator-launches-first-of-its-kind-real-world-testing-platform-for-agtech-startups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2441/rouge-agtech-accelerator-launches-first-of-its-kind-real-world-testing-platform-for-agtech-startups.html Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:26:26 +0530 Hong Kong's Rouge Agtech Accelerator, a pioneering force in agricultural technology, has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative that allows Agtech startups the unique opportunity to test and showcase their solutions in a real-world rice farmland. This groundbreaking platform not only provides startups with access to invaluable data on Asian crops and climate but also opens doors to global investors and business growth opportunities. As the Agtech industry continues to expand rapidly, many startups face the challenge of testing their innovations in real-world conditions, a critical step for refining and validating their products. The Rouge Agtech Accelerator addresses this need by offering a comprehensive platform that includes: Real-world testing on 86,000 square metres of rice farmland. Invaluable Asian crop and climate data. Connections to international corporations and investors. The platform’s development draws on world-class operational practices from Thailand, the world's leading rice exporter, ensuring that startups not only test their innovations but also refine them to meet global standards. This integration of local expertise with cutting-edge technology positions the Rouge Agtech Accelerator as a leader in the industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2373/philippines-aims-for-higher-rice-production-under-the-masagana-rice-industry-development-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2373/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/138/2333/philippines-explore-potential-public-private-collab-to-boost-regional-agri-food-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2333/philippines-explore-potential-public-private-collab-to-boost-regional-agri-food-industry.html Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:24:28 +0530 DA and PCFMI, the regional agriculture and food industry departments aims to to strengthen public-private partnerships With the shared vision of a prosperous Philippine agriculture and food industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI) discussed possible areas for collaboration at the DA Central Office, Quezon City. To achieve nationwide food access, affordability, and security, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the government to strengthen public-private partnerships. “Definitely, we look forward to partnerships with private corporations especially with the expansion of our Kadiwa Program as well as the expansion also of our institutional partners for farmer- and fisherfolk-cooperatives that we are supporting. And maybe we can also welcome the farmers and fishermen who have not yet formed or are not yet part of organizations because mostly, the ones we give subsidies to, we would like them to be organized" said Assistant Secretary Velicaria-Guevarra. There were several potential areas for cooperation identified, including developing market links between local food producers and PCFMI member companies, conducting training sessions for agri-youths and cooperatives through DA's Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program, and promoting healthy eating habits. The two institutions also explored the potential expansion of the DA’s Kadiwa Program by tapping PCFMI member-companies as suppliers of affordable, safe, and nutritious produce, thus allowing for a wider variety of products to be sold at the Kadiwa Centers nationwide. Should this materialize, the partnership will be crucial in attaining the Department’s goal of establishing 1,500 Kadiwa Centers nationwide by 2028. “We really would like to help these public-private partnerships especially since agriculture is an input to our processes,” PCMFI Chairman and President Marites Director expressed. The PCFMI envisions to be the lead and voice of the food industry and advocates for safe, nutritious, and sustainable supply of food that are compliant to local, national, and international laws and regulations. To date, it is composed of 102 member-companies that are engaged in the local manufacture and distribution of essential commodities of various food categories. With its strategic focus being on innovation, food safety and nutrition, robust and scientifically-based regulations, and sustainability and food security, the PCFMI has been partnering up with different stakeholders including the government sector for a more sustainable and resilient food industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2330/singapore-food-agency-sfa-continues-to-forge-strong-ties-with-the-food-industry-achieving-significant-progress.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2330/singapore-food-agency-sfa-continues-to-forge-strong-ties-with-the-food-industry-achieving-significant-progress.html Mon, 29 Jul 2024 10:48:45 +0530 SFA celebrates five years of strong collaboration with the food industry Singapore Food Agency (SFA), in close partnership with the food industry, has made significant progress in enhancing food safety and security despite facing multiple challenges over the past five years.  This collaborative effort has resulted in some key accomplishments. Transforming farming spaces and optimising farm development SFA spearheaded an initiative involving industry stakeholders and the public to reimagine Lim Chu Kang's potential as an agri-food hub that can raise food production in a climate-resilient and resource-efficient manner. With the ideas and suggestions from industry stakeholders, potential innovative concepts for the future Lim Chu Kang include stacked farming and centralised waste treatment facilities. These ideas create better efficiencies and lay the groundwork to develop Singapore's flagship agri-food hub of the future. In further support of the industry’s growth and development, SFA introduced comprehensive industry guides tailored for both sea-based and land-based farms. These guides aim to expedite farm development, thereby enhancing local food production. Farmers can refer to them for essential information regarding regulations, administrative procedures and timelines for starting their ventures. These guides were developed after receiving feedback from companies, exemplifying how we can all work together to create an environment conducive to the growth of Singapore's agri-food industry. Responding swiftly to food supply disruptions In the face of food supply disruptions, the strong industry networks and ties with overseas partners also shine through. From responding to Malaysia's export ban on live chickens to mitigating the threat of disruptions due to disease outbreaks, our proactive measures ensure minimal disruptions to Singapore's food supply. The close partnership between SFA and the industry has allowed us to adapt swiftly and secure sufficient food sources for Singaporeans. SFA will continue to work with food importers to forge new partnerships and accredit new food sources. Enhancing the food safety ecosystem The assurance of food safety is a joint responsibility of the food industry, consumers, and government. All parties have a role to play in ensuring food safety. For example, SFA fortifies the food testing ecosystem through the Laboratory Recognition Programme, a network of private testing laboratories recognised by SFA to provide quality test results. These laboratories are recognised for their capability to support the industry’s food safety testing needs. This helps to reduce lead times for food export certification and reinforce consumer confidence. By working hand in hand with industry partners, we maintain high standards of safety so that Singaporeans have access to safe and wholesome food. Supporting research and innovation in food As a country with limited resources, we will need to transform our agri-food industry through innovation and technology for our food security needs. The Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund supports the agri-food sector to adopt technology to enhance its productivity, resilience, and efficiency. Its scope has expanded over time to encompass a broader range of food types and address higher energy costs. To drive innovative research projects in urban agriculture, aquaculture, future foods and food safety, the government has also allocated over $300 million under the Singapore Food Story (SFS) R&D Programme. Supporting local farms and local produce Recognising the importance of promoting local produce, SFA works closely with the industry to engage businesses and the public alike. The formation of the Alliance for Action (AfA) for Local Produce Demand Offtake and Consumer Education in February 2023 helps to bridge the gap between supply and demand, while educating consumers on the significance of supporting local agriculture. For instance, the AfA has led to the formation of an industry-level supply and demand aggregator, spearheaded by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF). SAFEF will partner traders and food processing companies via longer-term commercial aggregator contracts to better match supply and demand. This gives certainty to both producers and buyers and allows better price negotiations. Another outcome is the onboarding of businesses to the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme (FTTRP) which started in March 2023. Under the programme, a green logo is awarded to businesses in the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering sector that procure at least 15% of their fresh produce ingredients from local farms for the following food categories: hen shell eggs, leafy vegetables, beansprouts, fish, mushrooms and quail eggs. Businesses can use the FTTRP logo to brand and market their businesses as being environmentally conscious, using fresher produce and supporting Singapore’s food resiliency. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2306/indonesia-emphasizes-the-significance-of-smallholders-in-the-palm-oil-industry-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2306/indonesia-emphasizes-the-significance-of-smallholders-in-the-palm-oil-industry-supply-chain.html Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:23:09 +0530 Major palm oil companies, such as Asian Agri, have long been committed to addressing smallholders concerns like certifications costs, audits, and workforce training. Smallholders play an essential role in the palm oil industry supply chain as Indonesia is the world leader in crude palm oil (CPO) production and exports. Apart from contributing significantly to the country's economy, smallholders play a crucial role in maintaining the palm oil industry. Data from the Indonesian Palm Oil Statistics 2022, provided by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), reveals that out of the approximately 16.83 million hectares of total oil palm plantations in Indonesia, 6.21 million hectares or 40.51% are owned by smallholders. Private plantations cover 8.58 million hectares (55.92%), while the remaining 0.55 million hectares (3.57%) are under large state-owned plantations. A significant portion of oil palm produced by smallholder plantations is often sold on a small scale because they lack legal registration. Key challenges include land ownership regulations, bureaucratic obstacles creating legal uncertainty, and limited access to resources and financing, impeding the adoption of sustainable practices. Asian Agri actively supports its smallholders in obtaining certifications, addressing documentation costs, audits, and workforce training. The managers of smallholder oil palm plantations fall into two categories: scheme smallholders, who have contractual ties or credit agreements with palm oil mills, and independent smallholders, lacking such connections in selling their fresh fruit bunches. According to the Plantation Statistics Book 2021-2022, around 2.5 million smallholders are engaged in oil palm cultivation in Indonesia, comprising both scheme and independent smallholders. Airlangga Hartarto, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, acknowledges that despite their substantial land contributions, smallholder plantations yield less compared to those of private companies and state-owned enterprises. Major palm oil companies, such as Asian Agri, have long been committed to addressing these challenges. The company partnered with more than 300,000 smallholders covering more than 100,000 hectares of plantation. Currently, Asian Agri manages 30 plantations, 22 palm oil mills, 1 kernel crushing plants, and 11 Biogas plants. In 2022, Asian Agri launched the Asian Agri 2030 initiative, dedicated to ensuring sustainable oil palm cultivation through partnerships, suppliers, and employee engagement. The initiative aims to protect the environment, forests, ecosystems, wildlife, and communities, including the welfare of smallholders who, by 2030, are projected to account for 60% of Indonesia’s palm oil production. Within the Smallholder Partnership pillar of AA2030, Asian Agri reinforces replanting programs for smallholders, targeting a doubling of their income by 2030. The company aims to increase income from fresh fruit bunches by replanting oil palm trees and resolving technical challenges in harvesting oil palm. As part of Asian Agri's commitment to supporting smallholders, economic, social, and environmental impact is emphasized. Asian Agri has been actively assisting smallholders in obtaining certifications since 2012. Independent and plasma smallholders can be guided to obtain the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, and independent smallholders for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The company partners with scheme smallholders by providing them with access to financing, technical support, training and guidance for effective, sustainable, and efficient palm oil harvesting and management. Asian Agri has also assisted them in obtaining RSPO and ISCC certifications. Currently, we are working with them to obtain the ISPO certificates. Committed to smallholder success, the company reinvests a portion of its sustainable palm oil profits into support programs. 2022 initiatives focused on enhancing agronomic skills, promoting livestock cultivation, and improving village and plantation infrastructure. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2260/korea-advances-government-sponsored-fund-management-system-to-upscale-agriculture-startups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2260/korea-advances-government-sponsored-fund-management-system-to-upscale-agriculture-startups.html Mon, 01 Jul 2024 11:24:42 +0530 Support Entire Growth Cycle of Startups in Agriculture by setting up a financial support of KRW 47 billion in 2024 Minister Song said that the ministry would expand and advance the government-sponsored fund management system designed to nurture young entrepreneurs and startups in the field of agriculture. Young Farmers Fund, the current sole government-sponsored fund of the kind, has reached a limit for providing a systematic support for young entrepreneurs and agricultural startups. To overcome this limit, the ministry will set up a new fund for providing financial support for each growth stage of an agricultural startup by October this year and substantially increase the fund’s size from KRW 15.2 billion in 2023 to KRW 47 billion in 2024. This way, the ministry will establish the government-sponsored fund management system of supporting the entire growth cycle of a startup.   Out of a total of KRW 47 billion in the new fund, KRW 7 billion will be financed to a startup on the initial stage of starting a business; KRW 20 billion to a startup on the growth stage; and KRW 20 billion to a startup on the stage of inviting a follow-up investment. Also, the ministry will make efforts to expand private investment in agricultural startups. To this end, the ministry will amend the Act on Formation and Operation of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Food Investment Funds so that startup accelerators can act as a fund management firm of the government-sponsored fund for agricultural startups. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2245/philippines-da-celebrates-126-years-of-nurturing-agri-fishery-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2245/philippines-da-celebrates-126-years-of-nurturing-agri-fishery-sector.html Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:06:11 +0530 Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), with its vision of achieving Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., continues to implement programs and projects towards food sufficiency and a higher income for farmers and fisherfolk.  This year, DA celebrates its 126th founding anniversary with the theme, “Kagawaran ng Agrikultura, Sama-samang Naglilingkod para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas' which translates to "Department of Agriculture, Working Together for a Prosperous New Philippines" The celebration highlights the initiatives of the Department under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. focused on expanding agri-fisheries for increased production, modernizing agriculture and fishery production systems, and developing and improving post-harvest facilities and infrastructure. Secretary Laurel, during his keynote message during the kick-off ceremony on June 24, 2024, expressed gratitude to the entire staff of the Department for their dedication and commitment to serving farmers and fisherfolk. The agri chief urged the DA family to continue doing their best and support his leadership in implementing various projects, particularly the four-year action plan. “We see and appreciate the things that you do for the Department and for our clients. Thank you for building the foundation for DA’s successful delivery of its programs, projects, services, activities, and services,” Usec. Umali, who chaired the 126th DA Anniversary Committee meeting, addressed all staff and officials of the Department. On June 23, 1898—just 11 days after the proclamation of the Philippine independence—the then Department of Agriculture and Manufacturing became one of the first government agencies that was established under the First Philippine Republic under the administration of President Emilio F. Aguinaldo. After a series of renaming and restructuring throughout its 126 years of existence, the DA solidified itself as the primary government agency for the promotion of agricultural development in the Philippines by formulating, implementing, and evaluating data-driven policy framework, public investments, and support services for both domestic and export-oriented agri-fishery-based businesses ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2243/golden-agri-resources-supports-suppliers-of-palm-oil-products-in-aceh-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2243/golden-agri-resources-supports-suppliers-of-palm-oil-products-in-aceh-indonesia.html Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:03:25 +0530 Aims to achieve 100% No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) through the Supplier Transformation initiative Golden Agri-Resources Ltd’s supports suppliers of palm oil products and their derivatives in Aceh Province to achieve 100 percent No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) through the Supplier Transformation initiative. In 2023, GAR’s suppliers in Aceh achieved a 99.5 percent “Delivering” status using the NDPE Implementation Reporting Framework (IRF). This is on track with the Company’s target to achieve 100 percent “Delivering” status for its global palm supply by the end of 2025. GAR is committed to supporting palm oil supply chain transformation and meeting global sustainability requirements. The Company’s next target is to help 10.000 independent oil palm farmers in Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau, and West Kalimantan and realise a 100 percent deforestation-free supply chain globally by 2025. The Supplier Transformation initiative in Aceh includes outreach, discussions, workshops, and technical guidance to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly supply chain. The target audience of these initiatives is oil palm farmers, palm oil sales agents, and companies that own palm oil mills. Currently, 34 mills in Aceh contribute to GAR’s supply chain. The most recent Supplier Transformation initiative was a joint workshop in southern Aceh. GAR collaborates with Wilmar and Musim Mas, which also have supply sources in Aceh. This collaborative effort is the response of the three palm oil companies to overcome deforestation in southern Aceh, especially in the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve area. By tracking the coordinates of palm oil mills, collecting data on agents and plantations, and closely monitoring land conversion, the Company demonstrates a solid approach to monitoring for deforestation and being able to offer a traceable supply chain. “Independent farmers are part of the Company’s supply chain and need to be supported to increase crop yields, gain market access, and reduce the risk of land conversion. In North Aceh Regency, Perkumpulan Sejahtera Pelita Nusantara (PSPN), a group consisting of 270 independent farmers, succeeded in obtaining Roundtable on Sustainability Palm Oil (RSPO) certification thanks to assistance from the Sawit Terampil programme,” he explained. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2237/malaysia-sets-to-expand-its-palm-oil-exports-to-south-africa-and-the-middle-east.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2237/malaysia-sets-to-expand-its-palm-oil-exports-to-south-africa-and-the-middle-east.html Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:11:01 +0530 Malaysia’s palm oil industry contributes around 23% of the global supply Egypt remains Malaysia’s key trading partner as the government sets to expand its palm oil exports to South Africa and the Middle East. Malaysia's Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Egypt, consumes about 1.2 million tonnes of palm oil annually. I am confident that Egypt’s strategic geographical location would enhance our nations’ economic prosperities. In our discussions, I emphasised to the Egyptian government regarding Malaysia’s commitment to providing Egypt with a steady supply of high quality and sustainable palm oil certified by our locally-developed certification standard, MSPO. I look forward to further cooperating with His Excellency Dr Ali to ensure mutually beneficial trade relations. On May 28, Minister Johari had opened the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) Egypt 2024 in Cairo, marking the second edition of the event aimed at enhancing the exports of Malaysian palm oil and its derivatives in the North African region. He emphasised the critical role of Malaysian palm oil in the global market and its contributions to sustainable agribusiness. Johari said whereas a hectare of soybean produced 0.5 metric tonnes of oil and sunflower 0.8 metric tonnes, oil palm produces 3.3 metric tonnes of oil The forum, hosted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) in Cairo, attracted industry leaders, stakeholders, and experts from Egypt, Malaysia, and beyond, with key representatives from major Malaysian palm oil suppliers in attendance. With the theme “Malaysian Palm Oil — Paving the Way for Sustainable Agribusiness,” the event underscores Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable practices. It also aligns with global environmental imperatives and highlights the strong bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Egypt. Minister Johari highlighted that Malaysian palm oil producers are already in compliance with global standards on sustainability. He added that Malaysia had intensified its engagement sessions with other countries because of the global concern for sustainability. Malaysia’s approach to palm oil was four-pronged: protecting forests; sustainability; planning production areas; and, complying with international law. Malaysia exports some 800,000 metric tones of palm oil and related products to Turkiye. The country has signed various international agreements to reduce methane gas and carbon emission levels. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2221/philippines-to-launch-new-da-prri-facilities-in-zamboanga-sibugay.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2221/philippines-to-launch-new-da-prri-facilities-in-zamboanga-sibugay.html Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:19:52 +0530 The soon-to-rise facilities in Zamboanga Sibugay has gained reputation as the “Rubber Capital of the Philippines” for its 80,000-hectare rubber production A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed between the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and the DA-Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI) on June 13 to establish the "Research and Development buildings, Experimental station, and Propagation Nursery" of the DA-PRRI in a seven-hectare lot within the DA-Integrated Zamboanga Sibugay Research and Extension Services (IZRES) in Region IX. The soon-to-rise facilities in Zamboanga Sibugay has gained reputation as the “Rubber Capital of the Philippines” for its 80,000-hectare rubber production—shall serve as important facets of the DA-PRRI’s research, development, and extension functions as well as the implementation of its initiatives for the Philippine rubber industry. “Through collaborative efforts, as attested by the execution of this landmark agreement, we shall attain the goal of Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas. With this endowment, PRRI stands poised to establish a sanctuary of development for rubber growers, ensuring that no one is left behind,” DA-PRRI Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Eusala said. The DA-PRRI was created by virtue of the Republic Act No. 10089 mainly to propagate and promote Philippine rubber trees for the production of latex and raw materials, to capacitate local rubber farmers and processors for increased productivity and profitability, and to kick-start research and development (R&D) projects on rubber, among others. Currently, it has been addressing the threats posed by the occurrence of rubber tree pests and diseases, ensuring the steady increase in rubber prices, and encouraging more Filipinos to engage in rubber farming and processing through the provision of technical support and the promotion of modern technologies and facilities for a more efficient rubber production in the country. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. acknowledged the DA-PRRI, as a vital institution in the advancement of the Philippine rubber industry and in supporting the livelihood of over 700,000 rubber growers in the country. “The Department of Agriculture pledges to continue to collaborate to bring forth a robust rubber industry. We renew our commitment to ensure the delivery of accurate, efficient, and effective public service in the agriculture industry,” the Secretary reaffirmed. The MOA signing was also attended by DA-Regional Field Office IX Executive Director Engr. Marcos Aves Sr. as well as Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Dr. Ann Hofer, the latter being the author of the RA 10089. “This ceremonial signing comes at a time when prospects are improving for farmers and stakeholders and a multifaceted intervention will truly revive this industry. I have full trust that you will continue to lead in finding solutions to age-old issues and new challenges within the industry. I will be doggedly pushing for you to craft a comprehensive strategy for the development of the rubber industry in Zamboanga Sibugay, other areas of Mindanao, and the entire country, focusing on leveraging advanced technology, enhancing capacity-building, and training initiatives for farmers and stakeholders,” Gov. Hofer expressed ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2211/zespri-announce-first-three-pilots-from-its-new-innovation-fund-zag.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2211/zespri-announce-first-three-pilots-from-its-new-innovation-fund-zag.html Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:15:30 +0530 The $2 million annual fund designed to attract innovative problem solvers to address key challenges in kiwifruit industry New Zealand headquartered, Zespri has announced the first three pilots from its new innovation fund, ZAG. These pilots will focus on the colour of RubyRed kiwifruit, the tracking of kiwifruit bins, and the use of biochar on kiwifruit orchards. ZAG has been designed to allow Zespri to accelerate its kiwifruit innovation work through broadening its efforts through collaborating with global innovators, with an impressive range of ideas submitted from around the world. The $2 million annual fund launched late last year is designed to attract innovative problem solvers to help address some of the key challenges the industry faces as it meets the growing demand for kiwifruit.An Innovation Steering Committee chaired by Zespri’s Chief Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability Officer Jiunn Shih has been evaluating ideas submitted by prospective solution providers which support projects that are focused on four core priorities for Zespri: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit; (2) Initiatives that are good for people; (3) Initiatives that are good for the environment; (4) And initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry.The first solution selected to move into the pilot phase involves Zespri evaluating the consistency of the colour of its RubyRed Kiwifruit, which is in its third year of commercial production.“Our pilot will explore ways we can have better visual consistency with our RubyRed Kiwifruit that will encourage the fruit to produce more of the natural anthocyanins that cause the red fruit colour. As our newest kiwifruit variety, we continue to build our knowledge so we can meet the strong demand we are seeing with this six-month pilot involving one RubyRed orchard” explained Jiunn Shih. The second pilot is centred around improving the traceability of kiwifruit harvest bins with GPS devices. Each bin will have a unique location identifier with tracking information collected and displayed to users on a software platform. "This 12-month pilot is designed to help improve the challenge of efficiently managing bins in the supply chain. Having a record of real-time harvest bin movements within or between regions is also important in the event of a biosecurity incursion that affects fruit, such as fruit fly” adds Jiunn Shih. Pilot three involves a 12-month field trial of biochar on kiwifruit orchards – biochar is a carbon-rich material known to improve soil nutrient availability, sequester carbon and improve soil drainage and aeration. While biochar has been used with other crops, this pilot will assess whether it will help improve kiwifruit orchard soil characteristics and therefore possibly improve vine productivity and fruit quality. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2200/philippines-stakeholders-are-charting-the-future-of-digital-agriculture-says-irri.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2200/philippines-stakeholders-are-charting-the-future-of-digital-agriculture-says-irri.html Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:02:08 +0530 Policymakers, scientists, technology experts, and farmers convened to contextualize the current landscape, identify barriers and opportunities, and chart the future of digital agriculture in the Philippines The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna became a hub of digital agricultural innovation as it hosted the Philippine leg of the highly anticipated ICTforAg 2024. This year’s theme, “Localizing Impact through Inclusion, Inspiration, and Innovation,” underscored the need to tailor digital solutions to local agricultural landscapes' unique challenges and opportunities.  Co-hosted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the Department of Agriculture Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), ICTforAg kicked off with an opening program where Dr. Yvonne Pinto, IRRI Director General warmly welcomed the participants, and highlighted IRRI’s commitment to driving digital innovation in the sector “Together, we are leveraging information and communication technologies to drive transformative change in the agriculture sector,” she stated. The event, attended by a diverse mix of policymakers, researchers, farmers, and technology enthusiasts, showcased the intersection of agriculture and technology in the Philippines. An exhibit viewing session also commenced where attendees explored cutting-edge technologies and initiatives that promise to transform agriculture. The keynote address, delivered by Engr. Christopher Morales, DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, discussed the government’s efforts to integrate digital tools into rice farming practices. “As we look to the future, we envision a Philippine agriculture sector where digital technologies are a cornerstone of our national growth. However, this journey cannot be without challenges, and we must address issues such as digital literacy among farmers, infrastructure limitations, and data security,” said Usec. Christopher Morales. In the face of climate change and fluctuating market prices, a shift to a more digital landscape in the agriculture sector can highly benefit farmers. In the Philippines, high labor costs are key factors in the country's lower rice production efficiency. To remain competitive, farmers can adopt ICT tools such as satellite remote sensing, drone mapping, and digital literacy programs. These technologies can boost yields, enhance productivity, and ensure food security. Through several breakout sessions and plenary talks, ICTforAg delved into these various innovative projects and programs revolutionizing agriculture in the Philippines. Topics like linking producers and consumers through digital platforms, data-driven decision-making, and the digital agriculture landscape in the Philippines, highlighting tools like D4AgPH and the Global Market Intelligence Platform (GloMIP), showcased innovative applications of precision spraying using vision-based velocity estimation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2007/oman-investment-authority-launches-5-2b-future-fund-oman-to-fund-national-investment-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/2007/oman-investment-authority-launches-5-2b-future-fund-oman-to-fund-national-investment-projects.html Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:30:54 +0530 Fund will be looking to invest in a variety of sectors, with a special focus on eight critical sectors including manufacturing, green energy, fisheries, agriculture, ports, logistics and more In line with the national directive to boost Oman's economic development and attract international investors, Oman Investment Authority (OIA) has launched the 'Future Fund Oman' with a robust capital of $5.2 billion. Designated for deployment over the next five years at a rate of approximately $1 billion annually, the Fund will allocate 90% of its capital to investing directly in commercially and economically viable new or existing large-scale projects located in Oman. The Fund will also allocate 7% of its capital towards funding support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the remaining 3% is set to be invested in startups. Future Fund Oman is designed to partner with a diverse array of investor categories, including private sector entities, business proprietors, foreign investors, SMEs, and startups. The Fund will be looking to invest in a variety of sectors, with a special focus on eight critical sectors which are tourism, manufacturing, green energy, fisheries, agriculture, ports and logistics, mining, and information and communication technologies. This focus is intended to rejuvenate these vital sectors and contribute significantly to Oman's broader economic objectives. In realization of its role to diversify the economy, the Fund will not be looking to invest in any oil and gas and real estate projects. H.E. Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, OIA's President, highlighted that the Fund acts as a catalyst for economic diversification and is a reliable partner for investors worldwide. Additionally, it has a strategic focus on empowering the private sector, attracting FDI, empowering SMEs, and fostering venture capital.   Interested investors can apply directly on https://futurefund.om/futurefund/ for easy access to financing information. Create an account, answer questions, and submit the Investment Opportunity Form for consideration. Application review may take up to three months with regular updates on status. Required documents vary based on project phase and nature. The Fund will adhere to OIA's quality standards, which have already positioned the Authority in second place globally in the Governance and Sustainability Development Index between 2022 and 2023. Governed by an Investment Committee and an Advisory Committee, the Fund ensures strategic alignment with broader economic objectives while overseeing investment decisions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1952/dubai-farms-programme-launched-to-support-emirati-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1952/dubai-farms-programme-launched-to-support-emirati-farmers.html Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:02:26 +0530 Offers services, workshops, incentives, partnerships, scientific analytic supports and more aimed at aiding Emirati farmers who own productive agricultural projects H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Development and Citizens Affairs, has launched the “Dubai Farms” programme, offering a host of services and incentives aimed at supporting Emirati farmers who own productive agricultural projects. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed stressed the vital importance of local agriculture in Dubai, and the need to develop and sustain it to reflect His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visions and objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33 to focus on building the capacity of strategic sectors and to contribution to the emirate’s economy,. “Today we launched the ‘Dubai Farms’ programme to support productive Emirati farmers, by offering them a full suite of incentives and services that support the development of the emirate’s agriculture sector and enhance the sustainability of crops, all leading to enhanced contribution to the emirate’s GDP. We will continue our efforts to make Dubai’s agriculture more productive and sustainable,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “People are the focus of Dubai’s future vision, while sustainability, leadership and competitiveness are its key pillars. Our strategic priorities include supporting Emirati farmers and promoting the culture of local agriculture, which helps solidify Dubai’s food security systems and ensure a sustainable future in which the next generations are self-sufficient. We have issued directives to establish a farmers’ association that brings together amateurs and professionals alike, to ensure continuity of jobs in agriculture. Agriculture is key to Dubai’s sustainable future, and it is our responsibility to ensure our citizens and the next generations enjoy the best life has to offer,” he concluded. Comprehensive package of services and incentives to Emirati farmers Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said the ‘Dubai Farms’ programme, to be implemented by Dubai Municipality, aims to offer farmers a comprehensive package of services and incentives, including workshops, regular lab testing, partnerships, social support and other incentives that help their farms continue operating and become highly productive, all in support of Dubai’s Food Security Strategy. The programme’s objectives are strategic priorities to build sustainable food systems and enhance the sustainability of food sources, which ultimately raises Dubai’s prosperity and quality of life. A comprehensive programme aimed at supporting Emirati farmers and promoting local farming, ‘Dubai Farms’ offers, through Dubai Municipality, farming consultation services, subsidised farming supplies, required lab testing, pest control services as well directing farmers to meet local market needs, and contracting with a specialised distributor of crops. The programme will also launch several events including the “Best Home Garden” competition, the Gulfood Agrotech exhibition, as well as the “Local Dates Week” which will be organised next July to celebrate the popular fruit. During the recently held Gulfood exhibition, Dubai Municipality signed a cooperation agreement with GMG to market and sell farmers’ products. GMG will collect, package and market the crops across local outlets. Other incentives offered include offering competitive prices for farming supplies, machinery and irrigation systems. The “Dubai Farms” programme will also see the organisation of the “Plant Your Food” initiative, which aims to encourage house gardening, the Hatta Farming Festival and other seasonal farmers market events. In addition to launching the farmers’ association, the Smart Farming Platform, which supports Dubai Municipality’s digital transformation efforts, will help provide technical details, improve efficiency and raise awareness among farmers. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1943/philippines-launches-several-agri-projects-in-bataan-with-p5-million-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1943/philippines-launches-several-agri-projects-in-bataan-with-p5-million-investment.html Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:56:38 +0530 Releases grant for the establishment of a permanent KADIWA in Limay, Bataan to boost food security and higher income for farmers Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel , Jr. on turned over P5-Million under the Enhanced Kadiwa  Financial Grant for the establishment of a permanent KADIWA in Limay, Bataan as part of the government’s push for food security and higher income for farmers.   The P5-million KADIWA project will benefit 28 farmers’ cooperatives and associations with a total 3,826 members. The project cost includes the P1 million trading capital to support the center. “A permanent KADIWA store in Limay promises affordable, fresh, and safe food for local consumers while providing farmers with increased income opportunities. However, this is just the beginning: more initiatives are needed to sustain this momentum,” said Sec. Tiu Laurel. The agri chief also witnessed the signing of an agreement among the DA, local government unit of Limay, Bataan Peninsula State University, and Limay Polytechnic College for the launch of another Zero Kilometer Food Project. Zero KM, an initiative launched last year in the towns of Hermosa and Dinalupihan, promotes healthy eating while minimizing cost and impact on the environment by consuming locally-grown fruits, vegetable and other agricultural products. “Implementing this concept at the grassroots level within municipalities is where its true impact lies. It addresses the critical issue of food supply and demand at the local level, echoing concerns that resonate at the provincial and national levels. This grassroots approach fosters a deeper understanding, better planning, and effective management of our food systems,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said. “By promoting agriculture at the barangay level, we create efficient systems that ensure food reaches consumers without delay, nutrient loss, cost overruns, price manipulation, or unnecessary intermediaries. This, in turn, lays the groundwork for data-driven interventions aimed at meeting local needs and exploring export opportunities,” he added. Sec. Tiu Laurel also helped launched Limay Invests for Farmers’ Triumph, or LIFT, a collaboration between the Limay LGU and private sector partners like MENSCH Fil-Am Corp. and the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program to help empower local farmers by providing them interest-free loans. The agri chief also helped unveil Anthony Villanueva Farm’s drip-fertigation system, which uses water enriched with soluble fertilizers and micronutrients and delivered to crops using drip irrigation to improve quality and yield. The system was also adopted successfully at the 1Bataan Farms in Dinalupihan. The modern farming approach, he said, “underscores the importance of science-based methods in Philippine agriculture.” The DA seeks to modernize Philippine agriculture through mechanization, infrastructure development, and adoption of science-based approaches to increase food production, ensure food security, and lift millions of farmers and fisherfolk out of poverty ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1862/arkadiah-technology-sings-mou-with-singapores-nus-centre-for-remote-imaging-sensing-and-processing-crisp.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1862/arkadiah-technology-sings-mou-with-singapores-nus-centre-for-remote-imaging-sensing-and-processing-crisp.html Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:56:36 +0530 Partners for groundbreaking research leveraging satellite data for enhanced carbon estimation for more precise and scalable monitoring, reporting and verifying forest carbon projects. Arkadiah Technology has signed a MoU with Singapore's NUS Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP) to collaborate on groundbreaking research leveraging the power of ground-truth and satellite data for enhanced carbon estimation. Arkadiah has implemented and is currently supporting pilots with over 15 projects in Southeast Asia and Australia on pre-feasibility/feasibility studies and carbon stock digital measurements.By combining the expertise in on-ground measurements and CRISP’s capabilities in remote sensing analysis, the partners will work together to develop cutting-edge methodologies for more precise and scalable monitoring, reporting and verifying forest carbon projects. The collaboration to drive innovation and greater climate impact through robust data to accelerate understanding of tropical forest carbon dynamics and to scale nature-based solutions through innovative approach. Arkadiah’s platform to cover the rich biodiversity and landscape of Southeast Asia: Recently, Arkadiah successfuly closed its seed funding round led by Golden Gate Ventures, with the participation from The Radical Fund and Money Forward Venture Partners (HIRAC FUND). Arkadiah revives degraded land through AI-enabled nature restoration. Nature-based climate solutions could provide estimated 30% of the mitigation needed till 2050 to achieve the 1.5℃ target of the Paris Agreement. However, nature restoration projects are currently met with long, cumbersome and manual processes from project development, monitoring, and credit issuance. This hinders much-needed funding, scaling, and speed. Arkadiah’s proprietary platform uses AI, LiDAR, satellite imagery and ground truthing to provide transparent and verifiable data with scientific rigour. Digitising the end-to-end process for project developers, landowners and corporations, the platform streamlines deployment of nature-based climate solutions, such as reforestation and agroforestry for high quality carbon removal and advancing biodiversity-rich ecosystems. Southeast Asia region saw 82% growth in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions between 1990 and 2020, mainly from fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, land use change and forestry. Unchecked growth in emissions could cause the region’s GDP to fall as high as 37% in a severe scenario of 3.2℃ rise in temperature. With 15% of the world’s tropical forests, key biodiversity hotspots, and agriculture-dependent economies, Southeast Asia is strategically primed to have nature-based climate solutions play an outsize role towards meeting the region’s climate ambition. With the new funding, Arkadiah plans to enhance their AI models, expand their product offerings and be in a strong position to scale with project developers, natural climate investors, land owners and corporations. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1849/japan-to-launch-nile-jz-a-domestically-produced-autonomous-flight-drone-for-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1849/japan-to-launch-nile-jz-a-domestically-produced-autonomous-flight-drone-for-agriculture.html Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:58:10 +0530 Specializes in autonomous flight and can be operated by one person from March 2024. Tokyo Headquartered Nile Works Co., Ltd. will launch a domestically produced autonomous flight drone "Nile" that specializes in autonomous flight. This will be a first event using the aircraft "Nile-JZ" developed by the High-Spec Drone Development Consortium. Agriculturists can take this opportunity to experience the ease of advance preparation and stress-free flight experience that can only be achieved with fully automatic flight operation. Nile Works will contribute to solving problems caused by agriculture and food by utilizing domestically produced autonomous flying drones. Nile Works is keen on solving farmers' problems with its easy to operate "Nile-JZ" model which is a drone designed from dialogue with farmers enabling automatic flight. Furthermore, Nile Works is also developing cultivation support and agricultural work matching services using AI image analysis. Overall, it aim to improve the economic efficiency of cultivation, improve crop quality, and reduce environmental impact. Nile Works uses technology to solve problems caused by agriculture and food. To educate farmers on the simple use of drone as a compatible Agri tool, Nile Works has organized a seminar for farmers on March 2024. Farmers will be trained to operate the drone in-person in 3 major locations: At Hokkaido area in Bibai City, Tohoku area: Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Kanto area: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. In addition, the session will include, lectures on Aviation Law, Pesticide Control Law, and other related laws and regulations, characteristics of "Nile-JZ", automatic flight mechanism, precautions for safe flight In the Practice sessions farmers will be given practical training on basic operation, surveying, transportation, cleaning, and inspection of "Nile-JZ", and how to respond when trouble occurs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1853/heifer-international-and-fruitpunch-ai-promotes-data-access-for-women-farmers-in-nepal.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1853/heifer-international-and-fruitpunch-ai-promotes-data-access-for-women-farmers-in-nepal.html Mon, 19 Feb 2024 07:17:42 +0530 Launches Artificial Intelligence Challenge in Nepal Global development organization Heifer International and FruitPunch AI, the global community educating and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good, launched the AI for Women Farmers Challenge — a project to develop AI tools to help rural women farmers in Nepal leverage data to improve their livelihoods. The project aims to help women-run agricultural cooperatives extract and translate their own data on financial, business and other activities, which the co-op members can then use to improve their access to markets, financing, product traceability platforms and more. The AI for Women Farmers Challenge will use FruitPunch AI's trailblazing method of recruiting highly skilled volunteers from the AI for Good community to solve a specific problem in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals over the course of a focused 10-week technical collaboration. In Heifer International's decadeslong work supporting women smallholders in Nepal, a key vehicle for economic and social empowerment is the organization of agricultural cooperatives, which provide technical, production and financial services to their member farmers. However, a digital divide prevents farmer cooperatives from easily using and benefiting from their own data as most information, such as sales, loan and production records, is stored on paper ledgers, out of reach of the digital ecosystem. "This Challenge represents a significant milestone with immediate benefits for rural women entrepreneurs," said Antoinette Marie, director of Heifer Labs, a digital technology unit within Heifer International that collaborates with country programs to co-create technology interventions that deliver farmer value and accelerate Heifer's organizational goals. "By empowering them with digitized versions of their own data, we're boosting their market presence, optimizing their business processes, and strengthening their ability to secure essential growth capital." The Challenge will use AI Optical Character Recognition (OCR) models to extract, digitize and translate Nepali handwritten and typeset text from photos and scans of existing paper records. Bridging the digital divide in this way will enable farmers to easily search, analyze and obtain insights from various types of existing records, such as financial, cooperative capacity, livestock breeding and agricultural production.  The Challenge will have two phases: The first will tackle Nepali data extraction and translation via AI OCR models, which will enable search and analysis of different types of paper records. A second follow-on Challenge will create data structures from these results, focused on a specific use case, such as financial data to stimulate formal lending to farmers.  FruitPunch AI volunteers involved in the Challenge will build on their existing programming, data and AI skills, while being mentored by experts to become a certified AI for Good Engineer. At the same time, they will deliver immediate impact to women smallholders in Nepal by helping them receive value from their own data. "By joining forces with Heifer Labs, we will be able to educate AI engineers with sustainable AI skills while helping women-run farms reach the digital economy and grow their businesses," said Sako Arts, CTO and founder of FruitPunch AI. Heifer International began operating in Nepal in 1997, working alongside local farmers to improve food security and reduce poverty by providing technical support to strengthen agricultural value chains, promoting environmentally friendly farming, and improving access to affordable inputs and services. To date, Heifer Nepal has supported over 400,000 families, organized into 277 agricultural cooperatives — all working under the Social Entrepreneur Women Alliance, an apex governing body led by progressive women farmers ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1845/korea-proposes-farmer-company-cooperation-for-wider-adoption-and-strengthening-of-contract-farming-practices.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1845/korea-proposes-farmer-company-cooperation-for-wider-adoption-and-strengthening-of-contract-farming-practices.html Fri, 16 Feb 2024 11:06:16 +0530 "Ministry to amend its contract farming support programme to create Win-Win Cooperation between Farmers and Companies" says  KWON Jaehan, Deputy Minister of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Office, the Ministry of Agriculture KWON Jaehan, Deputy Minister of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, on his visit to Keundolchan Co., Ltd., a farming corporation and a partner of CJ Freshway Corp., discussed the ways to strengthen farmer-company cooperation for wider adoption of contract farming practices and listened to voices in the industry.  In June 2023, Keundolchan received investment from CJ Freshway and adopted smart farming. The farming corporation has since been delivering all of its produce (worth KRW 840 million in 2023) to the food catering company.  Deputy Minister Kwon said: “Contract farming is a form of transaction with many advantages, because it allows companies to secure a system for a stable supply of agricultural raw materials and provides farmers with an assured buyer to purchase their produce with little volatility and uncertainty for a longer term. Importantly, given that smart farming makes it possible to secure stable supply and quality assurance, smart farming will be more widely used for contract farming.”  The ministry will set up a platform for contract farming information sharing this year to help companies and farmers find out their business partners more easily. The ministry will also provide support for various activities to expand farmer-company cooperation such as pilot-scale cultivation being carried out prior to contract farming, as well as develop and distribute a standard contract form for contract farming. In addition, the ministry will amend its contract farming support programme. Under the amended progamme, the existing 3-year support period will be extended for another three years in the case that a type of farming is replaced by smart farming during the period of contract farming. The ministry will also improve the operation of the progamme. For instance, loans will be provided to farmers through the “Comprehensive Smart Farm Fund” (worth KRW 100 billion in 2024) on the condition of building smart farming facilities, and the loan approval period will be shortened as well. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1834/australia-launches-18-different-portfolio-online-tool-to-shape-the-future-of-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1834/australia-launches-18-different-portfolio-online-tool-to-shape-the-future-of-agriculture.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:17:00 +0530 For setting strategic direction and to engage with stakeholders in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sector Australian has launched a new online tool to encourage a wider variety of applicants to apply for government boards across Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sector. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio Boards Register enables eligible applicants to register their interest to be on one of the boards. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said "There are 18 different portfolio boards that fall under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sector. They reflect the different needs of the portfolio – from primary producers, to research and development corporations, to examining drought preparedness across the food and fibre industry". "Given the broad cross-section of topics these boards look after, we’re hoping to see a wider range of Australians putting their hands up and get involved on these boards. This includes more women, more young people and more indigenous Australians" added Minister Watt hoping to see new and upcoming talent who have an interest to shape the future of agricultural work stepping forward. “Working on a portfolio board is a great opportunity to participate in setting strategic direction, engage with stakeholders and are to work with the Government on growing our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors to create more sustainable, productive and profitable food and fibre industries. It would be great to see this breadth of the public and the industry reflected in the portfolio boards" iterated Minister Watt. The initiative is expected to promote better resource management practices, innovation, sovereign capability, and improved access to international markets. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1810/3rd-edition-of-eu-japan-green-transition-matchmaking-event-to-stage-on-15-22-feb-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1810/3rd-edition-of-eu-japan-green-transition-matchmaking-event-to-stage-on-15-22-feb-2024.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:01:00 +0530 Ideal B2B platform for enterprises, research and educational institutions and other related organisations The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is organising an EU-Japan Green Transition Business Matching Platform, that aims at bringing together companies, startups and research organisations from Japan and Europe for partnerships that contribute to a low-carbon society. The platform was launched on 3 January 2024. The matchmaking event is stage on 15-22 Feb 2024. The Centre partners with various stakeholders in Japan to mobilise Japanese corporations. In partnership with many stakeholders in Europe and Japan, the EU-Japan Centre organises an “EU-Japan Green Transition" matchmaking event for the third year in a row. The event is for companies as well as research organisations from Japan and EU interested in building business partnerships that contribute to a low-carbon society. EIC beneficiaries have a great chance to promote their Green Transition solutions on this platform. The EU-Japan Green Transition platform offers opportunities for online meetings on 15-22 February 2024 and onsite meetings in Tokyo during the Smart Energy Week/ Green Transformation Week on 28 Feb - 1 March.  Online pitching and other webinars are part of the agenda. The platform will also be open to hosting webinars related to the Green Transition topic.The main target areas are:- Electrolysers and fuel cells- Battery/storage technologies- Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies- Grid technologies- Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies- Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies- Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) technologies- Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies- Low-carbon construction and manufacturing/ green materials- Product lifecycle management (PLM) and Recycling Access to this platform is reserved for representatives of enterprises, research and educational institutions and other related organisations, that are active in the above target fields and based in Japan, the European Union or Single Market Programme (SMP) countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1812/uks-bright-tide-launches-the-regenerative-farming-accelerator-programme.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1812/uks-bright-tide-launches-the-regenerative-farming-accelerator-programme.html Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:29:17 +0530 Ten aquaculture startups join Bright Tide's inaugural regenerative farming accelerator Bright Tide, an environmental consultancy in the UK, has announced the launch of its first regenerative farming accelerator- connecting 20 ventures from around the world to integrate land and ocean farming practices. Bright Tide aims to encourage a nature-informed approach to food production for improving soil health, boosting terrestrial/marine biodiversity and carbon sequestration, as well as providing resilient, long-term livelihoods for farmers around the world. The participants in the first accelerator represent diverse farm sizes, geographical locations and agricultural sectors. At sea, they are: Algapelago, Atlantic Mariculture, Pine Island Redfish, Aquit, Three-Sixty Aquaculture, Ficosteera, Healthy Seaweed Cafe, Oyster Restoration Company, Ole Blu and Sea Ventures. On land, they include: Nunwell Farm, New Foundation Farms, Wildfarmed, Gentle Farming, Sea Water Solutions, Agreed Earth, Tierra Foods, Chirrup AI, ReGeneration and Afro Valley.”In the face of such pressing issues as biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity, our commitment to nurturing sustainable practices is more pertinent and urgent than ever,” explained Harry Wright, Bright Tide’s CEO and founder, in a press release.The belief that regenerative farming is a feasible and necessary solution is also shared by the accelerator’s partner organisations: Hogan Lovells, Muzinich & Co, Kennedys, Ecosulis, CreditNature, Barclays, Cadman Capital Group, Next Energy Group, Boatfolk and Bankers for NetZero. Bright Tide hopes that by harnessing the benefits of both systems, the programme will maximise resource utilisation and ensure a holistic approach to sustainable food production. And they believe that fostering collaboration across these different farming communities will allow for fresh knowledge exchange and encourage the adoption of regenerative practices on a larger scale. The three main pillars of the programme are high-level networking, upskilling, and fostering collaboration between the ventures. A three-step agenda A series of exclusive in-person networking events at the offices of Hogan Lovells on 22 February and the House of Commons on 4 March, 2024. These events will provide ventures with the opportunity to network and connect with potential new customers, policy makers and investors. An 8-week virtual programme that will take place between mid-March and mid-May 2024. This will offer over 20 hours of free technical, advisory, and pro bono legal support to the cohort. Bright Tide has confirmed that global experts, mentors and private sector organisations from around the world will deliver this support. A showcase pitching event will also occur at the Barclays offices in Canary Wharf on 24 May. At this event, ventures will have the chance to pitch their business in front of an audience of up to 150 potential supporters, customers and investors. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1767/apac-civil-society-organizations-and-private-sector-convene-to-foster-regions-agrifood-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1767/apac-civil-society-organizations-and-private-sector-convene-to-foster-regions-agrifood-systems.html Mon, 29 Jan 2024 07:16:00 +0530 Prepares for Inter-governmental discussions towards transforming future for region's food security Civil society organizations (CSO) from Asia and the Pacific are preparing for participation in a major multilateral conference aimed at charting a course for the region’s food security and agrifood systems transformation. The CSO participation in FAO’s 37th Session of the Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37) will aim to add a collective voice among civil society organizations during their contributions to discussions at the Conference – a biennial governing body session of some 46 FAO Member Nations from across the region. The CSO’s finalized their positions, in advance of APRC37, during a virtual consultation this week. In parallel to the CSO meetings, an online consultation amongst private sector entities is ongoing. Representatives from the private sector will also have an opportunity to provide contributions to the FAO’s regional governing body session. Organized by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the #APRC37 will convene, in-person, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Host Country, 19-22 February 2024, with high-level representation of government ministers and leaders from across the vast region. The purpose is to review proposals and decide upon a course of action to transform the region’s agrifood systems, making them more fit-for-purpose and to ensure food security for billions of the region’s inhabitants. The FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu will also travel from FAO headquarters in Rome to participate in the high-level Ministerial Session. Collective front-line wisdom an asset for the FAO Asia-Pacific conference The CSO consultation process in the Asia-Pacific region, and opportunity for CSOs to make interventions at FAO’s Regional Conferences, has evolved since 2010, with broad-based support from the region’s civil society communities and FAO. Following on from that success, the innovative private sector consultations were also considered very successful during the last APRCs. “From the experience gained together, I am convinced that with taking due consideration of the views of various stakeholders, such as civil society  and private sector, FAO’s Members and their policymakers may better define the actions they need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, particularly those related to ending hunger and poverty,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, during his opening remarks to the CSO meeting. The regional CSO meeting, supported by FAO and organized virtually by host CSOs in Sri Lanka, was attended by 100 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region, representing various constituencies including small-scale producers, fishers, pastoralists, indigenous peoples and landless organizations, rural and agricultural workers, women and youth organisations and NGOs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1917/australia-to-build-agri-workforce-through-added-grants-and-schemes-for-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1917/australia-to-build-agri-workforce-through-added-grants-and-schemes-for-2024.html Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:01:00 +0530 Aims to support agriculture careers through the Agriculture Workforce Working Group (AWWG), fee-free TAFE places, improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Agriculture sector is a vital source of employment in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia employing around 262,000 people. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said since the Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022, the Government has been working closely with the agriculture industry to find solutions that address workforce issues that had been ongoing for years. “The Government has successfully worked with industry to identify opportunities to support ag careers through the Agriculture Workforce Working Group (AWWG), fee-free TAFE places, improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, and more,” Minister Watt said. “The AWWG achieved agreement on principles that underpin labour hire licensing and contributed to key government processes including the Employment White Paper and Migration Review. It has also been pivotal in securing agreement to undertake a Food and Supply Chain Capacity Study that will help inform Australia’s training, higher education, and migration systems to best meet industry needs. Training Australians is key to building the agricultural workforce, which is why we have provided funding for more than 13,000 fee-free TAFE places for agriculture courses with more than 11,950 enrolments in 2023. Our Cultivating the Next Generation project, done in partnership with AgriFutures, has investigated ways to encourage young people to consider how agriculture can provide a rewarding career beyond the classroom. Whether it’s at the cutting edge of technology or driving sustainability, working on the land, in a lab or from an office, agriculture has something for everyone ” explains Minister Watt. The PALM scheme Government has also worked to further to expand and improve the PALM scheme. The PALM scheme is a temporary labour migration program between Australia and the Pacific and Timor-Leste. “We are responsibly growing the scheme, with better support for our Pacific neighbours and employers to participate in the scheme and improved conditions for workers. In 2023, we reached record numbers of PALM workers demonstrating the importance of this program to Australia’s ag industry. There are more than 38,145 PALM workers in Australia, with the majority working in agriculture (25,889 workers) and the meat processing (10,041) sectors. Expanding and improving the PALM scheme continues to help employers across Australia engage the right workers where and when they need them. A sign of the of the continued success of the program is that the fact that more and more employers continue to sign up to participate. I am excited about the future of agriculture and as we go into 2024, I look forward to building on last year’s momentum and seeing what new ideas the newly established Agricultural Workforce Forum can uncover” explains Minister Watt. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1742/philippines-unveils-3-year-plan-to-boost-food-production-make-farming-fishery-viable-investment-option.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1742/philippines-unveils-3-year-plan-to-boost-food-production-make-farming-fishery-viable-investment-option.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:06:42 +0530 The multi-year program will cost around P93 billion Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. unveiled his plan to increase agricultural productivity, lower food cost, ensure food security, and make farming and fisheries a more bankable investment alternative. “Our goal is to modernize Philippine agriculture to spread benefits across  the entire value chain. Farmers and fisherfolk should get fair value for their produce, prices of goods should be affordable,  while traders, processors and retailers should be able to generate  reasonable profits. It’s important to address the decades old inequity where  farmers and fishers do not really benefit from the fruits of their labor. We also envision to make farming and fisheries viable for investors and a career option for young Filipinos,” he said.  To achieve this vision, the agriculture secretary laid out a three-year plan that involves: expanding and improving available agri-fishery areas to increase production mechanize and modernize agriculture and fishery production systems develop and improve post-harvest systems and infrastructures develop efficient logistics systems for input and production output improve and expand market access digitalization proper balancing of both the development and regulatory role of the Department of Agriculture strong partnership with farmers, fisherfolk, and the private sector To expand production areas in both land and water, Sec. Tiu Laurel said DA needs to establish new irrigation facilities, zoning, and identification of key areas as well as enhancing existing infrastructures. The DA has started to build post-harvest facilities that will increase rice and corn inventory by 23 days to help lessen grain imports without increasing production areas and just reducing post-harvest losses. The multi-year program will cost around P93 billion which could be recovered in under nine years, Sec. Tiu Laure explained.  "DA will also appoint an assistant secretary for logistics to help optimize costs for everyone involved in the value chain, from producers down to consumers. This initiative involves streamlining transportation, distribution and management processes for inputs and outputs, aiming to achieve a sustainable and cost-effective agricultural system,” added the agriculture Chief. Secretary Tiu Laurel further added "a multi-year program to digitalize DA operations seeks to uplift the agri-fisheries sector by equipping decision makers, food producers, and consumers with accessible technology and advanced tools. Accurate and real-time data will enable stakeholders to make smarter, data-driven decisions and efficiently manage emergencies and day-to-day operations". The DA chief is also looking at pushing legislative reforms to update certain laws and regulations that will allow the agency to act more nimbly and respond more timely to challenges facing the farm and fisheries sector. In addition, DA is also looking at improving market access and reach for Philippine agricultural products to empower farmers and fisherfolk to increase their income and make the sector a viable investment alternative and farming a career option for the next generation.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1741/grow-asias-executive-director-in-singapore-revels-goal-and-trajectories-for-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1741/grow-asias-executive-director-in-singapore-revels-goal-and-trajectories-for-2024.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:59:54 +0530 Beverley Postma, Executive Director, Grow Asia reveals Grow Asia's projections with the Theme "Consolidate, Focus, and Scale" though four public-private programs and funds: GrowVentures, GrowHer, GrowRight, and GrowBeyond The multi stakeholder partnership platform in Southeast Asia, Grow Asia works to catalyze inclusive agriculture development by convening governments, farmers, NGOs, private sector and other stakeholders co-create value chain initiatives aimed at empowering smallholder farmers and protecting the and environmental sustainability of agriculture. Grow Asia was established by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Grow Asia's work guided by four operating principles: Smallholder-focused, keeping the farmer at the center of all initiatives and investments Country-led and locally-driven, owned by stakeholders and aligned with national plans, strategies and goals. Multi-stakeholder and inclusive, engaging government, private sector, international organizations, civil society, farmer organizations and others. focusing on catalyzing and expanding sustainable, inclusive investments and market-based activities Beverley Postma, Executive Director, Grow Asia in her recent statement, projected Grow Asia's goals with the theme "Consolidate, Focus, and Scale" through four public-private programs and funds: GrowVentures, GrowHer, GrowRight, and GrowBeyond. Executive Director of Grow Asia says, "We know the only way to deliver transformation at scale is to increase equitable access to both technology and finance to the millions of SMEs and smallholder farmers who lie at the heart of our agri-food ecosystem. To do this, we must double down on our partnership efforts to forge effective global > regional > country impact pathways, connecting people, technology, and financial services in a way that offers a ‘win-win’ for all. This is the only route to achieving impactful global change at scale". "We must also continue to challenge silos by disrupting the fragmentation that is now our biggest barrier to scalable outcomes. The value of isolated, satellite and bilateral partnerships has waned. The time has come to work together to harvest the learnings from these projects by creating strategic, multi-stakeholder mechanisms that integrate the limited resources of individual actors - governments, companies, philanthropies, and civil society to deliver impact that is greater than the sum of their parts. With effective coordination, this approach will both streamline and amplify efforts to deliver sustainable economic growth across the region. At Grow Asia, we are committed to equipping the millions of enterprises in Southeast Asia that are integral to the sustainability of our future with the technology and financial services they need. We cannot do this without the ongoing support of our 660+ partners and I look forward to working with you this year to transform dialogue into opportunities, and commitment into action" adds Beverley Postma. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1692/philippines-to-strategize-farm-production-by-modernizing-agriculture-food-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1692/philippines-to-strategize-farm-production-by-modernizing-agriculture-food-production.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:01:04 +0530 "Philippines could dramatically narrow agricultural trade deficit of total $11.8 billion in 2022 (around P660 billion), or four times the budget of the DA in 2024" says DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel  Jr.  Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel  Jr. has announced that Philippines Department of Agriculture is set to unveil next week its strategy to modernize agriculture and boost the farm sector’s production capacity and contribution to the domestic economy, especially in improving the lives of farmers and fisherfolk as well as creating more jobs. Laurel rallied the DA employees to focus on the challenge of producing more food for Filipinos even as the country faces a prolonged dry spell in the first part of the year. Tiu Laurel enjoined DA employees to stay focused on the goal of modernizing the country’s agriculture sector to achieve food security and lessen agricultural imports in 2024. Tiu Laurel has visited various DA offices around the country and has inaugurated new irrigation and other facilities, and consulted local officials, farmers, fisherfolk and other agriculture stakeholders to determine a better course of action and gather support to achieve President Ferdinand Marcos’ vision of a modern farm sector and better lives for farmers and fishermen.  Tiu Laurel also spoke of the need for more timely farm and market statistics, adaption of new technologies, and farm mechanization. He visions that by producing more locally, the Philippines could dramatically narrow a yawning agricultural trade deficit that in 2022 total $11.8 billion, around P660 billion, or four times the budget of the DA in 2024. Money paid for by consumers for imported agricultural commodities could go instead to the pockets of farmers and fisherfolk, and fuel investment in the agriculture sector that employs four in every 10 Filipinos ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1687/trimble-announces-connected-climate-exchange-links-farmers-to-companies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1687/trimble-announces-connected-climate-exchange-links-farmers-to-companies.html Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:01:48 +0530 Trimble has lauched Connected Climate Exchange, a carbon marketplace to connect and aggregate verified data across the agriculture supply chain to enable a more sustainable future. To meet net zero commitments, Trimble offers new opportunities for industry stakeholders to quantify their sustainability efforts, scale their businesses with climate offerings and ultimately minimize the negative effects of climate change. Trimble's Connected Climate Exchange creates a streamlined process for aggregating data across farm organizations and verifying this data for emissions reductions and removals buyers. By connecting an ecosystem of farmers, agronomists, ag retailers and carbon buyers in one marketplace, the Connected Climate Exchange enables participation in carbon markets and sustainability programs that were previously too time-consuming and complex. A Farmer-First SolutionAs a key participant in the carbon market since 2007, Trimble offers high-quality, in-field data in a platform solution that allows smooth data integrations. Over the past 17 years, Trimble has sold over 4.5 million tonnes of agricultural carbon offsets in Canada, generating over $50 million for farmers. For more than 40 years, Trimble has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers and farm service providers to develop innovative agriculture solutions that drive productivity, efficiency, profitability and sustainability. Through this work, Trimble is now able to help stakeholders across the agriculture value chain get closer to a net zero future.  The Trimble Connected Climate Exchange works seamlessly with Trimble Ag Software and other third-party farm management tools to: Centrally manage sustainability projects and customers Perform calculations to report on carbon emissions, reductions and removals Provide reporting and visualization to sustainability impacts Calculate payments where applicable Generate cross-sector supply chain insights "One key roadblock to other carbon programs has been data aggregation. Trimble has been on the farm and collecting data for decades," said Dietmar Grimm, vice president, corporate strategy and sustainability, Trimble. "Through its data aggregation capabilities, the Connected Climate Exchange is able to deliver quantifiable and verifiable reports, validated by independent third-party MMRV (measure, monitor, report and verify) providers. This documentation is subject to annual third-party audits that track carbon emissions reductions and removals within the agriculture supply shed at scale." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1660/china-held-two-agricultural-forums-on-modern-agricultural-development-in-nanjing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1660/china-held-two-agricultural-forums-on-modern-agricultural-development-in-nanjing.html Thu, 21 Dec 2023 20:14:00 +0530 Wu Kongming, President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences calls for improving overall arrangements for basic research, technology R&D, support facilities, and the promotion and application of R&D results Chinese agriculture and rural affairs 2023 Forum was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The Forum was followed by the Forum on Modern Agricultural Development in China. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences President, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, attended the event.   Wu pointed out that to achieve the goal of building up China’s agricultural strength at a faster pace, it is imperative to improve overall arrangements for basic research, technology R&D, support facilities, and the promotion and application of R&D results; coordinate the integrated allocation of systems, projects, talent, and funds; and apply advanced technologies in agriculture and rural areas to ensure the stable and safe supply of grain and major agricultural products, propel all-round rural revitalization, and achieve high-quality agricultural development.  Wu put forth the following proposals:  1) Make breakthroughs in key technologies and strive to develop a group of core technologies and products with independent intellectual property rights in areas such as seed resources  2) Stick to demand-oriented development and strengthen grassroots systems and teams responsible for agricultural technology promotion  3) Work hard to improve the overall performance of innovation systems and address challenges in agricultural S&T development such as fragmented or duplicate efforts and a low commercialization rate  4) Focus on establishing platforms and training talent, and push for building agricultural labs, observation and experimental stations, and testing bases 5) Continuously stimulate innovation, further promote the classification and evaluation of talent and achievements, and establish an institutional system with effective incentives and forceful constraints.   The forums included themed events such as announcements of agricultural achievements, presentations and high-level dialogues with academicians, exchanges among universities co-sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and a youth report on soybean breeding.  A total of five special reports were released at the forums, including  Major Progress in Agricultural Sciences in China, 2023; Analysis of China's Global Competitiveness in Agricultural S&T Papers and Patents, 2023; Major New Technologies, Products and Equipment in Chinese Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 2023; Research Hotspots and Frontiers in Global Agriculture, 2023; and Report on Innovation in Chinese Agricultural Enterprises, 2023.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1622/fpt-vietnam-and-faeger-to-jointly-support-businesses-in-developing-green-agriculture-in-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1622/fpt-vietnam-and-faeger-to-jointly-support-businesses-in-developing-green-agriculture-in-vietnam.html Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:40:51 +0530 The cooperation aims to promote technology development in the field of agriculture and forestry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the green transition process in Vietnam. FPT Corporation - The leading enterprise in digital transformation in Vietnam and the region and Faeger - A pioneering company in decarbonizing-oriented agricultural development in Japan, signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly research and develop consulting services and digital transformation solutions for businesses in the field of Agriculture in Vietnam. Takahiro Ishizaki, FPT's Chief Executive Officer, and Yusuke Takai, FPT's Chief Operating Officer, were in attendance at the event as was Tran Duc Tri Quang, Chief Data Officer of FPT IS. FPT plays the role of creating and expanding the green transformation ecosystem in the domestic agriculture and forestry sector. FPT is also responsible for connecting organizations, businesses and the Vietnamese farming community. At the same time, the company will provide comprehensive services from consulting to implementing technology solutions to optimize management, reduce emissions and improve efficiency in agricultural and forestry production. Faeger is committed to contributing professional knowledge, experts and connecting funding sources from the Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) to support Vietnamese organizations and businesses to promote green transformation and ensure financial support for implementing projects. Feager also shared planning methods for effectively using Japanese investment capital for agricultural projects. Takahiro Ishizaki, highly appreciated the opportunity to cooperate with FPT to promote green transformation in Vietnam. He shared: "Through this cooperation, we will fully support decarbonizing businesses, and contribute to increasing income for Vietnamese farmers thanks to our environmental farming efforts. This will become a typical project in the field of decarbonized agriculture, creating a premise for effective replication in Vietnam and the region." Tran Duc Tri Quang also affirmed: "Green transformation is no longer a slogan, it has become an inevitable direction for any business that wants to participate in the global market. Determining the mission and strategy of promoting technology to realize green transformation in Vietnam, FPT is investing resources and building technology strategies to accompany the Government and other organizations and units to pioneer in achieving the Net Zero goal". ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1499/ifad-and-grow-asia-to-modernize-agriculture-in-southeast-asia-with-digital-tools.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1499/ifad-and-grow-asia-to-modernize-agriculture-in-southeast-asia-with-digital-tools.html Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:25:17 +0530 SEEDS aims to accelerate and scale-up social and economic development for small-scale farming families in Cambodia, the Philippines and Viet Nam The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Grow Asia launched the Smallholder Economic Empowerment through Digital Solutions (SEEDS) project with financial support from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). SEEDS aims to accelerate and scale-up social and economic development for small-scale farming families and poor rural people in Cambodia, the Philippines and Viet Nam through digital and ICT solutions. Southeast Asia is home to 660 million people across 10 countries, and has seen incredible change in recent decades, driven by the rapidly increasing availability and adoption of technology. But while digital technology has brought unprecedented opportunities and sources of income, a persistent digital gap means that small-scale farmers and rural people have been unable to tap into these new opportunities. SEEDS aims to leverage strong partnerships to bring localized solutions that bridge this gap, and ensure truly inclusive growth in the region by helping them to access services to modernize their farms and agri-enterprises. It will directly benefit 48,000 people, as well as 30 start-ups and 150 government officials across the three countries at the national or subnational level. “Around 150 million adults in Southeast Asia still lack access to digital technologies, and rural people are especially left behind. Collaboration is essential to ensure that everyone has access to, and can benefit from, the wide opportunities the new digital economy opens up,” said Reehana Raza, Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific, IFAD. “SEEDS is an initiative that attempts to bring all partners together to enhance digital inclusion, so that technology can be a real force for good.” While the interest in leveraging digital technologies to improve service delivery for small-scale farmers is growing rapidly among the governments of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and response from the private sector is picking up, there are policy and regulatory barriers that limit the uptake of innovations in service provision. Some of these barriers are low digital literacy; a gap in coverage because of poor or limited mobile internet connectivity; and inadequate data privacy policies and regulations. SEEDS will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the policy and regulatory landscape influencing the uptake of digital innovations in smallholder agriculture, with a focus on policies that promote connectivity in rural and remote regions. The goal is to collaborate with government and private sector partners to enhance the supportive policy and regulatory framework for smallholder digital technologies. In addition, SEEDS will engage governments, agribusinesses, technology, and support organizations in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam to identify specific digital initiatives that can be supported. It will also link to existing IFAD country programmes and interventions, aligning with already existing digital components and initiatives. It will identify promising digital solutions that have already been developed and piloted through IFAD-funded projects in the three countries to be strengthened and scaled up. Importantly, the grassroots farmer organizations that work with IFAD-funded projects can allay concerns of small-scale farmers, especially those related to data privacy, and act as the last mile provider of services and training to members. To that end, SEEDS will assist these organizations in acquiring digital literacy and mastering the use of relevant digital technologies. This will allow small-scale farmers to be integrated into the evolving digital technology landscape, and to achieve higher farm productivity and incomes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1457/cropx-technologies-partners-zuari-farmhub-to-boost-precision-farming-in-india.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1457/cropx-technologies-partners-zuari-farmhub-to-boost-precision-farming-in-india.html Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:00:15 +0530 Aims to revolutionize farming practices by introducing real-time monitoring technology that empowers farmers with data-driven insights CropX Technologies, a global agri-tech company specializing in digital agronomic solutions has partnered with Zuari FarmHub, a leading agritech company in India. The collaboration aims to revolutionize farming practices by introducing real-time monitoring technology that empowers farmers with data-driven insights for enhanced productivity and sustainability. Zuari FarmHub initiated trials of the CropX system at Zuari Agri Innovation Centre in Solapur as well as select farmer fields across Karnataka & Maharashtra. CropX offers a state-of-the-art hardware-enabled system that monitors critical agronomic parameters in real-time. These smart devices collect predictive soil data, combining it with additional data sources in and around the farm, and agronomic knowledge to generate recommendations on irrigation and nutrient management. This helps farmers to optimize resources and improve crop growth. "We at Zuari FarmHub are thrilled to partner with a pioneering agri-tech company like CropX Technologies, that shares our vision of revolutionizing agriculture through cutting-edge technology," said Madan Pandey, MD & CEO of Zuari FarmHub. "By providing farmers with real-time data and precise recommendations, we are empowering them to maximize yields, reduce resource wastage, and ensure sustainable farming practices." "The collaboration with Zuari FarmHub represents an exciting opportunity to extend the reach of our innovative solutions to Indian farmers," said Tomer Tzach, CEO of CropX Technologies. "By combining our agri-tech expertise with Zuari FarmHub's deep understanding of the Indian agricultural landscape, we aim to re-vitalize industry practices." The collaboration between Zuari FarmHub and CropX Technologies signifies a major milestone in advancing precision agriculture in India. As the pilot progresses, Zuari FarmHub will appropriately roll out the CropX system in other regions of India. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1438/philippines-to-support-budding-agripreneurs-through-young-farmers-challenge-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1438/philippines-to-support-budding-agripreneurs-through-young-farmers-challenge-program.html Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:12:54 +0530 DA’s YFC Program offers financial grant assistance to young Filipinos eager to engage in new agri-fishery enterprises. Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the youth who want to implement their agribusiness venture as it launched the 2023 Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program on September 28, 2023, at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City. Now in its third year, the DA’s YFC Program, which is undertaken in collaboration with the office of Senator Imee Marcos and the Government Service Insurance System, offers financial grant assistance to young Filipinos eager to engage in new agri-fishery enterprises. The grant will serve as initial capital for their intended business endeavor.  “The Department of Agriculture created the Young Farmers Challenge Program to produce the gains of global enterprises with the training and capital they need to make the best of challenges beforehand. Thousands of people have competed in the Young Farmers competitive grant program since its inception. The DA has awarded Php 149 million in grants to 3,000 young entrepreneurs since 2021,” DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said during the launching. This year, the YFC program brings forth two components: YFC Upscale and YFC Intercollegiate Competition. The exhibit showcased YFC awardees’ agricultural products from different regions in the country. YFC Upscale is a head-to-head business pitch competition in which previous YFC awardees will receive additional capitalization of up to Php 500,000 financial assistance to improve and upscale their operations.  Meanwhile, the YFC Intercollegiate competition is a contest for students from State Universities and Colleges, taking up agriculture-related courses.  Senator Imee Marcos highlighted the youth’s potential in agribusiness and emphasized the importance of empowering them to become professional farmer business owners. Aside from providing capital grants, the YFC program also offers various development assistance like coaching and mentoring, product promotion, and business development assistance to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1424/common-fund-for-commodities-cfc-advocates-investing-in-innovation-to-benefit-smallholders.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1424/common-fund-for-commodities-cfc-advocates-investing-in-innovation-to-benefit-smallholders.html Wed, 27 Sep 2023 10:15:48 +0530 As farmer data volumes increase, farmers need to be able to better access, use, and own their data to make informed decisions and data management must be farmer-centered. However, extending technology's benefits to remote smallholder farmers and gathering accurate information about them that can shape effective policymaking is challenging. If this data is unavailable, smallholders risk being excluded from the supply chain. It is also a business imperative for food companies that rely on smallholders, as regulations evolve and consumers become more conscious of a brand's sustainability credentials.  Field data quality is the key to ensure compliance with the upcoming EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR). However, the rigorous farm data required is hard for companies to achieve. It is particularly challenging to get this data within the tropical commodities sector, where around 75% of crops are grown by smallholder farmers. Having partnered with a leading business in the sector will contribute to building more equitable food systems as technology revolutionizes agriculture. Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), is keen to support technological innovations that improve the ability of smallholders to enhance their livelihoods. Recently CFC invested EUR 300,000 in Netherlands-based firm Meridia, which is driving transparency in food chains and ensuring the equitable treatment of smallholder farmers.  From the CFC's perspective, Meridia offers benefits all along the supply chain. The firm specialises in collecting, analysing, and verifying high-quality data in smallholder supply chains. This helps food companies achieve environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and compliance, while building supply chains that are inclusive of smallholders. Meridia helps companies overcome these challenges and prepare for compliance. Through assessing supply chain data and verifying its quality, compliant and none-compliant data are separated. Data verification can also unlock other benefits, such as accurate farmer payments and carbon calculations. Chief Executive Officer Thomas Vaassen describes Meridia as ‘a geospatial data company that puts farmers at the centre of its work to make supply chains transparent, sustainable, and inclusive of smallholders. Tracing commodities back to the farms where they were grown has historically been difficult. But, our software provides accurate farm mapping and field data collection – farms can be mapped even in the most remote locations. As part of several large consortiums, we have taken up important data stewardship activities to secure land rights and tackle issues related to agroforestry for cocoa farmers and cooperatives in West Africa and Indonesia.’’  Collecting this data has numerous advantages for smallholders. ‘They become visible and can access regulated supply chains, sustainability programmes, and investments to maintain a stable income and stop deforestation.’ In addition, farmers gain better insights into their productivity and a deeper understanding of their business. For example, exact farm size and production data enable accurate yield per farm calculations. This verified data also enables smallholders to secure land rights for themselves and future generations. Having land documents embeds prosperity by giving them greater control over land use and the income it generates.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1422/inve-aquaculture-and-aris-globally-launches-snappart-for-shrimp-hatchery-assessment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1422/inve-aquaculture-and-aris-globally-launches-snappart-for-shrimp-hatchery-assessment.html Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:45:13 +0530 Automation to the rescue of the struggle for adequate feed management INVE Aquaculture and Aris introduce SnappArt, a revolutionary solution for ultra-precise Artemia and Rotifer quantification. INVE Aquaculture and Aris, industry pioneers in aquaculture innovation, have collaborated to introduce a game-changing solution for aquaculture hatcheries worldwide. SnappArt, a revolutionary automated live food counting tool, is set to transform the way fish and shrimp growth is managed. This ground-breaking new technology is bound to set new standards for optimal feed management and enhanced production quality. The project was supported by Eurostars, a European funding instrument for collaborative R&D and innovation projects. SnappArt was officially launched on the European market during a product launch event at Aquaculture Europe in Vienna. A roll-out in additional regions across the globe will follow swiftly. Understanding the urgent need for streamlined hatchery feed management solutions, INVE Aquaculture and Aris have jointly developed SnappArt: a revolutionary, fully automated live food counting system. Representing a monumental shift in live food quantification, SnappArt replaces conventional manual counting with a method that requires far less time and effort while offering unparalleled precision. This ground-breaking technological innovation propels hatcheries towards more time- and cost-efficient, sustainable, and consistent live food production. Easy-to-use device with advanced AI powered software Designed with advanced computer vision technology, the SnappArt device looks deceivingly modest. The real innovation, however, lies in the AI driven image analysis software that ensures rapid, precise analysis of samples. And a highly intuitive user interface makes the device remarkably easy to operate. When implemented in the fish or shrimp hatchery, SnappArt revolutionises the assessment of Artemia and Rotifer quality, ensuring consistent and reliable results. With reduced inspection time and data-driven decision-making, hatcheries can boost their profitability, optimise growth ratios, and improve their overall production efficiency. This innovative tool is set to rapidly become a must-have for any hatchery wishing to ensure the consistency and reliability of their production practices. SnappArt’s key features at a glance: Automated Counting: SnappArt replaces labour-intensive manual counting, ensuring standardised practices and consistent output. Deep Learning Model: Empowered by AI technology, SnappArt recognises and counts rotifers and Artemia with unrivalled precision and speed, mitigating the risk of knowledge loss. Swift Data Processing: Accelerated data processing provides instant results visualisation, reducing manual labour and facilitating informed decision-making. Comprehensive Management Software: the SnappArt software and portal allows easy data access, automated analyses, and customisable reports. Main fields of application: Aquaculture Hatcheries: SnappArt simplifies live food counting in hatcheries, from small-scale to large commercial operations, ensuring accurate feeding practices. Research Institutions: Researchers benefit from precise quantification of live food populations for scientific studies, enabling consistent measurements. Larviculture and Fry Production: SnappArt optimises feeding protocols, improving production efficiency, and reducing wastage in larviculture and fry development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1418/fao-isdb-and-ifad-collaborate-to-strengthen-food-security-technologies-for-smallholder-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1418/fao-isdb-and-ifad-collaborate-to-strengthen-food-security-technologies-for-smallholder-farmers.html Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:27:38 +0530 Trilateral cooperation agreement focuses on empowering rural smallholder farmers by providing them with accessible, affordable and adaptable technologies The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have joined hands in a significant partnership agreement aimed at enhancing global food security and nutrition. This trilateral cooperation agreement focuses on empowering rural smallholder farmers by providing them with accessible, affordable and adaptable technologies crucial for ensuring food security. This tripartite agreement represents a synergistic collaboration, harnessing the expertise and resources of FAO, IsDB, and IFAD to empower rural households, uplift smallholder family farmers, and contribute to elevated global food security. Through the integration of cutting-edge technologies into agricultural practices, this partnership seeks to cultivate a sustainable and resilient food supply, fostering prosperity for communities worldwide. These transferable, adoptable, smart agricultural technologies and digital solutions will support the development of low carbon agriculture, improve resilience, contribute to poverty alleviation, create employment and reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks. Aligned with the digital era, this collective initiative aspires to harness innovative tools and approaches with the objective of empowering rural households and smallholder family farmers to thrive despite multifaceted challenges. These technologies and solutions are anticipated not only to improve agricultural productivity but also to pave the way for sustainable, low-carbon practices. By enhancing resilience, reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, and mitigating vulnerabilities linked to climate-induced risks, this partnership emerges as a source of optimism. Dr. Mansur Muhtar, IsDB's Vice President of Operations, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition that confront numerous IsDB Member Countries, particularly among small-scale farmers and pastoralist communities. He stated, "Our partnership with FAO and IFAD will play a pivotal role in identifying technologies suitable for integration into IsDB's Food Security Response Program (FSRP) and other agricultural initiatives." This alliance is poised to usher in transformative change in agricultural sustainability and food security across diverse regions. "The new tripartite cooperation between FAO, IsDB and IFAD will facilitate identification of technologies that have the potential for mainstreaming throughout the crop value chain to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers and food security among the entire populations,” said AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa (NENA). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1399/bayer-collaborates-with-abag-to-encourage-women-protagonism-in-agribusiness.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1399/bayer-collaborates-with-abag-to-encourage-women-protagonism-in-agribusiness.html Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:07:46 +0530 Women of Agro Award launches category to recognize researchers in the sector with an incentive of R$ 15 thousand   Bayer has partnered with the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG) on an initiative that recognizes the protagonism of 45 rural producers from various parts of Brazil. Four researchers are competing for the title and the linked institution will receive R$15,000 as an incentive. Voting is open until October 5. An award category for Science and Research is introduced as an acknowledgment of women's role in various aspects of agribusiness. Bayer invests around 2.8 billion euros per year in research and development because it understands the importance of research for the sector. The sixth edition of the Women of Agro Award will recognize rural producers who adopt agricultural practices anchored in the ESG ( environmental, social and governance ) pillars. The same rule applies to the new category, with the difference that projects with impact or great scientific scope will be valued.  "We want to emphasize the advancement that science and research bring, in terms of sustainability and innovation in agribusiness, while reinforcing how women's protagonism is present both inside and outside the gate", comments Isabela Fagundes, corporate communications specialist at the division Bayer's agricultural sector. Institutions and companies partnering with the Award nominated 19 names for final evaluation. Therefore, to reach the finalists, a technical group carried out evaluations based on the following criteria: lattes curriculum analysis, relevance of projects to sustainability and agribusiness development, in addition to scientific impact, and the relationship with innovation and technology. Since 2018, the Women of Agro Award has recognized rural producers from different regions of the country for their good agricultural practices, with an emphasis on innovation and sustainability. This year, with the change in theme, the awards include property managers and owners who have practices anchored in the ESG pillars. The award covers the first three places in each category (small, medium and large property), which means a total of nine finalists, and the winners will be announced on October 25th, at the National Congress of Agribusiness Women, in conjunction with the announcement of the winner of the Science and Research category. The researchers, nominated by the Award's partner institutions, are: Thais Vieira (USP-Esalq), Débora Milori (Embrapa Instrumentação), Patricia Monquero (UFSCAR) and Mariangela Virgínia (Embrapa Soja). The winner will be chosen by popular vote on the awards website and announced on October 25th, during the National Congress of Women in Agribusiness. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1378/syngenta-launches-agcelerators-campaign-to-promote-collaborative-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1378/syngenta-launches-agcelerators-campaign-to-promote-collaborative-sustainable-agriculture.html Mon, 11 Sep 2023 06:26:00 +0530 Syngenta has launched a multi-media campaign called Agcelerators to encourage creativity, collaboration, and impact for sustainable agriculture. In order to promote more sustainable agricultural practices, the campaign will feature people transforming agriculture and run initially in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  According to the 2019 World Resources Report: “Creating a Sustainable Food Future”, meeting this challenge will require closing three gaps: A 56 percent “food gap” between what was produced in 2010 and food that will be needed in 2050; A nearly 600 million-hectare “land gap” (an area nearly twice the size of India) between global agricultural land area in 2010 and expected agricultural expansion by 2050 An 11-gigaton “greenhouse gas mitigation gap” between expected emissions from agriculture in 2050 and the level needed to meet the Paris Agreement. Sustainability in agriculture involves balancing the need to increase food production with the need to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and ensure long-term viability of agricultural systems. Agcelerators help accelerate the transformation of agriculture in this regard. Through Agcelerators, Syngenta will highlight its enduring commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and support for farmers, showcasing people, products and services that are making a positive difference. The campaign humanizes the efforts through telling real-life stories, demonstrating the positive and tangible impact being made on the lives of individuals and communities around the world. Alexandra Brand, Regional Director, Syngenta Crop Protection, Europe, Africa and Middle East said, "Agcelerators are champions developing and embracing new ideas and establishing new partnerships and ways of working. They are the driving force behind sustainable farming practices that will have a lasting impact on our planet. It is now time we hear their stories.” Syngenta is addressing critical farming challenges while showcasing cutting-edge technologies and pioneering approaches, Syngenta seeks to catalyze a movement that leverages the collective strength of farmers, stakeholders, and the broader community to shape a new era for agriculture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1357/iotechworld-avigation-partners-swiss-company-pix4d-offering-precision-farming-solutions-in-india.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1357/iotechworld-avigation-partners-swiss-company-pix4d-offering-precision-farming-solutions-in-india.html Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:50:51 +0530 Collaboration aims to foster awareness around drone-enabled crop health monitoring and enhance on-farm drone application skills among the rural youths Drone manufacturer IoTechWorld Avigation has collaborated with Switzerland headquartered company Pix4D that specializes in photogrammetry software technology to jointly offer precision farming solutions in the India. The agreement also aims to create employment opportunities for rural youth by preparing them to use drones on farms. IoTechWorld is the manufacturer of India’s 1st DGCA Type certified agri-drone ‘AGRIBOT’ and is the pioneer in this segment. Whereas, Switzerland-headquartered Pix4D is recognized for its Pix4Dfields Software, a cutting-edge solution designed for advanced agricultural mapping. The software process RGB and multispectral data for aerial crop analysis and digital farming. Pix4D has offices in 7 countries across multiple continents meeting the requirements of these as well as neighboring countries. Deepak Bhardwaj, Co-Founder and Director, IoTechWorld Avigation said, “We are witnessing agri-drone revolution in the country and gradually we are moving towards precision farming. Our association is to foster awareness about drone-enabled crop health monitoring.” Anoop Upadhyay, Co-Founder and Director, IoTechWorld Avigation said, “Initially our approach involves creation of awareness among Industry, Researchers, and Academia. Subsequently, we will create awareness among farmers as well.” Expressing the rationale behind the association, Mitul Arora, Business Development Lead - India & South Asia, Pix4D said, “IoTechWorld has drone technology and multi-spectral sensors by the name Sequoia and now they will have our photogrammetry technology too. So, through this association, a one-stop solution will be provided to all, and this will be beneficial for the govt research institutes, crop insurance and other associated specialized tasks.” IoTechWorld and Pix4D collaboratively orchestrated the "India’s largest Workshop for Crop Health Monitoring using drones, with Cody Sokkappa of Pix4D Japan as the lead instructor. Earlier this year, the company got into a partnership with Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd. (SIPL) for the introduction of drone spraying in the agriculture sector across the country.  The agriculture sector in India is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, and technology adoption is at an unprecedented rate, thus this association will allow technology to be integrated more deeply and faster in a variety of agricultural spheres. The Government of India is planning to soon launch a scheme through which women in around 15,000 self-help groups (SHGs) would be trained to fly and repair drones. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1333/philippine-coconut-authority-embarks-into-37th-national-coconut-week-22-aug-to-1-sep.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1333/philippine-coconut-authority-embarks-into-37th-national-coconut-week-22-aug-to-1-sep.html Fri, 25 Aug 2023 11:13:38 +0530 The National Coconut Week aims to empower local industries whether in food or non-food products, in order to promote greater domestic utilization. The Philippine Coconut Authority is set to celebrate the 37TH National Coconut Week from August 22 to September 1 through activities showcasing local coco products such as heirloom recipes among others. PCA Deputy Administrator Roel M. Rosales said during the Philippine Information Agency Press Conference held August 11 that the 2023 National Coconut Week themed “Coconut Industry Modernization: Pillar of a Resilient and Sustainable Nation” will be launched through a “Coco Foodfest”, featuring coco-based food products in a festive manner. The National Coconut Week in particular aims to empower local industries whether in food or non-food products, in order to promote greater domestic utilization. Deputy Administrator Rosales said that the agency promotes coconut-based food, especially local snacks in a bid for the public, especially the younger crowd to lessen fast food consumption and rediscover classic Filipino food. “We want the Coconut week festivity to be the avenue for that (utilization), and we want that this event be promoted accordingly. More so than ever before, this is really the time to go local and patronize our own because we really need to support our coconut farmers. Especially in the time of food insecurity, there is a lot that the coconut industry can offer,” Deputy Administrator Rosales said. PCA is also set to partner with the United Coconut Association of the Philippines through the conduct of a World Coconut Congress at the World Trade Center with experts from the US discussing coconut’s medical properties among others ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1324/indonesia-embarks-on-rejuvenating-778-hectares-of-palm-oil-smallholders-plantation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1324/indonesia-embarks-on-rejuvenating-778-hectares-of-palm-oil-smallholders-plantation.html Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:52:25 +0530 Asian Agri extends multilateral partnership to bring Indonesian smallholders under the cooperative to achieve rapid progress over replanting their plantation In Indonesia, three village unit cooperatives (KUD) partnered with Asian Agri to form a Partnership Agreement (PKS) to distribute funding assistance for the People’s Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR) with the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) and the banking sector. As part of Asian Agri's partner cooperative program, 300 hectares of land are being replanted in Kampung Bukit Agung, Kerinci Kanan District, Siak Regency, Riau, KUD Sumber Rezeki, Kampung Bukit Agung, Kerinci Kanan District, Siak Regency, Riau, KUD Jaya Makmur, Kampung Kumbara Utama, Kerinci Kanan District, Siak Regency, Riau, and KUD Bukit Makmur, Sencano Jaya Village, Batang Peranap District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau. BPDPKS Director of Fund Collection, Sunari, said, “As is known that PSR is a national strategic program as part of the Government’s efforts to increase the productivity of national oil palm plantations. Therefore, through the signing of the cooperation agreement between the 3 parties in this X (ten) phase, it is hoped that synergies will be established between BPDPKS, banks, and Cooperatives or Smallholder Groups to be able to accelerate the target achievement of the PSR program”. The Indonesian Government is supporting Asian Agri's partner smallholders in funding this replanting program through BPDPKS and the banking sector. Oil palm plantations that are ready to be replanted will greatly benefit from the funds. Asian Agri’s Head of Partnerships, Rudy Rismanto explained “that carrying out 100% of the partner smallholder replanting program is one of the first pillar targets in the Asian Agri 2030 sustainability commitment that Asian Agri has launched since February 2022. In achieving the Asian Agri 2030 target, we are always committed to providing assistance to partner smallholders, both providing knowledge about the best oil palm plantation practices, providing high-quality Topaz seeds to optimize productivity, assisting the loan process to finance the process of rejuvenating smallholders’ oil palm plantations, to assisting them to do other businesses outside of oil palm plantations as alternative income. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1311/malaysia-implements-entrepreneur-development-programs-throughout-the-state.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1311/malaysia-implements-entrepreneur-development-programs-throughout-the-state.html Fri, 18 Aug 2023 11:14:22 +0530 For new entrepreneurs to be born and be competitive in the field of agriculture, food industry: Dr Abdul Rahman; Implements programs in Sarawak State (northwest Borneo Island) Malaysia has implemented a number of entrepreneur development programs throughout the state to create new entrepreneurs who are competitive in agriculture and the food sector at the same time. Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister of Utilities and Datuk Telecommunications, said the program designed to improve target group income, namely young people, incorporated digital marketing. The course is organized by the Board Federal Agricultural Marketing (FAMA) State Sarawak attended by 186 CENTEXS trainees and held at Smart Auditorium, CENTEX Santubong Branch. There were 10,649 students trained in this program from 2021 to June 2023, resulting in a total of 685 entrepreneurs with a sales value of up to RM 15.6 million. The government operated program helps students or trainees to gain experience and generate income. A ceremony was held to mark the opening of the Development Course New Breed Marketing Agent Marketing Entrepreneur Junior (NBME) Rank Sarawak State at the Centre Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) Santubong Branch. Dr. Abdul Rahman said “evolution of digital marketing over time proves the effort of the government on focused results. What was introduced by Abang Johari in 2017 is, starting an initiative to move to the transformation of the digital economy”. Member of the Legislative Assembly State (Assembly) Pantai The peace added, the government is also targeting as many as 10,000 entrepreneurs by 2025. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1233/satsure-rabo-partners-to-revolutionize-cash-flow-based-lending-for-smallholder-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1233/satsure-rabo-partners-to-revolutionize-cash-flow-based-lending-for-smallholder-farmers.html Fri, 28 Jul 2023 04:32:00 +0530 SatSure Sage, suite of applications designed to empower lending institutions for farmer financial inclusion, aligns with the alliance's Banking Solution SatSure, a global leader in EO space data applications, announced its partnership with Rabo Partnerships. This strategic collaboration aims to drive the access to cash-flow based lending for smallholder farmers globally. By leveraging satellite data, location intelligence, and machine learning in agricultural loan management, SatSure Sage, a suite of applications designed to empower lending institutions for farmer financial inclusion, aligns with the alliance's Banking Solution. The system provides decision intelligence for farmer credit access, underwriting, portfolio expansion, new customer acquisition, loan monitoring, and loan collection. David Gerbrands (Global Head of Advisory and Inclusive Business Ventures at Rabo Partnerships). "SatSure's and Rabo Partnerships' combined technology, network and capabilities will allow us to help financial institutions strengthen their risk management, collection, and portfolio growth to the agricultural sector, including small holder farmers. Partnerships will increase farmer livelihoods and sustainable Agricultural Finance across the globe!" Prateep Basu, Founder & CEO of SatSure, said "collaboration will empower the agri-lending ecosystem to create innovative financial products for unbanked farmers based on the cash flow model rather than traditional land-based collateral, where digitization is still work in progress." This global partnership will address several challenges faced by banks when developing lending products, including: Continuous monitoring of crop health, stress and associated parameters which impact crop performance and farmer's income potential Farmer credit access problems in developing countries Providing alternate data through SatSure's data products for banks to onboard new to credit and new to bank farmers Efficient risk monitoring and mitigation for post loan disbursement with insights from satellite imagery Efficient planning of loan collections driven by insights from satellite imagery ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1193/palm-oil-stock-in-malaysia-rises-1-92-in-june.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1193/palm-oil-stock-in-malaysia-rises-1-92-in-june.html Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:37:00 +0530 MPOB indicates that crude palm oil (CPO) inventory fell by 0.43% to 917,846 tonnes in June month from 921,800 tonnes in May Malaysia’s total palm oil stock increased by 1.92% to 1.72 million tonnes in June 2023 from 1.69 million tonnes in the preceding month. In its latest industry performance report for June 2023, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said crude palm oil (CPO) inventory fell by 0.43% to 917,846 tonnes in June month from 921,800 tonnes in May. Processed palm oil stock, meanwhile, rose 4.75% to 802,721 tonnes from 766,346 tonnes previously. CPO production decreased by 4.60% to 1.45 million tonnes in June from 1.52 million tonnes in the month before, while palm kernel output went down by 4.67% to 350,516 tonnes from 367,689 tonnes. MPOB said palm oil exports rose 8.59%, or 92,721 tonnes, to 1.17 million tonnes in June from 1.08 million tonnes previously, while oleochemical exports decreased by 3.85% to 218,297 tonnes. Biodiesel exports declined by 4.72% to 12,927 tonnes in June from the preceding month’s 13,568 tonnes. Exports of palm kernel cake fell 25.18% to 133,089 tonnes from 177,877 tonnes previously. Palm kernel oil exports fell 30.90% to 64,819 tonnes from 93,804 tonnes in May. CPO imports stood at 8,469 tonnes in June, while total palm oil imports surged by 67.15% to 135,271 tonnes compared with 80,926 tonnes in the previous month. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1169/philippines-inks-moa-with-ncip-to-address-ip-poverty-boost-agri-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1169/philippines-inks-moa-with-ncip-to-address-ip-poverty-boost-agri-growth.html Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:27:27 +0530 MOA for the implementation of the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP). To resolve persistent poverty among indigenous peoples (IP) in Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) signed on Monday, July 10, 2023 a Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP). The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and improve access to market and services for farmers and fisherfolk in selected ancestral domains in the region. It has a total cost of Php6.6 billion (B), wherein Php 5.3B will be coming from the World Bank loan financing scheme. “MIADP is designed to build the capabilities of local governments to increase the farm productivity and business opportunities of 120,000 indigenous farmers and fisherfolk in six regions across Mindanao. This is a project that corrects a long history of neglect on the part of our government and society,” DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said. Underscoring the importance of the indigenous community in the Southern Philippine region. NCIP Chairperson Allen Capuyan said, "Ang katutubong pamayanan ay isang napaka-significant na sektor sa Mindanao. Almost one half of the Mindanao land area is ancestral domains and also half of the Mindanao population is IP. I am very glad that the MOA signing will formalize everything so that the communities in Mindanao will become resilient, relevant, and responsive." Under the agreement, DA will lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and other relevant activities. It will also provide technical support and assistance and ensure that all activities will be in accordance with environmental and social safeguards. NCIP, for its part, shall select and endorse IPs and Indigenous Cultural Communities and facilitate processes related to the conduct of the program, including the gathering of necessary data such as Ancestral Domain Title, Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim, Certificate of Ancestral Land Title, and other pertinent documents. The MIADP has a social preparation component that will capacitate IP organizations during the first year of implementation. It is expected to commence by August this year and will run until 2028. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1132/philippines-bangsamoro-lawmakers-file-bill-to-boost-production-economic-development-in-agri-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1132/philippines-bangsamoro-lawmakers-file-bill-to-boost-production-economic-development-in-agri-sector.html Tue, 04 Jul 2023 10:04:30 +0530 To effectively deliver microfinance services to rural communities, the program will leverage mobile technology and digital platforms. Philippines Bangsamoro lawmakers are working together for the enactment of Parliament Bill No. 184, or the Bangsamoro Agricultural Microfinance Act of 2023, a measure seeking to provide small-scale farmers and fisherfolks with access to credit, adequate infrastructure, market linkages, and other support services to boost their farm production and income. The proponents of the bill include Parliament Members Amilbahar Mawalllil, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., Atty. Sittie Fahanie Uy-Oyod, Hashemi Dilangalen, and Hamid Malik. Aiming to effectively deliver microfinance services to rural communities, the program will leverage mobile technology and digital platforms. PB No. 184 covers farmers, smallholders, microfinance institutions (MFIs), rural banks, cooperatives, and other community-based organizations that provide agricultural microfinance services in the region. Recognizing the significance of agriculture in the region, MP Mawallil emphasized in the bill’s explanatory note that the sector provides livelihood to 70 percent of the population. Small-scale farmers and fisherfolk in the Bangsamoro region face numerous challenges, such as limited access to credit, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient market linkages, and low productivity resulting from outdated farming practices and climate change. These challenges, Mawallil said, have led to decreased productivity and income for these individuals. PB No. 184 seeks to establish the Regional Agricultural Microfinance Program, which will offer agricultural microfinance services to farmers and smallholders in the region. The program will be developed and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform and will be funded through various sources, including the regional government budget, grants, donations, concessional loans, and loans from commercial banks and financial institutions. Community-based microfinance institutions will be established, and capacity-building programs will be conducted to enhance the financial management skills of community leaders and members. Alarming data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020 revealed that only 16.5 percent of households in the BARMM have savings accounts, leaving a staggering 83.5% of households without any form of savings. MP Mawallil stressed the importance of improving financial inclusion in the region, especially in rural areas where most small-scale farmers and fisherfolk reside.  If the bill is passed into law, it has the potential to provide tailored financial services that can significantly enhance the productivity and income of small-scale farmers and fisherfolk in the Bangsamoro region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1129/australia-grants-au250k-to-boost-agriculture-market-intelligence.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1129/australia-grants-au250k-to-boost-agriculture-market-intelligence.html Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:24:00 +0530 Targets to provide up-to-date monitoring on global prices, futures markets and fertiliser outlook through the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) The Australian government has committed $250,000 to promote a global initiative focused on improving agricultural market intelligence in order to benefit farmers and exporters. Government aims to support greater price transparency across the food supply chain and predictable agricultural trade. Speaking from the 43rd session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation conference in Rome, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said “Australia’s new funding contribution would provide up-to-date monitoring on global prices, futures markets and fertiliser outlook through the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS). It provides a platform for governments around the world to coordinate policy actions and that helps to prevent unexpected price hikes. It is also vital for supporting global food security, and another way in which Australia is helping to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals”. AMIS plays an important role in disseminating trade information and technical market data to support the transparency and proper function of global agricultural markets. This information is vital for farmers to make evidence-based decisions, particularly grains producers and exporters. Farmers will benefit from increased global market certainty and predictability in global markets and supply chains. AMIS systematically compiles information on crop supply and demand monitors and reviews policy developments that affect agricultural markets. Australia has now provided $550,000 in total to support AMIS. AMIS provides data on the following areas:  World supply and demand for commodities such as wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. Crop conditions around the world Global policy developments International prices Futures markets Market indicators Fertiliser outlook Ocean freight markets. Minister Watt continued, “AMIS also supports informed decision-making by policy makers, analysts and those directly involved in the trade. AMIS was launched in 2011 by the G20 Ministers of Agriculture following the global food price hikes in 2007/08 and 2010. It is composed of G20 members plus Spain and seven additional major exporting and importing countries of agricultural commodities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1118/bayers-smallholder-farming-initiatives-strive-to-improve-growers-income.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1118/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/138/1113/angel-yeast-strikes-deals-with-hubei-academy-of-agri-sciences-to-boost-agricultural-industrialization.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1113/angel-yeast-strikes-deals-with-hubei-academy-of-agri-sciences-to-boost-agricultural-industrialization.html Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:18:01 +0530 Collaboration will help Angel Yeast make solid breakthroughs in the organic agriculture sector Angel Yeast  a world leader in yeast manufacturing, recently signed agreements with the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences to conduct research and development initiatives in agricultural microbiology and plant and animal nutrition. The two parties will work together to stimulate agricultural industrialization that will improve efficiency and provide substantial benefits to farmers. Since 2016, beginning with research to set standards and conduct product evaluations, Angel Yeast has conducted a series of cooperative projects with the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences . In 2022, they have intensified their efforts in R&D of microbial products in agriculture based on yeast sources. With its advanced yeast fermentation technologies, Angel Yeast is the forerunner in plant and animal nutrition products that has pioneered many innovations in the industry, from yeast-based organic fertilizers to microbial foods, produced by the company. Qin Xianwu, Chief Engineer of Angel Yeast, said, "This collaboration will help Angel Yeast make solid breakthroughs in the organic agriculture sector while striving to actively integrate into regional, national agricultural development. and global. The recent collaboration builds on Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences ' significant talent and technology platform advantages and Angel Yeast's strengths in commercial operation and integration into the sector, with a focus on: The development of microbial and probiotic products in the field of fertilizers and products intended for animal and aquaculture nutrition. Pursuing innovation in media culture products to diversify the food supply to build a more balanced and resilient food system. Expand the application of organic yeast-based fertilizers in rice, citrus fruits, tea leaves and upland vegetables to ensure food security. In addition to this collaboration, Angel Yeast has also put in place a strategic plan to expand its activities in organic farming to include: Agricultural Food Safety : Leveraging the advantages of yeast fermentation technology, the Company will focus on the development of new, safe and effective feed additives, biostimulants and biopesticides. Alleviating Resource Scarcity : Angel Yeast will rely more on fermentation and pre-treatment technologies to improve raw material efficiency, better utilize industrial and agricultural waste, and increase crop yield. Improving the nutrition of agricultural products : more products will be developed to improve the flavor and nutrition of meat and vegetables while expanding the range of bioproducts through new technologies such as synthetic biology (SynBio). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1101/australian-pledges-au4-95-million-in-support-to-small-agricultural-exporters.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1101/australian-pledges-au4-95-million-in-support-to-small-agricultural-exporters.html Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:11:00 +0530 Grants designed to support small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain and plant products, horticulture, meat and animal product industries The Australian Government is investing AU$4.95 million in the new round of Package Assisting Small Exporters (PASE) grants to provide novel tools and resources to small agricultural exporters to explore export market opportunities. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said “the grants were designed to support small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain and plant products, horticulture, meat and animal product industries to overcome barriers to their participation in the export sector. Government is helping our small and medium sized producers become more competitive and access markets they could not access before”. The initiative will expand access to premium overseas markets is fundamental to driving profits back through the farmgate and supporting the agriculture industry to reach its goal of $100 billion in farmgate value by 2030. A range of sectors are already benefiting from previous grant rounds, with successful recipients including universities and industry bodies. As part of the program, six projects are now wrapping up, working on a range of leading-edge initiatives to grow Australia's small agriculture exporters' global market share. They include exploring innovative new agricultural marketing channels, including agritourism in farm income, targeted training and resources for small organics and dairy exporters, and melon supply chain monitoring. Grantees have undertaken in-depth market research to support specific commodities supply chain monitoring, and education and outreach to international trading partners. Projects concluding in 2023 include: The University of Adelaide - evaluation of two Innovative agricultural marketing channels (agriculture product gift giving and agritourism). Murdoch University - building capacity for small grain and horticulture industry exporters to exploit new grain breeding technologies. Dairy Australia Ltd. - developed training, resources and support needed by small to medium exporters (SME) and dairy manufacturers to overcome barriers to exporting in four distinct areas - knowledge, skills, risk, and support. Australian Organics Ltd. - to overcome trade barriers, the project shared trading partner knowledge, in-depth market industry research, technical expertise, and other information on ways to export organic products to target markets. Australian Melon Association Inc. - the project implemented supply chain monitoring practices in several existing melon export chains and used these as case studies to demonstrate to the broader melon industry the commercial benefits of regular monitoring. Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia Inc. - the project delivered activities that communicated the sustainability and welfare credentials of the Australian kangaroo industry in the European Union and United States, which are key markets for the industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1035/australia-record-90b-in-production-and-75b-in-exports-in-farm-incomes-in-fy-2022-23.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1035/australia-record-90b-in-production-and-75b-in-exports-in-farm-incomes-in-fy-2022-23.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 13:19:00 +0530 Ministry elaborates priorities towards biosecurity, workforce, sustainability, and trade around Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Murray Watt summerised the achievement of the sector over the past one year. Discussing the progress, Minister Watt said, "Despite significant global challenges and major flooding at home in the last year, the sector continues to prosper with record production of $90 billion, record exports of $75 billion and high farm incomes across a range of industries. Now we want to build on that platform, focusing on our priorities of biosecurity, workforce, sustainability, and trade. The partnerships we have built, the listening we have done and the additional $2.3 billion in federal funding in the past year will support the sector as we continue to support it to reach its $100 billion goal.” Some of the majorly invested sectors are; Biosecurity : Since 2022, Australia has vigorously invested on sustainable funding model for biosecurity with permanent funding of $1.03 billion locked in. This is the first time an Australian government has ever provided such a significant funding injection, and it heralds the beginning of a new era of biosecurity protection in Australia. It is estimated that Australia has committed over $40 million for 65 Indigenous Ranger groups to participate in a North Australian Coordination Network, which will greatly enhance surveillance capabilities in the north of Australia. Among the significant achievements are, "keeping Australia free of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease", "Delivering Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy", "Creation of a joint taskforce with the National Emergency Management Agency, increased preparedness for exotic animal disease incursions:, "Implementing a national traceability system for sheep and goats" and "Delivering critical support to overseas partners to combat exotic animal and plant diseases". Sustainable production and climate adaptation  Government has worked with our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors to become even more sustainable by: Investing $302 million through the Natural Heritage Trust to drive climate-smart agriculture practices and sustainable agricultural outcomes, in partnership with industry Investing a record $300 million in the forestry sector that will support the expansion of the plantation estate, modernise our timber manufacturing and increase its role in reducing Australia’s emissions Investing $20 million to implement the National Soil Action Plan Committing over $38 million in ABARES for data and analytic capability to support the sector to face climate change Committing $29 million for the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program and investing $8 million to advance seaweed farming—something that has potential to help reduce livestock emissions as a feed supplement  Committing $20.3 million to the Carbon Farming Outreach program  Joining the global community in its efforts to reduce emissions, including signing the Global Methane Pledge and the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership Working with States and Territories to develop the first National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture Furthermore, Australia has committed to genuine sustainable production and best practices in animal welfare, which means that it meets the high standards expected by consumers and markets in the animal welfare sector. Such as, Investing $302 million through the Natural Heritage Trust to drive climate-smart agriculture practices and sustainable agricultural outcomes, in partnership with industry Investing a record $300 million in the forestry sector that will support the expansion of the plantation estate, modernise our timber manufacturing and increase its role in reducing Australia’s emissions Investing $20 million to implement the National Soil Action Plan Committing over $38 million in ABARES for data and analytic capability to support the sector to face climate change Committing $29 million for the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program and investing $8 million to advance seaweed farming—something that has potential to help reduce livestock emissions as a feed supplement  Committing $20.3 million to the Carbon Farming Outreach program  Joining the global community in its efforts to reduce emissions, including signing the Global Methane Pledge and the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership Working with States and Territories to develop the first National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture TradeThe Australian-UK FTA came into force, providing massively expanded trade opportunities for Australian producers, exporters, and importers. To improve agricultural trade, Australia has: Gained, improved, and maintained access to 107 markets an increase worth a potential $5.47 billion Delivered market strategies for LSD and FMD safeguarding trade in an outbreak Progressed negotiations for the Australia-EU FTA Built on our trade relationship with India—a potentially huge market—through ratifying the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement Begun restoring trade with China, including recently resuming cotton and timber exports and progressing the removal of barley tariffs Provided $1.6m to progress mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1028/vietnams-natural-rubber-farmers-benefit-from-a-smallholder-profit-sharing-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1028/vietnams-natural-rubber-farmers-benefit-from-a-smallholder-profit-sharing-program.html Tue, 06 Jun 2023 11:57:31 +0530 Yulex has partnered with PEFC by investing in smallholders to support Equitable Agriculture and reduce systemic inequalities in the natural rubber supply chain As part of its commitment to smallholder rubber farmers in Vietnam and Thailand, Yulex is investing in smallholder rubber farmers by sharing premium profits back with the smallholders. U.S.-based Yulex LLC is a company with operations in the U.S. and Southeast Asia that creates Deforestation-Free supply chains for major US | EU consumer brands. With its proprietary technology and patents, Yulex is able to replace petroleum-based products with natural rubber products. Globally, 85% of natural rubber is produced by small holders managing a 2-to-3-hectare farm where the annual income is less than $3,000 per annum. With the limited earnings of smallholders, investing in essential training, resources, and certification programs to promote sustainable natural rubber production may not be feasible. Rubber production makes it difficult for smallholders to sustain their livelihoods without certification compliance pressure. By creating Equitable Ag, the initiative provides access to Equitable Agriculture to smallholders. Dr. Liz Bui, Yulex's Chief Business Officer, stated, "Yulex wants to inspire consumers and brands to connect and contribute to smallholders via the Yulex Equitable Ag Program. We were the first company to introduce certified Deforestation-Free supply chains to consumer brands and now, with another first, we are working directly with PEFC and smallholders to solve social inequity issues in the supply chain." Yulex was the first to develop and introduce Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified supply chains for natural rubber to the sporting goods and apparel industries in partnership with Patagonia. Yulex has expanded its supply chain to include the Programme for Forest Certification Endorsement (PEFC). The Yulex and PEFC partnership in Southeast Asia helps create linkages among smallholder groups, private enterprises, traders, and rubber processors. By sharing profits directly with the smallholders and traders, Yulex will improve wages, support rural livelihoods, and contribute to the economic development of smallholders and their communities. In addition to Equitable Ag, the Company will work with smallholders to increase biodiversity and income on plantations through regenerative agriculture. Richard Laity, PEFC Southeast Asia Manager, stated, "Smallholder communities encounter significant challenges when establishing connections in the market. Yulex' dedication to aiding smallholders in Vietnam and Thailand will have a profound impact on the natural rubber community. Consumer brands in various industries will benefit tremendously from Yulex' program. PEFC urges others to join them in enhancing the natural rubber value chain to support smallholder rubber farmers." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1018/indonesia-is-strengthening-agri-operations-for-a-better-sustainable-future.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1018/indonesia-is-strengthening-agri-operations-for-a-better-sustainable-future.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:23:24 +0530 Kelvin Tio, Managing Director at Indonesia's Asian Agri, explains Vietnam’s Asian Agri 2030 (AA2030) commitments and contribution to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) With the growing impact of climate change, Asian Agri acknowledges our responsibility of ensuring the transparency of our business. Throughout our history, apart from focusing our attention on environmental aspects, we have always placed social and economic development at the heart of our business. We are committed to performing the sustainable transformation of our industry, providing opportunities for our people and surrounding communities. Indonesia has made great strides in cementing its role as a key player in the palm oil industry. It is our commitment to deliver positive impacts beyond compliance. We believe that is our contribution to shaping sustainability in the market and society, transcending the impacts as we do not merely focus on our company. We are working towards Increasing Interest in Sustainability and the host nation’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)3, there is an urgency for industries relying on natural capital to integrate sustainability and climate considerations into their overall business strategy. As countries ramped up their climate pledges, there are expectations for the private sector to support and follow suit. For instance, Indonesia has identified the land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sectors as key focus areas in achieving this target. Furthermore, understanding that palm oil is a major commodity in Indonesia, we recognize increasingly stringent government regulations on the sector. Consequently, our key stakeholders are placing greater scrutiny on Asian Agri’s sustainability and climate strategy, targets, and performance. As a company that has long embraced sustainability, we see this growing interest as an opportunity to drive innovation within our operations. We believe that AA2030 is able to contribute to addressing the challenges in securing sustainable development. Embarking on AA2030 Journey We proudly launched AA2030 in early 2022. They consist of our commitments and targets to positively contribute to our local community, country, global climate, smallholders and to our company. AA2030 was developed with careful consideration in the hope that we can continue to make positive contributions when conducting our business. We believe that holistic and balanced endeavors in both environmental and social aspects are key to achieving a successful contribution. 2022 was our first year in delivering greater progress and embarking on our AA2030 journey. We strive to make our way in moving forward with sixteen targets that are classified under four pillars that we set in AA2030. •  Under the Smallholder Partnership pillar, we are intensifying the replanting program for smallholders and aiming to double the smallholders’ income through the replanting program. Besides replanting, we focus on supporting smallholders to get certification towards sustainability standards such as ISPO for scheme smallholders and RSPO for independent smallholders. •  For the Inclusive Growth Pillar, we are working closely with the local government to make programs in eradicating poverty surrounding our operational area by empowering SMEs, and providing vocational trainings and educational scholarships. As part of our commitment to our consumers, we also separate food and non-food grade oil to ensure food safety of our products. •  Following the success of the One-to-One Partnership program, we are making progress in our One-to-One Restoration program in Climate Positive Pillar. The program is our own initiative to contribute positively to the global climate. We also put our efforts into achieving Net Zero Emissions from our operations, aligning our company to contribute to the global agenda. One among our initiatives is to increase our use of renewable energy to 100% in 2030. •  We also aspire to enhance our operational excellence under the Responsible and Sustainable Production Pillar, by reducing our pesticides uses in our plantations and promoting environmentally friendly measures in controlling pests and diseases. Asian Agri also strives to enhance our long-standing commitment to intensify our productivity without opening up new land and to implement circular economy best practices. Integrating Climate Science into Our Business In line with our commitment to transform Asian Agri into a Climate Positive business, we strengthened the foundations of our climate journey this year by conducting a carbon footprint assessment. The assessment was done for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions in accordance with ISO 14064-1 and the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, covering 30 of our own estates, 22 mills, and 4 offices. The findings helped us understand the trends of our emissions within our operations, where we were able to develop a roadmap of reduction and mitigation initiatives to help us reach our net zero emissions from the land-use target by 2030. Strengthening Our Operational Management We understand that we need to have gradual and transformational changes in our operation to succeed in our purpose of improving lives by developing resources sustainably. On the plantation side, the replanting program is one of the key changes we focus on these years. Besides, we are also adapting digital transformation using emerging technologies available today such as GPS-enabled tablets to gain real time production and Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) transport monitoring, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) like drones, and Remote Sensing to extend our reach and analysis effectivity. Alongside this, we increase the capability of our people to adapt to the use of information technology to better manage our operation areas. On the mill side, we have equipped our mills with waste and residue oil recovery facilities to segregate our food-grade oil and non-food-grade oil for biodiesel and biofuel. This strategy is part of our commitment to consumer health and safety. In addition, we invested a lot in terms of retrofitting and modernizing our mill, including constructing and operating a biogas facility. In our case, the biogas facility is not only to capture methane emissions but also to replace biomass utilization for energy production through biogas combustion. In this case, we increase our efficiency in utilizing biomass and contribute to carbon reduction by selling the biomass to the open market as a fossil fuel substitution. In the future, we aim to build a biogas facility in each of our mills. These efforts are part of our take on circular economy practices. On the Research and Development (R&D) side as our key enabler, apart from continuing the optimization of traditional plant breeding, now we are also focusing on producing superior ramets through tissue culture techniques to speed up plant breeding and yield enhancement. We are proud to be among the few companies that can adopt this breakthrough in the palm oil industry. Paving the Ground Ahead Moving forward, Asian Agri will accelerate our work in integrating sustainability into our business and operational strategy, striving to live our vision to generate value for the Community, Country, Climate, Customer, and Company. We recognize that there will be challenges to overcome as we continue to realize our AA2030 targets and commitments, but we are confident in translating them into opportunities to grow our business sustainably. At Asian Agri, we are excited about this prospect, and we look forward to continuing working with our dedicated teams, business leaders, and partners to improve the livelihoods of our people and local communities toward a low-carbon future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1011/strategic-deal-on-high-quality-development-of-the-salmon-and-trout-industry-begins-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1011/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/138/1007/integrated-cross-commodity-rde-program-to-bolster-northern-australias-cotton-grain-and-cattle-industries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/1007/integrated-cross-commodity-rde-program-to-bolster-northern-australias-cotton-grain-and-cattle-industries.html Wed, 31 May 2023 11:25:10 +0530 Aims to drive economic growth and sustainability across the region A four-year research, development and extension (RD&E) program is poised to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the northern regions of Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland. The project engages with local stakeholders and has ongoing local oversight: both essential components in ensuring the project delivers on the needs of northern growers and producers and contributes to the long-term growth and prosperity of the northern agricultural sector. The launch of the Cotton Grain Cattle Program is a significant milestone for Northern Australia's agricultural industry. As it unfolds, it will drive economic growth and sustainability across the region, signifying a new era of agricultural innovation and collaboration. The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) has joined forces with the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC), the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), universities, state governments and industry stakeholders to launch the innovative CRCNA Cotton Grain Cattle Program. Comprising six interlinked projects, the program is designed to address pressing research gaps in the emerging broadacre regions of Northern Australia, while also boosting the value delivered to the cattle industry. The program is based on an analysis undertaken by the CRCNA which highlighted the importance of integrated agricultural systems in Northern Australia. It revealed that the greatest RD&E investment value is achieved when cropping is coordinated with other activities, such as beef production. By focusing on these key areas, the Cotton Grain Cattle Program is set to elevate the agricultural profile of Northern Australia, creating a robust and sustainable sector that will benefit the local economy. This initiative underlines GRDC and CRDC's commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation across the grain and cotton industries. GRDC and CRDC's commitment to this program equates to a total investment of approximately $1 million each. This substantial investment signals a tangible and sustained commitment to the advancement of broadacre production in the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/971/australian-tech-firms-to-advance-regenerative-seaweed-farming-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/971/australian-tech-firms-to-advance-regenerative-seaweed-farming-in-southeast-asia.html Tue, 23 May 2023 08:28:00 +0530 Oceanfarmr and Coast 4C collaborate to improve farm operations, finance, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) monetisation for seaweed farmers. Australia's Oceanfarmr, a leading provider of ocean farm operations management solutions, and Coast 4C, a social enterprise focused on regenerative seaweed farming, have collaborated to develop mobile technologies to enhance the livelihoods of small-scale seaweed producers in Southeast Asia. The collaboration between Oceanfarmr and Coast 4C will primarily focus on developing technologies that expedite the improvement of farm operations performance, finance, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) monetisation for seaweed farmers. In the initial phase of this collaboration, efforts will be made to capture and verify seaweed conditions through the development of scoring methodologies based on photos and manager reviews. This will enable future implementation of AI scoring, facilitating more efficient and rapid data collection for Coast 4C's R&D program on seaweed strains and methods. Oceanfarmr offers a comprehensive ocean farm operations management system, featuring smartphone and tablet apps along with web-based dashboards that provide visibility across ocean farms. The company has successfully developed automated farm management apps and farm finance solutions for Shellfish farming, which are already operational in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the USA. As part of the collaboration, Oceanfarmr will undertake the scoping and development of a scoring methodology to encode seaweed conditions within the app. This methodology will serve as the foundation for an AI algorithm to be incorporated into the Oceanfarmr app in subsequent phases. Additionally, Oceanfarmr will explore, develop, test, and maintain customization and configuration options to enable the methodology and assess sensor data for quantity and quality analysis. Coast 4C is dedicated to building the world's largest supply chain of regenerative seaweed, with a strong focus on benefiting Communities, Commerce, Conservation, and Climate. With 500 registered farms supplying dried Eucheumatoid seaweed for the $1 billion Carrageenan market, Coast 4C not only provides marketing support but also offers farm start-up packages, disaster relief packages, and crucial research and development support on seaweed strains and production methods. Additionally, Coast 4C manages a network of 17 nurseries and actively promotes positive environmental impact through marine spatial planning and marine protected areas. Coast 4C will manage and maintain nurseries and field sites, provide valuable input to develop seaweed condition scoring, and source seedstock of known haplotypes along with farming equipment/methods. The enterprise will also provide training for nursery managers, oversee implementation, report findings from field tests, and conduct basic carrageenan analysis and data analysis. At the completion of each phase, both Coast 4C and Oceanfarmr will review the requirements for a farmer app aimed at enhancing farm operations performance, farm finance, and ESG monetization. The parties will also evaluate the outcomes achieved in the previous phase and outline the subsequent steps between the parties, potentially including the establishment of a joint venture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/960/arbor-day-to-revive-forests-and-to-benefit-small-scale-farmers-in-sea.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/960/arbor-day-to-revive-forests-and-to-benefit-small-scale-farmers-in-sea.html Fri, 19 May 2023 09:22:00 +0530 The Foundation will partner with the Global EverGreening Alliance and WWF for its first project in Laos The Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant trees in more than 50 countries worldwide, but will plant in Laos this spring for the first time in the organization’s history. The Foundation will partner with the Global EverGreening Alliance and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to revive forests of greatest need in the Southeast Asian country. “By combining efforts with some of the world’s most respected environmental organizations on the planet —Global EverGreening Alliance and WWF — we ensure the benefits of trees reach the areas of the globe where they’re needed most,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Restoring forests in Laos is vital to establishing a healthy environment for people and wildlife in Southeast Asia and our team is excited to help serve this urgent need.” The project will consist of 30,000 trees planted in two National Protected Areas, Xe Sap and Xe Pian. Both unique ecosystems serve as a home to a variety of plant and animal species—many of which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Xe Sap and Xe Pian also provide critical support to their surrounding communities which rely on natural resources. This reforestation project will cover nearly 250 acres of land in Laos and is expected to be completed in August 2024. The effort in Laos aligns with the Arbor Day Foundation’s goal to plant 500 million trees with a focus in forests of greatest need by 2027. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/935/china-emphasizes-investment-and-development-in-agricultural-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/138/935/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. ]]>